Another round of the University of Kentucky’s Master Cattleman program will begin soon. More than 4,000 beef producers have already participated in the comprehensive program and put the management strategies they learned into practice in their operations.

The Master Cattleman program consists of 10 sessions that include management, marketing, nutrition, reproduction, health, genetics, forages, facilities, environment and end product.

“The program is designed to increase producers’ overall productivity and profitability,” said Ben Crites, Beef Integrated Resource Management coordinator for the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

The program is available at multiple sites throughout Kentucky. Each site will have consistent program material. Each participant must attend at least eight of the 10 sessions and have a current Beef Quality Assurance certification to successfully complete the program. All program participants will receive a set of reference materials and those who successfully complete the program will receive a personalized farm gate sign.

Program dates and county groups are as follows:

·         Hardin, Larue and Meade — Feb. 23 through Dec. 7

·         Johnson, Floyd, Lawrence and Boyd — Feb. 27 through May 1

·         Metcalf, Hart, Barren, Edmondson and Monroe — March 2 through April 27

·         Marion, Washington and Nelson — March 7 through July 11

·         Madison, Clark, Estill, Montgomery, Powell and Menifee — March 9 through May 9

·         Shelby, Trimble, Henry and Oldham — May 4 through Sept. 21

More counties will start the program this fall. For more information or to enroll, contact the local county extension office or email Crites at Benjamin.crites@uky.edu.