Cow-Calf Field Day to Feature Research Updates, Technology Demonstrations at USMARC

By Natalie Jones

Beef producers and industry professionals are invited to attend the 2025 Cow-Calf Field Day, scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and Great Plains Education Center, located at 820 Road 313 in Clay Center, Nebraska. 

The event, themed “Research Updates and Technology Demonstrations,” will feature presentations and interactive tour stops led by University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty, Nebraska Extension educators and U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) scientists. 

Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and includes a $20 fee. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register for meal planning by contacting Kacie McCarthy at kacie.mccarthy@unl.edu or online at https://go.unl.edu/cowcalf_fieldday_jun24. 

Presentations during the morning session will cover a range of cow-calf research topics, including: 

• Cow efficiency research by Colby Redifer, Ph.D., post-doctoral researcher at USMARC 
• Advancements in in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology by Alex Snider, Ph.D., scientist at USMARC 
• Heifer development research by Bob Cushman, Ph.D., scientist at USMARC 
• Technology applications in the beef industry, such as virtual fencing and water monitoring, by Yijie Xiong, Ph.D., assistant professor and precision livestock specialist in the Department of Animal Science at UNL 

Following lunch, attendees will rotate through research stations that showcase current studies and tools in beef production. Stops include: 

• Feeding technologies and research (Area 25 and Feedlot) presented by Matthew Crouse, Ph.D., USMARC 
• SmartFeed (C-Lock, Inc.) technology and mineral intake tracking in mature cows, led by Tanner Wansing, graduate student in the Department of Animal Science 
• Targeted supplementation strategies for replacement heifers using SmartFeed technology, presented by Kacie McCarthy, Ph.D., assistant professor and cow-calf specialist at UNL 

The field day will conclude with closing remarks and evaluations.