UW Madison - Extension to hold Cattle Feeders Workshop March 24 in Chippewa Falls

With cattle prices at record highs, margins remain tight and good management is critical to successful cattle finishing. Join UW Madison Extension Regional Educators and  Specialists for a workshop addressing timely topics, including silage management,  market outlook, and tools to help decision-making.  

Topics and presenters are as follows:  

Optimizing corn silage quality: harvest to feeding, Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, Ruminant  Nutrition Extension Specialist, will lead a discussion on silage management to  minimize losses during storage and how poor management results in feed losses  and reduces animal performance.  

Handling facilities for finishing cattle, Ryan Sterry, Regional Livestock Educator  and Bill Halfman State Beef Outreach Specialist will discuss considerations for  efficient and safe handling facilities for cattle finishing operations. Handling  facilities don’t have to be expensive, but they do need to be functional. Practical  tips and layout considerations to improve, remodel or design facilities will be  shared.  

Budget and decision tools for cattle feeders, Ryan Sterry, and Bill Halfman, will  share an overview of UW Extension livestock decision tools designed to help  beef producers evaluate cattle finishing enterprises and help make informed  decisions.  

2026 market outlook for livestock and grains, Dr. Brenda Boetel, UW- Madison  Extension Livestock and Grain Market Specialist.  

This UW Extension Cattle Feeders Workshop contains information for producers of all  sizes who are finishing beef and dairy cattle, and related allied industries.

Attending the workshop will also earn people who are BQA certified one continuing ed credit towards their next re-certification. 

The workshop will be held at the Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 003, 711 N Bridge  Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. Registration is at 5:30 PM with the program starting at 5:45  PM.  

Register by March 16 by calling the Dunn County Extension office at 715.232.1636  (leaving your name and number attending) or online at https://go.wisc.edu/wnbfzf.