Internationally known livestock-handling facilities designer Temple Grandin is scheduled to speak in Mandan, N.D., on Jan. 14, 2014, as a part of the Winter Workshop at the Best Western Seven Seas Hotel.
The Morton County office of the NDSU Extension Service, Morton County Soil Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service are hosting this event.
Grandin, a professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, will speak about improving cattle handling and animal welfare.
Her insights into animal behavior and innovations in livestock handling have made her one of the top scientists in the humane livestock-handling industry. She also has developed an objective scoring system for assessing cattle and pig handling at meat plants. Many large corporations are using this scoring system to improve animal welfare.
Her other areas of research include cattle temperament, environmental enrichment for pigs, bull fertility, training procedures, and effective stunning methods for cattle and pigs at meat plants.
She also is a book author and advocate for people with autism. Her struggles with autism are the subject of an award-winning film.
The Winter Workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other speakers for the workshop and their topics are:
- Susan Keller, North Dakota state veterinarian - inhumane treatment, animal welfare and jurisdictional issues
- Larry Schnell, managing partner of Stockmen's Livestock Exchange in Dickinson- why using animal-handling techniques is important
The registration deadline is Jan. 2, 2014. Preregistration is required. The cost is $25 per person ($20 for students). That includes lunch and breaks.
The registration form is available at www.ag.ndsu.edu/mortoncountyextension. Mail registrations to the Morton County Soil Conservation District, 2540 Overlook Lane, Mandan, N.D., 58554-1593.
The Morton County Extension office also is hosting Grandin's presentation at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Mandan Middle School, 2901 12th Ave. N.W. She will discuss autism and how it has affected her life. This hourlong presentation is free and open to the public. Call the Extension office at 701-667-3340 to register.
Grandin's books will be for sale at both events, and she will be available for book signings.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.