019 Relationships between Producer Characteristics and Production Practices of Kentucky Beef Cattle Producers Participating in the UK Beef IRM Farm Program

Abstract The University of Kentucky Beef IRM team has developed a project-based educational program (UK IRM Farm Program) designed to instigate long-term changes in adoption of production practices and examine its impact on productivity and profitability of cow-calf operations. Our current objective is to elucidate relationships between producer characteristics and their use of various production practices. Beef cattle producers (n = 72) from 27 counties in Kentucky were selected to participate in the program. Each participant completed a survey to assess their current level of management and to obtain historical and current production data. Survey data was analyzed using Spearman's nonparametric correlations in JMP v11. Spearman's rho (sr) values of 0.10 to 0.249, 0.25 to 0.50, and 0.50 and greater were classified as low, moderate, and strong respectively. Production practices (n = 67) were classified into five categories; general management (MGT, n = 13), reproduction (REPRO, n = 7), nutrition (NUT, n = 19), genetics (GEN, n = 5), and health (HEA, n = 23). Operations were evaluated based upon age, farming status, number of cattle, factors valued in their operations, and why they farm. As producers age, their farming status increases from part-time to full-time (sr = 0.39, P = 0.001). Producer age was not related (P > 0.10) to number of cows, level of enjoyment of having cattle, or the value of greater returns to the farm. Farm status and number of cows were related for both commercial and seedstock operations, (sr = 0.36 and 0.74 respectively, P < 0.01) indicating that full-time farmers owned more cattle. Full-time producers tended to have a better nutrition program, (sr = 0.22, P = 0.07) but farm status did not impact any other production category. Increases in the number of practices classified as general management (ex. adequate facilities, ID cows/calves, production records), were associated with increases in the number of practices for all other management groups; REPRO, HEA, NUT, GEN (sr = 0.63, 0.32, 0.54, 0.27 respectively P < 0.05). As the number of commercial cows in the herd increases, an increase in average weaning weight is observed along with a more complete health program (sr = 0.35 and 0.3 respectively, P < 0.05). We conclude that age and/or farming status impacts number of cows, number of calves weaned, average weaning weight, and incorporation of standard production practices. Also, establishing basic management appears to be the corner