Virginia Cattle & Poultry Litter Conference Planned

Livestock Update, October 1996

Bill McKinnon, Animal & Poultry Sciences

The feeding of poultry litter to cattle is not new to many Virginia cattle producers. Much of the research work on the feasibility of recycling poultry litter through cattle was conducted right here in Virginia. The use of poultry litter in cattle rations has been a win-win situation for both the cattle and poultry industries. The use of litter has allowed Virginia's cattle producers to be more competitive in the cow/calf and backgrounding arenas.

This fall the Virginia Cattle & Poultry Litter Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 6 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg. The purpose of the conference is to examine what we have learned about the advantages and potential problems after feeding litter for over thirty years. The conference will also address some of the perceived cattle health or beef safety issues raised with the feeding of litter. The conference will open with Dr. Joe Fontenot who might be referred to as the "godfather of poultry litter feeding research." Dr. Fontenot will examine how far we have come in feeding litter and what issues are of current concern within the industry.

The conference will rely heavily on Virginia beef producers sharing their management ideas on lowering production costs with the use of litter. Concurrent sessions will address the specific issues faced by the cow/calf operator and the backgrounder. The conference will begin at 9:00 am and formal presentations will end at 2:00 pm with a bus tour to local cattle operations using litter to follow. The tour will return to the fairgrounds at 4:15 pm. The registration fee for the conference of $20 will cover the cost of lunch, breaks, and a copy of the conference proceedings. Copies of the conference registration brochure are available through the local Extension Office.

VIRGINIA CATTLE & POULTRY LITTER CONFERENCE PROGRAM Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, VA November 6
9:00 a.m.	Registration and Coffee
9:15 a.m.	Welcome and Introduction - Mr. Pete Martens
9:25 a.m.	Three Decades of Feeding Poultry to Cattle - Dr. Joe Fontenot
10:10 a.m.	What Makes Good Litter for Cattle - Mr. Gil Souder
10:30 a.m.	Litter Storage Ideas - Mr. Rick Heidel
10:45 a.m.	Litter Handling and Feeding Ideas - Mr. Rodney Leech
Break Out Sessions
11:10 a.m.	Session A: Cow/Calf Operations and Litter The Nutritional and Economic Impact Litter Can Make with Cows - Mr. Bill McKinnon The Potential for Health Problems - Real and Perceived (Pathogens, Reproductive Performance, Milk Fever, Etc.) - Dr. Terry Swecker and Dr. Joe Fontenot Session B: Using Litter with Growing Cattle The Nutritional and Economic Impact Litter Can Make with Growing Cattle - Dr. Mark Wahlberg The Potential for Health and Performance Problems - Real and Perceived (Coccidiosis, Salmonella, Light Cattle, "Burnout," Etc.) - Dr. Dee Whittier and Dr. Mark Wahlberg
12:15 p.m.	Lunch
Break Out Sessions Continue
1:15 p.m.	Session A: Cow/Calf How We Use Litter in Our Cow Herd - Mr. Don Benner Question and Answer Panel with Session Speakers Session B: Growing Cattle How We Use Litter in Background Rations - Mr. Earl Reeves Litter and Dairy Heifer Development - Mr. Jerry Swisher Question and Answer Panel with Session Speakers
2:00 p.m.	Board Buses and Depart for Farm Tours
4:15 p.m.	Return to Fairgrounds. Have a Safe Trip Home.

PRE-REGISTRATION - VA CATTLE & POULTRY LITTER CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 6, 1996
Fill out, detach and mail by October 25, 1996 to: Bill R. McKinnon Dept. of Animal & Poultry Sciences VA Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0306 540/231-9160
(Please Print or Type) NAME:____________________________________________________________ or NAMES:___________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________ CITY:___________________________STATE_________ZIP________________ REGISTRATION FEE: $20/PERSON __ I am enclosing registration fee __ I will pay fee upon arrival MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: VIRGINIA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

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