ISU Heifer Days

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host three heifer field days in late March, focused on reproduction and growth management, facilities and economics.

The field days will be held March 26 in Kalona, March 27 in Postville and March 28 in Orange City.

Holstein cattle eating hay, by hiv360/stock.adobe.com.“Nearly 25 percent of a dairy’s production costs are in raising heifer replacements, thus a considerable amount of feed, time and facilities must be invested to optimize growth for heifers to calve at an appropriate age,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “That is why this topic of raising your ‘dairy best’ heifers can have significant financial and herd benefits.”

Field Day Details:
March 26 at the Taylor Bontrager dairy, located at 1881 Johnson Washington Road SW, Kalona, from 1-3:30 p.m. Topics will include facilities and ventilation presented by Kris Kohl, northwest Iowa ag engineer, and heifer reproduction programs presented by Victor Gomez, assistant professor and extension dairy specialist with Kansas State University, and will conclude with a group discussion and facility tour.
March 27 at the Brian and Monica Enyart dairy, located at 630 Highway 51 South, Postville, from 1-3:30 p.m. Topics will include facilities and ventilation, presented by Kris Kohl, northwest Iowa ag engineer; heifer reproduction programs presented by Victor Gomez; and a group discussion and facility tour.
March 28 at Dordt Agricultural Fellowship Center and heifer barn, 3648 US-75, Sioux Center, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch provided. Topics will include facilities and ventilation, presented by Kris Kohl, northwest Iowa ag engineer; economics of raising heifers presented by Larry Tranel, dairy field specialist; and a foreign animal disease presentation by Lisa Hindle with USDA-Veterinary Services and Dr. Greg Schmitt with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. From 1-4 p.m., a Spanish and English reproduction training will take place for those wanting a better understanding of best management practices when working with artificial insemination programs. Victor Gomez will lead the training.

Those interested in attending one or more field days should register online by March 20 at https://go.iastate.edu/DAIRYHEIFER2024 or call ISU Extension and Outreach in Sioux County at 712-737-4230; Allamakee County at 563-568-6345; or Washington County at 319-653-4811. There is no fee to attend, but an RSVP is requested for meals and materials.

For more information, contact dairy specialist Fred Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu, Jennifer Bentley at 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu, or Larry Tranel at 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu.