By Scout Nelson
Larson Ranch near Leoti is the site of today’s KLA/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Day, welcoming livestock producers and industry professionals. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. CT, and the program concludes with a free beef dinner. The gathering provides timely education, practical tools, and a chance to connect with peers and university experts.
Educational sessions focus on two high-priority topics: the future of yield grading and bovine congestive heart failure. With the current Yield Grade equation no longer representative of the true red meat yield of today’s cattle, Texas Tech University meat scientist Dale Woerner will outline new research that shows strong promise for more accurate, individual-animal measurement. This work seeks to better align grading with modern genetics, management, and carcass outcomes.
A second session, led by Brian Vander Ley of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln alongside researchers from the USDA Meat Animal Research Center, explores the genetic factors tied to bovine congestive heart failure. Presenters will discuss how specific gene markers for the disease could inform future breeding and management decisions aimed at improving animal health and performance.
Following the education blocks, ranch owners Brady and Kyla Larson will share the operation’s history and guide a virtual tour of the ranch’s facilities. Attendees will then walk through the facilities in person and ask questions about layout, cattle flow, and management practices discussed during the sessions.
The field day wraps up with a complimentary beef dinner, offering additional time for conversation and networking. For more information, including directions to the field day site, click here. Directional signs will be posted.
Looking ahead, Wells Ranch will host the August 28 field day in Woodson County, extending this series’ focus on practical, science-based ranch management. The Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and Huvepharma are sponsoring both events, helping ensure broad access to current research, workable strategies, and peer learning opportunities that support stronger, more resilient ranch businesses across Kansas.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-hirurg
Categories: Kansas, Education, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle