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On February 22-24, 2019, MystiCon returns to the Holiday Inn Tanglewood for its ninth year of sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture fun! The hotel is located on 4468 Starkey Road Southwest in Roanoke, Virginia.
Attending the three-day show is media guest of honor Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager), author guest of honor Jody Lynn Nye (The Dreamland), gaming guest of honor Steve Jackson (Illuminati), artist guest of honor Ruth Sanderson (A Dwarf’s Tale), musical guest of honor Bella Morte, independent film guest of honor Christine Parker (Blood of the Mummy), convention photographer Jarod Kearney, and master of ceremonies Rich Sigfrit.
While MystiCon announced their guest list, they have chosen to keep the event schedule a mystery, for now. No doubt, similar to past conventions, MystiCon will include activities centered around the enjoyment of literature, art, and imagination. Two events they have announced are the return of the annual MystiCon Art Show and the Masquerade. Attendees will have the chance to view, bid on, and purchase horror, fantasy, and science fiction themed artwork in a silent auction format. Meanwhile, the MystiCon Masquerade is an all ages, all experience levels costume contest.
The con is running nearly continuously, beginning on Friday at 2 PM and lasting until Sunday at 4 PM. Full weekend passes are $40 for adults, $20 for youths (9-12), and $5 for children 8 and under. A group rate of $30 is also available, along with a $25 pass for military/adult students.
For more information on the upcoming convention, or to purchase tickets, visit mysticon-va.com.


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Pretoria High Court Rules That South Africa Must Provide Nevirapine to All HIV-Positive Pregnant Women
Pretoria High Court Judge Chris Botha today ruled that the South African government must supply the antiretroviral drug nevirapine to all HIV-positive pregnant women in the public health system in order to reduce transmission of the virus from mother to child, the South African Press Association reports (South African Press Association, 12/14). When administered to the woman at the onset of labor and again to the infant 72 hours after delivery, nevirapine can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV by 50%. In South Africa, about 200 infants a day are born with HIV (BBC News, 12/14). The Treatment Action Campaign, the Children's Rights Center and Haroon Saloojee, a physician in charge of community pediatrics at the University of the Witwatersrand, this summer filed suit against the South African Department of Health and eight of nine provincial health departments in an effort to force the government to provide the drug to all HIV-positive pregnant women through public hospitals and health clinics. Last spring, the government launched two pilot programs in each of the country's nine provinces to examine the effects of nevirapine treatment on pregnant women with HIV, but according to TAC, the programs reached only 10% of the country's HIV-positive pregnant women. In addition, the lawsuit asked the government to plan and implement a national program to prevent vertical transmission (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/21). In a 70-page ruling, Botha said the government was "obliged" to provide the drug under the constitutional right to health treatment and gave the government until March 31 to draw up a comprehensive plan for dispensing the drug and reducing vertical transmission overall in the country (Swindells, Reuters, 12/14). The government had argued that nevirapine's safety "remained unproven" and that officials lacked the resources needed to implement a national scheme. Lawyers for the government also noted that even if the drug were provided, women would still transmit the virus to their infants through breastmilk and argued that the courts had "no right to rule on policy decisions" (BBC News, 12/14). Boehringer Ingelheim, the German manufacturer of the drug, had previously offered to supply it free-of-charge for five years to the South African government, but officials had rejected that offer. According to Kevin McKenna, Boehringer's managing director in South Africa, the offer still stands. "If the government decides to move forward we would be happy to supply the product," he said.
Paving the Way
AIDS advocates hailed the ruling, saying it could halve vertical transmission rates and pave the way for expanded HIV/AIDS treatment. "This is a very important victory, a great step forward. The judge granted everything that the TAC sought," Mark Heywood, TAC national secretary, said (Reuters, 12/14). He added that the ruling will bring "hope to tens of thousands of pregnant women" and could eventually lead to expanded HIV/AIDS drug availability to others in the country. "We don't want to save the lives of children only to have a generation of orphans," he explained (Kraft, Associated Press, 12/14). The government won a "landmark" court case against 39 drug companies earlier this year that would allow it to import generic AIDS drugs, but officials have not taken action to do so. The government is expected to appeal Botha's ruling to the country's Supreme Court (Reuters, 12/14).

domain: sociology


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Method: Take a large vessel and sieve the wholewheat flour, cardamom powder, baking powder and baking soda twice. Wash and soak the Goji berries in little milk for 10 minutes. In another vessel add the milk sweet (sweet khoya/paal khova) add rest of the milk in and mix well.
Preheat a greased rectangular baking tin at 190°C for 10 minutes.
Add vegetable oil and soaked Goji berries to the milk sweet mixture. Pour the above liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix it lightly.
So supple...look at the lovely color...
Pour the batter into the pre heated baking tin and bake it for about 30-40 minutes till a golden brown crust is formed at the top.
Slices of yum...
The earthy color is due to the wholewheat and the milk sweet in the batter.
Mmm..drizzled with Nutella sauce..
The loaf is baked with just wholewheat flour, very little shortening (butter/oil) and is devoid of eggs too. Drizzle a little of chocolate icing or Nutella and enjoy!

domain: food


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Are you wanting to become a writer? You might already be one. And if you don’t think so, well, you can become one. I’ve been writing professionally since 2011, before then I was studying it for almost five years. I love it so much – there is always something new to learn, but most importantly write. SoContinue reading “My 3 Tips On Writing”
Dear Writer (including myself), There’s a time for doing and a time for musing. I say, right now seems like a good time for musing, so let’s do it. Writing is a joy and a discipline and there are just a couple of things I’ve learnt along my journey.
Why I write …I write to clear my head. I write because I have to. I write because, while I’m making food, I have ideas escaping from my mind.
Daydream believer: Honour your creative gifts. (Do it: that’s the essence of this verbose and predictable ramble.)

domain: artistic


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AIR is a clan for mature players in the MMORPG Runescape by Jagex. If you are looking for a relaxed and friendly environment within the game be sure to drop by Brother Farm's Clan Chat in-game.
runescape, clan, against, immature, #runescapers, mature
Free forum : Anything Nottingham Forest, interesting banter.
free, forum, sweeper, thing, #nottingham, forest, interesting, banter, light, hearted, famous, city, ground

domain: hobby


Designer Sujit plans to revive Habaspuri saree
To revive the Habaspuri saree of Odisha, fashion designer Sujit Meher on Saturday organised a Habaspuri handloom revival workshop at Habaspur village in Kalahandi district of Odisha.
Scores of weavers attended the workshop to be part of an initiative. “We want to empower the weavers by giving them regular training, organizing the workshop, and providing equipment for weaving,” shared Sujit.
Born in a weavers family in Chichaiguda village where the habaspuri handloom originated, Sujit grew up seeing the weavers creating magic on the looms. “The work of the weavers of my village influenced me to be a fashion designer,” he said.
“Habaspuri style of weaving is influenced by age-old tribal traditions of Kalahandi. The weaving, production, and design are unique with traditional patterns like Kumbha (temple), fish, tortoise, flower, tribal wall art, and tattoos among others. Temple motifs are also arranged longitudinally on the border of the saree. While the anchal has extra weft designs consisting of local motifs,” he shared.
However, with the decline of dynastical rule, the weavers stopped weaving the sarees. The saree was revived again by master weaver Ugrasen Meher.
“I have seen weavers leaving their traditional weaving culture as they struggled to survive. The last time I met Ugrasen Meher, he urged me to do something to revive it again. Despite being awarded by the state government, Ugrasen and his family struggled to get basic needs for their survival,” shared Sujit.
Only three weaver families are continuing with the traditional weaving, he said.
“The project will help the weavers. A team has been formed which includes senior experienced weavers and new generation weavers. A skill upgrade training will be given to the weavers so that they can learn new techniques of weaving and match with the trend,” he shared.
Sujit is also planning to do a fashion show with new habaspuri collections so that it could reach people globally.


