Beef + transparency = trust

We often hear that if we could expose more people to the realities of beef production and explain how today’s farmers and ranchers care for their animals, consumer trust and confidence would improve. Next week in Denver, the Colorado Beef Council, Colorado State University’s Center for Meat Safety & Quality and the national beef checkoff will do just that, during a conference titled “Beef + Transparency = Trust.”

The program organizers have designed its content primarily for influencers outside the beef business, such as nutritionists, food writers, food trade associations and consumer media. The program will take place on October 3 at the Denver Renaissance Hotel, 3801 Quebec St. Denver, CO   (303)-399-7500.

Panelists for the day-long session include:

• Chandler Keys from JBS SA will present Beef: It’s more than just the Sizzle. Keys represents JBS on Capitol Hill, after doing similar work for NCBA. He advocates telling the beef production story with transparency and empowering everyone as a voice to defend, protect, and promote our industry.
• Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, NCBA’s director of Sustainability Research will present Beef Sustainability: Meeting Tomorrow’s Demand, outlining progressive management approaches that will allow us to meet the future demands of beef and protein in the diet of our growing world’s population.
• Colorado rancher Sara Shields will present Raising Cattle and Living the Dream. Her family recently won the prestigious Leopold Conservation Award. Her dynamic view of cattle production shows her true passion of a multi-generational cow-calf operation.
• Colorado cattle feeder and rancher Gary Teague will present Family and Business are the Keys to our Livestock Operation. Gary and his wife, Laura Teague started Teague Diversified, Inc. in 1994 when they leased and operated a 2,000 head feedlot while attending graduate school at Colorado State University. Today, the business has grown to include a 25,000 head feedlot, 2,500 cows and several ranches in Nebraska and Colorado.
• Dr. John Scanga, associate sr. technical consultant at Elanco Animal Health, will present Production Technologies in Animal Agriculture, outlining the critical role of animal health technologies in protecting animal welfare and food quality and safety.
• Colorado State University animal scientist and behavior expert Dr. Temple Grandin will present Animal Well-Being and Society, addressing how today’s beef production system has made substantial progress with animal well-being efforts and how we can continue to move forward to meet consumer expectations. 
• University of Nebraska veterinarian Dr. Dee Griffin will present Animal Health:  The Link to Quality Beef . Dr. Griffin’s efforts in Beef Quality Assurance and animal health have led to America’s ranchers finding applicable solutions to critical production management practices with end beef quality remaining in the forefront of their decisions.
• Nebraska cattle feeder and blogger Anne Burkholder will present Raising Cattle with Passion and Animal Care. Anne is a mother of three who grew up in urban Florida, but now manages a family owned feeding operation. She is a strong advocate for animal welfare and beef quality assurance, and shares her experiences with the public on her blog titledFeedyardFoodie.
• Dr. Douglas Weed will present Beef’s Role in our Human Diet. A physician and epidemiologist, Dr. weed is the founder and managing member of DLW Consulting Services, LLC, and a leading expert on the role of protein in the human diet.

The organizers are encouraging participation, and a Q&A session with the panelists will follow the presentations. A “Beef Showcase Lunch” will feature several cuts of high-quality beef, with chefs explaining the differences and how production management decisions affect your satisfactory beef eating experience. 

Registration information is available online from the Colorado Beef Council. Or contact Travis Hoffman, Colorado Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator, Travis.Hoffman@colostate.edu.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Beef--transparency--trust-171247111.html