By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The financial well-being of the dairy industry and animal welfare issues will be two key topics at this year’s Tri-state Dairy Nutrition Conference, April 20-21.

“We’re going to look at the financial aspects of dairy farming, and what issues are at the forefront affecting the industry,” said Maurice Eastridge, a professor of animal sciences at The Ohio State University. “Low milk prices and high input costs are really strangling the industry at this time.”

The 19th annual conference is in the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne. A block of the afternoon session on April 20 will be devoted to animal welfare issues.

People in all aspects of the dairy industry need to be aware of the public’s concern over how animals are treated, said Candace Croney, associate professor of animal behavior/bioethics at Ohio State‘s college of veterinary medicine.

“It’s a shame so many people don’t see what’s right about the dairy industry,” she said. “A lot of farmers are working hard everyday and they’re frustrated and angry about how negatively they’re portrayed.”

The public likes to know not only that farmers are taking care of their animals, but that they like their animals and care about what they’re experiencing, she said.

“The average person wants to see compassion for the animals, and that they aren’t taking care of them simply because they’re dependent on them to make a living.”

In order to try to maintain autonomy, the industry needs to first clean up its own house and focus on promoting what is right about what it’s doing, Croney explained.

“The industry needs to tell people what the ethical parameters are.
Where do you draw the line of what is acceptable and what isn’t acceptable. What’s the ethical justification for what you’re doing.”
The setting of federal standards and practices for farm animal care seems to be the goal of some animal welfare organizations, she said.
“I wouldn’t want my future in the hands of people who don’t know my industry and who don’t care about my industry.”

Speakers will also discuss such topics as feeding and milk composition, fiber, adding sugars to dairy rations and the effects of feeding on air quality measures.

Eastridge said he hopes this year’s conference attracts the same number of visitors as last year, when more than 430 attended.
The conference is designed for feed industry personnel, veterinarians, county extension officials, dairy producers and anyone interested in the dairy industry. It’s sponsored by Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State universities.

The cost of the conference is $165 for registrations received by April 9, and $195 after. The cost includes refreshments, one breakfast and a copy of the proceedings. For more information, see http://tristatedairy.osu.edu