Other Seminars

How Low Can You Go with Protein in Dairy Cattle Diets?
Glen Broderick, Research Dairy Scientist
U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS

If your rations for high-producing cows are balanced for more than 16.5% protein, you’re probably wasting feed dollars and introducing nitrogen into the environment unnecessarily. Supplementing dairy diets with small amounts of essential amino acids may allow dietary protein to be fed at even lower levels. How low? Stay tuned.

Corn Silage Quality Varies from Field to Field
Joe Lauer, Professor of Agronomy
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Corn silage has a reputation of being ‘consistent’ in terms of its quality. But recent studies have shown that quality measurements can vary considerably from field to field. Find out how much variability exists, and learn about ways to minimize or account for this variability. 

World Dairy Expo Tweet Up
Sponsored by Cow Art and More

Silage Inoculants Seem to Affect Animal Performance as well as Crop Fermentation
Richard Muck, Agricultural Engineer
U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS

Silage inoculants work by shifting silage fermentation in a direction that better preserves the crop. New research is showing that microbial inoculants can also enhance animal performance – including milk production in dairy cows. The mechanisms involved in these effects are not clear, but may involve rumen microbial activity. Learn about research as it’s happening.

Heifer Mastitis Seminar
Presented by Central Life Sciences

Register online at www.heifermastitis.com. 

IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics Seminar in English

IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics Seminar in Spanish

The Economics of Feeding Dairy Cattle with High-Priced Forage and Grain
Steve Woodford, Dairy Nutrition Consultant
Nutrition Professionals

With the cost of forage and grain hitting record high prices over the last several years, it can be difficult to find significant costs savings through ration adjustments. Steve Woodford, a nutrition consultant with Nutrition Professionals, Inc, will examine cost savings through forage programs, by-product choices, and forage quality. 

National Agri-Marketing Association Reception
Hosted by the Badger NAMA Chapter

Come enjoy this opportunity to mix and mingle with other ag marketing professionals from the dairy industry. Members from all chapters are welcome, and so those interested in learning more about NAMA!

Using Ruminal Digestibility Data to Improve Intake, Feed Efficiency or Diet Costs for Lactating Cows
David Weakley, Director, Dairy Forage Nutrition Research
Calibrate Technologies, Forage Genetics International

There’s a new tool for improving forage utilization and cow performance – ruminal digestibility data. Intake and digestibility are influenced by ruminal digestibility of starch and fiber, but simply formulating to dietary standards for crude starch and fiber will not account for variation in ruminal digestibility – which potentially leads to differences in cow performance. This talk will describe a method for rapid testing of ruminal digestibility of ingredients which, when combined with formulating to dietary targets, can improve forage utilization and animal performance.

● 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Automated milking systems (robotic milkers): Panel will include Dr. Santiago Utsumi of Michigan State University, which has a grass-based dairy research farm using robotic milkers, Dr. Doug Reinemann, a University of Wisconsin-Madison milking systems expert, and farmers who use robotic milkers in their pasture based system.

● 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Pasture irrigation and other drought strategies: Panel will include farmers from Wisconsin and Missouri who utilize pasture irrigation and researchers summarizing economic performance of portable pasture irrigation from an on-farm study in Wisconsin.

● 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Roundtable discussion: Dr. Tony Rickard of the University of Missouri will moderate a panel of farmers and researchers for a discussion of anything and everything related to managed grazing.

● 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Grazing and Organic Seminars’ Reception in the Waubesa Room: Opportunity to meet with speakers and sponsors for refreshments and conversation.

Heifer Mastitis Seminar
Presented by Central Life Sciences

Register online at www.heifermastitis.com. 

Introduction to More Than Manure
with Dave Kaltenberg speaking

Seminar presented by SFP

Using Plant Analysis to Diagnose Alfalfa Nutrient Needs
Carrie Laboski, Associate Professor and Extension Soil Scientist
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Sulfur is becoming more limiting for alfalfa production in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. Learn how plant analysis can help you diagnose nutrient deficiencies.