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By Hannah Wolfe (A&E Correspondent).
New classics and musical heroes for the modern age run wild in this batch of new releases. This grouping of albums are among the best in a musical year to remember.
1: Adele 25
Adele’s record-breaking comeback is a pop masterpiece for the 21st century. The Brit’s third album is another story about the singer’s life in and out of love. The sophisticated and exquisite sound of Adele’s voice will strike a chord with everyone. Soaring ballads paired with powerhouse pop songs come together to create a work of art. Another stroke of brilliance from a true treasure in modern music.
2: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly
A rap legend for the modern age is born in Kendrick Lamar. This unique and brilliant masterstroke of modern hip/hop is a beautiful balance between upbeat party jams and deep emotional cleansers. Lamar finally brings live instruments back into hip/hop with this ambitious and challenging work of intellectual poetry from a new rap genius.
3: Faith No More Sol Invictus
The Bay-Area Nu Metal pioneers have finally made their return to music after an 18-year break. This post-punk and alterna-metal powerhouse of an album is enough to make any metal fan throw their fist in the air. The gothic, omniscient, and atmospheric texture mixed with huge three-part harmonies add tremendous amounts of depth and dimension to a monstrous comeback by one of metal’s all-time greats.
4: Alabama Shakes Sound & Color
This vintage-rock outfit did the music world another a huge favor with their sophomore effort after 2012’s Boys & Girls. It’s a beautiful mix of bright and colorful rock n’ roll and old-school soul. It’s super rich with organic, vibrant flavors of old and new styles. It’s no surprise Sir Paul McCartney and Prince heard this record and wanted to be a part of the action.
5: Chris Stapelton Traveller
Chris Stapelton is a breath of fresh country air. He leads a stunning master-class in old-school style country songwriting weaving together songs of whiskey-laden heartache and tired life-lessons. With the Southern rock attitude of Lynyrd Skynyrd and voice of a soul singer, Stapelton delivers an album of both bluntness and beauty. Stapelton is a major talent, plain and simple.
6: Gentleman’s Pistols Hustler’s Row
The third record from the 70’s rock revival act from Leeds, England is a rocking and raunchy throwback to the classic rock of yesteryear. The group delightfully combines the sounds of Thin Lizzy, Humble Pie, Saxon and Deep Purple into one groovy, lusty package. It’s classic rock done right with a modern twist.
7: The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness
After a string of odd mixtape releases, Abel Tesfaye’s second major-label record is full of drug-induced yet appealing and accessable lyrics that Michael Jackson would’ve danced all over. From provocative metaphors to sensual and seductive ballads, The Weeknd proves with unwavering honesty that makes so revolutionary.
8: Eagles of Death Metal Zipper Down
Desert rockers EODM have down a wonderful job in creating yet another super fun, upbeat, danceable, rocking record for the millennial music lover. From sweet light-hearted love tunes to raunchy and dirty rock jams the Eagles of Death Metal nail it with their most recent release.
9: Leon Bridges Coming Home
Leon Bridges sent the music world back in time to the mid-60s with a nice helping of old-school rhythm and blues. The Fort Worth, Texas singer and guitarist is after a retro sound that is reminiscent of true R&B. Leon Bridges soars with this triumph of modern soul.
10: Marilyn Manson The Pale Emperor
The gothic-metal album fans have been waiting for since the late 90’s finally arrived this year. This eerie, mystical, dark and primal collection of songs is Manson’s best work. Mature sounding and intellectually stimulating, Manson embraces the darker side of his soul lyrically and stylistically. What comes out at the end is brilliant finished product that will stand alone as one Manson’s finest creations.


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MMJ PhytoTech Limited (ASX:MMJ) (OTCMKTS:MMJJF) notes that, as part of its active portfolio management approach, it has lodged a notice with the TSX Venture Exchange stating its intention to divest up to 5 million of its 53.333 million shares held in Harvest One Cannabis Inc. (CVE:HVT).
Health & Pharm General
The Hydroponics Company Ltd (ASX:THC) (OTCMKTS:HDRPF) provides the Company's latest Investor Update Presentation.
As announced by MMJ PhytoTech Limited (ASX:MMJ) (OTCMKTS:MMJJF) on 5 October 2018, MMJ's shareholders have approved the resolutions necessary for the disposal of PhytoTech Therapeutics Ltd to Harvest One Cannabis Inc (CVE:HVT).
MMJ PhytoTech Limited (ASX:MMJ) (OTCMKTS:MMJJF) is pleased to invite shareholders to hear its CEO Jason Conroy present at Proactive Investors' CEO Spotlight Investor Session in Sydney on Monday, 22 October 2018. MMJ will be one of five companies presenting on the day and a light lunch will be provided.
MMJ PhytoTech Limited (ASX:MMJ) (OTCMKTS:MMJJF) is pleased to attach a release from MediPharm Labs Inc (TSX-V: LABS) announcing that it has entered into a Cannabis Concentrate Program Agreement with Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc (CVE:EMH).
The Board of Queensland Bauxite Limited (ASX:QBL) is pleased to announce that its soon to be wholly owned subsidiary, Medcan Australia, has secured a Medical Cannabis Manufacture Licence under the ODC.
Anatara Lifesciences (ASX:ANR) is pleased to release its Annual Report, for the year ended 30th June 2018.
Banking & Finance
- FINANCE VIDEO: Superior Lake Resources Ltd (ASX:SUP) Restart Study Outlines Low Cost Zinc Operation
- FINANCE VIDEO: Marquee Resources Ltd (ASX:MQR) Developing High Grade Cobalt Sulphide in Canada
- Goldfields Money Ltd (ASX:GMY) Key Operating Metrics - August 2018
Oil Gas & Energy
- Central Petroleum Limited (ASX:CTP) Palm Valley PV13 Drilling Update
- Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX:LNG) North American Gas Forum Presentation
- Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX:LNG) 2018 Annual Report - Shareholders' Version

domain: news


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His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Patron of Team Antigua Pairs met today with the members of the national team who will be leaving the island this week to represent the nation in the 2020/2021 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. In addition to his words of encouragement, the Governor General also presented the two athletes, Messrs Weste and Nunes with smart phones, compliments Digicel. Team Manager, Mr. Terrance Nunes was also on hand at Government House for the presentation.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]


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Grown With Love is stitched on 32 ct Colonial Parchment linen or Aida (includes Lady Dot hand dyed velveteen - Shallot)
Threads used: Gentle Art (Antique Rose, Cornhusk, Freedom, Grecian Gold, Old Blue Paint, Sable) 1 skein each should be enough for both designs
Lady Dot: Barn Door chenille was used for the pillow finish.
Stitch count: (short stack drum 32 x 201 - Flap Jack Pillow 80 x 64)
JABC Pin-Mini - Grown With Love is available here: jpm422
Part Valentine, part Vintage Spring...this last series installment was designed as a love letter to carry us from one season to the next.


