Beef cattle herd health and stretching short feed supplies will be the topics at the NDSU Extension Service's 2011-12 Dakota Cow/Calf Clinics.
The clinics are scheduled for Dec. 13 and Jan. 13, 2012, via videoconference at six locations.
The Dec. 13 clinic will focus on stretching feed supplies. Topics will include high feed costs, the economic implications of converting grain acres to forage acreage, harvesting straw and corn stover, using stover and straw to stretch feed supplies, the availability and use of byproducts and using forages in rations.
General herd health will be the focus of the Jan. 13 clinic. Topics will include health issues resulting from severe moisture conditions in pastures and feedlots, helping beef cattle handle the stress of hot and cold weather, vaccination strategies, common beef diseases and pregnancy checking. This clinic also will have an ask-the-vet question-and-answer session.
"These clinics will increase cow/calf producers' awareness of byproducts and how to use them in cow rations, provide producers with some strategies for dealing with continued high feed costs and give them a better understanding of how to keep their herd healthy in North Dakota's extreme weather conditions," said Karl Hoppe, Extension area livestock specialist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center and one of the clinic presenters.
Each clinic will run from 10 a.m. to noon at the following locations:
- Ashley: McIntosh County Courthouse, IVN room
- Bottineau: Bottineau County Courthouse, IVN room
- Carrington: Carrington Research Extension Center
- Grafton: Chase Building
- LaMoure: LaMoure County Courthouse, IVN room
- Langdon: Langdon Research Extension Center
Presenters for the clinics are NDSU Extension livestock, farm management, nutrient management, beef cattle and economic specialists; the Extension veterinarian; and other livestock health and beef cattle experts.
The clinics are free of charge, but seating is limited at each location, so anyone wanting to attend should preregister. For more information or to register, contact:
- Bottineau County - Tim Semler, Extension agent, 701-228-2253, timothy.semler@ndsu.edu
- Cavalier County - Ron Beneda, Extension agent, 701-256-2560, ronald.beneda@ndsu.edu
- Foster County - Joel Lemer, Extension agent, 701-652-2581, joel.lemer@ndsu.edu
- LaMoure County - Al Ulmer, Extension agent, 701-883-5301, ext. 209, al.ulmer@ndsu.edu
- McIntosh County - Crystal Schaunaman, Extension agent, 701-288-3465, crystal.schaunaman@ndsu.edu
- Walsh County - Brad Brummond, Extension agent, 701-284-6624, bradley.brummond@ndsu.edu