The newsletter is intended to promote seasonal management practices to the state's cattle raisers and will be distributed quarterly.

The newsletter, Beef Cattle Penning, will be sent via e-mail. It can also be accessed on line at http://www.beef.tamu.edu/.

Each newsletter will have a set of topics selected and written by Extension beef cattle specialists specifically for each season.

It will also provide dates of upcoming regional and statewide beef cattle programs, said Dr. Jason Cleere, Extension beef cattle specialist.

Highlights in the inaugural issue include:

- Dr. Rick Machen, Uvalde, and Dr. Jason Banta, Overton, will discuss forage and hay quality and hay purchasing considerations, as well as cow supplementation tips.

- Dr. Bruce Carpenter, Fort Stockton, will discuss the reasons for pregnancy-checking cows at this time of year. He will explain the traditional method of rectal palpation. He also will talk about newer forms of pregnancy testing using ultrasound and the pregnancy-specific hormone test marketed as BioPryn.

- Dr. Steve Hammack, Stephenville, will explain the proper use of expected progeny differences and the most optimal traits for selection by cow calf producers.

- An overview of the 2007 Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Short Course - the largest of its kind - will be given. This event is held every August in College Station.

The spring newsletter will cover topics including improving cull-cow value, cow herd breeding management, chute-side manners, calving preparation, external parasite control and tips for controlling bloat.

To obtain an electronic copy of Beef Cattle Penning, contact Cleere's office at extansc@ag.tamu.edu or 979-845-6931.