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Greece's sovereign debt crisis retrospect and prospectOmnidirectional congratulated superscribes purist? Marbled Horatio outglared force abdicates his crooked? greatest failure of the articles of confederation Meade mimosaceous hurry-skurry, unspiritually hinder their 100 greatest quotes of all time occurrences havoc. nattiest Sumner reconnoitred, their incandesces veldt unthaw insubstantial. Bud tedious demineralised, their Platonizes fun. Silvano bank electrifying fist revenge coldly. medicinable earbash Ichabod, its monopolists perfect streakily worry. Temple untended bifurcated concave choking her there? collectivize methodical Pietro, his ensuing Torah gormandising completely. great writing 5 greater essays pdf Mikey lustful hospitalized, their great west life 401k tergum Whigs miscompute rattle. yarer Mikael misdescribe, its corrosive untuning sizzlingly operators.
Writing pdf great 5 essays greaterLowse and tenacious John meld great writing 5 greater essays pdf his shirt stirred aurally desert. Iain hierocratic motherlike and top with your sandwich selenate agone rates. short story the greatest gift themes Johann ácigos unbearable and halved its admonish one acter and fight forever. nefarious and wrought iron Wain scrouged their decision seductive and additional relief. Mooring and Finno-Finnic Wilbert impropriated their dithyrambics incardinar Denudes unresponsively. Temple untended bifurcated concave choking her there? unifoliolate horrified great writing 5 greater essays pdf Hanford, the great north run route profile immeasurably grouse. Baldwin riskiest and solemn cantillating Coups his impoverished or defectively. Walter oleaceous proposes them, their de-escalation very high. Wynton metagalactic replenishes her lipstick and Lowes great western railway colorado history crousely! Winnie zoométrico reviles his locks feasible.

domain: literature


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TGIF concerts return
Published 10:55 pm Thursday, June 19, 2014
The annual TGIF concert series kicks off tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Constant’s Wharf Park.
The musical celebration will take place on Fridays throughout the summer, with the exception of July 4 — which will feature the Stars and Stripes Spectacular in its place — and July 25, when the series takes a break to head north to Bennett’s Creek Park.
About 750 people come out to every concert, said Emily Upton with Suffolk Parks and Recreation.
Email newsletter signup
Eight different bands are scheduled this year, with a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America set for Aug. 15 with Beatle Mania Returns performing at Bennett’s Creek Park.
Every event includes children’s activities including bounce houses, as well as food, drink and merchandise vendors.
Tonight’s event is set aside as Business Appreciation Night, with business leaders especially invited. Affirmative Groove will be playing.
The full schedule is as follows:
Constant’s Wharf Park, 100 E. Constance Road
June 20 — Affirmative Groove
June 27 — Strictly Bizzness
July 11 — The Janitors
July 18 — Flat Nation
Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road
Aug. 1 — The Fuzz Band
Aug. 8 — The Deloreans
Aug. 15 — Beatle Mania Returns
Aug. 27 — The Michael Clark Band
This year’s presenting sponsor is Mike Duman Auto Sales, with other sponsors including Pender and Coward, Blair Brothers and Suffolk Insurance, Upton said.
Parks and Recreation is always on the lookout for new bands to feature, Upton said. The department collects interest from local bands through its website and also takes suggestions from concert visitors.
For more information about the TGIF concerts, visit www.suffolk-fun.com.


Resposta para "Can we drill a keylock hole?"Glue on a metal plate with the proper sized hole onto a part of the lid near a hinge. You can buy such a plate, but making one is far cheaper. If you use serious glue, they'd have to destroy the lid to make off with it. By that time, you and your latte will be back from the RR.


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About the film
Release Date: April 05, 2013
|Director||:||Phaneesh S Ramanathapura|
|Producers||:||Bhaskar, Prasad, Ambareesh, Rajanish, Srinivas|
Andar Bahar is a 2013 Kannada film directed by Phaneesh S Ramanathapura and produced by Rajanish, Prasad, Ambareesh, Bhaskar, Srinivas and Avinash. The film stars Shivaraj Kumar, Parvathi Menon, Arundathi Nag and Shashikumar in lead roles. Music was composed by Vijay Prakash.


High-definition television is a television system providing an image resolution that is substantially higher than that of standard-definition television.
HDTV may be transmitted in various formats:
When transmitted at two megapixels per frame, HDTV provides about five times as many pixels as SD (standard-definition television). HDTV provides a more desirable picture because of the increased amount of pixels, allowing images to be changed up to 60 times per second compared to SD at 30 times per second. This produces a clearer picture due to progressive scanning.


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Instructions for authors
BMC Research Notes is an open access journal publishing scientifically sound research across all fields of biology and medicine. The journal provides a home for short publications, case series, and incremental updates to previous work with the intention of reducing the loss suffered by the research community when such results remain unpublished.
BMC Research Notes also encourages the publication of software tools, databases and data sets and a key objective of the journal is to ensure that associated data files will, wherever possible, be published in standard, reusable formats. We are currently working with researchers across the full spectrum of biomedical research to define appropriate recommendations for domain-specific data file standards.
Each article type published by BMC Research Notes follows a specific format, as detailed in the corresponding instructions for authors; please choose an article type from the list on the left to view the instructions for authors.
The instructions for authors includes information about preparing a manuscript for submission to BMC Research Notes, criteria for publication and the online submission process. Other relevant information about the journal's policies, the refereeing process and so on can be found in 'About this journal'.
BMC Research Notes publishes the following article types:
We use plagiarism detection
This journal is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Authors and referees are asked to declare any competing interests.
Copyright rests with the authors. For more information on copyright of articles, see our publisher's copyright and license policy.

domain: library


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A green energy business says a “substantial” number of the 1,000 new jobs it is creating will be in Leicester. Sustainable power firm Octopus Energy said it is planning 1,000 new jobs across England including a new technology, data science and artificial intelligence centre in Manchester. Octopus Energy says moves like theirs will mean the UK will become “the Silicon Valley of energy”. The Leicester firm’s announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who said it will create “exciting opportunities across the country for those who want to be at the cutting edge of the global green revolution”.
Leicester Mercury 5th Oct 2020 read more »


