Completed Project Report


Paying it Forward with a Successful Transition Cow Program

  • Award Amount: $49,308
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2015 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Jennifer Bentley
  • Email: jbentley@iastate.edu
  • Organization: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

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Project Overview

Project guided decision-making process to assist small, beginning, traditional commercial producers to determine best management practices in their transition cow program.  While transition cow management encompasses only 20-30% of herd, it ultimately influences milk production and health of 100% of the cows. Focused topic areas included facilities, nutrition, health, records, financial and production variables.  Twenty-five risk management surveys, 7 on-farm workshops, 3 on-farm demonstrations of transition cow monitoring tools, 3 on-line learning modules, and 60 individual visits were used to increase awareness, understanding, and decision-making.
Following the educational programming, as well as numerous articles published in national dairy magazines, 48 producers have begun to develop or implement change to transition cow program best suited for their management, labor, and financial structure.  Long term application of these management changes to the transition cow period include changes in reduced stress, reduced fresh cow problems, and improved milk production and animal health.

Number of Participants: 370

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

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INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES