North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center will hold its annual NDSU Feedlot School on Jan. 21-22, 2026.

This intensive course is designed for cattle producers, feeders, backgrounders, feed industry personnel, animal health care suppliers and anyone interested in learning more about feedlot production, nutrition, waste management and marketing.

“Cattle feeding is a very competitive business,” says Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. “Making cattle feeding profitable is usually a result of doing many things right, not just one thing better."

The feedlot school helps identify areas for improvement, ranging from feed bunk management to health to business planning to marketing.

“The regional cattle experts who teach at the school provide a good overview of management for North Dakota feeders," adds Hoppe. "Their interaction with the participants continues for years after the school.” 

Feedlot school topics will include the following:

• Why feed cattle in North Dakota
• Facility design and equipment
• Budgets for different cattle feeding scenarios
• Cattle requirements and feeding
• Beef Quality Assurance
• Implants
• Cattle financing
• Feed additives
• Ration formulation
• Feed nutrient analysis and feed testing
• Feedlot diseases and treatments
• Facility management
• Bunk reading and feed delivery
• Manure and nutrient management
• Livestock market outlook
• Price protection with hedging and LRP
• Alternative market programs
• Carcass quality and marketing on the grid

The school will also include a commercial feedlot tour and a tour of the Carrington Research Extension Center’s livestock facilities.

Instructors include faculty from NDSU’s Department of Animal Sciences and Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics; the Carrington, North Central and Central Grasslands Research Extension Centers; and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, as well as others who have extensive experience working with Northern Plains feedlots.

The deadline to register is Jan. 5. Register at ndsu.ag/CRECfeedlot26.

The registration fee is $225 per person. All meals are included with the registration. The fee does not include lodging. 

Participants are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. Lodging is available at the Chieftain Conference Center, Carrington Inn and Suites or Cobblestone Inn.

For more information about the course topics or to be placed on a waiting list for next year’s feedlot school, contact Hoppe at 701-652-2951 or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu.

The Carrington Research Extension Center is 3.5 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Dec. 8, 2025

Source: Karl Hoppe, 701-652-2951, karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu