Dairy Goat Management program to be held December 14

The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host “Fine-Tuning Your Dairy Goat Management” as a part of their annual Dairy Directions program Saturday, December 14 at the Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA) in Elkader.

The program will focus on managing forages, utilizing health strategies, improving colostrum management, implementing business practices and dealing with the challenges of managing dairy goats. All dairy goat producers are welcome.

“We have over 250 licensed dairies producing goat milk in Iowa,” said Jennifer Bentley, Northeast Iowa Dairy Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “The high level of interest by producers in improving production and quality prompted this program.”

Bentley explained that the ISU Dairy Team just completed a statewide survey of producers to determine what the dairies look like and what their interest in programming is. “Hopefully this will be the first of regular programs in northeast Iowa for our dairy goat producers,” Bentley said.

The agenda will include:

• Dairy Goat TransAnalysis - Larry Tranel, NE/SE IA Dairy Field Specialist, Dubuque
• Health Strategies for the Milking Goat Herd - Dr. Chris Duemler, Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center, Brodhead, WI
• Managing Forages for Milking Goats - Daniel Olson, Program Coordinator with Better than BMR, Lena, WI
• Colostrum Management – Jennifer Bentley, NE IA Dairy Field Specialist, Decorah
• Approved Medications for Dairy Goats – Dr. Megan Kleve, Elkader Vet Clinic, Elkader
• Producer Panel: Challenges of Producing Goat Milk – Clare Heberlein and Allan Shindelar.

“Dr. Duemler is a noted expert in dairy goat and dairy cow management,” Hall said. “His presentation will examine tests and methods to ensure that the goats in a dairy are healthy and profitable. From parasite control to nutritional evaluations and everything in-between, participants will appreciate learning from Dr. Duemler’s 42 years of veterinary experience.”

Registration will open at 9:30 a.m. and the program will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The registration fee to attend the program includes lunch, materials and all presentations. Register online at https://form.jotform.com/4Hregion1/dairy-directions-2019-goats or via phone at 563-245-1451. Deadline to register is December 6.