The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host its annual Dairy Goat Management Seminar on Friday, Dec. 8, at the Historical Village Visitors Center 715 D Ave., Kalona, and on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Dordt College-Agriculture Stewardship Center, 700 7th St. NE in Sioux Center. Both events begin with registration at 9 a.m. and the program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
This year’s focus is on milk quality and functional type animals.
“Dairy goat production is an important industry in Iowa, especially in eastern and northwest Iowa,” said Jenn Bentley, a dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are very pleased to continue this educational opportunity with a lineup of quality speakers and presenters to provide producers with practical take-home information.”
The program will cover the following topics and presenters:
- Using antibiotics without compromising milk safety, by Michelle Buckley, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Mastitis identification and management, by Fauna Smith, UC-Davis College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Setting goals: VCPRs and milk quality, by Fauna Smith, UC-Davis College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Putting together a dairy goat financial analysis, by Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach.
- Hands-on lab focused on improving milk quality: Functional type assessment, milk hygiene and equipment maintenance, and milk quality assessment tools, by Danni Louie, American Dairy Goat Association linear appraiser; Fauna Smith, UC-Davis College of Veterinary Medicine; and Michelle Buckley, ISU College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Justin Korver, creamery update (Sioux Center only).
There is no registration fee to attend the program, but registration is required online at https://go.iastate.edu/2023DAIRYGOAT or by calling ahead. For the Sioux Center location call the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County office at 712-737-4230 and for the Kalona location call the ISU Extension and Outreach Washington County office at 319-653-4811. Email dairygoatextension@iastate.edu with any questions.
The deadline to register for both locations is Dec. 6 at noon. A complimentary lunch will be provided thanks to sponsorship from Saputo and Big Gain.
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program, Antimicrobial Resistance number: 2020-04197.
