News

Date: 12/19/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Arcadia hosts West Central Iowa Beef Cattle Forum

A mix of cow-calf and feedlot issues will be discussed at the West Central Iowa Beef Cattle Forum that will be held at the American Legion Hall in Arcadia on Wednesday, Jan 22. The 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. forum features relevant educational components on issues such as cover crops, veterinary feed directives, lameness, and facility issues.

The program is being co-sponsored by the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Associations, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the ISU Iowa Beef Center.

Aaron Saeugling, ISU Extension and Outreach Agronomist, will give practical tips and expectations for cover crops.

Jan Shearer, ISU vet diagnostics professor, will visit about hairy heel wart - a common and painful wart-like growth on the feet of cattle that causes lameness. It is estimated to affect 40% of dairy herds in the Midwest and is becoming more common in cow-calf and feedlot cattle. Shearer will discuss cause, treatment and prevention.

Also from the vet college will be Grant Dewell. He will talk about veterinary feed directive and judicious antibiotic use, which is beginning to get much attention in the general press, but is always a key issue for cattle producers.

Ken Hessenius, supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Field Office 3, will discuss small, medium and large concentrated animal feeding operation inspections. DNR is operating under a revised protocol that may include a desktop assessment or a combination of a desktop assessment and on-site feedlot inspection. Hessenius will share what is involved in an inspection and how a producer might prepare for it.

Other factors, such as how the shortage of feeder cattle and competition for grain will imparct the beef market outlook will be presented by Shane Ellis, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist. More details are on the event agenda.

There is no cost for this event, but registrations are necessary to properly plan for meals. Make your reservations by Jan. 17 by either calling the ICA office at 515-296-2266, or the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach regional office  in Lewis, 712-769- 2600.