Farm Animal Track
* Working Schedule (subject to change)
Thursday, October 29, 2026
8:00 - 9:50 a.m. Oak
Colostrum Management in Dairy Calves - New Insights
This session will cover common recommendations for colostrum management in calves, with a primary focus on dairy calves. Additionally, it will cover recent newer recommendations and suggestions on colostrum management that focus on different benchmarks for monitoring successful colostrum management and avoiding colostrum-associated health issues.
Learning Objectives:
- Past and current guidelines for quantity and timing of colostrum delivery to calves
- Guidelines for determining quality of colostrum
- Guidelines for determining success of colostrum delivery
- Potential calf health issues with large volumes of colostrum
9:00 - 9:50 a.m. Oak
Demographic, Diagnostic, and Geochemical Correlates of Copper and Selenium Deficiency in Southeastern Cattle
This presentation summarizes a retrospective analysis of 236 bovine necropsy submissions from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, demonstrating that copper and selenium deficiencies are widespread in southeastern cattle, contributing to ill thrift and chronic morbidity. Deficiency is common across all production stages, with potentially outsized impacts on reproductive performance. Correlation against USGS geochemical data indicates that local topsoil trace mineral concentrations do not reliably predict hepatic mineral status, highlighting the importance of herd mineral status assessment and supplementation.
10:00 - 10:50 a.m. Oak
Going Whole Hog: Porcine Field Necropsy, Sampling, and Diagnostic Considerations
A review of swine necropsy techniques, common gross findings, sample collection, and testing considerations to maximize the diagnostic yield of field investigations.
11:00 - 11:50 a.m. Oak
Young Calf Management: Taking Care of the Class of 2028
This session will cover guidelines and recommendations for nutrition, environment, and vaccination usage to get this year’s replacement heifers off to the best start possible so they can be productive two years from now.
Learning Objectives:
- Nutritional recommendations for young calves (with a focus on dairy heifers)
- Facility/environmental recommendations for healthy calves
- Vaccination recommendations for young dairy calves
2:30 - 3:20 p.m. Oak
NSAIDs and Pain Management in Cattle
This session will examine the NSAIDS available for use in cattle, how they work, and how to best use them in cattle. It will also cover pain management recommendations for cattle.
Learning Objectives:
- NSAIDs available for use in cattle
- Mechanisms of action of the common NSAIDs
- Considerations for pain management in cattle
5:00 - 5:50 p.m. Oak
Troubleshooting Nutritionally Related Issues on Dairy Farms
This session will utilize case-based discussions of real-life farm troubleshooting visits to discuss proper nutrition in dairy herds.
Learning Objectives:
- Using trouble-shooting skills and observations to figure out common dairy herd health/performance issues
- Transition cow practical nutrition
Friday, October 30, 2026
9:45 - 10:35 a.m. Oak
Small Animal Ruminant Dystocia
Learning Objectives
- Understand normal small ruminant reproductive physiology in relation to pregnancy and parturition.
- Recognize normal and abnormal (dystocia)eventduring parturition.
- Describe initial evaluation of a small ruminant in dystocia.
- Understand multiple approaches to resolving dystocia in the small ruminant including assisted vaginal delivery,fetotomy, and c-section.
- Explain post-partum treatment and care for small ruminants.
10:45 - 11:35 a.m. Oak
Trace Minerals in Cattle-Importance & Diagnostics
This lecture will focus on the role of trace minerals in immunity and reproduction discussing the importance of the on-farm liver biopsy procedure to assess trace mineral status.
Learning Objectives
- Understand trace mineral requirements, functions & metabolization.
- Understand antagonists and nutritional challenges of trace mineral supplementation.
- Understand the reasons to biopsy and the liver biopsy procedure
11:45 - 12:35 p.m. Oak
The Rumen Biome and Its Effect on Cattle Health
This lecture will discuss the rumen biome including the importance of Megasphaera elsdenii on cattle health.
Learning Objectives
- Understand rumen anatomy, physiology, and microbial environment
- Understand rumen microflora and microbial fermentation
- Understand the effect of microbial fermentation and ruminal acidosis on cattle health and production
- Understand the role and utilization of Megasphaera elsdenii
2:45 - 3:35 p.m. Oak
Designing and Implementing an Effective Beef Herd Health Vaccination Program
This lecture will explain the steps and importance of designing an effective beef vaccination program for overall herd health.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the different types of vaccines
- Understand the steps to designing an effective vaccination program
- Understand the economically important diseases that can be included in a vaccination program
3:45 - 4:35 p.m. Oak
Improving Beef Calf Performance from Birth to the Feedlot
This lecture will explain how early events in beef calf development impact performance even in the feedlot.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the benefits of early calf health on later performance
- Understand the role of rumen development in young calves
- Understand the role of trace minerals to improve the overall health of beef calves
Saturday, October 31, 2026
9:00 - 9:50 a.m. Oak
Treatment of Lameness Cases in Beef and Dairy Animals
Brad Heins, DVM, MFAM, DACVPM10:00 - 10:50 a.m. Oak
Neonatal Calf Diarrhea: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Lecture Objectives
- Discuss the causes of neonatal
- Discuss common treatments for neonatal calf diarrhea
- Discuss prevention strategies for neonatal calf diarrhea with a focus on bovine rotavirus
11:00 - 11:50 a.m. Oak
Endoparasites in Small Ruminants: The Horrors Persist but So Do We
Lecture Objectives
- Discuss the main endoparasites affecting small ruminants in the SE US
- Discuss antemortem and postmortem diagnostic tools
- Discuss management and control strategies for varying herd sizes
- Discuss strategies for student and client education
Annual Conference lectures are the property of the speaker and/or Auburn University. Recording and/or redistribution in any manner or for any purpose is strictly prohibited. Registration is nontransferable and CE credit will only be issued to conference registrant. Conference content is available to registrant only.