By Dr. Michael Tomaszewski

Nine Bulgarian dairy farmers participated in a two week dairy training program organized for the second year in a row by Dr. Michael Tomaszewski, professor emeritus. The program was sponsored through the American Bulgarian Foundation and conducted jointly with Thomas Hall, assistant director for international training with the Borlaug Institute. Dr. Larry Fox,  professor, Washington State University; Dr. Robert Hagevoort, associate professor and Extension dairy specialist, New Mexico State University; and Dr. Ellen Jordan, professor and Extension dairy specialist, participated in the training. Fox discussed mastitis and milking machine operation, Hagevoort brought the dairy farmers up to date on current safety and employee training programs and Jordan presented current reproductive programs and ways to improve reproductive efficiency.

Along with faculty presentations, the group went on several tours to see how milk is produced in the United States. Dave Shelton, a former animal science student and CEO of Western Dairy Transport, showed the group about their facility and explained how milk in transported. Cary Hunter, a dairy science graduate and market administrator, explained to the group how the pricing structure of milk in the Southwestern U.S. works. In addition, G.H. Cain, former dairy science student and regional member relations manager for Dairy Farmers of America, hosted the group at their regional office to give an overview on how milk cooperatives function.

The training started in Stephenville, moved on to Dallas and then the group traveled to the University of Illinois and received two days of training in dairy cattle nutrition from Dr. Mike Hutjens, professor emeritus. They ended their stay at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin.

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For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Maggie Tucker at maggie.tucker@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.