Herdperson workshop coming to Colby farm
Take a deep dive into some of the most challenging cow care topics, including transition cow care, obstetrics and calving difficulties at the 2022 Herdsperson Workshops presented by Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW). English and Spanish-speaking herdsmen and women, dairy managers, nutritionists and veterinarians will take away new insights from the hands-on, on-farm sessions presented by industry experts.
Two one-day sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Larson Acres in Evansville, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Heeg Brothers Dairy in Colby. Registration each day will begin at 9 a.m., with the program concluding at 4:30 p.m. The workshops will be presented in English with simultaneous Spanish translation and have been approved for continuing education (CE) credits through Dairy AdvanCE (DACE) and by the American Registry of Professional Scientists (ARPAS).
The workshop will start with a fastmoving “Power Round” session during which all three presenters will share the latest information, findings and research for transition cow care and calving difficulties. The session will focus on key herd management practices and protocols that herdsmen and women can take home and implement immediately.
The afternoon breakout sessions will feature three hands-on sessions:
n Dr. Ryan Breuer, DVM, diagnostic case and outreach coordinator at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and clinical assistant professor of large animal internal medicine at UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, will lead the “Obstetrics” breakout, sharing practical insights for managing close-up and maternity pens. The handson training will address signs to watch for before, during and after delivery, indications of distress, protocols for healthy calf deliveries and determining when assistance is needed, and safe handling practices for both cows and handlers.
n Dr. Franklyn Garry, DVM, extension specialist and veterinarian with the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, will facilitate the “Cow Necropsy” session. He will lead participants through a full cow necropsy to discover the physiology of abomasum ulcers, hemorrhagic bowel, fatty liver and other silent thieves. He will also highlight when euthanasia is appropriate and review proper methods for welfare of animals and people.
n Dr. Julia Hamann, DVM, ruminant field technical specialist for Diamond V, will lead the “Transition Cow” session, taking an in-depth look at the metabolic changes during the three weeks before and after calving. She will zero in on ways that cows’ needs have previously been mismanaged or misdiagnosed in the past and outline ways to improve the health, safety and longevity of every cow in the herd.
