Jason Cleere discussing cattle in pens at Aggie Commercial Steer Camp
The 2015 Aggie Commercial Steer Camp was held on the campus of Texas A&M University on July 27-28, 2015. The camp was hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Department of Animal Science and sponsored by The Texas Beef Council, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo®, and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There were 85 participants who learned a great deal about all aspects of preparing livestock for the commercial steer shows, and instruction was aided by 18 show officials, past participants, and committee members from the major shows.
Here is the program for the Aggie Commercial Steer Camp:
Monday, July 27, 2015 – Beef Cattle Center
- Live finished steer and carcass yield and quality grading basics – Dan Hale
- Live finished commercial steer evaluation exercise – Jason Cleere
- Ultrasound demonstration – Casey Worrell
- Animal Science as a major – Leslie Frenzel
- Practical consideration for raising commercial steers: Selecting calves, hosting, health – Jason Cleere
- Optimal nutrition for commercial steers – Jason Banta
- A, B, Cs of BQA – Jason Banta
- Overview of commercial steer contests around Texas
- Karl Hengst, Managing Director, Livestock Competitions, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™
- Taylor Steward, Livestock Coordinator and Brady Ragland, Livestock Director, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
- Texas Cattle Feeders Association – Dawson Pittrich and Don Pittrich, Past Participants
- Parent and participant share – Don Dittrich and Dawson Dittrich
Jason Banta showing the intestinal tract of a steer
Casey Worrell describing the process of ultrasounding cattle
Tuesday, July 28, 2015 – Rosenthal Meat Center
- Preparing yourself and your cattle for the contest – Stephen A. Mahalitc, Don Dittrich, Dawson Dittrich, Corrie Rittle, Lucas Little, Show committee members and past participants
- Packing plant tour
- Beef Check-off – Jason Bagley, Texas Beef Council
- Review carcasses from previous day’s market steer evaluation – Dan Hale
- Carcass fabrication and retail cut identification – Davey Griffin