A highlight of today's KLA/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Day at High Plains Ponderosa Dairy near Plains will be a tour of the cutting-edge facility, where cow comfort and well-being are the focus. In addition to the cross-vented, free-stall barn, the tour will include the ultramodern feed storage area and heifer development center. Employees working in the efficient 110-stall rotary parlor move 860 cows per hour through the facility.
Following the tour, educational sessions will cover topics pertinent to the beef industry. K-State Extension Beef Veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff will discuss combating external parasites, such as flies and ticks. He’ll break down the various methods and costs associated with each management practice. Cassie Kniebel, program manager at the Beef Cattle Institute, will provide an update on the voluntary cattle traceability project known as CattleTrace. High Plains Dairy Manager Greg Bethard will round out the program by offering some perspective on the risks and opportunities associated with consumer perception of animal agriculture.
The Plains field day will start with registration at 2:00 p.m., include the dairy tour and educational sessions, and conclude with a beef dinner at 6:00 p.m. Parking and educational sessions will take place southwest of the dairy at Ormiston Farms. For directions, click here.
There is no cost to attend the field day. Sponsors for the event are the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and Bayer Animal Health.