Calf Care and Quality Assurance Webinar Slated for Feb. 6

Dairy producers and the industry will get an update on the Calf Care and Quality Assurance program during the I-29 Moo University webinar Feb. 6., from noon to 1 p.m. Central.

The Calf Care and Quality Assurance program was formed by a collaboration of multiple sectors within the cattle industry to provide best management guidelines to calf raisers.

Producers can learn how they can incorporate this educational certification tool into their operation through areas like calf health, animal handling and stockmanship, transportation and emergency preparedness. The program will be presented by Beverly Hampton Phifer and Julia Herman.

“Listeners will learn about the best management practices for calf care in this new program and can begin enrolling their employees in the online training,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Beverly Hampton Phifer currently manages the day-to-day operations of the National Dairy FARM Animal Care program. She joined the National Milk Producers Federation in 2016. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Animal Care evaluator certification process, program participant relations, farmer resource development and outreach with the internal dairy industry.

Prior to joining National Milk, her professional resume includes providing technical support and project management for animal care, environmental and worker safety matters for a variety of animal agriculture trade associations. These include the Animal Agriculture Alliance, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the Wild Alaska Pollock Association among others.

Julia Herman serves as the beef cattle specialist veterinarian at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. She leads education development and veterinary outreach for the Producer Education team and Beef Quality Assurance program. Her interests in animal behavior and welfare, biosecurity and producer/employee education provide opportunities to improve food animal production systems that contribute to a safe food supply.

Previously, she worked in a beef cattle practice on the Central Plains before joining the livestock faculty with Colorado State University’s veterinary school. She represents NCBA on cattle health and welfare advisory committees for national veterinary organizations and agricultural groups.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, preregistration is required at least one hour before the webinar.

For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Heidi Carroll, 605-688-6623.