University of Wisconsin - Extension

Madison - A special Biosafety Forum will be part of the 2001 Midwest Dairy Herd Health Conference, Nov. 13-14, in Eau Claire. You do not need to be a conference participant in order to attend the Biosafety Forum. There is no cost for the forum and no advance registration is necessary.

The Biosafety Forum will take place on Wed., Nov. 14, at 1 p.m., and will focus on causes of disease, prevention principles and a Johne's Disease update. Presenters are Pamela Ruegg, University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension milk quality specialist, Larry Baumann, UW-River Falls/Extension veterinarian, and Libby Balzer, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection veterinarian.

The University of Wisconsin-Extension Dairy Team and the UW-Madison Department of Dairy Science in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) sponsor the Midwest Herd Health Conference, which is designed for dairy farmers interested in improving the health of their cows.

There is still time to register for the conference, to be at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Eau Claire. Interested participants should register by Oct. 30.

A slate of nationally known educators and a tour of a state-of-the-art dairy are among the highlights of the conference. Speakers will discuss health issues such as hoof health, molds and mycotoxins in corn silage and high moisture corn, emerging mastitis threats, biological threats, vaccines and synchronization protocols, and feed delivery and bunk management aspects of herds on total mixed rations.

A panel of dairy producers will discuss milking procedures and protocols. Panelists include Brode Hamilton of NorSwiss Farms, Inc. in Rice Lake; Doug and Toni Knoepke of More-To-Do Farm in Durand; and, Brad Afdahl of Afdahl Registered Holsteins in New Richmond.

Participants may tour Five Star Dairy LLC in Elk Mound. The tour of the 850-cow dairy includes a demonstration of ultrasound for reproductive examinations. The Five Star Dairy is owned by Lee and Jim Jensen of Jensen's Partnership, Loren and Diane Hanson of Maple Leaf Acres, Inc., and Jean Amundson of JIT Amund Dairy. The dairy uses a double 16 parallel DeLeval parlor, with a single eight special needs parlor for fresh and treated cows. There is a six-row freestall barn for the milking herd and a five row ICU freestall barn.

The registration fee for the two-day conference, all materials, breaks, lunch and banquet is $130. The fee for the conference and farm tour is $140. There is no fee or registration to attend the Biosafety Forum. Make checks payable to UW-Madison and mail or fax to CALS Outreach Services, 620 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706 or fax to 608-262-5088. For registration information, call 608-263-1672.

Participants should arrange their own hotel accommodations and transportation to and from the tour farm. For information, contact your local UW-Extension agriculture agent, or call Matt Jorgensen at 715-743-5121, or Paul Fricke at 608-263-3308. Information is also on the web at http://www.wisc.edu/cysci/ .

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