Virginia Tech to host beef cattle health conference in Blacksburg, Jan. 25
Beef cattle producers will have an opportunity to learn strategies to protect the health of their herds at the Virginia Tech Beef Cattle Health Conference on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Virginia Cooperative Extension are hosting the event on the veterinary college’s Blacksburg campus, located at 245 Duck Pond Drive.
Morning topics include general lab diagnostics for herd health, botulism, current medications used by producers, intranasal vaccines, deworming, challenges of feeding poor quality hay, and purebred cattle herd management. In the afternoon, attendees will rotate through 30-minute labs that cover clinical procedures, an ultrasound demonstration, a bull-breeding soundness exam, and a calf necropsy.
Featured presenters include Chad Joines, director of beef cattle operations at the Virginia Tech Beef Cattle Center, as well as veterinary college professors, interns, and residents. They are
- Dr. Julie Cecere, clinical assistant professor of theriogenology in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences;
- Dr. Bethany Gibson, theriogenology resident;
- Dr. Sarah Holland, a production animal medicine graduate student;
- Dr. Sunshine Lahmers, clinical assistant professor of cardiology in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences;
- Dr. Laura Rawlings, food animal ambulatory and production medicine intern;
- Dr. Hollie Schramm, clinical instructor of production management medicine;
- Dr. William Swecker, professor of production management medicine and associate department head; and
- Dr. W. Dee Whittier, professor of production management medicine and Extension veterinarian.
Attendance will meet the requirement for beef quality assurance recertification for those already certified in the Virginia Beef Quality Assurance program.
Registration is $5 per person and free for anyone under 18. This includes lectures, laboratories, proceedings, and lunch. Registration will be in the college commons area, Room 245A. Ample parking will be available in front of the veterinary college complex.
To register or learn more about the program, please contact Ralph Roop, production management medicine technician, at 540-231-7344.
Written by Michael Sutphin.
