Four Advanced Beef Cow Calving Clinics Set for Early January

The Iowa Beef Center is offering four Advanced Calving Clinics to help Iowa cattlemen and women prepare for a successful calving season and subsequent breeding period. Clinics will be offered on Jan. 6 in Fayette and Clinton counties and on Jan. 7 in Greene and Montgomery counties.

Iowa State University extension beef specialist Denise Schwab said the clinics will feature a variety of learning sessions, and opportunities to share questions and experiences. Session topics will cover essentials from conception to calving, including strategies for managing dystocia with practice using the calving model, beef cow nutrition basics, neonatal calf health and care, and calving distribution management.

“Whether you’ve calved 10 cows or 10,000 cows, there’s always a new technique to learn to help you get one more calf born alive,” she said. "Attendees of previous Advanced Calving Clinics have reported substantial satisfaction with the program, estimating an average benefit of $1,480 per operation."

Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, ISU extension beef specialist, said the life-size calving model is a popular hands-on feature of the clinics.

“Dr. Caitlin Wiley from the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine will help participants with tips and tricks for handling difficult delivery situations,” she said.

Local veterinarians Dr. Cody Sacquitne of South Winn Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Michelle Hohrman of DeWitt Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Amy Klauer and Dr. Charles Martin of Fairview Veterinary Clinic, and Dr. Aimee Anderson of Anderson Veterinary Services will be present at their respective locations to provide insights on neonatal calf health and common reproductive challenges in the local area.