WORLD DAIRY EXPO PROVIDES CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

Dairy producers and industry representatives from around the globe will gather in Madison, Wisconsin, when World Dairy Expo takes place September 28 – October 1.

World Dairy Expo strives to be a leader in education and new technology. This year, continuing education credits for dairy professionals, nutritionists, veterinarians and veterinary technicians can be earned by attending the World Dairy Expo Seminars. Members of American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and the American Association of State Veterinary Boards – RACE Program (RACE) can earn one credit for each seminar they attend.

“Veterinarians and dairy professionals will see the latest technology displayed at World Dairy Expo’s trade show and the finest in dairy genetics on parade at the dairy cattle shows held during the week. Now, in addition, they can earn continuing education credits. This is a great added feature for a trip they are already making,” says Liz Matzke, seminar coordinator.

There will be eight seminars held during the week, Tuesday through Saturday, in Mendota 2 meeting room located in the Exhibition Hall. Seminars are structured with a 45-minute presentation, plus time for questions and discussion.

Seminar topics and credits that can be earned are listed below. Participants will learn more about: methane digesters, genomic testing, calf diets, new management technologies, feed costs, the global dairy outlook, reproductive tools and mycotoxins. Additionally, all seminars will be available for viewing after World Dairy Expo at www.worlddairyexpo.com.

ABS Global, Advanced Comfort Technology, Alltech, APC, Inc., Badgerland Financial, BASF Plant Science, Jamesway Farm Equipment and Micro Dairy Logic are sponsors of this year's seminars. Following is a brief synopsis of each Expo Seminar.

Tuesday, September 28, 1:00 p.m.
“Opportunities to Advance Manure Digesters in the US”
Christopher Voell, Program Manager-AgSTAR, EPA Climate Change Division
Sponsored by: Jamesway Farm Equipment
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

There are currently 150 operating manure digesters at US livestock facilities across the US, with potential for 3,000-4,000 additional digesters. However, many policy and financial barriers stand in the way of farms realizing their own digester. Manure digester projects provide both environmental and economic possibilities, including greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy generation, reducing air, land and water concerns, and providing revenue diversification for producers and rural communities. Christopher Voell will discuss the opportunities and hurdles to manure digester project implementation. Voell works in the US and abroad with producers, project developers, utilities and government agencies to advance the development of renewable biogas.

Wednesday, September 29, 11:00 a.m.
“Recent Developments in Genetic Testing and Predicting Genetic Values”
Dr. Curt Van Tassell, Research Geneticist, USDA – ARS
Sponsored by: ABS Global
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Single nucleotide polymorphism assays, more commonly known as genomic testing, are used to predict the genetic merit animals possess. As the technology evolves, the ability and cost to test for certain genes has become more readily available. High density testing provides detailed amounts of information on numerous gene pairs, while low density testing is a more cost effective way to analyze a specific gene sequence. Dr. Curt Van Tassell of USDA – ARS, will discuss how genomics testing is changing and what future benefits genomics might provide to producers. Van Tassell is a research geneticist at the Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory and Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory. He is instrumental in the development of genomic assays and communicating the use of this tool.

Wednesday, September 29, 1:00 p.m.
“Improving Feed Efficiency in Dairy Heifers”
Dr. Jud Heinrichs, Professor, Penn State University
Sponsored by: APC, Inc.
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Healthy, well-grown calves are the foundation of the future herd. Limit feeding is an emerging heifer nutrition program that improves efficiency and reduces the amount of manure and ammonia produced. This is accomplished with higher digestibility that increases feed efficiency without compromising growth and often reducing feed costs. Dr. Jud Heinrichs will discuss these diets and additional factors that can affect feed efficiency. Heinrichs is a professor of dairy science and extension specialist at Penn State University. During his tenure, his research and extension work has focused on dairy calf and heifer nutrition and management. Heinrich is the co-developer of the Penn State Particle Separator, which is used globally to determine forage and TMR particle sizes.

