Dairy meetings discuss solutions for extreme heat stress situations

[Fresno, CA] – Global animal health company Alltech will hold Kentucky Ale Club meetings in April to update California nutritionists, veterinarians and dairymen on the latest research in animal health. Dr. Frank Delfino, a specialist on dairy nutrition under extreme weather conditions, will present the topic, “Dairying in the desert: dealing with heat stress based upon 12 years of experience in Saudi Arabia.”

 The meetings will take place in four California cities on the following dates:

· April 7 — 6 p.m. at the Jacalito Grill Restaurant on Panama Lane in Bakersfield

· April 8 — 6 p.m. at the Double “L” restaurant in Visalia

· April 9 — 12 p.m. at the Branding Iron restaurant in Merced

· April 9 — 6 p.m. at the Barnwood restaurant in Ripon

· April 10 — 12 p.m. at the Kountry Kitchen restaurant in Orland.

Admission is free, but attendees are asked to RSVP by calling (559) 226-0405. There will be a drawing for 1 ton of Yea-Sacc® Farm Pak 2x from Alltech at each of the meetings.

Delfino was raised in the Southern California Desert as a member of a livestock and farming family. Delfino’s involvement in his father’s international livestock development activities led to Delfino’s keen interest in intensive international agriculture. After completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Davis and his master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Arizona, Delfino’s interest in arid agriculture took him to Saudi Arabia where he was a nutritionist for a large integrated dairying operation. After returning to the U.S., he started Delfino Nutrition and Management. He is currently consulting in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, India, Turkey, the People’s Republic of China, Thailand and South Africa. Primary areas of interest include:

· Reduction of stress factors to maximize cow comfort and feed intake

· Heat stress management

· Cow management to reduce post-calving problems

· Improvement of feed handling and management practices

· Utilization of locally available forages with a goal to identify better alternatives

· Identification of new feed ingredients/additives to maximize productive efficiency

Diet formulation can be used to manage some of the problems that occur in heat stressed cows. As a cow eats, fermentation of feedstuffs in the rumen creates heat. Some nutritional supplements help improve fermentation and decrease body temperature.

Alltech is currently located in 85 countries and employs more than 1,900 people.  The company will host its 24th International Feed Industry Symposium on April 21-23, 2008, in Lexington, Kentucky. For more information please go to www.alltech.com .

 

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