2025 Central Oregon Ranching Academy - Module 1

2025 Central Oregon Ranching Academy

Target Audience: This program is tailored to beef cattle producers, those working in the beef cattle industry, and those interested in joining our industry.

Objectives: The objective of this program is to provide our participants with the most up-to-date information on diverse topics related to beef cattle production. The modules are organized to precede major milestones of a Spring calving herd. However, the information provided is also applicable to Fall calving herds.

Registration: There will be no registration fee for second edition of the Ranching Academy. An online registration is required. Register online.

Participants will receive an email confirmation after registration and an email reminder a week before each module. Attendance of a minimum of 4 modules will be required to receive a certificate of achievement.

Hours: Approximately 24-30h total. Saturday mornings, 9:30 to 12:30 pm.

Location: Crook County Extension Services. Clover Building. 502 SE Lynn Blvd, Prineville, OR 97754

Continued Education Units: Up to 16 credits can be requested; 2 credits/module with the Society for Range Management (SRM) and Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board (OVMEB). If interested in requesting CEU please contact Juliana Ranches at [email protected]

Materials: For each module, participants will receive an educational package with handouts of the material discussed in each lecture.

Refreshments: Light refreshments will be served in every module.

Tentative Agenda:

Module 1: Calving School; 03/22/2025 – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Juliana Ranches, Charles Estill, and Scott Duggan.

Goals: the goal of this module is to provide information regarding nutritional management and facilities to provide the best care for gestating cattle. Participants will also learn about the calving process and how to properly deliver a calf during dystocia.

Lecture Topics:

• Calving process
• Nutritional considerations and management practices for calving season
• Calving facilities

Practice:

• Calf delivery during dystocia.

Module 2: Fine Fuels Management - Branding, Calf Care & Vaccination; 05/03/2025 – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Katie Wollstein, Dustin Johnson, Juliana Ranches, and Scott Duggan.

Goals: Participants will learn about fuels and fire risk in the region, including where to find information on the fire outlook. Additionally, participants will learn about the best practices for cattle during turnout.

Lecture Topics:

• Rangeland fuels, fire risk, and seasonal fire outlook
• Calf care during branding
• Vaccination best practices

Module 3: Breeding Season - Genetics & Genomics; 05/31/2025 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Jenifer Cruickshank and Chuck Estill.

Goals: in this module, participants will learn the basics of the reproductive cycle and the most up-to-date information regarding reproductive technologies. Additionally, participants will learn about genetic selection, including the use of EPDs.

Lecture Topics:

• Basics of the reproductive cycle.
• Reproductive technologies (AI and FTAI)
• EPDs & Genetic selection

Practice:

• Tools for planning breeding season

• Using AI model

Module 4: Weaning & Heifer Replacement; 06/28/2025 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Juliana Ranches and David Bohnert

Goals: this module will offer participants information about weaning practices and calf health, as well as information on replacement heifer selection and heifer development

Lecture Topics:

• Weaning strategies and preconditioning
• Calf health and welfare
• Replacement heifer selection and development

Module 5: Nutrition of Beef Females I – Macronutrients; 07/19/2025 – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Juliana Ranches and Scott Duggan

Goals: this module will cover the basics of beef cattle nutrition, where the discussion will primarily focus on energy and protein. The discussion will also cover the interpretation of feed nutritional analysis to meet cattle requirements.

Lecture Topics:

• Beef cattle requirements
• Feeding strategies and Supplementation
• Forage and feed analysis interpretation

Practice:

• Forage/hay collection for analysis and interpretation
• Ration formulation software

Module 6: Nutrition of Beef Females II – Micronutrients; 08/16/2025 – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Instructors: Juliana Ranches and Marcelo Vedovatto

Goals: this module will focus on micronutrient nutrition, and participants will learn about the importance of mineral and vitamin supplementation. Participants will also learn how to interpret supplement feeding labels.

Lecture Topics:

• Mineral and vitamin nutrition
• Late gestation supplementation

Practice:

• Mineral supplementation calculations
• Reading mineral supplement labels

Module 7: Environment and Cattle Production; 09/20/2024 – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Juliana Ranches and Jenifer Cruickshank

Goals: in this module, participants will learn about the most up to date information related to wildfire smoke exposure and its effects on cattle health and production. Participants will also learn about greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural contribution. Research data on the use of virtual fencing will be presented in this topic.

Lecture Topics:

• Effects of wildfires and smoke exposure cattle health and performance
• Enteric methane emission of grazing cattle
• Information on use of virtual fencing

Module 8: Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training; 11/08/2025 - – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Instructors: Juliana Ranches and Scott Duggan

Goals: module will briefly review all BQA content with focus on cow-calf operations, followed by the BQA exam and certification.

Lecture Topics:

• Overview of all topics of BQA material
• BQA Exam & certification