The average beef cattle herd size is 35 head with 80 percent of the farms having less
than 50 head. About 97 percent of the beef cattle farms in Arkansas are family owned
and operated.
Beef cattle producers who use our recommended management practices improve their beef
cattle efficiency and profits. The Animal Science department uses educational activities including
county programs, field days, electronic news articles, beef/forage field days, demonstrations,
ration balancing, 300 Day of Grazing Program, and more, to educate Arkansas cattle
producers on best practices.
2026 Events
Little Red River Valley Beef and Forage Conference
This conference serves beef producers in six-county Red River Valley region: Cleburne,
Independence, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren and White counties. We've changed the format
this year to include three sessions at these sites:
April 10 — Jay H Farms in Romance (afternoon session)
May 15 — Livestock and Forestry Research Station in Batesville. More details coming soon.
Perry County Cattle Production Workshop
The workshop is March 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Perryville High School Cafeteria.
Dr. Jamie Courter, state beef genetics extension specialist with the University of
Missouri, will discuss EPDs and Genomic Testing in Commercial Herds. Dinner catered by Holly's Country Cooking will be served at 6 p.m. Register with the
Perry County Extension office by March 16. Call 501-889-2661.
Polk / Sevier Counties Beef Cattle Workshop
This workshop will be April 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Triple S Ranch, 338 Polk Road
200, in Grannis, Arkansas in Polk County.
Freeze Branding Demonstration —Rex Herring, Sevier County Extension Agent
Evaluating Replacement Heifers — UA Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, Ally Grote
Steps to Producing Better Forages — Polk County Extension Agent Bryan May
Farm Credit of Western Arkansas will provide a meal. There is no cost, but attendees
should RSVP by calling Rex Herring at 870-584-3013 or Bryan Maye at 479-394-6018.
Sevier County Extension agent Rex Herring will lead a hands-on demonstration of freeze
branding techniques.
Cattlemen and the beef they produce enjoy a safe and wholesome image. With increasing competition
for the consumer's protein dollar, tremendous opportunity exists for continued improvement
upon that image.
Explore BQA
Improving production efficiency and product desirability through each segment of the beef
cattle industry rests with purebred breeders and commercial cattle producers. They
determine the matings that produce beef and replenish breeding stock.
Learn about cattle breeding
Generally success or failure in the cow/calf business depends to a large extent upon
doing the right things at the right times. This is especially true when it comes to
beef cattle reproduction management. Reproduction is the single most important factor
in a cow/calf operation. After all, you can't sell calves if you don't produce them.
Read about beef cattle reproduction
A herd health management plan is vital to profitable beef production. Some producers,
however, do not vaccinate until they experience a loss. The investment in disease prevention
is less than the cost of disease treatment. Don't wait until a disease outbreak occurs
before implementing a sound herd health program. For cattle to reach their performance
potential, they must be healthy.
Explore herd health resources
Because feed costs are the major cost of producing beef, using feeds most efficiently is
of prime importance in determining profits. Rations must be properly balanced so that
feeds are used efficiently and cattle remain healthy. Ration balancing and understanding proper
nutrition is an important management tool the producer can use to maximize profits.
Get beef cattle feeding information
Cattle working facilities are key to herd management. Properly designed facilities
is critical to both operator and animal safety.
Learn about cattle handling
The GoGreen program was created to promote pre-marketing best management practices.
Qualifying calves are recognized by the GoGREEN program tag.
Explore GoGreen