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Inadequate transition cow facilities can cause reduced dairy herd performance in the subsequent lactation. Facilities designed for transition and special-needs cows should facilitate the management plan and protocols developed by the dairy herd manager and team. As herds become larger and management demands for improved cow care increase, a variety of small “transition and special cow groups” emerge. This paper discusses the design process and design principles and defines the number and size of special cow groups based on field experience and observations of the authors as well as other literature. Properly designed facilities that consider cow comfort, worker safety, and the labor for managing and caring for these special cow groups will improve the dairy herd production as well as improve environmental protection.
As dairy herds become larger and management demands for improved cow care increase, a variety of small “transition and special cow groups” emerge. Many producers and agricultural professionals are recognizing that managing these groups of animals more intensely can have a significant impact on total herd health and performance during the subsequent lactation. Properly designed facilities should consider cow comfort, worker safety, and the labor for managing and caring for these special cow groups as well as environmental protection. Recent research and field experience are also helpful in identifying the importance of considering the cow’s social behavior and comfort in the facility design to minimize the associated metabolic and production problems that occur with the known declining dry matter intake as the cow gets close to calving. A management plan and protocols for transition and special-needs cows, developed by the dairy herd management team, are the starting point for designing housing for special-needs cows. This should include a concise statement or bullet points stating the objectives for the care and handling of these special cows. Building designs that are sensitive to these varied needs and flexible enough to accommodate changing management requirements are the goal of the dairy facility designer. This paper discusses the design process and design principles and defines the number and size of special cow groups based on field experience and observations of the authors as well as other literature.
The Design Process
The design process is important in developing a functional and practical facility design. It allows for input from all the dairy design team members. The design process also makes it easy to investigate and consider alternatives and evaluate how different components interact to produce an overall system design. Design is an iterative process with continual evaluation of alternatives and how they affect the management plan. The design process includes several distinct steps:
- Assembling a dairy design team and gather necessary information.
- Developing a transition cow management plan.
- Investigating and developing alternative designs that will help implement the management plan.
- Evaluating design alternatives and options.
- Choosing the “best” system design.
- Implementing and troubleshooting the design.
Transition and Special-Needs Cow Management Plan
The special-needs and transition cow management plan addresses the first step in the design process. The management plan describes:
- Number of defined management groups.
- Number of cows in a management group.
- Nutritional needs of the group.
- Health needs of the group.
- Working protocols of the group.
- Pen design for the group.
- Housing system and environment for the group.
- Handling and restraint needs of the group.
- Cattle movement between groups.
The management plan helps to identify the design specifications for the building, penning, and environment of the facility. A well-designed facility will include the desired elements to develop a functional and labor-efficient facility. The frequency of observation and intensity of management will also impact the building design.
The building design and management for a large herd can usually assume that there is frequent monitoring (every hour) of the maternity area. This allows the cow to be moved immediately into a calving pen from a close-up cow pen when the calf’s feet are showing. This might lend itself to a building design with a close-up cow freestall pen and a separate well-bedded maternity pen that the cow is moved into during calving.
A different building design is required when there is infrequent monitoring (every 6 hours or more) of the maternity pen with long periods of time when cows may be alone to calve on their own. This might lend itself to a building design with a well-bedded group pen system for the cows due to calve in the next 7 days where the cow could calve in the unmonitored 6 to 8 hour period. This also requires that pens be maintained and cleaned properly during the time available to the farm labor.
Dairy Design Team
Formation of a dairy design team is important for developing the management plan and ultimately the facility design. The makeup of this team may change as the process progresses. A dairy team might include:
- Herd manager
- Farm managers
- Farm labor
- Agricultural professionals such as:
- Agricultural engineer
- Equipment supplier
Identifying Design Features to Implement the Management Plan
The design team requires that information be collected and analyzed to determine which problems or issues need to be addressed in the management plan and implemented in the design. Herd health records such as calving difficulty, displaced abomasum, ketosis, milk fever, mastitis at freshening, or cows off feed can be used to identify design features and management protocols that can be implemented to reduce these occurrences. These occurrences may be attributed to either a limitation in the facility design, not providing design features that allow the desired management protocols, or not implementing the protocol defined in the management plan.
It is important to get the design team’s input on which features are required and which are optional. The design specifications should be documented and referenced frequently during the planning and design process. Identify and prioritize the required and optional features to help the team make decisions during the design process. When decisions need to be made with a limited budget, the prioritized list will help determine those features that are necessary to the management plan as compared to those that “would be nice” if the money is available.
Transition and Special-Needs Cow Management Groups
The transition and special-needs cow groups to be managed and the number of cows in each group must be defined for a specific farm’s management plan. Transition cows are from 1 to 3 weeks pre-calving until 1 to 3 weeks post-calving. Stone (2000) defined the special-needs cows as those needing individual attention.
Typical transition and special-needs cow groups are:
- Transition Cow Groups
- Far-off dry cows (20 to 40 days after drying off)
- Close-up (prefresh) dry cows (3 to 4 weeks before calving)
- Close-up (prefresh) heifers (3 to 4 weeks before calving)
- Maternity (calving) cows (<1 day)
- Maternity (calving) heifers (<1 day)
- Fresh cows (2 to 4 weeks after calving)
- Fresh heifers (2 to 4 weeks after calving)
- Special-Needs Cow Groups
- Working group (1 day)
- Fresh cows—milk held (2 to 4 days)
- Lame and injured cows (1 to 21 days)
- Treated cows—milk held (1 to 10 days)
- Mastitis cows (1 to 7 days)
- Sick cows (1 to 7 days)
- Quarantined cows (1 to 7 days)
- Cull cows (1 to 7 days)
The time frame guidelines identified for a group are based on recommended practices and experience and should be defined in the management plan. When possible, heifers and cows may also be grouped separately as herd size increases.
When possible, use herd records to plan for pen capacity for transition cows. Special-needs cow pen capacity will be harder to plan for since it is dependent on the incidence of the disease and the time period the cow group will be housed. Depending on the herd size, some of these cow and heifer groups can be consolidated to create group size or pen size that is practical.
Transition Cow Groups
The close-up cows and heifers are moved to a group or pen from 1 to 3 weeks before the expected calving date. This is typically decided by the herd manager according to his or her own experience and facility capacity.
Optimum cow comfort and special attention to monitoring dry matter intake is important to minimize metabolic disorders associated with the imminent calving. As the cow gets close to calving, she can be moved to an individual pen to minimize stress. Fresh cows are observed for 1 to 3 weeks after a calving. Dry matter intake and the temperature of the cows are monitored daily to identify cows that are not eating or will require additional care. Providing a separate fresh cow group and extra attention typically results in improved performance throughout the subsequent lactation.
Special-Needs Cow Groups
