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Understanding and Managing Nutritional and Economical Risks of Feeds

Gail Carpenter

Summary

As feed accounts for more than 50 percent of the cost of milk production for dairy producers, the Iowa State University (ISU) Dairy Extension Team designed and implemented statewide programs for Iowa dairy producers to increase their knowledge and understanding to make positive changes to their feeding programs. The team used a hybrid approach, combining both in-person and online educational opportunities for producers. In-person programming consisted of a series of field days held across the state during the fall of 2022, with varying topics by location. A series of evening webinars were presented, focusing on delivering content in a discussion format rather than a traditional lecture-based format. Most participants either agreed or strongly agreed that their understanding increased following the live events; however, attendance was limited, both in-person and online. The team was able to extend the reach of the programs offered by cross-posting content through asynchronous modalities (e.g., YouTube, podcasts). Unfortunately, one of the limitations of asynchronous content is that the ISU Dairy Extension Team is restricted in their ability to assess learning and behavior changes with the people that engaged with the content in this manner. Future objectives for the team include a needs assessment to determine the value and producer preference for in-person programs offered by the Dairy Extension Team. The team will continue to leverage content from live programs through asynchronous content posted on external social media sites to allow for enhanced engagement with content from live programs.

Details

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