Thursday, September 30, 11:00 a.m.
“Will Precision Dairy Farming Change Dairy Farm Management?”
Dr. Jeffrey Bewley, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Kentucky
Sponsored by: Advanced Comfort Technology, Inc.
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

A vast array of equipment and software exists to monitor cow production, behavior, activity, and health creating a whole new data set for producers to consider. These technologies have the potential to change the way we manage cows, improve animal health, well-being and reproduction, and improve labor efficiency. Dr. Jeffrey Bewley will showcase a variety of new technologies that can be utilized for farm management and outline the benefits, drawbacks and investment requirements of new technologies. Dr. Bewley is an assistant extension professor of dairy systems management at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on the application and economics of new precision dairy management technologies.

Thursday, September 30, 1:00 p.m.
“Managing Feed Costs in 2010”
Dr. Mike Hutjens, Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
Sponsored by: BASF Plant Science
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Feeding the dairy herd is the most costly part of any dairy operation. Forages represent 50 to 65 percent of the feed resources which are controlled and managed by dairy farmers. Building the dairy ration around current on-farm forage inventory will be key in helping to maintain profit margins. Dr. Mike Hutjens will discuss evaluating forage inputs and building rations for optimal performance in high producing cows. Nutrient levels and form, such as source of fats and oil, protein quality, and feed particle size will be important in optimizing rumen health as well. Hutjens is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign. He was honored in 2008 as the American Dairy Science Association Fellow and the World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year.

Friday, October 1, 11:00 a.m.
“Global Dairy Trends and Their Affect on Milk Price Volatility”
Torsten Hemme, Chairman of the IFCN Network, IFCN Dairy Research Center at the University of Kiel, Germany
Sponsored by: Badgerland Financial
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Milk prices have experienced extreme volatility recently, causing an imbalance of supply and demand. The International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) estimates there are 1 billion people operating 145 million dairy farms in the world with an average herd size of only two to three cows. Torsten Hemme will discuss the future of milk production in the United States and Europe. He will examine producers’ awareness of global trends and their ability to improve cost competitiveness. Hemme is the chairman and director of research of the IFCN, a network of dairy economists from over 80 countries. IFCN compiles and reports milk production costs in their annual IFCN Dairy Report. Hemme has written over 200 papers and presented numerous talks related to global dairying.

Friday, October 1, 1:00 p.m.
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Reproductive Management Programs”
Dr. Paul Fricke, Professor, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Sponsored by: Micro Dairy Logic
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Since the inception of Ovsynch, numerous additional hormonal synchronization protocols have been developed for lactating dairy cows for their first breeding postpartum, detecting non-pregnant cows and resynchronizing for second inseminations and more. Dr. Paul Fricke will discuss the numerous systems with relation to optimal timed insemination and heat detection. Additionally, he will present the latest research for synchronizing dairy heifers. Fricke is a professor with the University of Wisconsin – Madison, recently promoted to a full time professor. His duties include numerous speaking engagements through his extension appointment and continuing his research on heat synchronization.

Saturday, October 2, 11:00 a.m.
"Mycotoxins in Dairy Feeds: The Threat to Herd Health"
Dr. Trevor K. Smith, Professor, University of Guelph
Sponsored by: Alltech
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Recent research indicates that current analysis of dairy feeds for mycotoxins may be seriously underestimating the degree of mycotoxin contamination. Dr. Trevor Smith will explain the threat mycotoxins pose to immunity, which can result in lingering herd health problems including, cows that do not respond to medications and failure of vaccination programs. The most effective tools currently available to minimize the harmful effects of mycotoxins are mycotoxin adsorbents. Smith has been a professor at the University of Guelph for 33 years. During his tenure, his research in feed and food toxicology has focused on prevention of mycotoxicoses, analysis of mycotoxins in feedstuffs and characterization of the harmful effects of feed-borne toxins.

*This program was reviewed and approved by AAVSB RACE program for eight hours of continuing education in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval. Please contact the AAVSB RACE program if you have any comments/concerns regarding this program’s validity or relevance to the veterinary profession. AAVSB RACE provider – World Dairy Expo, # 395