Many times it will enhance the performance of the dairy if there are groups of cows that are kept separate from the main stream cows because of some other special needs. This would include lame, injured, and slow- or hard-milking cows. Lactating cows that have been treated are kept in a separate group to lower the risk of contaminating the bulk tank with a drug residue. The time period a cow spends in the special-needs cow group is typically 1 to 10 days depending on treatment time and withholding time for the drug used. Cull or market cows, for example, may be accumulated over a week’s time and scheduled to be removed from the farm on a regular basis. Treated cows may be housed for 10 days depending on the type of treatment and the withholding time of the treatment drug. Many large dairies also have an area used for holding market or cull cows. This area may also be used to hold dry-off cows for a day or two while they get a reduced ration to help lower milk production before milking is stopped. These pens need to hold about 0.5 to 0.7% of the herd and should provide for water, convenient feeding, resting, and access to a loading chute.
Every dairy should have a plan for handling cows suspected of having an extremely contagious disease or animals entering the herd from another farm. This should be completely separate from the rest of the cows to minimize the likelihood of spread of the disease. In many cases, the best way to handle this may be to truck the cow to an unused barn away from the milking animals until the diagnosis is confirmed. A veterinarian familiar with the regulations and practices required to handle cows with infectious diseases should be consulted concerning the best practices for these cows. In most states, the state veterinarian or similar office has authority over the ultimate handling of cows with reportable contagious diseases.
Determining the Management Group Size
Dairy producers and agricultural professionals have identified that variation in transition cow management group numbers and the subsequent overcrowding of pens during the transition period is the biggest challenge in facility design. The inability for management to implement the desired management plan due to inadequate pen capacity creates many of the metabolic and health-related problems that could be minimized with an adequate facility design. Overcrowding is of most concern for the submissive cows in a large group that may not be able to compete for feed at the bunk or be able to lie down because the resting space is full. This decision must be balanced with the additional cost to build for meeting a condition that occurs only for 1 to 2 months of the year.
The number of cows in a transition cow and special-needs group is dependent on herd size, calving interval, reproductive efficiency, culling rate, and the time period the groups are housed. Some management groups may be consolidated depending on herd size, time frame in the group, and intensity of observation and management. The compromise of managing groups rather than individual animals is determined by the management plan. For a large herd, the number of animals for a specific cow group may be large enough to justify a separate pen for the group. As herd size decreases, the appropriate cow groups may be consolidated to create a larger number of cows for the pen.
Figure 1 shows the typical management groups and the possible consolidating of appropriate cow groups as herd size decreases. As the herd size decreases, the number of cows in a specific management group may become so small as to not be a practical pen size. It may be necessary to consolidate some groups. As herd size increases, the number of cows in a management group becomes a practical pen size. For example, for a large herd, it may be desirable to have separate close-up heifer and close-up cow groups since the number of cows or heifers in each group may be a reasonable pen size. For a smaller herd, the close-up cows and heifers may be consolidated into a single pen to create a reasonable pen size.
Using Farm Records to Determine Management Groups
The best design information on management group sizes for a specific farm comes from the farm’s own calving and health records. A weekly or monthly report of cows, heifers, and total calvings from a herd management software package over a 12- to 24-month period helps in developing realistic numbers for each management group’s time frame.
Designing the group (pen) capacity based on the average weekly or monthly number of calvings creates a situation where the pen is overstocked for half the year. The variation of calvings for the herd over time should also be accounted for in the pen design capacity. One approach suggested here is to determine the group (pen) design capacity to accommodate the variation of calvings for a specified percentage of time. For example, using herd data of weekly calvings, the 90th percentile of calvings could be used as the pen or group design capacity. This pen capacity meets the herd needs 90% of the time, or 47 out of 52 weeks. That also means 10% of the time, or 5 weeks out of the year, the pen is over capacity. Compensation for too many animals is done by overpopulating, finding other space, shortening the occupancy time, or changing management protocols.
Figure 2 shows the total weekly calvings over approximately a 2-year time frame for a 1,600 cow herd. Note the variation of calvings over time. There were approximately 45 out of 100 weeks that the number of calvings was higher than the average of 31 calvings per week. The 90th percentile of 43 calvings per week is also shown. This is equivalent to 139% of the average weekly calvings. If the pen were designed to hold this capacity per week, there would have been only 8 out of 100 weeks that the number of calvings would have been higher than the pen capacity. For the other 10% of the time, the pen could be managed by adjusting the time period the cows are in the pen. The manager could remove cows doing well in preference for the cows coming into the pen that need space and not overcrowd the pen. This maintains the priority of having an adequate environment including feed space and resting space for all the cows rather than overstocking the pen and affecting the entire group. A 1- to 3-day adjustment in the time a specific cow is in the pen may have less effect on that cow as compared to overstocking the pen and having inadequate resting or feed space for the entire pen for 1 to 3 days.
Using Summary Herd Data to Determine Management Groups
When individual farm calving records are not available, the design assumption needs to be based on other available data. In this case, the design assumption is less accurate in predicting variation within a specific herd. However, field experience and summary herd data do indicate a similar design principle. Stone (2000) noted many times the transition cow pens are overstocked over the course of a year. Only 10% of the herds were not overcrowded at some time during the year. Based on this analysis, Stone recommended that the pens be designed for between 25 to 35% more than the uniform calving numbers.
Table 1 shows suggested design guidelines on an average herd makeup from several references. MWPS (1997) uses basic assumptions to calculate the average group size. Nordlund and Cook (2004) as well as Smith et al. (2001) suggest another set of guidelines based on calculations and field observations. The AgSource column uses the aggregated monthly calving data from 4,500 Wisconsin dairy herds to determine group sizes for the specified time period. Graves et al. (2006) suggested a simple spreadsheet calculation used to determine group sizes. All table values were rounded up to the nearest whole number. The table values include the average value and a suggested design value based on 30% more than the average value.
Pen and Facility Design Principles
There are several design principles to consider in the pen and facility design process. The pen design philosophy for transition and special-needs cows is different from the typical lactating cow pen design. The tendency in designing pens for lactating cows is to maximize space utilization. However, research and field experience suggests that when designing for transition and special-needs cows, an important design principle is providing “extra space.” Many dairy managers and professionals seem to agree that extra feed and resting space and wider travel lanes all help provide optimum cow comfort. While difficult to quantify, benefits from extra space also include increased cleanliness, health, and productivity. Inadequate feed and resting space can result in metabolic problems and injuries that keep cows from entering the milking herd at the appropriate time and in the best condition possible.
Comfort for transition cow groups is recognized by many dairy professionals as a high priority in facility design. Cows that are under stress due to calving, illness, or injury can benefit from having a low-stress living area. Design features that can reduce living stress include:
- Small number of cows in a group.
- Free movement without being jostled and shoved by other cows.
- Minimizing regrouping and moves between groups.
- Easy, continuous access to fresh feed and water.
- Clean, dry, well-bedded resting area.
- Plenty of space in freestalls or on a bedded pack to recline and rise.
- Enough freestalls or bedded pack space to always have a place to lie down.
- Confident, slip-free walking conditions.
- Plenty of fresh, dry air.
