The K-State Beef ‘505’ Short Course objective is to provide participants with information and experiences in increasing and capturing optimum value of beef beginning with cattle production and evaluation and ending with methods of optimizing the value of beef carcasses and beef cuts.
Dr. James D. Sartwelle, III is the Livestock Economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, based at its headquarters in Washington, DC. There since 2006, he is responsible for analyzing the impacts of policy changes on livestock producers, and for livestock market outlook.
Previously, Sartwelle served as an Extension agricultural economist for 12 years, based in Garden City, Kansas; Amarillo, Texas; and College Station, Texas.
Listen as Sartwelle speaks about the livestock economy and animal welfare in "Brave New World: Animal Welfare and Us".
K-State’s Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) and the Frontier program have embarked on a project to celebrate the history of the Kansas beef industry. To learn more and view a video previewing the project click here. To read the KSU Media Relations news release click here. For this project, Kansas State University requests stories, histories, and pictures regarding the beef industry in Kansas. These questionnaires will provide a place for you to share your story as it pertains to the industry.
Welcome to the Beef Cattle Institute Web site! The Beef Cattle Institute was founded August 1, 2007.The initial funding for this program was awarded by the Targeted Excellence Initiative at Kansas State University.The purpose of the Beef Cattle Institute is to create a collaborative environment at Kansas State University to tackle today's and tomorrow’s issues facing the beef industry through education, research and outreach.
Kansas is ranked second nationally in total cattle numbers and cattle on feed, with 6,650,000 total head of cattle (2,550,000 on feed) in Kansas on January 1, 2006.Sixteen of the 25 largest cattle feeders in the U.S. have facilities in Kansas and represent a major market for Kansas feed grains.The Kansas beef cattle industry has national and international responsibilities for providing safe, affordable, wholesome food.In 2005, 104 beef packers in Kansas harvested 9.1 billion pounds of cattle from Kansas and surrounding states.
The financial well-being of Kansas citizens is critically dependent upon the profitability and growth of the beef cattle industry.In 2005, cattle in Kansas produced $6.1 billion in receipts.For each $1 million expansion/decline that occurs in the cattle ranching and feeding sector, total economic activity in Kansas expands or declines by $1.96 million.
This institute will enhance the education and the value of the degrees of KSU students, increase information access and training opportunities for people working in the beef industry today through research and practical engagement, and improve the cultural and intellectual diversity of our student body.The goal of the Beef Cattle Institute is to provide beef producers with the most current education, research and outreach available.