Integrated Risk Management for Women Producers,
Processors, and Retailers in the Local Meat Product
Value Chain

Building Confidence, Skills and Leadership of Women
Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Women Working the in Meat Business
North Carolina State University, Raleigh

Application Process:
Grant support from Southern Risk Management
Advertised with the NC Leadership & Cattle Handling for
Women Cattle Producers and the NC Choices list serv
Women were asked to submit and application

Application
• Questions included:
– Years of cattle experience (0-5, 6-10, 10+)
– Type of farm (cow/calf, stocker, feedlot/finishing)
– Number of Cattle
– County
– Why you would like to attend this workshop?
– What do you hope to learn from the training?

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Women’s Cattle Training Objectives
• To provide a non-intimidating atmosphere for learning.
• To enhance the skills & confidence of women cattle producers.
• Improve relationships and networking among producers.
• To increase female producer activity in Extension programs.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Female Producer Training
Workshop was a 1 d training
Held on November 8, 2015
NCSU Beef Education Unit
45 Female Producers Applied
22 Selected for Attendance
10 with 0-5 yrs experience
6 with 6-10 yrs experience
6 with 10+ yrs experience
Topics covered were both in class and hands-on learning.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Hands On Topics
• Reproduction Management:
– pregnancy check, dystocia problems
• Beef Quality Assurance:
– deworm, vaccinations, age by looking at teeth, castration
• Pasture Walk:
– Identify weeds and grasses, grazing management, fencing, how to read soil and forage analysis, etc.
• Low Stress Animal Handling:
– Using body techniques instead of voice

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Classroom Topics Discussed
• Becoming a Leader in the Cattle
Industry
– Bryan Blinson, NC Cattlemen’s
Director
• Animal Welfare and Low Stress
Handling
– Dr. Harrison Dudley (DVM) discussed proper ways of handling cattle.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Data Collection and Results

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Questionnaire on Data Satisfaction
• The questionnaire included 5 questions answered on a scale of 1-4.
1= Not Satisfied
2= Somewhat Satisfied
3= Satisfied
4= Very Satisfied
• Means and SD are reported.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Selected Questions and Scores
Question M SD
Relevance of information to your needs 4.0
0.00
Presentation Quality of instructors 4.0
0.00
Subject matter knowledge of instructors
Training facilities
Overall quality of the training workshop
4.0
3.9
4.0
0.00
0.21
0.00

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Questionnaire Data on Knowledge Changed
• The questionnaire included 4 hands-on topics answered on a scale of 1-5.
1= Very Low (Know nothing about this topic)
2= Low (Know very little about this topic)
3= Moderate (Know about the topic, but still have more to learn)
4= High (Have good knowledge, but there are things to learn)
5= Very High (Know almost everything about this topic)
• Means and SD are reported.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Comparison of Knowledge Before and After the Training
4
3
2
1
6
5
0
Low Stress
Cattle Handling
Vaccination
Techniques
Reproduction
Management
Pasture
Management
Pre-Training
Post- Training
Scale:
1=Very Low,
2= Low,
3= Moderate,
4= High,
5= Very High
(p<0.01)

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Selected Questions and Scores on Impact Evaluations
As a result of this program, do you intend to: %
Include Low Stress Handling On Your Farm
Graze Pastures Properly
Recommend This Training To Other Women
100
100
100

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Additional Questions
• What is your main challenge or constraint when working with cattle?
– “Old ways” vs. New or Different Ideas
– Improper Equipment
– Lack of knowledge and experience
– Time
– My husband!

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Additional Comments from Participants
• What did you like most about the training?
– All Women, doing the clinics in small numbers
– Hands-on training, new ideas, very knowledgeable instructors.
– Everything!

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Additional Comments from Participants
• What did you like least about the training?
– Not long enough

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:
Outcomes
• Improved female producer interaction and net-working.
• Made Specialists and Agents more observant to female producer needs.
• A NC Needs Assessment for Female Livestock Producers was conducted.
• Out of state impact (California & Georgia)
• Additional Workshops are being conducted.
• Partnership between Amazing Grazing & NC Choices.