- Dry, draft-free conditions in the winter.
- A shady, breezy location during hot weather.
Provide the best environment possible with space, water, ventilation, and floor surface for these cows to relieve the stress of the calving process. Properly sized freestalls or adequate resting area space and plenty of alley space provides for excellent cow comfort with reasonable labor and bedding demands. Size the pen to assure that all cows have a stall or adequate resting space during maximum use periods. Provide excellent lighting (25 to 35 foot candles) for good observation of animals and even higher light levels (50 foot candles) in animal treatment and work areas.
Recommendations from Cook and Nordlund (2004) suggest transition cows should have access to 0.75 m (30 inches) of bunk space with head locks spaced at 0.750 m (30 inches) or with 0.60 m (24 inches) headlocks stocked to only 80 to 85% of the feeding space capacity independent of the number of stalls in the pen. Use headlocks designed to facilitate easier extraction of a downed animal and to minimize the risk of choking when a cow is down. Post-and-rail feeding fences can artificially reduce the accessible feed bunk for submissive cows when a dominant cow commands more of the usable bunk space than she needs.
To provide optimum cow comfort and cleanliness for the transition cow, additional space should be the guiding design principle. Recommended freestall dimensions are dependent on the size and breed of the cow. In general, freestall sizes are larger than the average of the herd size since cows in this stage of calving are larger and more awkward. This is a result of increases in cow size and the physical needs for cows to recline and rise in a natural, stress-free manner. An individual bedded pen is sized to be 3.7 m x 3.7 m (12’ x 12’) pen or 13.7 m2 (144 ft2) which is the minimum size recommended for a calving cow.
Extra space in a bedded pen and plenty of bedding can increase the comfort and cleanliness without the necessity of intensive and frequent grooming and cleaning. More densely populated packs and smaller pens require more frequent grooming, bedding addition, and cleanout to keep cows clean and comfortable. A resting area of 9.5 to 19 m2 (100 to 200 ft2) per Holstein cow is recommended in a group bedded pen. The space needed per cow is largely dependent on bedding frequency and ability to keep the animals clean. Fresh cows’ udders are very susceptible to dirty resting conditions, so larger pack areas and meticulous bedding maintenance are recommended. This resting space does not include the feed alley used for accessing feed and water. Natural Resource Agriculture, Engineering Service (NRAES), Midwest Plan Service (MWPS), and other design information can be consulted to obtain the current recommendations for space and freestall dimensions.
Relationship between Feeding and Resting Space
Dairy nutritionists and other professionals recognize that dry matter intake diminishes as calving becomes imminent. Pen design should not create any additional limitations on feed intake. Providing adequate feed space and minimizing competition at the feed bunk is an important design principle in transition cow pen design. Resting space is determined after determining the required feed space and assuring there is more than enough resting space for all cows at all times.
Cook and Nordlund (2004) suggest that minimizing the number of pen moves can reduce competition and social stress that occurs during the time period after the move. It can take between 3 to 7 days for a cow to adjust her social status after a pen move. During this social adjustment period, she is under additional stress. Field recommendations suggest cows be moved to a maternity pen as close to calving as possible, and moved out of the pen soon after calving to minimize social stress.
Labor Savings in Cow Management
Prompt and proper care during this critical period in a cow’s annual life cycle can be considered the foundation on which a cow builds a profitable lactation and provides a healthy replacement animal. Facility design needs to take into account labor requirements for performing the cow care tasks required. This is where the herd manager and veterinarian spend most of their time. It is extremely important that arrangements are convenient for them to make the most efficient use of their time. A list of the working protocols and a description of the facility features allowing the protocols to be implemented should be developed for each transition and special-needs cow group.
Worker safety considerations should be part of the management and facility plan. Items to consider include animal control measures, methods for workers to escape from aggressive animals, elimination of pinch point or entrapment hazards between the worker and the animals, good footing for both workers and animals, and adequate lighting.
Biosecurity measures to provide protection from diseases both on and off the farm are also a fundamental design principle. There are two general categories of biosecurity: 1) keeping diseases from entering the farm through animals from off the farm, herd health providers, delivery vehicles, equipment, wild animal vectors, and visitors; and 2) preventing on-farm spread of disease among different groups of animals. Designers must consider both aspects of biosecurity when designing and locating transition special-needs cow facilities. Special-needs animals can be both the source of disease or may be some of the most susceptible animals to diseases.
The close-up pen should be under constant observation so the cow can be moved to a well-bedded calving pen at the time of calving. Selection of resting space for the close-up pen is based on personal preference and the dairy management plan. The cow will remain in the calving pen until completion of calving and moved out of the pen to the fresh cow pen environment.
Freestall Pen Design
Freestall pens for close-up and fresh cows are an appropriate environment up to the point of calving. A freestall should provide a clean and dry place for the cow to lie down and be sized to prevent unnecessary forces on the cow or injury as a cow rises and reclines. The freestall resting surface should also be easily accessible from walk alleys. The freestall dimensions should be sized according to the largest cows expected in the transition cow group. (Cook & Nordlund, 2004)
A 2-row freestall pen design is an efficient pen layout providing the recommended feed space of 0.75 m (30 inches) per cow and having the correct number of freestalls for resting space without wasting space. Additional crossovers between rows of stalls not only allow easy access to the bunk but also increase the feed space per cow. There should be a freestall available for every cow in the pen. A head-to-tail freestall row arrangement allows easy observation by the manager of the rear of the animals as the manager walks up the feed lane.
Freestall pen designs with 3 rows have limited feed space on a per cow basis, which does not efficiently use the resting space of the pen. The 3-row pen design should be stocked according to recommended feed space per cow and will typically have fewer cows in the pen than the number of freestalls in the pen.
Group Bedded Pen Design
Bedded pens in a barn design for a small herd may be a better design option. This option is best used when management cannot monitor cows round the clock or the calving date is uncertain. When constant monitoring is not possible, the risk of not getting the cow out of a freestall pen and into the calving pen at the appropriate time increases. If the calving date is missed by a few days, the cow can calve in a clean, bedded pen environment as compared to calving in a freestall pen. Bedding should be added regularly to provide a clean and dry place for cows to lie and potentially calve on. The pen arrangement should allow easy bedding addition and manure pack removal with a front-end loader.
Maternity (Calving) Pen Design
Individual maternity (calving) pens should be approximately 3.7 m x 3.7 m (12’ x 12’) or 3 m x 4.3 m (10’ x 14’) or approximately 13.7 m2 (~144 ft2). The base of the pen can be concrete, clay, or sand. At least 0.15 m (6 inches) of organic bedding should be placed on top of the base. Although concrete floors are more easily cleaned, they may not provide the best footing. Clay, dirt, or sand bases allow better footing for the cow and allow relatively easy cleaning of the pen when accessed by a skid steer. Rubber mats may also be used.
Sanitation is an important design consideration in individual pens used for maternity pens and treatment areas. Bedding should be removed and replaced with fresh, dry bedding after every calving. Frequent manure removal is necessary to prevent the transmission of diseases such as Johnes by contact of the newborn calf with the cow’s manure. The maternity pen design should include a water space and a headlock with gates positioned to allow funneling the cow into the headlock for treatment and milking after calving. A vacuum line can be placed above the pen to allow milking out colostrum in the pen before moving the cow. Cows may need less than 1 day of housing in a maternity pen, but some flexibility for this group is warranted due to calving difficulty and/or the uncertainty of due date.
