By Aimee Nielson

LEXINGTON, Ky., (Nov. 7, 2012) – The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will host the Precision Dairy Showcase Dec. 3 to demonstrate multiple new technologies for the region’s dairy producers.

Jeffrey Bewley, assistant extension professor in the UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences, said the daylong event will offer several presentations affecting all areas of the dairy industry.

“We are looking forward to this exciting event where we will take a glimpse into the future of monitoring dairy cows,” Bewley said. “The number of technology options being developed to help dairy producers manage reproduction, mastitis, health and well-being is exciting.”

The program will begin at 7:45 a.m. EST at the Locust Trace AgriScience Farm in Lexington. Morning meetings will focus on the opportunities and challenges of precision dairy farming, estrus detection, nutrition monitoring, disease detection, sleep monitoring, behavior monitoring and cow comfort, real-time location systems, body condition scoring, precision milking and lessons learned from other precision agriculture applications.

The afternoon sessions will include information about temperature, rumen pH and heart rate monitoring, footbath delivery solutions and synchronization versus automatic heat detection, followed by a producer panel focused on heat detection technology adoption.

At 3:30 p.m. participants will tour the UK Coldstream Dairy and see technology demonstrations of IceRobotics IceCubes, Milkline P4C milking equipment, SCR rumination and activity tags, DVM Systems temperature monitoring, eCow rumen pH monitors, Advanced Comfort Technology Waterbeds, Lely cow brush, Polar heart rate monitors and Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems temperature monitors.

“We are doing quite a bit of research with multiple technologies at the UK Coldstream Dairy,” Bewley said. “This event provides a chance for industry and producers to see these new technologies in action.”

After the tour, the event will conclude with dinner and a trade show. Bewley suggested interested parties register by Nov. 16 and pay a $25 registration fee to cover lunch, dinner, breaks and printed materials. All proceeds will go to the UK Dairy Club, which is catering lunch and dinner for the event. To register, make checks payable to Kentucky PDCA and send to University of Kentucky Precision Dairy Showcase, c/o Jeffrey Bewley, 407 W.P. Garrigus Bldg., Lexington, KY 40546-0215.

The Locust Trace AgriScience Farm is located at 3951 Leestown Road, Lexington, KY 40511.

Source: Press release provided by UK College of Agriculture