The upcoming 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference will be held June 13-14, 2012, in Dubuque, Iowa. Click here to learn how you can attend the conference. We asked two of the speakers a few questions about their topics and why producers should be interested in attending. Thomas Overton Associate Professor and PRO-DAIRY Director Cornell University
Topics: Managing Energy Metabolism in Transition Dairy Cows and Using Physiological Markers in Herd-Level Transition Diagnostics
Q. What new information about this topic will you present? What do you hope attendees will take away from your presentation and why will it be worth their while to hear about it?
In one presentation, I will present ideas relative to the interactions of prepartum and postpartum nutritional strategies in transition dairy cows. Attendees will take away new understanding of the dynamics of feed intake and body condition score in transition cows along with approaches to maximize transition success. In a second presentation, I will focus on new biomarkers of stress and inflammation that we have been evaluating in our research group as herd-level diagnostics for transition cow programs along with their associations with milk yield, reproduction and health.
Randy Shaver
Professor
University of Wisconsin
Topics: What Are We Learning about Starch for Dairy Cows? and Results of UW-Madison Corn Snaplage & Corn Shredlage Feeding Trials
Q. What new information about this topic will you present? What do you hope attendees will take away from your presentation and why will it be worth their while to hear about it?
Corn shredlage is a new method of harvesting whole-plant corn silage using a self-propelled forage harvester that allows for a longer chop length while still achieving the desired kernel and cob processing. Corn snaplage is a method of harvesting high-moisture corn grain inclusive of cob, husk and ear shank using a self-propelled forage harvester fitted with a combine head that allows for kernel processing during harvest.
Both feed ingredients are receiving wide-spread interest by dairy producers and their nutritionists. Results of recent UW Madison feeding trials with corn shredlage and corn snaplage, along with an in-depth look at starch utilization by dairy cows during this time of high corn prices, will be presented. PD
Walt Cooley
Editor
Progressive Dairyman magazine
