Kansas State University

View more photos of feedlot boot camp here.

2024 K-STATE FEEDLOT MANAGEMENT COLLEGIATE BOOT CAMP:  Twenty-seven students participated in the 2024 K-State Feedlot Management Collegiate Boot Camp hosted March 8-11 in and around Garden City, Kansas. Eighteen #KSUASI students participated, and additional students were from Oklahoma State University, Fort Hays State University, West Texas A&M University and Colorado State University.

This is the sixth year of the program with the overarching goal being to develop student knowledge, skills, and professional relationships in feedlot management to help meet critical need for trained professionals in the industry. 

Visits to area feedlots Reeve Cattle Company, Finney County Feedyard, Poky Feeders and Fairleigh Feed Yard; classroom discussions on animal health, feeds and nutrition, and the business of cattle feeding; as well as evening networking dinners with feedlot managers and industry professionals comprised the program.

Dr. Pete Anderson and colleagues from Midwest PMS, feedlot managers and representatives from Zoetis have provided program expertise and program sponsorship. Dr. Corbin Stevens, Production Animal Consultation (PAC), contributed expertise on feedlot health management. In addition to Zoetis, Phibro Animal Health, Axiota, MicroTechnologies, and many feedlot businesses have provided tuition and scholarship sponsorship for participating students.

Representatives from several feedlots attended the networking dinner where participants were able to interact and interview for potential feedlot internships/jobs. Rabo AgriFinance organized and sponsored this evening event.

If you have questions regarding this program, contact Dr. Karol Fike, karol@ksu.edu.

View more photos of the event here.

On March 16, 2024, the biennial K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day was hosted for the final time in Weber Arena. A crowd of more than 225 participants, representing 41 counties, from across the state of Kansas, plus one from Nebraska, attended the program to enhance their knowledge of youth sheep projects. The program was open to youth, parents, extension agents and beef project leaders. Topics including selection, nutrition, facilities and equipment, the starter flock program, meat science, clipping and grooming, health, wool education, showmanship, Becoming a Wildcat, and Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training were provided. The program was hosted by Lexie Hayes and Dr. Payton Dahmer.

This program would not be possible without those who contributed their time, efforts, and expertise as presenters, including the guest speaker for the day, Chris Bauerle, Dr. Payton Dahmer, Dr. Mike Day, Lauren Frink, Emily Grund, Lexie Hayes, Charlene Miller, Dr. Leslie Weaver, Matt & Amy Benz, KSU ASI Mentors and the K-State Sheep & Meat Goat Center students. A huge thank you also goes to Tim Carson, Dr. Payton Dahmer, Dr. David Grieger, Emily Grund, Bob Heptig and Crew, Mary Kane, Dr. Dave Nichols, Lois Schreiner, Katie Smith and John Wolf for helping with the event. A special thanks also goes to the students who invested their time to prepare for the program and were present to make sure everything ran smoothly, including interns Peyton Piepho and Lauren Thompson, the K-State Sheep & Meat Goat Center students and employees, and the KSU ASI Mentors. Your involvement is invaluable to making this a great experience for Kansas families!

The K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day is sponsored by Valley Vet Supply, Essential Feeds, the Kansas Sheep Association, Kansas Sheep Council, DuraFerm, Silver Smith Genetics, K-State Research & Extension, the KSU Youth Livestock Program and the K-State Department of Animal Sciences & Industry.

ASAS Midwest Section Meeting Highlights

View more photos here.

#KSUASI students represented the department well at the Midwest American Society of Animal Science meeting hosted on March 10–13, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. Below are a list of results from the event:

Quadrathlon – Congratulations to the 2024 K-State ASI Quadrathlon team for receiving Champion Team. Team members included Sierra Collier, Audrey Tarochione, Sydney Rohlman, and Anna Ideus and advised by Morgan Zumbraugh.

Results: Overall – tied 1^st, Written exam – 1^st, Lab practical – 1^st, Oral presentation – 2^nd, Quiz Bowl – 2^nd

Ph.D Oral Presentation Competition

• • 1st Place: Olivia Harrison
  • 2nd Place: Ron Aldwin Navales
  • 3rd Place: Ethan Stas

Undergraduate poster

• • 1st Place – Kristen Kahler

• Stahly/Peo Outstanding Graduate Student – Katelyn Gaffield
• Young Scholar Award – Olivia Harrison
• Outstanding Young Research Award – Raghavendra Amachawadi, K-State Vet Medicine

• Congratulations to Dr. Joann Kouba for receiving promotions in rank to full professor. We appreciate all you do for the #KSUASI!
• Gamma Sigma Delta Undergraduate Research Symposium: The Gamma Sigma Delta Undergraduate Research Symposium will be hosted on April 19, 2024, from 1-3 p.m. in Leadership Studies – Room 126. Interested undergraduates should submit their abstracts by April 8, 2024 at midnight. Please submit abstracts to Jessie Vipham.

SEMINARS: 

• Meat Science Seminar
  • Marvin Tzirin – Monday, March 25, 2024
• Monogastric Nutrition Seminar
  • Max Corso, “Effects of protein source and levels on GI tract health and development” – Monday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. in Weber 146
• Ruminant Nutrition, Growth, and Management Seminar
  • Colton Weir, “Effects of protein type and frequency of supplementation on grazing cattle performance” – Monday, March 25 at 4:30 p.m. in Call 205
• Physiology and Animal Breeding Seminars
  • None planned for the next two weeks. 

ASI FACULTY & STAFF BIRTHDAYS: 

• March 20 – KC Olson
• March 22 – Tom Taul
• March 23 – Billy Brown

If you’d like your birthday added to the list, please email Stacey Chard at schard@ksu.edu.

OPEN POSITIONS:

• Dairy Teaching and Research Center Manager – To apply, go to https://careers.k-state.edu/cw/en-us/job/515771/dairy-teaching-and-research-center-manager
• Animal Technician Supervisor (Dairy Unit) – To apply, go to https://www.asi.k-state.edu/about/jobs/job-announcements.html.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

• South Dakota State University, Extension Field Specialist I – Dairy Forage, https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/38162.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Facebook: @ksuasi
Twitter: @KSUASI
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksuasi/

March 20 – Faculty Meeting –  146 Weber Hall
April 6 – K-State Open House
April 6 – Little American Royal – Weber Arena
April 17 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall
April 27 – Wildcat Showdown – Cico Park
May 6-10 – Finals week
May 10-11 – Manhattan Campus Commencement
May 15 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall
June 3-5 – Livestock Judging Camp
June 10-12 – Livestock Judging Camp
June 12 – Faculty Meeting – 146 Weber Hall
June 20-22 – Junior Dairy Show – Salina, KS

To submit information for future updates, visit https://forms.gle/iuH4eCKt4hCxCgDU8