Virginia Tech to host beef cattle health conference in Blacksburg Jan. 30
BLACKSBURG — The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension are hosting the Virginia Tech Beef Cattle Health Conference on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Designed to give beef cattle producers an opportunity to learn strategies to improve the health of their herds, the conference will take place in the auditorium at Virginia Tech’s Litton-Reaves Hall, located at 175 West Campus Drive.
The conference will feature special guest Tom Noffsinger of Benkelman, Nebraska, a consulting feedlot veterinarian best known for his passion and enthusiasm for working with feed yards and ranches on low-stress cattle handing. An increasing number of feed yards and ranches are incorporating the low-stress handing philosophy and production practice into their daily operations to their and their cattle’s benefit.
Noffsinger will give morning presentations on “Low Stress Cattle Handling: Improving Cattle Husbandry” and “Preparing Virginia Calves for the Feedlot.”
Following a morning break, two veterinary college faculty members will speak on cattle health topics.
Sherrie Clark, associate professor of theriogenology in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, will present on “Cattle Temperament: Effects on Health and Reproduction,” and Sierra Guynn, clinical assistant professor of production management medicine, will discuss “Your Sick Cow: Phone Consultation and Early Treatment Enhance Success.” In addition, Jeannie Dudding, agriculture and natural resources Extension agent from Giles County, will speak on “A Plan to Make Your Feeder Calves Healthier … And Get Paid For It.”
In the afternoon, participants will travel to the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena on Virginia Tech’s campus for lunch and a low-stress cattle handling demonstration by Noffsinger.
Registration is $8 per person and free for anyone under 18. This includes lectures, laboratories, and lunch. Parking is available in the Litton-Reaves lot behind the building, and registration will be in the Litton-Reaves foyer. Attendance will meet the requirement for Virginia Beef Quality Assurance recertification for those already certified in the program.
To register or learn more about the program, please email Ralph Roop, production management medicine technician, or call him at 540-231-9041.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Ralph Roop at 540-231-9041 during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations at least five days prior to the event.
