Environment. Nutrition. Genetics. These components and more play a role in the production of beef.Beef 300, a collaborative program hosted by WSU Extension faculty and the Department of Animal Science, provides people in the beef industry with an overview of the role these factors play through hands-on training, said Jan Busboom, professor of meat science and extension meat specialist.
“The purpose of the program is to show what really goes into producing a quality product for consumers,” he said.
Beef 300 is part of the 300 series that animal science and various extension offices have created. Beef 300 will take place Oct. 3-5 on the Pullman campus and is already sold out. The program will feature presentations from various areas, including animal sciences, economics, veterinary medicine and extension.
“It’s really a comprehensive educational approach to cover all segments of the beef industry,” said Sarah Smith, animal science extension educator for Grant-Adams County.
Last fall, Lamb 300 was held as the pilot program for the 300 series, Busboom said. From Lamb 300 and the responses of participants, it was apparent that a similar program was needed for the beef industry, Smith said.
“I will definitely be attending Beef 300 because — in my 15 years of attending educational workshops — Lamb 300 provided by far the most practical information and skills that I can take back to the classroom and farm,” said Greg Pile, ag education instructor at Sumner High School.
The 300 series is expected to become an annual program, Smith said. Pork 300 will be held next fall, if not sooner, and then the series will repeat, beginning with lamb again but incorporating new changes in the industry. The series was something Busboom had considered for awhile, he said. Similar programs exist throughout the country, but none in the area.
“Texas A&M had done a Beef 706 program for some time,” he said.
The “300” part of the series name comes from a personal joke of Busboom’s that was done in good spirits, he said.
“I told my colleagues that a 700 level course at Texas A&M is the equivalent of a 300 level course at WSU.”