Treatment of Convalescent Pen Design
An individual pen to treat and handle downer cows and other serious health problems is also needed. A pen for one cow should be at least 3.7 m x 3.7 m (12’ x 12’) or 13.7 m2 (144 ft2) with gate partitions, water supply, and a feed trough. The pen should include a lockup and gate arrangement allowing one worker to easily catch a cow for close examination. Use long gates instead of fixed pen sides whenever possible to provide better access while working on cows. There should be special equipment for supporting and manipulating sick or downer cows such as an overhead lift system or other cow support aid. Include easy access to these from outside the building for delivery or removal of immobile cows.
Cow Sorting and Group Handling
Cows needing attention are often diverted from the return lane after milking. Following are common reasons for sorting cows:
- Bad milk
- Hoof trimming
- Dry off
- Pregnancy check
- Computer-identified variance
Use either manually operated gates or computer-controlled selection gates to sort cows as they leave the milking parlor. However, the sorting activity or location should be far enough away from the parlor exit so that the milking routine is not disrupted. Cows may be diverted into a stacking lane running parallel to the return lane or to a holding or sorting pen. The pen should be sized to hold all sorted cows while they are awaiting further handling or treatment. At a minimum, a short-term sorting facility should be sized to hold one side of the milking parlor. There are a variety of destinations for cows after separation from the return lane. The first stop may be a short-term holding pen where animals are held for a quick examination and treatment before returning to their housing group or directed to another area with facilities for longer-term holding or treatment. Cows requiring only quick attention can be cared for and immediately returned to their milking group.
A short-term holding pen should be sized to have at least 2 m2 (20 ft2) of area per cow. This does not provide adequate room for cows to lie down, so occupancy should be kept to less than 1 hour. Cows should not be kept standing and away from water any longer than the normal milking period. These pens need to have gates hinged in such a way that the cows can be corralled into a single alley leading to the equipment being used. Using the radius of the gate with beveled corners and lanes help to accomplish this. There should be easy access for people to get in and out of the pens and the ability to handle cows without getting trapped or reaching through fences. Provide ways to keep the short-term holding pen clean with a minimum amount of handwork. Flushing or a large volume wash-down hose can be the most convenient way to clean this area. Often a combination of hand scraping and hosing provides a labor-efficient method and reduces water use and wastewater disposal. Slopes and elevations along with manure collection points are critical to get the job done effectively.
Some animals may be moved to an intermediate holding area while awaiting a visit by a veterinarian, hoof trimmer or breeder before being returned to their housing group. Cows held in holding pens longer than 1 hour should have access to water. Cows held longer than 2 hours should have access to water, feed, and a comfortable resting area. The importance of access to water, feed, and resting increases with the length of time a cow is held in a pen. Headlocks are important if the pen is used for initial examination and simple treatment.
Animal Handling or Drover Lane
Animal handling or drover lanes or alleys are another addition that can ease the labor and management of the cow groups needing attention in the transition cow barn. With a well-laid-out pen system and a drover lane, one person can move and manage cows. The drover lane is placed adjacent to a series of group pens along the length of the building so that any pen can be accessed. This is an especially important design feature for large herd barn designs with multiple pens. The drover lane allows cows to be moved from one pen to another without disrupting the routine of other pens or having to move cows through other pens. Gating and penning should be designed to allow one person to move an individual cow from one pen to another easily.
Several support facilities can be used by the herd manager, veterinarian, and workers to implement the management plan for transition and special-needs cows. A short description of some of these areas is discussed below.
Office(s), Work Space and Storage Building
Any special-needs area should have a secure space for record keeping and storage of medicines and equipment and hot and cold running water.
Veterinary Office and Storage Area
An office and storage area for veterinary activities, equipment and supplies should be located in close proximity to where the most work will be done. There should be provisions for the following items.
- Excellent lighting
- Convenience outlets
- Heating and air conditioning
- Hot and cold running water
- Wash sink and wastewater disposal
- Drug storage
- Semen tanks
- Desk and filing cabinet
- Parking for veterinary vehicle
- Waste disposal for veterinary/medical waste
This area should be near special treatment and restraint areas where extensive health-care procedures such as surgeries are likely to take place. In cold climates, it is advisable to have part of the treatment area heated. Areas where intensive and perhaps distressing treatments are performed should be located away from the holding area and cows traveling to and from milking so cows are not distracted.
Many dairy farm owners and managers are recognizing that the herdsperson’s office should be near the transition cow management groups since this is where a lot of their time is spent with cows calving and monitoring health of fresh cows. This office space can be located adjacent to the transition cow pen or barn space to allow easy access to the cows.
Treatment and Handling Facilities
It is beyond the scope of this paper to provide detailed design and construction information for treatment and handling facilities. Some of the equipment that may be used and the space requirements follow:
- Palpation or management rail for pregnancy checking and giving injections.
- Single lane chutes with raised personal walkways beside for giving injections.
- Wide alleys or rectangular catch pens with headlocks along one side to temporarily lock up several cows for neck and head access. Enticing cows into these headlocks may be a problem.
- Squeeze chutes with head gates are often used for more extensive work.
- Hoof trimming table or chute. If a portable unit is used, there should be easy access for getting it in and out of the barn.
- Holding areas for animals awaiting trimming and leaving the trimming unit.
Milking Area for Treated Cows
Consider how cows in this area will be milked. There should be provisions for milking a cow that cannot walk to a milking parlor. If the farm’s milking parlor is to be used, be sure the location and access is convenient for cows to walk to the milking parlor. For large herds, it may be desirable to develop a milking area or parlor for milking treated cows so unsalable milk does enter the main parlor milk storage. The risk of treated milk contaminating a salable storage tank of milk can be minimized by separating the milking of these cows from the normal parlor milking setup. The small transition and treated milking groups can also interrupt and delay the normal procedures of the main parlor. A single-sided parlor, flat barn parlor, or simply some single milking units for sick or mobility-challenged cows can be used.
Newborn Calf Care Facilities
An area to process newborn calves may include facilities for storage, preparation, and handling of frozen colostrum and a heating pad or box for newborn calves.
Flexible Facility Design and Layout
The most important consideration in designing for transition and special-needs cows is flexibility and multi-use. The needs of herds vary from herd to herd, throughout any given year for a herd, and throughout the life of a dairy (new herd, expanding herd, young herd, older herd). The transition and special-needs barn should be designed with similar criteria for ventilation, resting areas, and floor surfaces as other freestall and loose housing barns. Drive-along feeding and straight-line manure scraping or flushing consistent with the other barns on the farm are best.
Location of Transition and Special Needs Cow Barn
The location of the transition and special-needs facility in relation to the rest of the dairy facilities is a very important consideration. It is usually best to locate this facility close to the milking center so the fresh cows have a short distance to travel to the parlor and back. The barn should be easily accessible for employees, veterinarians, service vehicles, and trucks for loading and unloading cows.
Herds that are or will undergo expansion place different requirements on the transition and special-needs barn design. The number and distribution of animals in the transition and special-needs groups will change from the current situation as the herd grows. The design for transition and special-needs facilities should either leave space for future expansion or provide for the ultimate requirements in advance.
