Livestock clinic offered at UAF this weekend

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
02/19/09

Youths interested in raising livestock are invited to a weekend clinic led by an experienced livestock judge from Colorado State University.

Brett Kaysen, who has judged county and state fairs in more than 20 states, will teach the livestock clinic, which is offered Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22, in Schaible Auditorium on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. He will talk about livestock nutrition and breeding, and will give tips about showing animals during competitions. The clinic is sponsored by the University of Alaska Statewide Office of Academic Affairs and BP.

Kaysen will talk about breeding genetics and artificial insemination from 7-9 p.m. Friday. The clinic will continue on Saturday with a focus on sheep from 9 a.m.-noon, followed by goats from 1:30-4:30 p.m., and tips on showing in a round robin from 5-6 p.m. On Sunday, Kaysen will talk about beef from 9 a.m.-noon and swine from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Kaysen, a popular livestock judge at the 2008 Tanana Valley State Fair, has a doctorate in management systems and holds a faculty position with the Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences. He was a member of a Colorado State University livestock judging team that won a national championship and he coached the CSU livestock judging team for five years, winning the national contest in 2002.

The livestock clinic is geared to youths, but adults are also welcome. Refreshments will be provided by the Country Meadows 4-H Club. For more information, call Tanana District 4-H Agent Marla Lowder at 907-474-2427.

CONTACT: Marla Lowder, Tanana District 4-H agent, at 907-474-2427 or fnmlk1@uaf.edu. Debbie Carter, UAF Cooperative Extension Service public information officer, at 907-474-5406 or debbie.carter@uaf.edu

DC/2-19-09/104-09