UW-Extension offering ‘Save a Calf, Save a Cow’ workshop

The University of Wisconsin Division of Extension is offering a “Save A Calf, Save A Cow” workshop series for dairy and beef producers, and dairy workers (in Spanish) in September. This workshop provides information and techniques to boost your confidence in preparing the cow for calving, obstetric techniques, and newborn calf care. From transition cow diets and body condition, to recognizing key signs of labor and handling difficult deliveries with precision, this program equips you with practical strategies to support both cow and calf health. Whether you’re seasoned or new to livestock care, you'll gain hands-on expertise to approach calving with assurance, improve outcomes, and enhance the wellbeing of your herd.

Topics covered during the virtual (Zoom) classroom include:

•Getting newborns off to a good start: neonatal calf care and colostrum management

•Cow nutrition and management pre- and post-calving for health and reproductive success (break out into either beef or dairy) During the in-person hands-on session, participants will learn and practice:

•Stages of labor and signs to watch for — when to call for help

•Calving equipment options and function/ sanitation/cleaning

•Worker safety — cow and calf handling/needles/PPE/biosecurity The program costs $20 per person and is taught during virtual and hands-on sessions. To attend the in-person session, you must have attended a prior Zoom session. For your convenience, you may choose an afternoon or evening Zoom or in-person hands-on combination that fits your needs.

Zoom sessions — choose one from the following options:

• Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. (in English)

• Sept. 18, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. (in Spanish). Registration is required by Sept. 4 to secure a translator.

• Sept. 18, 7-8:30 p.m. (in English) In-person sessions — choose one from the following locations and options: At the Town of Johnson town hall, 234975 Corinth Rd., Athens:

• Sept. 24, 1-3 p.m. (English)

• Sept. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (English)

• Sept. 25, 1-3 p.m. (dairy worker) (Spanish) At UW-Extension Eau Claire, 227 1st St. West, Altoona:

• Sept. 25, 6.30-8.30 p.m. (English) Registration with payment MUST be received/postmarked by Sept. 4, for the dairy worker Spanish training, and by Sept. 9 for the non-Spanish sessions. Don't wait to register, as participation is limited to the first 20 paid participants per in-person session.

You can register online with a credit card at https://go.wisc.edu/calving (service fees applied); or call the Taylor County Extension office at: 715-748-1413 for help with online registration, or to pay by check.

For more information about this program or for accommodation requests, contact Sandra Stuttgen, Extension Taylor County, 715-748-3327.

AnEEO/AAemployer,UniversityofWisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.