Contact: Joe Schuele    303-850-3360     jschuele@beef.org 

Beef-Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance Symposium

Headlines 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference

DENVER (June 4, 2008) – Pre-registration is now open for the 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference, which will be held July 15-19 in Denver, Colo. The event is co-sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), American National CattleWomen, Inc. (ANCW), and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.

For the second year in a row, the beef and dairy industries will team up for an educational session to kick off the conference. On Wednesday, July 16, the Beef-Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance Symposium will highlight joint issues and crisis management efforts coordinated between the two industries. The symposium will also address the timely topic of animal care and handling guidelines for all segments of the beef industry. Speakers from dairy, cow/calf and feedlot operations will address animal handling techniques, transportation requirements, and strategic marketing decision tools that can lead to improved product quality and consumer satisfaction.

“I’m pleased that the beef and dairy industries have once again partnered to create an informative, opening day workshop,” said NCBA President Andy Groseta, a rancher from Cottonwood, Ariz. “Proper animal care and handling are increasingly important to the cattle industry, and it’s important that we all work together to educate our members on the latest guidelines.”

At last year’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference, the National Dairy Council and the Beef Checkoff Program teamed up for a joint nutrition symposium. This session examined the common nutrition environment faced by the beef and dairy industries, and the cooperative work being performed by the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition. This year’s attendees will receive an update on the work of this coalition, including collaborative efforts in completing a new scientific index, successful thought leader outreach and education, and promoting the importance of high-quality protein in the diet.

The following day, the Beef Industry General Session will focus on current cattle industry conditions and challenges. Industry experts will discuss methods cattlemen can use to deal with today’s record-high operating costs and difficult business climate. The general session will be followed by the CBB Update Session, as well as issues forums conducted by the NCBA Policy Division and NCBA’s Federation of State Beef Councils Division.

The Cattle Industry Summer Conference also offers cattlemen the opportunity to attend NCBA regional caucus meetings and NCBA policy committee meetings. These sessions provide an update on industry issues affecting NCBA members, as well as the status of many legislative and regulatory policy priorities in Washington, D.C.

In addition, joint industry committees and subcommittees will receive progress reports on all projects and initiatives currently funded by the Beef Checkoff Program.

The week’s events draw to a close on Saturday, July 19, with meetings of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the NCBA Board of Directors. Cattle Industry Summer Conference meetings and events will be held at the Sheraton Denver Hotel (formerly the Adam’s Mark) in downtown Denver. Pre-registration is open through June 25. Those not registered by this deadline may do so on-site beginning July 15.

Full registration and hotel information is available at: www.beefusa.org/convsummerconference.aspx.

### 

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America’s cattle industry.  Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry’s heritage and future.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.