KDSN RADIO News
Iowa Beef Center Feedlot Webinar Series Now Available on YouTube
AMES, Iowa – Did you miss this educational opportunity? You can now take advantage of these webinar recordings wherever you have internet access and some downtime. The Iowa Beef Center held a weekly feedlot webinar series in February focused on hot topics and common questions fielded from Iowa feedlot producers. All five webinar sessions are now available in the Feedlot Webinar Series playlist on the Iowa Beef Center YouTube channel.
Iowa State University extension program specialist Beth Reynolds said the series provided timely, relevant, and practical information for those who operate and are involved in feedlots. Each session focused on a specific topic presented by an expert in that area.
“For instance, DocTalk host and feedlot consultant Dr. Dan Thomson led the foot health and lameness session," she said. "He helped producers understand the impact facility design and handling has on lameness, and how to find effective strategies to reduce the impact of lameness in their yard.”
Iowa State extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk hosted the series and said the session on pros and cons of feedlot types presented by former IBC director and feedlot specialist Dan Loy drew much attention.
"He provided research-based information on how management and various facility types can have performance and financial impacts on feedyards," she said. "This was particularly timely as sixty percent of live attendees who participated in our poll noted that they were planning on renovating or building new facilities in the next five years."
The other three webinar topics and presenters were:
- The value of utilizing necropsies with Dr. Terry Engelken, Iowa State veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine;
- Beef cattle market outlook and risk management strategies with Dr. Lee Schulz, Iowa State extension livestock economist; and
- A beef on dairy research update with IBC research scientist Garland Dahlke.
Attendees of the five livestream sessions represented eight countries and 18 states, and included a diverse mix of feedlot owners, consultants, industry/veterinarian professionals, and feedlot employees. Combined, this group influences 295,000 head of cattle annually.
The noon-hour timing of these sessions worked well, as mentioned by several attendees.
“I really enjoyed being able to come in for lunch and join," one said. "Even though I missed a session I appreciate knowing where I can go to find it."
