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Organic dairy production and health topic of recent field day in Lewiston
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CopyAnimal health is the biggest concern for dairy farmers when they're transitioning to organic production, according to Harriet Behar, organic specialist for the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES).
MOSES, located in Spring Valley, Wis., serves farmers striving to produce high-quality, healthful food using organic and sustainable techniques. Without the use of antibiotics, organic dairy farmers must rely on healthy soils and a high-forage, pasture-based diet to produce high quality milk.
On June 8, MOSES and the Land Stewardship Project co-hosted a field day at Dale and Carmene Pangrac's Prime Pastures Organic Dairy in Lewiston, where they discussed organic dairy production and animal health. Almost 65 farmers and agricultural professionals attended.
Internationally known veterinarian Dr. Paul Detloff gave a short workshop on "Reading the Bovine Hair Coat to Assess Animal Health." Many farmers can look at an animal and know it's healthy, but sometimes they aren't sure why. Dr. Detloff talked about how the glands below the skin will directly affect the quality of the hair coat. By using a variety of visual clues, he explained how the animal's general health can be understood just by looking at its coat.
The day also included a tour of the dairy operation and 450-acre farm led by the Pangracs and next-generation farmers Kim and Andy Olson.
MOSES is sponsoring a variety of field days throughout the Midwest this summer, including one July 15 at Riceville, Iowa, on producing organic livestock. For more information on organic dairy farms, organic certification or for a full field day calendar visit: www.mosesorganic.org
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© 2011 The Chatfield News Chatfield, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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