El4-Ag Progress Section, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August'l6, 2003 Demonstrations At Livestock Area Of Ag Progress Days ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.) A series of demonstrations and discussions giving farmers practi cal information they can use in their operations will highlight the Animal Sciences Exhibits Area at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 19-21. The demonstrations, offered by the departments of dairy and ani mal science and veterinary sci ence, will include some new ap proaches and review some basic techniques, according to Mike O’Connor, professor of dairy sci ence and exhibit coordinator. “We want to present useful techniques and information that fanners can consider,” he said. “We’re also highlighting some new technologies and concepts adaptable to livestock manage ment.” Scheduled presentations: Tuesday, Aug. 19 • 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Forage Quality and Influence on Meta bolic Diseases and Transition Cow Health. Extension veterinar ian Bob Van Saun will focus on the influence of forage quality on the major metabolic problems oc curring at calving time and on the importance of maintaining health of the transition cow. Equine Owners Advised To Vaccinate Animals Against EEE HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Agriculture Secretary Dennis C. Wolff Wednesday advised all equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) as soon as possible. “EEE kills almost all unvaccinated horses that become infected,” Secretary Wolff said. “Owners should be aware that as a result of this year’s wet conditions, EEE may be more of a risk than usual this year. The vaccine is an effec tive means of prevention, and all horse owners should consult their veterinarians for vaccina tion protocols against this disease.” EEE is a serious disease that can lead to en cephalitis. It is considered to be more deadly than West Nile Virus in humans and horses. EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects that pick up the virus from infected avian populations. Approximately two days after infection, clinical symptoms begin to appear. Initial symptoms in horses include fever, ano rexia, and stiffness, then progress to sleepiness, neurological abnormalities, convulsions and eventual death. Vaccines are available through veterinarians, but there is no effective treatment once infected. EEE cannot be transmitted from horse to horse or horse to human. While not prevalent in Pennsylvania, EEE has been identified in neighboring states this year, and human and horse fatalities have occurred. The disease is more common in coastal states, such as Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. EEE can also affect ratites (ostriches, rheas, and emus). For more information on prevention options for ratite owners, contact your veterinar ian. “In addition to vaccinating horses, I encour age everyone to use similar precautions against EEE as they would against West Nile Virus. This includes wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent while outdoors, and get ting rid of mosquito habitats such as standing water around homes and farms,” Secretary Wolff said. • 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Are Your Cows Sorting Their Ra tion? Monitoring Feed Particle Sizes. Jud Heinrichs, professor of dairy and animal science, will demonstrate how to determine if cows are sorting their TMR by measuring feed particle size with the new Penn State Particle Size Separator. • Noon How to Measure Colostrum Absorption and Moni tor Calf Health. Bob Van Saun will demonstrate the use of rapid calf-side tests to measure absorp tion of antibodies from colostrum in calves. Interpretation of anti body levels and influence on calf health will be included. • 3 p.m. Frequent Milking of Fresh Cows Improves Milk Yield. Zhiguo Wu, assistant pro fessor of ruminant nutrition, will lead a discussion about the new concept of milking fresh cows more frequently to improve milk yield. Wednesday, Aug. 20 • 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cor recting Common Causes of Lameness. Extension veterinar ian Dave Wolfgang will demon strate trimming techniques and discuss therapies to correct com mon lameness problems in dairy cattle. • 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ultra sound Technology to Evaluate Reproductive Status and Analyze Compositional Differences in Livestock. Keith Bryan, senior in structor in dairy and animal sci ence, will demonstrate the use of ultrasound technology in animal agriculture. • Noon and 3 p.m. Review Your Artificial Insemination Technique. Mike O’Connor will demonstrate the use of reproduc tive specimens and radiographs to insure accurate artificial in semination technique in cattle. Thursday, Aug. 21 • 10 a.m. and noon Making Hard Calvings Easier. Dave Wolfgang will show how to use a “phantom cow” with artificial uterus to instruct participants in techniques to deliver calves with less stress on themselves, the cow and the calf. Wolfgang will also discuss methods to correct com mon malpresentations that make delivery difficult. • 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Those Nasty Mastitis Bugs What to Do About Them. Extension vet erinarian Bhushan Jayarao will discuss the most common bacte ria that cause mastitis. Strategies for control, treatment and pre vention will be presented. • 2 p.m. Why Antibiotics Don’t Work the Way They Used To. Brenda Love, research assist ant in veterinary science, will talk about the emergence of resistance to antibiotics by bacteria. Impli cations for antibiotic use in pre vention and treatment of bacteri al diseases will be included. Penn State’s Ag Progress Days is conducted at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rockspring, nine miles southwest of State College on Rt. 45. Look For GVM At The Ag Progress Days Aug. 19, 20, 21 WEST FIFTH STREET GVM Double Duty • 374 Heidlersburg Road Biglerville, PA 17307 866-677-4510 A child lassos a mechanical calf at last year’s Ag Pro gress Days. Lancaster Farming Check out our Website! Tanks Pumps Hose Valves And More www.gvmmc.com & * Norwesco Tanks om
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