The 8th Sino-U.S. "Feeding Efficiency and Farm Profitability" Seminar took place on August 5-6, 2011 in Inner Mongolia. Just six years after the first Sino-U.S. Seminar, the Babcock Institute tapped into its partnership with the China Agricultural University (Sino-U.S. Dairy Research Center) and worked with the Inner Mongolia Dairy Association for yet another widely praised and extremely successful dairy development program.

This particular seminar was designed to improve the management of dairy cattle and farming efficiency while promoting the exchange of international dairy technology. As China leaps into the international economy, it is important to take advantage of partnerships and opportunities that highlight Wisconsin’s agricultural and technological achievements. That’s why Babcock Institute Director Karen Nielsen and UW Cooperative Extension Specialist Bob Kaiser met with many of China’s dairy industry leaders and professors during the course of this trip.

All in all, the Seminar covered topics ranging from Farm Profit and Feed Efficiency to Opportunities in Transition Cow Biology & Management to National Dairy Industry & Technology Systems. Both Nielsen and Kaiser returned to UW-Madison with a heightened understanding of the needs of China’s dairy industry as well as a stronger relationship with dairy industry leaders and core organizations.

While dates have yet to be set, the Babcock Institute is looking forward to its next Seminar in China and will continue to build relationships with the Chinese dairy industry until then.

To view more pictures from the trip, log into facebook and sift through our 8th Sino-U.S.Dairy Development Seminar photo album.

The following is a list of the Babcock Institute's partners and sponsors for the seminar:

-University of Wisconsin-Extension, and Jennifer Lu and Lora Klenke from the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
-Professor Li Shengli, Dr. Cao Zhijun, Dr. Du Wen from China Agricultural University, Beijing
-Translators: Hao Ruijie and Sun Yuli from China Agricultural University, Beijing
-Professor Gao Min from Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences
-Yili Dairy Company, China
-Inner Mongolia Modern Dairy Industry Extension Service
-Animal Breeding Station of Inner Mongolia
-Dairy United, Inc.
-National Dairy Industry and Technology System
-Inner Mongolia Dairy Industry and Technology System
-Wisconsin Department of Agriculture