National Center for Beef Excellence

04/01/2026

“I am most looking forward to the opportunity to work with ranchers from across the country to help them achieve the data, marketing, and registry goals they have for their operation,” Renner said. “Being a voice for those individuals and families, and helping make connections for resources, funding, education, and market access, are services I’ve worked to build my career around, and I’m excited to be able to execute those services every day in this role.” – Jake W. Renner

Help us welcome Jake as our new Executive Director. Read his release below, share words of encouragement and drop any questions you may have.

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE National Center for Beef Excellence Names Jake W. Renner as Executive Director Kearney, Mo. — The National Center for Beef Excellence (NCBE) announces the hiring of Jake W. Renner as executive director, effective April 1, 2026. Renner brings a background spanning extension...

03/31/2026

With today being Becky’s last day with the National Center for Beef Excellence, we want to extend our sincere thanks for eight fantastic years of leadership and vision.

Throughout those years, Becky has served our organization and the breed associations she’s helped to guide and lead with dedication and professionalism.

Becky, we’re grateful for your commitment to the beef industry and NCBE!

Thankfully, she isn’t going far and will continue to serve on the Board of Directors as we welcome our new Executive Director in April.

01/12/2026

Do you have a passion for the beef industry and association management?
Are you a seasoned communicator with a keen eye for financial management?
If the answers are yes, check out the Executive Director position announcement below:
http://www.beefcenter.org/newsfeed/national-center-for-beef-excellence-seeks-executive-director/

11/26/2025

|| Body Condition Scoring for Successful Breeding Season ||
Cheyenne Young – KRIRM Graduate Student

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is one of the most effective tools producers can use to prepare their cattle for the breeding season. This assessment of fat cover over muscle is scored on a scale of 1 to 9; 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese. This is a quick way to evaluate whether your cows are in enough condition to not only conceive, but to successfully carry a calf.

But why does it matter? Cows that fall in the moderate range body condition score of 5-6 generally have the highest conception rates while those who fall below that have difficulty conceiving. On the other side of that, over conditioned cattle (BCS > 7) have the potential to experience dystocia.

Timing is everything in agriculture. The same is with evaluating BCS. Estimate BCS at weaning and 60 days before the start of calving season. Doing so at these production stages will allow adequate time to adjust nutrition to reach the target BCS score. Conducting a BCS is something to think about well in advance of breeding season since cows cannot gain significant weight in a few short weeks.

How should I evaluate my cattle? Focus on areas like ribs, spine, hips, udder and brisket to determine fat coverage. Remember, fat deposits develop on the body from front to back and top to bottom.

Proper BCS at breeding enables the cow to have better conception rates and healthier pregnancies. Being consistent in body condition scoring is not only a management tool, but it can also be an investment in your herd and your bottom line.

10/03/2025

Profit and cattle aren't words we're used to hearing in the same sentence, for multiple years, in the cow-calf sector. We aren't complaining, but the extra black ink can be daunting as we prepare for tax season.
Our friends at University of Nebraska-Lincoln have compiled "Tax Planning for Cow/Calf Operations". The guide is a great resource as we kick off Q4 of 2025 and begin preparations for 2026.

The past several years have been profitable for cattle producers. Cow/calf operations are amid a period of unprecedented high incomes—something that crop farmers experienced back in 2012 and again in 2022. Strong income years are a blessing, but they also bring challenges: larger tax bills, pressu...

10/02/2025

South Poll Grass Cattle Association Field Day 25 was a success... and then some! The weekend saw good red cattle, education, networking and prices to be proud of!

Cattle Averages from the 2025 South Poll Field Day-Updated 👇
Cow/Calf Pairs $13,583.33
Bred Heifers $9,271.43
Open Heifers $6,900.00
Bulls $6,980.00
Thank you to all who consigned and all who purchased! We hope the new additions to your farm are settling in well!

09/17/2025

begins Monday - a great opportunity to talk with family and employees about the hazards on your operation.

This year's "Safety First, Avoid the Worst" theme is all about being proactive, slowing down and being cognizant of the inherent risks and dangers found on every farm and ranch operation.
Below, check out the week’s schedule and plan some time for those important and conversations!

National Education Center for Agricultural Safety AgriSafe Network

09/16/2025

Have you heard of the 7% rule of body condition scoring? It's a critical component of cattle breeding success. Oklahoma State University's Mark Johnson does a great job breaking the management principle down in this episode of SunUp!

(Sept. 13, 2025) In this Cow-Calf Corner, OSU’s Mark Johnson explains the 7% rule of body condition scoring and why it’s vital for cattle breeding success 🐄...

09/13/2025

Join us next Friday for the South Poll Field Day to see for yourself why The Southern Mama Cow Breed is an excellent genetic addition to any herd.
You'll gain expert insights into grass-based ranching and hear from Teddy Gentry, Greg Judy and Steve Freeman.

Make plans to join us in Perryville, AR, Sept 19-20!

Learn more and register: https://southpoll.com/spgca-field-day/

09/12/2025

: You can run more cows with the same forage base with a smaller cow.

A 1,200 lb. cow will eat over 9% more forage than a 1,100 cow. The 1,100 lb. cow will wean a calf at 42% of her body weight. The 1,200 lb. cow will wean 40% of her body weight.
An 1,100 lb. cow will net a 7.2% higher return to the cow-calf operation than the larger cow.

09/09/2025

Thinking about weaning calves this year? A 45-day preconditioning program with vaccines, castration and good nutrition helps reduce sickness, lower vet costs, and earn value-add premiums.

A 2024 OSU study shares more:

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/calf-preconditioning-a-comprehensive-overview.html