BEEF 509 is an educational program designed to teach cattle producers about the food side of their business and how to utilize best management practices to improve beef quality and enhance profitability while learning about value within the beef chain.   

Topics to be covered include Live Cattle Evaluation, Beef Carcass Grading, Grid Pricing, Beef Harvest Demonstration, Carcass Fabrication and Cutting, Understanding the Science of Beef, Beef Quality Assurance and Live Carcass and Boxed Beef Evaluation.   

Participants will be divided into teams, taught live animal evaluation, grid pricing systems, allowed to select live cattle through an “auction-like” setting and then follow those cattle through harvest, grading and a hands-on cutting session which provides participants with the opportunity to experience first-hand the differences encountered in carcass composition. The resulting information is then evaluated in terms of the value differences calculated between animals and how that translates back to value differences in the live animals to determine which teams made the most profit based on their original live purchase price.   

A maximum of 30 program participants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no registration fee for participants who bring their own animal for custom harvest, however participants will be responsible for processing and harvest charges. The registration fee for participants without an animal brought for harvest will be $200, with the beef council covering all additional program expenses. Confirmed and registered participants must attend both Saturdays.   

BEEF 509 instructors will determine which cattle will be a part of the 509 program based on multiple educational considerations. Prizes will be awarded for the Top teams ranked by final profit. Prizes will also be awarded based on a traditional carcass contest competition. 

All cattle brought for harvest by 509 participants will be eligible for the carcass contest awards.   

Registration and additional information are available at ohiocattle.org or by calling 614-873-6736 or email at [email protected]. Registration deadline is Jan. 20, 2025 or as soon as the program is full.