New Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Management May Improve Production, Profit

Learn the latest information in dairy nutrition and management at the 2021 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference to be held June 9 and 10. The virtual platform will include interaction and discussion between participants and speakers. 

On June 9, University of Illinois animal science professor Jim Drakley will explaining a new system for determining the nutrient requirements of young dairy calves. Bill Weiss, Ohio State University, will discuss updated energy systems for dairy cows. Following both presentations, the two experts will join nutritionists in a panel discussion on the future of feeding cows. 

On June 10, Jesse Goff of Iowa State University and Laura Hernandez of University of Wisconsin will discuss hypocalcemia treatment and prevention. Kan Kalscheur, USDA Forage Research Center, will show how to improve lactation performance using high digestible forage. Luiz Ferreretto, University of Wisconsin, will discuss corn silage fiber digestibility.

All presentations are pre-recorded and available to participants before the conference. Speakers will provide a live 5-minute summary, followed by a 45- to 60-minute question and discussion period. Recordings will be available for 45 days following the conference.

Select breakout topics include:

• Lackluster calves: Using lung ultrasound to identify a “calories-out” problem
• Interpretation and use of new passive immunity guidelines
• Optimizing the use of sexed semen
• Nutritional strategies for alleviating heat stress in dairy cows
• Dairy heifer coccidiosis research with novel egg antibodies and essential oils
• Using summer-to-winter ratios to evaluate summer slump
• What is happening in the gut in the scouring calf and effective fluid therapy
• Mineral bioavalability

For details and to register, one may visit fourstatedairy.org/ or contact Jim Salfer at salfe001@umn.edu, 320-203-6093. The conference registration fee is $100. This conference is a collaborative effort of Iowa State University Extension, University of Illinois Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

If you will need an accommodation in order to participate, please contact Salfer.