I-29 Moo University

What is the I-29 Moo University?

The I-29 Moo University is Extension and Industry Personnel from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska all working to grow the dairy industry via outreach education.

Join us for our October webinar

Training and Pre-training Heifers for Robotic Milking Success webinar October 21

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series continues Thursday, October 21 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT, focusing on Training and Pre-training Heifers for Robotic Milking Success with University of Minnesota Dairy Educator James Salfer.

Jim Salfer is a Regional Extension Educator – with University of Minnesota Extension. Jim has served in his present position for 22 years. Before that he managed a feed department, was a dairy nutritionist, a district sales manager for an AI company and managed a dairy farm. Jim has been involved on farm research projects studying robotic milking systems and automatic calf feeders. The focus of his education program has been to help farmers and other industry professionals understand the major factors driving dairy farm profitability and develop management strategies to improve profitability.

Producers will learn about research and tips to successfully integrate heifers into robotic milking systems. We'll cover strategies for pre-training, including early exposure and positive reinforcement, as well as hands-on training techniques to ensure a smooth transition. Learn how to reduce stress, optimize performance, and set your next generation of cows up for success in your automated milking system.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour prior to the webinar. Register online at:

https://go.iastate.edu/AUTOMATICMILKING

Join us for our october beef on dairy dialogue webinar

Impacts of early-life Bovine Respiratory Disease on growth and carcass traits in Beef Dairy Crosses

The I-29 Moo University Beef On Dairy Dialogue Webinar Series continues Tuesday, October 28 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT. Ingrid Fernandes will discuss how her study followed BXD cattle from weaning through slaughter to understand how early-life respiratory disease influences performance and carcass value.

Ingrid Lara Bordin Fernandes is a graduate research assistant in the Department of Animal Science, at Pennsylvania State University and is co-advised by Dr. Tara Felix and Dr. Melissa Cantor. Her study shows that bovine respiratory disease can leave lasting effects beyond the initial illness, underscoring its importance for both animal health and industry profitability.

She is originally from Brazil and has a background in ruminant nutrition and management, calf health, and livestock production systems. Her academic and professional experiences across Brazil and the United States have given her a comprehensive understanding of animal science, with a special emphasis on calf development, traceability, and feedlot management. She is passionate about integrating research with industry practices to support sustainable and profitable animal agriculture.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour prior to the webinar. Register online at:

https://go.iastate.edu/BOVINERESPIRATORY

October forages webinar

The I-29 Moo University and the Northern Plains Forage Association Forage Webinar Series continued on October 14, 2025 with a variety of forage topics including an overview of using forage to meet nutritional requirement for small ruminates, the economics of grazing heifers plus the monthly hay market outlook.

Manure scoring to see how cows are working with their diets

Dr. Mary Beth Hall, owner of The Cows Are Always Right dairy consulting business, counsels with producers to improve feeding and profitability. In this presentation, she’ll discuss how rumen and gut function can change manure characteristics, what those changes look like, and how evaluation of manure, feeds, diets, cow performance, and management can be brought together to look for ways to improve herd performance. This webinar was recorded on September 16, 2025.

Beef on Dairy Dialogue: Implications of Herd Rebuilding

This I-29 Moo University webinar was recorded on August 28, 2025, listen as Dr. Derrell Peel shares insights on cattle supply, prices, and herd rebuilding outlook.

2025 Forage Field day recap

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in partnership with I-29 Moo University and the Northern Plains Forage Association, hosted producers, agronomists and forage enthusiasts for the 2025 Forage Field Day on July 31 at the Western Research and Demonstration Farm near Castana. This video features drone footage and clips from the presentations.