I-29 Moo University Hosts October Dairy Webinar Series

By Andi Anderson

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series, in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will offer three free, hour-long webinars at noon to 1 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Oct. 14; Tuesday, Oct. 21; and Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.

Dairy producers and agriculture professionals are invited to attend. Each session requires online registration at least one hour before start time.

Oct. 14 – Forage topics for dairy and small ruminants:

Presented in partnership with the Northern Plains Forage Association, this webinar features three focused talks. Jaelyn Whaley (South Dakota State University) will outline nutrient requirements for sheep and goats and how to use forages to meet those needs, including targeted grazing, forage–parasite considerations, and winter feeding.

Larry Tranel (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach) will cover the economics of grazing heifers. Paul McGill, owner–manager of Rock Valley Hay Auction, will share outlooks on the hay market and the coming season.

Registration: go.iastate.edu/OCTOBER2025FORAGE

Oct. 21 – Training heifers for robotic milking success:

James Salfer (University of Minnesota Extension) will present strategies to pre-train and integrate heifers into robotic milking systems. Topics include early exposure, positive reinforcement, and hands-on techniques that support smooth transitions and long-term profitability.

Registration: go.iastate.edu/AUTOMATICMILKING

Oct. 28 – Impacts of early-life bovine respiratory disease:

Ingrid Fernandes (Pennsylvania State University) will share research tracking beef-on-dairy cattle from weaning to slaughter to show how early-life bovine respiratory disease (BRD) can reduce performance and carcass value, underscoring prevention’s economic importance.

Registration: go.iastate.edu/BOVINERESPIRATORY

For details, contact Fred M. Hall (Iowa) 712-737-4230, Jim Salfer (Minnesota) 320-203-6093, or Maristela Rovai (South Dakota) 605-688-5488.

These October sessions provide timely, research-based guidance that participants can apply immediately to forage planning, heifer development in robotic systems, and herd health management to protect performance and profitability.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-vm