"Missouri is an ideal location for stocker and backgrounding operations because we have an abundance of pastureland and easy access to the Midwest Corn Belt and the Great Plains cattle-feeding belt," said Craig Payne, beef veterinarian with the University of Missouri Commercial Agriculture Program.

By presenting the latest research and state-of-the-art practices, the conference can provide participants with tools to improve the efficiency and profitability of their operations, Payne said.

Speaking during the morning sessions will be two MU Extension beef specialists: economist Joe Horner will present a talk titled "Making money with calves without losing your shirt" and nutritionist Justin Sexten will discuss nutritional management for cattle during the receiving phase.

In the afternoon, veterinarian Mike Nichols of Pfizer Animal Health will talk about disease dynamics and how to reduce disease challenge. Shaun Sweiger, a veterinary consultant from Edmund, Okla., will discuss treatment protocols for bovine respiratory disease and using data to monitor the effectiveness of treatments.

Highlighting the institute will be Tom Gallery of the Gallery Ranch in Dewey, Okla., which won the 2007 National Stocker Award in the backgrounding/drylot division. Gallery will discuss his operation with an emphasis on how alliance-formation and real-time data management played a role in the success of his ranch.

The institute will be held at the Harrisonville Community Center, 2400 Jefferson Parkway, Harrisonville, Mo. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with welcome and introductions at 10 a.m. Cost for the one-day conference is $50. For more information, contact Craig Payne at 573-882-8236 or payneca@missouri.edu. Registration begins Jan. 1. To register, contact Christine Pickett, 573-882-4349 or pickettc@umsystem.edu.