The generation interval in cattle is long, leaving many producers to ask: When will I see the impact of genomic selection in my herd? Join us for this Neogen Table Talk solely focused on the genetic gain of beef cattle using genomics and how you can leverage technology to your advantage for generations to come.

Speakers:

Tom Brink – CEO, Red Angus Association of America

Tom Brink, CEO of the Red Angus Association of America, is well known throughout the U.S. beef industry and has earned a reputation as one of the foremost experts on beef production and supply chain economics. He spent 14 years in the cattle feeding business in various leadership positions at JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, and ContiBeef, one of its predecessor companies.

From 2008 through 2013, Brink was President and COO of J & F Oklahoma Holdings, Inc., the cattle ownership sister company to Five Rivers. From 2003 through 2013, he was in charge of feeder cattle procurement and risk management for a growing cattle feeding business that eventually procured and marketed over 1.6 million head per year. He has conducted extensive research on the factors that create valuable cattle both in the feedyard and from a carcass standpoint and has been a featured speaker throughout the nation on these and other beef industry topics.

Prior employment history also includes Cattle-Fax (Director of Market Research) and the American Gelbvieh Association (Executive Director). Brink grew up in Kansas with a cow-calf background and is a graduate of Kansas State University with degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics.

Brink founded Top Dollar Angus, Inc. after leaving his position with J & F Oklahoma Holdings, Inc. in September 2013. Top Dollar Angus is one of the first genetic certification providers for commercial feeder cattle, and the only one focused exclusively on Angus and Angus-based cattle/calves with Top 25% growth and carcass traits.

Dr. Jamie Courter – Beef Product Manager, Neogen

Originally from Henderson, North Carolina, Jamie received a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University. It was here that her passion for the beef industry began. Following graduation, she went on to obtain a master's degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics from South Dakota State University. During her tenure there, she interacted with and learned from producers of all ages and backgrounds. Her thesis research was conducted at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, NE, working with leading geneticists to perfect calculations of GE-EPDs. This knowledge and experience led to her decision to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a doctoral degree, where she worked alongside Drs. Ron Lewis, Matthew Spangler, and Temple Grandin to better quantify docility for genetic evaluations.

Clint Mefford – Growth Strategy Manager, Neogen

Raised on a sixth-generation diversified farm and ranch in southern Oregon, Clint Mefford serves as the Growth Strategy Manager for Neogen Genomics. Clint earned a bachelor's degree in animal science and a master's in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University, where he was both a member and an assistant coach of multiple national champion livestock judging teams. Clint's experience in beef cattle marketing ranges from his time as an educator in Oklahoma to serving as Director of Communications for the American Angus Association, the world's largest single beef breed organization. Today Clint leads marketing and communication strategies for all genomic products and solutions by working closely with product managers and sales in a diverse range of industries.

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