The Inaugural Cattlemen’s Connection Quarterly Meeting By Shelby Kirton and Taylor Pearce

THE INAUGURAL ConnectionCattlemen’s

QUARTERLY MEETING

By Shelby Kirton and Taylor Pearce

As cattle producers continue to experience unprecedented events, extreme weather conditions, and rising input costs, the demand for costeffective production resources remains an integral role in managing operational risk. After months of deliberating the various ways to deliver this information to members across the state, GCA’s Events Planning Committee introduced the association’s newest producer educational opportunity. By implementing effective, hands-on learning, the inaugural Cattlemen’s Connection Quarterly Meeting Series brings together people, insights and resolutions to minimize exposure to uncertainty in tough economic conditions. The meeting enables current and prospective members to attend industry tours and educational seminars that are both affordable and fit cohesively into their busy schedules.

The business of raising cattle has kept multiple generations of the Gaines family busy, as they’ve worked to expand their operation through proactive management practices and capitalizing on a niche sector in Georgia’s cattle industry. Today, the fourth generation has taken interest in the family’s business and continues to protect the ranching heritage. Clay, along with his brother, father, and each of their wives and families, own and operate Gaines Cattle, a stocker operation nestled in the heart of Taylorsville, Georgia. The ranch has effectively established their program by purchasing four-to-five weight calves, primarily in south Florida, to be grazed on pasture as yearlings. Clay emphasized the benefit of utilizing pasture and range grazing, as well as other forage-based rations to supplement their calves’ nutritional program. He explained that capitalizing on lowcost gain, prioritizing animal health, and effectively managing nutrition are the key factors for stocker calf performance. “Everybody has their own role in the business where they lead and we just stay out of each other’s hair,” he added with a grin.

For the Gaines family, the early-morning sun peeking through the oak hammocks is most likely a normal occurrence. But even with 75 cattlemen and cattlewomen gathered underneath an equipment barn, the sunrise still means the same thing: The day doesn’t start until the cattle are fed. After a brief overview of Gaines Cattle’s history, attendees filed onto the numerous flatbed trailers, where they toured the ranch’s facilities. As the carefully formulated grain ration was dispensed into the feed bunks along the pasture’s interior fence line, Clay explained the management practices used to increase rate of gain in the humid Georgia climate. To combat issues with heat stress, the ranch implemented a supplementation program to increase the plane of nutrition for their stocker calves sustaining higher performance. The cattle graze on lush green pastures with easy access to forage, grain, and clean water. Gaines Cattle primarily grows their calves on a mix of wheat and clover pasture and feeds a daily ration of corn silage and distillers’ grain to focus on frame, muscle, and bone development, rather than fat disposition. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about their vaccination and herd health protocols and hear about their reduction in feed expenses and increased rate of gain from growing and cutting their own corn silage.

After the completion of the tour, attendees headed over to the Bartow County Extension Office in Cartersville for the remainder of the event. The group sat in a panel discussion that provided insight on feeding cattle in Georgia by highlighting a variety of nutrition programs suitable for feeding cattle in the Southeast. The speakers featured in the panel discussion included UGA Department Head Dr. Francis Fluharty,

UGA Animal and Dairy Science Professor and Extension Coordinator Dr. Lawton Stewart, and UGA Animal and Dairy Science Beef Extension Specialist (Calhoun) Jason Duggin. Cattle producers attending the event were able to engage in the panel discussion and addressed their personal areas of interest, including preconditioning, direct-toconsumer markets, and utilizing supplementation programs for stocker and feedlot cattle.

Additionally, the group received GCA and GBB updates. Taylor Evans, Director of Public relations, offered insight into what exactly GBB is and what they are currently doing across the state of Georgia. Dale Sandlin, GCA Executive Vice President, gave an overview of what’s new in the association and current legislative efforts in Atlanta on behalf of GCA.

In addition to the hands-on, educational opportunities offered earlier in the meeting schedule, attendees were also able to conduct business relevant to the association through allocating time for GCA’s Tour, PAC, Legislative and Youth Advisory committee meetings. Committee members were excited to meet face-to-face and discuss their plans for the remainder of the year.

Look out for the upcoming Cattlemen’s Connection Quarterly Meeting on Sept. 22 in Moultrie, Ga. You won’t want to miss this event.

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CATTLEMEN’S CONNECTION SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 || MOULTRIE, GA

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