Thursday February 21, 2008
 
1:00     Introductions and opening remarks – Dr. Milan Shipka
1:05     Welcome from Alaska Division of Agriculture – Ms Franci Havemeister
 
Session I          Herd Health for Alaska Livestock Producers
 
1:15 – 2:00       General concepts in herd health management
                        Dr. Robert Gerlach, VMD
                        Alaska State Veterinarian
                        Division of Environmental Health
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
 
2:00 – 2:30       Alaska Johnes program and herd health risk assessments
                        Dr. Jay Fuller, DVM
                        Alaska Assistant State Veterinarian
                        Division of Environmental Health
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
 
2:30 – 3:00       Immunity in neonatal calves
                        Dr. Milan Shipka, Ph.D
                        Professor of Animal Science and Extension Livestock Specialist
                        Cooperative Extension Service
                        School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
                        University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
3:00 – 3:30       BREAK
 
3:30 – 4:00       Training animals to handling facilities
                        Mr. George Aguiar
                        Animal Technician
                        Reindeer Research Program
                        School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
                        University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
4:00 – 4:30       Animal introduction to your herd and herd health considerations
                        Dr. Mike Philo, DVM, Ph.D
                        Port Veterinarian and Field Veterinary Medical Officer for Alaska
                        Veterinary Services
                        USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
 
4:30 – 5:00       Round table discussion including all speakers
 
 
Friday February 22, 2008
 
Session II         Agritourism and Livestock Producers
 
8:30 – 9:15       Agritourism and the National Bison Association
                        Mr. Jim Matheson
Assistant Director
National Bison Association
 
9:15 – 10:00     Agritourism and the North American Elk Breeders Association
                        Mr. Joel Espe
                        President
                        North American Elk Breeders Association
 
10:00 - 10:30   BREAK
 
10:30 – 11:00   Agritourism at the Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station
                        Mr. Bill Hauer
                        Superintendent
                        RGW Large Animal Research Station
                        Institute of Arctic Biology
                        University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
**11:00 – 11:30           TBA
 
11:30 – 12:00   Round table discussion including all speakers
 
12:00 – 1:00     Lunch provide
 
Session III        Grass farming for Livestock
 
1:00 – 1:45       Grass production in the elk industry
                        Mr. Joel Espe
                        President
                        North American Elk Breeders Association
 
1:45 – 2:30       Grass production and the bison industry
                        Mr. Jim Matheson
Assistant Director
National Bison Association
 
2:30 – 3:00       BREAK
 
 
3:00 – 3:30       Soil fertility management and grass farming
                        Dr. Mingchu Zhang, Ph.D.
                        Assistant Professor of Agronomy
                        School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
                        University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
3:30 – 4:00       Grasses of Alaska
                        Dr. Tom Jahns, Ph.D
                        Professor of Extension
                        Kenai Peninsula District Extension Agent
                        Cooperative Extension Service
                        University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
**4:00 – 4:30   Resource use by animals in pasture and range settings
                        Dr. Norman Harris, Ph.D.
                        Assistant Professor of Range Management
                        Administrator, Palmer Research & Extension Center
                        School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
                        University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
4:30 – 5:00       Round table discussion including all speakers