Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock Day Agenda January 20

The Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock Day will be January 20 starting at 11 am at the Great Northern Lodge Room. Lunch will be provided by the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Here is a list of speakers and times.

At 11 am Dr. Dragon Momcilovic, Veterinarian for the Food and Drug Administration will discuss the “Veterinary Feed Directive” (VFD) final rule outlining the process for authorizing use of VFD drugs (animal drugs intended for use in or on animal feed that require the supervision of a licensed veterinarian) and provides veterinarians in all states with a framework for authorizing the use of medically important antimicrobials in feed when needed for specific animal health purposes.

VFD final rule requires veterinarians to issue all VFDs within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR), and specifies the key elements that define a VCPR. These key elements include that the veterinarian engage with the client (i.e., the animal producer) to assume responsibility for making clinical judgments about patient (i.e., animal) health, have sufficient knowledge of the patient by virtue of patient examination and/or visits to the facility where the patient is managed, and provide for any necessary follow-up evaluation or care.

At 1 pm, Jerry Wulf will discuss the cattle feeding sector. Wulf Cattle began in 1955 as a farming and cattle feeding operation. In 1970 they entered into seedstock business, raising and selling Limousin Bulls.

Formally known as Wulf Limousin, Wulf Cattle today has evolved into a genetics to harvest beef cattle company. Annually selling 600 Limousin, Lim'Flex, and Angus bulls, then buying and finishing the resulting calves marketing 60,000 head of fed cattle annually. The Wulf Cattle model targets value-added beef markets, enhancing value throughout the beef cattle supply chain. Transparency, and information sharing with all involved is paramount when building a better beef cattle supply chain.

Wulf Cattle headquarters out of Morris, MN, now operates with Feedyards, in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota, and Cow/Calf ranches in MN and NE. Along with 2 stocker ranches in South Dakota.

At 2 pm Dr. Joseph Perrone currently serves as Chief Science Officer, for the Center for Accountability in Science. He will discuss the “science” behind the antibiotic debate between the use in animals and the effects on humans. Dr. Perrone received his Doctorate of Science from The Johns Hopkins University, Post-Doctoral fellowship at Harvard University and his B.S. in Biology from the University of Delaware. With his background in infectious disease, Dr. Perrone is uniquely qualified to discuss how eating a foot long subway will be better for you (or not) if it comes from antibiotic free products.

Dr. Rick Levesque, at 3 pm will discuss the appropriate use and application of CO2 operated dart guns for applications of medication to livestock. There are limitations of accuracy and dosage that producers need to be aware of when using this tool. Dr. Levesque will also provide a short presentation on necropsy techniques for ranchers to determine how a calf died.