ISU McNay Farm to Host Cow Research Field Day

Jul 30, 2024

Applied research is a core component of Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University, and the Iowa Beef Center has conducted a number of research projects in recent years that address questions and concerns of cow-calf producers. IBC will share the results of those projects at a Cow Research Field Day, Aug. 23 at Iowa State University's McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm in Chariton.

The day starts at 9 a.m. with an optional farm tour highlighting some current alfalfa plots and farm facilities. The main program runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon with speakers covering a variety of recently completed or ongoing research projects regarding cow-calf and forage production.

Some of these featured research projects are:

Starch and digestible fiber-based supplementation impact on first calf heifer performance and nutrient mobilization through the production cycle.
Heifer development using carcass ultrasound as an indicator for heifer reproduction performance.
Will pour-ons affect your dung dynasty?

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Video: Biosecurity Compliance - Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Montreal, discusses the human side of biosecurity compliance. He explains why protocols often fail when people are tired, unconvinced, undertrained, or working with impractical systems, and how leadership, employee input, technology, feedback, and small incentives can make biosecurity more consistent on swine farms. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Biosecurity only works when people repeatedly do the right thing, and that means the system has to support compliance every day."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt is a veterinarian and professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Montreal. His work focuses on biosecurity, infectious disease control, and practical risk reduction in animal production systems, with experience across swine and poultry health. Learn more from Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.