ARSBC Coference

A few weeks ago I had the honor to attend the 2019 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) conference in Knoxville, Tennessee with my Current Ag Concerns teammates: Beth Lamp, Megan Clark, and Brooke Petersen. This conference shared the latest information with beef producers, veterinarians, and cattle industry professionals about the newest research in reproductive health and management of beef cattle.

This year's conference talked about efficiently managing the nutrition levels of young heifers to the use of cycling agents in cow herds. There was also a producer panel made up of large cattle producers in the Southeast region of the United States. They talked about how they utilized reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfers and the impact it has on their herds overall productivity.

My team members and I were lucky enough to be a part of the media team at the ARSBC Conference. As part of the media team, we worked with the American Angus Association’s personnel along with conference organizers from the University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Dakota State University, and more. We wrote reports about each conference session and lab sessions. It was a very eventful conference and we learned tons of new things which will come in handy this calving season.

One of the most interesting things I learned was in the lab at the University of Tennessee where a vet gave us some helpful advice about what to do with the cow's tail during birth. To get the tail out of the way and keep it from contaminating the delivery space, the veterinarian took a plastic OB sleeve, turned it inside out and slipped it over the tail. He then tied it to the side of a chute or a post to keep it from getting in the way when he was delivering the calf. This was new information to us and most of the producers in the room, yet a very simple and easy to use method to perform back home.

Also while in Tennessee we did tons of touring around town and my personal favorite was spending over an hour in the local candy shop, which is easily the biggest one I have ever been in. I even got to experience my first Uber ride. For those who do not know, it’s a newer version of a taxi but your drivers can sometimes be a little touch and go. Our first driver was great! He was originally from New York and could not believe we were from Iowa. We left him speechless when we told him Knoxville was a huge city and that most Iowans biggest outing is a trip to the Iowa State Fair. He was also shocked by all the foods we listed that can be found on a stick at the state fair.

All in all, the ARSBC conference was a very educational and super fun experience, especially for our young communications team. It was amazing to see and discuss how other producers in different states do things. Along with that, it was very eye-opening to see how the locals there differ from my small town Clinton County Iowa upbringing. As much as I loved Tennessee and their huge candy store, I am glad to be back home to my own herd.

~ Kesley Holdgrafer