HOBART — For dairy farmers, the “transition period” — the weeks before and after calving - can make or break a cow’s health and a farm’s bottom line. Later this month, local producers will have a chance to dig into the science and practice behind that critical window with one of Cornell University’s leading researchers.
On Monday, Dec. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Cornell dairy scientist Dr. Tom Overton will headline “Transition Cow Tips and Tricks,” a half-day workshop designed to translate research into everyday management tools for area farms.
Overton, whose research program at Cornell has long focused on improving outcomes during the transition period, will outline practical nutrition and management strategies aimed at boosting cow wellbeing, fresh cow performance and overall herd profitability.
The morning session will be held at the Hobart Community Center, 80 Cornell Avenue, Hobart. There, participants will hear an overview of transition cow physiology and nutrition, and discuss how feeding, housing and monitoring practices can reduce illnesses like ketosis, displaced abomasum and retained placenta.
After lunch, the meeting will shift from classroom to barn.
In the afternoon, attendees will travel to Pineyvale Farm, 3949 Town Brook Road in Hobart, for an on-farm case study. Farmers will break into small groups to walk through real-world examples, assess facilities and protocols, and “strategize practical and helpful ways to improve transition and fresh cow programs for all,” organizers said.
The format is designed to encourage both peer learning and customized problem-solving, allowing producers to compare notes on everything from ration changes to pen moves and fresh cow screening.
Farmers and farm managers interested in attending can register online or by contacting Kim Holden at 607-510-7126 or by email at kmh19@cornell.edu
