Since 1993, more than 5,500 beef producers, feed consultants and veterinarians from more than 40 states have used the Beef Basics courses to further their education.
The courses are written by extension educators, extension specialists, producers and veterinarians and are producer-reviewed before being introduced to the public.
Profit - the Bottom Line
Participants have estimated that they would save over $16 per cow using the management and production ideas presented in the Home Study Courses.
Purpose of the Courses
These courses are designed to assist you in making management decisions for improving profitability. They offer an opportunity to sharpen your cow/calf management skills without a large time commitment away from the office or home. You can learn within the comfort of your own home or office.
Many beef producers, veterinarians, and agribusiness people find it difficult to attend distant educational seminars. This course will allow you to expand your cow/calf management knowledge within the comfort of your home or office. Your involvement will be encouraged through answering questions on the lesson quizzes. After completing a lesson, participants take a short quiz, which is graded and returned by the extension educators.
Understand Your Business
It is important that you, as a beef producer, have confidence, competence, and direction to be a successful livestock producer. You will need to capitalize on your own unique resources and skills.
Comments from Past Participants
- "Taking the Beef Home Study courses is an excellent way to improve management skills to increase beef production and reduce costs."
- "Your home study courses are the best we've seen and the only ones from the point of view of the cow/calf rancher."
- "They've taken a lot of the 'mystery' out of beef production."
- "These courses are excellent educational tools."
- "Would I recommend it? You bet!"
Beef Cow Basics Plus Online Course Cost and Registration Information
This course is completely available online and is designed for beef producers, feed consultants, veterinarians and youth wanting to learn more about beef production. This course has been updated by extension faculty and individuals in the beef industry. The course will be of benefit to cattlemen that are currently in the beef business or for those that are just getting started according to Steve Pritchard, Nebraska Extension Educator. There are twelve (12) chapters or topics in the course. The fee for the new online Beef Cow Basics-Plus course is $20 to $120, depending on the status of the individual and whether CEU credits are needed/requested.
To register for the new online course, visit https://campus.extension.org and search for "Beef Cow Basics."
Continuing Education Units
All of these courses have been approved for American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) CEU credits. Possible number of CEUs varies with course enrollment.
Beef Cow Basics Plus - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 15
Online Beef Cow Basics-Plus - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 12
Beef Basics II - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 7
Beef Basics IV - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 10
Beef Basics V - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 8
Beef Basics VI - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 8
Beef Basics VII - Total Possible Number of CEUs: 4
Enroll today for credit courses!
NOTE: Beef Basics III is no longer available.
Beef Basics Management Team
The current management team members:
- Troy Walz, Extension Educator, Custer County
- Matt Spangler, Professor & Beef Genetics Specialist, UNL Animal Science Department, Lincoln
More Information
For additional information e-mail Troy Walz, or call 308-872-6831.