Women Working in the Meat Business:
The Need

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Participants
Workshop spots were in high demand, with applications and inquiries sufficient to have doubled the class-size
15%
9%
46%
Farmer
Prospective farm
Meat processor
Chef
7%
Food professional
7%
Meat buyer
9%
7%
Other

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Topics Covered: Whole Carcass Pricing Profitability Tools
Learn if you’re making a profit, how much of a profit, and how to refine your pricing using a step by step “whole animal” assessment tool.

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Topics Covered: Whole Carcass Pricing Profitability Tools

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Topics Covered: Improving Knife Skills (trimming, deboning, denuding)
Hands-on opportunity to fabricate different retail cuts for a diverse marketplace

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Topics Covered: Improving Knife Skills (trimming, deboning, denuding)

Learn how to make processing realities match your business needs. Identify common mishaps and strategize about how to effectively communicate expectations.
Women Working in the Meat Business:
Topics Covered: Cut sheet trial and error

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Topics Covered: Cooking, Texture, Tenderness, Taste
Discuss muscle, function, and marketability.

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Learn about
Topics Covered: Best Practices for Marketing Meat: trends in meat markets, tips for getting to know your customers, and messaging that
SELLS from top industry butcher shop owners and niche meat professionals.

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Major Take-Aways
Pre
Post
Pre/Post
Evaluations:
100% of participants unanimously reported greater understanding and improved confidence in each category of topics covered in the workshop

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Major Take-Aways
Most Popular Topics:
• Pricing and Business Focus
• Hands-on Learning
• Developing a Professional Network of Female
Colleagues
Most Popular Skills/Take-Aways:
• How to talk to their processors and negotiate pricing/business relations.
• Empowered them to apply marketing techniques and business tools to their business.
• Greater network of resources and an increased professional network.

charge….
”
Women Working in the Meat Business:
Quotes
I have a better understanding of the cuts and where they come from, how to use them, etc. but more importantly, I learned more about how much to
“
Because of this training, I have worked more closely with my butcher and put real effort into that conversation. My meat sales have increased over 47% this year...”
“
I can now ask for more specific cuts of meat from my processor, and therefore increase profit.
”
“
“I've learned WHO can help me when I need an answer.
WHAT opportunities exist within the meat community to get products. The vast specialized knowledge base within the group”
“
This conference has radically improved my ability to speak to both customers and producers.
”

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!
Amy Price Neff:
Pendulum Fine
Meats

Meredith
Leigh: The
Ethical Meat
Handbook
Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!
Eliza MacLean:
Mobile Butcher
Shop

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!
Ann Rose: Rose
Mountain Butcher
Shoppe

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!
Kari Underly:
Mucolo Meat
Academy

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Spreading the Word: National Movement

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Spreading the Word: National Movement

Women Working in the Meat Business:
Other Resources
6 Part Meat Processor Video Series
• How to Choose a Processor That’s Right for You
• Meat Yield: How Much Am I Getting Back?
• Dry Aging Versus Wet Aging
• Brining Pork and Value-Added Product
• Value-Added Options for Sausage Products
• What Packaging Should I Expect?
How to Handle, Slaughter, and Process a Chicken Video

NC Choices: www.ncchoices.com
Contact:
Sarah Blacklin sarah@ncchoices.com
Project Manager
NC Choices
919.928.4771
Thank You!
Amazing Grazing: http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/what wedo/researchunits/amazinggrazing.html
SAVE THE DATE!
Upcoming Women
Workshops:
JUNE 2ND:
Amazing Grazing: Pasture
Management for Women
Cattle Producers
Contact:
April Shaeffer adshaeff@ncsu.edu
Research Specialist, NCSU
919-515-4005
NC Choices: Meat for Market
Workshop (for Women in the
Meat Industry)