Webinar series to highlight decision support tools for the beef industry

Lincoln, Neb., September 15—University of Nebraska–Lincoln scientists will play a key role in a national webinar series this October highlighting innovation and application of decision support tools for the beef industry. The webinars are scheduled for Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at noon Central time.

Sessions will be delivered via Zoom and will feature leading beef genetics and animal science experts from across the country. Nebraska faculty will host and present in two of the four sessions, underscoring UNL’s leadership in beef systems research and Extension.

On Oct. 8, Matt Spangler, UNL professor of animal science, will discuss iGENDEC, a tool for both beef × beef and beef × dairy index construction. Spangler will also host the Oct. 15 session, which features USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists presenting on germplasm evaluation research at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center, Nebraska.

“Nebraska is at the forefront of research that directly benefits beef producers,” Spangler said. “This series provides an opportunity to connect producers with tools they can use to improve efficiency, sustainability and profitability.”

Webinar Schedule
Oct. 1 — Beef Industry Selection Tool Updates
Host: Dr. Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky
New opportunities for maternal trait selection in Angus cattle — Dr. Esther Tarpoff
iGENDEC-based selection indexes at the North American Limousin Foundation and American Gelbvieh Association — Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University

Oct. 8 — iGENDEC: Innovation in Selection Index Development Tools
Host: Dr. Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee
iGENDEC: A tool for both beef × beef and beef × dairy index construction — Dr. Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Educating producers and students using iGENDEC — Dr. Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky

Oct. 15 — Application of US-Meat Animal Research Center Germplasm Evaluation Research
Host: Dr. Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Producing across-breed EPD adjustment factors from the USMARC GPE program — Dr. Larry Kuehn, USDA-ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (Clay Center, Nebraska)
Using the across-breed EPD annual reports for making commercial breeding decisions — Dr. Bailey Engle, USDA-ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Oct. 22 — Beef Industry Sustainability and Efficiency
Host: Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University
Why producers should care about methane — Dr. Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee, and Dr. Megan Rolf, Kansas State University
2026 Beef Improvement Federation Annual Symposium invitation — Dr. John Hall and Dr. Benton Glaze, University of Idaho

Registration is free and open to the public. Participants may register at https://ksu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xK9SJR8cR6mxtzYjhbpU3w. After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email with details for joining the webinars.

Those unable to attend live will have access to recordings of each session following the event.

Natalie Jones | IANR Communications