On March 18, 2013 from noon to 1 p.m. CST, Elanco's Dr. Michael Overton will present a webinar titled, "Far-Off to Fresh Cow: Opportunities to Improve Transition Performance." Overton will walk attendees through the opportunities and challenges for cows in the far dry, close-up and fresh pens, including nutritional and housing management.
Progressive Dairyman asked Overton for additional details about his talk:
Q. Why is this topic important?
OVERTON: During the transition period, dairy cow experience a number of metabolic and infectious challenges that directly or indirectly impact their health, survival and future reproductive performance. Producers spend a significant amount of time, effort and resources trying to help cows make a smooth transition into lactation.
Understanding the key challenges that cows face during this time is the first step to improving how we manage these cows. Focusing on a few high-priority items should lead to improved performance and profitability.
Q. What do you hope attendees will take away from your webinar presentation?
OVERTON: The transition period, historically defined as the period spanning the last three weeks of the dry period and extending into the first three weeks of lactation, probably needs to be redefined.
In order to deliver optimal performance during both the transition period and throughout lactation, emphasis should be focused on the entire dry period and the first 30 days of lactation.
There are critical areas of focus during this entire 90-day period that must be addressed in order to achieve optimal feed intake and to reduce the risk of metabolic or infectious disease.
In summary, we must learn to better manage energy balance issues and the cow’s immune system in order to help mitigate the various transition challenges. PD
Click here to view additional upcoming webinars from DAIReXNET. Click here to view archived webinar recordings.
About Overton
In May 2012, Dr. Overton left the University of Georgia to assume a position with Elanco Knowledge Solution as senior consultant in dairy analytics. In this role, Overton is responsible for developing economic models and tools for both internal and external customers. He also provides consultative services for large dairy herds and continues to teach as the opportunities arise. He maintains adjunct professor status with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Animal and Dairy Science as well as Clemson University and the University of Guelph.
