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). 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 well-being 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 health and reproductive success (breakout into either beef or dairy)
During the in-person 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 & calf handling/ needles/ PPE/ biosecurity
The series costs $20/person. 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
- September 17th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
- Dairy Workers (in Spanish), September 18th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
- September 18th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
In-person Sessions
- Athens: September 24th, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
- Athens: September 24th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
- Athens: Dairy Worker (in Spanish), September 25th, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
- Altoona: September 25th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Registration
Registration with payment must be received by September 9 (Dairy worker in Spanish deadline is August 25). Register online with a credit card (serve fee applied) at https://go.wisc.edu/calving ↗️ or call 715-748-1413 to pay by check. Don’t wait to register, participation is limited to the first 20 paid participants per in-person session.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law. To request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language or format, or other services to make this workshop more accessible, contact Sandy at sandra.stuttgen@wisc.edu or 715-748-3327 ext. 1 by Aug 25.
