COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dairy nutritionists, industry professionals, producers and anyone who wants to learn the latest research on Jersey cattle, milk production and developing a Jersey branded beef program can get tips from the experts during a Dairy Educational Forum and Open House at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, on Ohio State University's campus.
The central part of the program is a free forum Aug. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hosted jointly by Ohio State's Department of Animal Sciences and the American Jersey Cattle Association, it will feature seminars designed to share information on efficiently managing dairy operations and the environmental sustainability of food production systems, said Maurice Eastridge, a professor and OSU Extension dairy specialist.
“This program has been organized to showcase some of the research conducted by Ohio State and its educational programs,” he said. “As the industry assisted in building our herd of high-quality Jersey animals at Ohio State’s teaching and research unit, this program serves as an open house for the public and the dairy industry and to highlight the value of partnerships between the Ohio State and Ohio’s agricultural industries.”
Topics to be discussed during the forum include: “Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Jersey Milk Production,” “Genomic Evaluations: Powerful Tool for Improving Dairy Cattle,” “Stream Management in a Pasture System,” “Silage Storage to Maintain Quality and Minimize Shrink,” “Managing the Costs of Production,” “Services Provided by the American Jersey Cattle Association,” and hand-on activities for youth.
On Aug. 8, the event will feature a presentation at 2 p.m. by Jude L. Capper, a sustainability consultant and adjunct professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Washington State University. Capper, whose research and outreach work focuses on modeling the environmental impact of livestock production systems including dairy and beef, will discuss "Meatless Mondays … and Other Fairy Tales."
Participants can also attend an open house Aug.10 at 10 a.m. at COBA/Select Sires Inc., which is North America's largest artificial insemination organization and is comprised of 10 farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. The open house is at 11740 U.S. Route 42 N. in Plain City.
Participants are encouraged to contact Eastridge at eastridge.1@osu.edu or 614-688-3059 by Aug. 1 to ensure an accurate head count for lunch and handouts.