Ralph Phillips
UCCE Farm Advisor, Kern County
Range/Natural Resources/Livestock
February 17, 1999
Beef Cattle Symposium
The University of California Cooperative Extension and U.C.Veterinary Medicine Extension are sponsoring a Beef Cattle Health Symposium on Saturday, March 6, 1999, 8:30 a.m., at Central Park in Paso Robles, California.
Reproduction efficiency of the cow herd is critical to a successful beef cattle operation. The success starts with getting the females pregnant and delivering a live, healthy calf. The symposium will give producers ideas and management options to increase reproductive efficiency of their herd.
Dr. John Maas, Extension Veterinarian from UC Davis, will be discussing reproductive physiology. He will talk about the various parts of the female reproductive system, its function and how management can influence its efficiency.
Dr. Mylon Filkins, DVM, Bakersfield, will discuss different management practices that can be carried out at the chute while cows are being processed, to improve conception rate or reduce calving difficulty. He will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of culling heifers on pelvic size. He will also be discussing if it pays to give heifers pelvic examinations prior to breeding.
A panel will discuss how reproductive management practices work on the ranch. The panel will consist of: Dr. Gary Evans, DVM, Los Osos; Brad Lundberg, Manager, Cojo Jalama Ranch, Lompoc, and Sonny Sanders, Manager, Hearst Ranch, Cholame.
There will be two breakout sessions in the afternoon. Dr. Gary Evans and Dr. Verne Thacker, DVM, Buellton, will discuss getting a healthy calf on the ground. They will cover calving problems and what producers can do or when to call the veterinarian to save the cow and calf.
The other session will cover the care of newborn problem calves. Dr. John Maas will discuss how to recognize if the calf needs a little extra care, and what can be done to increase the odds of that calf making it to weaning.
The next part of the program will cover updates on current topics in the industry. Dr. John Maas will discuss the status of Trichomoniasis and a reporting system. Dr. Rob Atwill will give an update on water quality research on cryptosporidium and Giardia. This report will cover what he is doing with beef cattle and wildlife. Ralph L. Phillips, Ph.D., will discuss the results of an internal parasite survey conducted in California.
There will be a nominal charge that includes lunch. The program will adjourn by 3:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Ralph L. Phillips at (661) 868-6219 or Bill Weitkamp at (805) 781-5940.