Virtual four-state dairy conference is scheduled

     Learn the latest information in dairy nutrition and management by attending the virtual 2021 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference on June 9-10. The new format is designed to improve the participant experience.

     June 9 and 10 will feature live morning sessions designed to promote interaction and discussion between participants and the speakers. All presentations will be pre-recorded and will be made available to participants for viewing before the conference and for 60 days after the conference.

     General sessions will also have a live component with speakers providing a five-minute live summary of their recorded presentation. This will be followed with a 45-minute to one-hour question and discussion period between session speakers and participants. We encourage participants to watch the recorded presentation before the conference and come with your questions. Breakout sessions will not have a live component, but you will be able to contact speakers directly with your questions.

     The June 9 morning session will feature Bill Weiss, former interim chair of the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University, discussing updated energy systems for dairy cows. Jim Drackley, professor of animal sciences with the University of Illinois, will explain a new system for determining the nutrient requirements of young dairy calves. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Weiss, Drackley and nutritionists sharing their ideas of how we will be feeding cows in the future.

     The June 10 session will feature a discussion on hypocalcemia treatment and prevention featuring Jesse Goff, professor emeritus with Iowa State University, and Laura Hernandez, University of Wisconsin.

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