Safer, more marketable cattle in Douglas County

Livestock producers are encouraged to attend a field tour of a local livestock handling facility owned and operated by Mike and Jackie Mikrot of South Range.

The session runs 4:30-6 p.m. today. The event is free and open to the public.

Sandy Stuttgen, DVM, UW-Extension Agriculture Agent, Taylor County will lead participants through livestock handling practices that lead to healthy, more easily manageable, safe and marketable livestock. David Kammel, Agricultural Engineer, UW- Extension will be on hand to talk with producers about building and operating a facility efficiently and profitably.

“Livestock Producers in Douglas County and across Wisconsin have been working toward quality management standards for raising beef and other livestock,” said Jane Anklam, agricultural educator with UW-Extension, Douglas County. “Consumer sentiment and farm profitability require farmers to attend to safe and healthy animal handling.”

Mike and Jackie Mikrot operate their farm with their son and daughter, raising roughly 700 head of Black Angus cattle a year. They implemented their new handling facility in 2010.

“We know it has been profitable based on time saved in sorting cattle, fewer accidents, and a calmer process all around for the animals,” they said. The Mikrot farm is at 7131 Mikrot Road in the town of Oakland.

Contact Jane Anklam at (715)395-1515 for directions to the event.

Register at UW-Extension, Douglas County by calling (715) 395-1363.

Tags: news, animal, health, food, agriculture