Strategies for Maximizing Feed Quality and Improving Nutrition to be Discussed at PDPW's Dairy Feed & Nutrition Conferences, November 18, 19, 20



Dairy producers and those responsible for feed quality and nutrition on dairy farms are invited to attend one of three one-day conferences offered in November by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW).

Three one-day programs will be offered in the following locations:

  • Tuesday, November 18 at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Onalaska, Wis.
  • Wednesday, November 19 at LaSures Hall in Oshkosh, Wis.
  • Thursday, November 20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Madison, Wis.


Each conference day will begin with registration at 9 a.m., include question-and-answer time with the expert trainers, and conclude by 4:15 p.m.

The following presentations will be repeated in each location:

"Nutritional Regulation of Milk Components" will be presented by Dr. Tom Jenkins, professor at Clemson University's Center for Nutritional Physiology and Metabolism, and Dr. Adam Lock, Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University and a noted expert in ruminant nutrition and physiology. The session will focus on the importance of milk component yields to milk price. Drs. Jenkins and Lock will describe fat digestion and metabolism in dairy cows and examine the interaction between diet, rumen fermentation and mammary synthesis of milk components. Nutritionists and farm managers will obtain practical information on how to manage diets to control milk fat content.

"Energy Partitioning and Use of Supplemental Fats," also with Drs. Jenkins and Lock, will cover two important areas: 1) Recent advances regarding energy partitioning in dairy cows and how it affects body condition score; and 2) Recent research on fat supplementation opportunities and challenges. A case study of low milk fat on a commercial dairy farm will help troubleshoot low milk fat situations.

"Feeding for Increased Milk Protein" will be led by Dr. Mike Hutjens, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, Department of Animal Sciences. Building protein levels increases the economic value of marketed milk. This session will explore breed protein and fat relationships, amino acid sources for milk protein synthesis, using rumen modeling programs to estimate protein, and sources of rumen under-graded protein in feed sources.

"Strategies for Compromised 2014 Corn and Alfalfa Crops," also led by Dr. Mike Hutjens, will explain how milk production can be maintained while working within the confines of this season's feed challenges-silage with reduced energy levels and significant quality variations.

"Milk and the Consumer" will be a brief session highlighting significant research that reveals milk's effects on human health, and why this information is important to dairy producers.

An "Ask the Experts" session will conclude the conference and offer attendees question-and-answer time with the three presenters.

The PDPW Dairy Feed & Nutrition Conferences are accredited training programs with the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM) and veterinarians may receive up to 6.2 CEUs for one day of training. The conferences have also been pre-approved by American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) for up to 5 CEUs for one day of training.

To learn more about PDPW's Dairy Feed & Nutrition Conferences and to register, visit www.pdpw. org or contact PDPW at 1-800-947-7379.

PDPWProfessional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is a dairy-producer founded organization that provides educational programs and services to fellow dairy producers. PDPW's mission is "to share ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that help dairy producers succeed."
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10.21.2014