UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Optimizing reproductive performance is fundamentally important to the success and profitability of dairy operations. Penn State Extension is offering a hands-on workshop on Aug. 22 at Shady Maple Smorgasbord, East Earl, Lancaster County, to help producers, herd managers and farm personnel troubleshot reproductive losses in their farms by monitoring and controlling crucial factors that negatively affect fertility in dairy cows.
The program will be from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost per person is $20 and includes lunch.
Information will be presented on best management practices, with emphasis on metabolic and infectious disease monitoring and prevention, all of which can impact reproduction.
In addition, the program will offer a step-by-step approach to both set up reproductive programs that account for operations limitations and also troubleshoot reproductive issues through on-farm record assessment.
At the conclusion of the program, participants will be able to apply some of the learned techniques in three hands-on wet lab stations: Ketosis Assessment Methods, AI Technique, and Uterine Disease Diagnostics.
Presenters will include Adrian A. Barragan, DVM, MS, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor; Mauricio Rosales, extension educator, dairy; and Andrew Sandeen, extension educator, dairy.
To register, call 877-345-0691 or go to extension.psu.edu/dairy-reproduction. Registration deadline is Aug. 21. For questions, contact Adrian A. Barragan, Assistant Clinical Professor, at 814-863-5849 or axb779@psu.edu.
This program is partially sponsored by Parnell Inc. and is eligible for two SmartStart credits through AgChoice Farm Credit. SmartStart offers rate reductions for young or beginning and small farmers for participation in educational seminars.
— Penn State Extension