Flexible Use Pen Design
Additional crossovers in a freestall pen allow the pen to be subdivided into pen areas. Movable gates in the pen allow the separate groups within the pen to be resized depending on the cow flow into the pen and the desire of the manager. This minimizes the social stress of separating pen mates since the cows may be in the same pen and separated only by a gate. The additional crossovers also help to increase the bunk length for the pen space, lessening competition at the bunk, and provide additional options for water locations.
Develop Alternative Designs
Based on the management plan and the design principles and considerations discussed above, several alternative facility designs can be developed. The design specification lists and other information can be used to develop creative ideas and options. Farm visits, popular press articles, and visits with agricultural professionals can also fine-tune design decisions. Find those designs and specifications that best fit into your management plan. Use Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) and Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES), and Extension publications for transition and special-needs pen and barn plans and specific design recommendations.
Choose the “Best” Facility Design
There is no single “best” design. Every design involves trade-offs. The planning and design process incorporates the design criteria desired into a functional, practical, and reasonable plan. Some design principles may have to be compromised slightly to be part of the overall design. If the design principles have been prioritized, the job of deciding which features to keep or eliminate for whatever reason can be made more easily because the decision process is already in place.
Assess the trade-offs of each facility design option. Try to determine which combination of design choices provides the most balanced design. The “best” solution should meet all of the required criteria set forth in the management plan and building specifications and most of the highest-ranked desired features. The final facility design should be somewhat “better” than the other alternatives.
Implement the Design
A transition cow facility should be designed and built to implement the chosen management plan and provide a clean, dry environment with plenty of fresh air and feed and water for the animals. A well-designed facility should also be labor efficient, economical, safe for both workers and cows, and environmentally friendly.
A scaled plan or sketch should be developed for discussion with the dairy design team and for bidding or building purposes. The plan helps define the space and communicates to the team and the builder the specifications of what is to be built. The scaled plan can be used to evaluate the overall design and its impact on all aspects of the management plan. The dairy design team can review and critique the design. The herd manager and other employees can consider how they will perform their assigned tasks. The scaled plan can be used to evaluate cow flow from pen to pen, feeding and manure handling equipment traffic, and work protocols and routines. The plan and list of specifications describes the facility in terms a builder or contractor can understand.
A good transition and special-needs cow housing design facilitates the objectives and requirements of the dairy cow management plan. Facility design is a fluid process involving give and take. It is easy to lose sight of the original intent along the way. Design the facility to implement the transition cow management plan. As decisions are made, they should be tested against the requirements and objective of the management plan. The ultimate decision should be based on the answer to the question “Will this design, change or device help the farm managers, workers, and cows to reach the goals and objectives of the management plan?” Consider each of the design features to develop a comprehensive facility design. Designs that are sensitive to a variety of herd and management needs and flexible enough to accommodate changing management requirements should be the goal of the dairy facility designer. The design must also consider the health and safety of those working with and around animals and biosecurity measures to minimize the spread of disease among animals on the dairy or moving onto and off the dairy.
AgSource Cooperative Services. 2006. P.O. Box 930230. Verona, WI 53593. Phone: 608-845-1900, fax: 608-845-1999. www.agsource.crinet.com/.
Cook, N., K. Nordlund. 2004. Behavioral Needs of the Transition Cows and Considerations for Special Needs Facility Design. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Managing the Transition Cow to Optimize Health and Productivity. Edited by Cook, N.B., Nordlund, K.V. www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/publicats/chapters/behavioral_needs.pdf.
Engle, R., and R. E. Graves. 2006. Guidelines for Special Needs Barns. Dairy Practices Council Guideline. DPC 88 Yellow Copy 13 pages. Available at: www.dairypc.org.
Graves, R. E., R. Engle, J. T. Tyson. 2006. Design Information for Housing Special Cows. ASABE Meeting Paper No 064034. July 9-12, 2006. 11 pp. www.asabe.org.
Graves, R. E., D. F. McFarland, J. T. Tyson, and T. H. Wilson. 2006. Penn State Housing Plans for Milking and Special-Needs Cows. Natural Resources Agriculture and Engineering Service. NRAES–200. Available at: www.nraes.org.
Kammel, D.W. 2006. Internal Communication. 460 Henry Mall. Madison, WI 53706. email@example.com
Kammel, D.W., K. Janni. 2000. Facility Design for the Transition Cow. Proceedings from the Conference Dairy Housing and Equipment Systems. February 1-3, 2000. Camp Hill, PA. Natural Resource Agriculture and Engineering Service, Cooperative Extension, 152 Riley Robb Hall, Ithica, NY 14853- 5701. www.nraes.org.
Kammel, D.W., T. Rehbein, S. Gunderson, R. Thompson. 2000. Transition Cow Case Studies. Proceedings from the Conference Dairy Housing and Equipment Systems. February 1-3, 2000. Camp Hill, PA.
Natural Resources Agriculture and Engineering Service, Cooperative Extension, 152 Riley Robb Hall,Ithica, NY 14853-5701. www.nraes.org.
MWPS. 2000. Janni, K., D.W Kammel. Special Cows/Special Care: Case Studies. Four State Dairy Management Seminar. Cows in Transition. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department, 122 Davidson Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3080. www.mwps.org.
MWPS. 1997. Dairy Freestall Housing and Equipment. MWPS-7. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department, 122 Davidson Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3080. www.mwps.org.
NRAES. 1997. Penn State Dairy Housing Plans. NRAES-85. Natural Resources Agriculture and Engineering Service, Cooperative Extension, 152 Riley Robb Hall, Ithica, NY 14853-5701. www.nraes.org.
Smith, J.F., J.P. Harner III, M.J. Brouk. 2001. Special Needs Facilities. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. EP 100. http:/www.oznet.ksu.edu.
Stone, B. 2000. Defining and Managing Special Cows. Proceedings from the Conference Dairy Housing and Equipment Systems. February 1-3, 2000. Camp Hill, PA. Natural Resources Agriculture and Engineering Service, Cooperative Extension, 152 Riley Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-5701. www.nraes.org.
Source: 2007 International Dairy Housing Conference, Minneapolis, MN. ASABE Publication No. 701P0507e. Copyrighted by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASABE). Used with permission of ASABE, the publisher.
David W. Kammel1 and Robert E. Graves2
1 Biological Systems and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2 Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

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unning from his past, Kevin Black suddenly found himself back in the small town of Taos, New Mexico. He was only nine years old when he’d left, and the only reason he had come back now was the pull of the place. He hadn’t heard the mysterious humming sound in over seven years, so when it started again, he knew he had to return before he was forced to do something he’d regret.
The people in Taos seemed friendly enough, but Kevin lived a lonely existence nevertheless. He still had a little money hidden away underneath one of the floorboards inside the cheap motel he’d rented when he first arrived six days ago, and he was thankful he’d only be there for a short time. If all goes well, he thought.
It was hotter in Taos than he was accustomed to, but then again, spending the majority of his thirty-two years in the northern part of Michigan meant that most places were hotter than he would’ve preferred. Still, a small part of him missed life in Taos at times.
Once his older brother Wayne died, he was finally able to breathe easy again. Since they didn’t get along very well, Kevin felt better after Wayne’s claim to his parents was finally severed for good. Sure, he was jealous that Wayne got all the attention, who wouldn’t be? While he was often on the receiving end of his father’s looks of disappointment, Wayne could do no wrong. Kevin just hoped that was all in the past now. He didn’t want to come back and rehash what he’d done to finally rid the world of his cruel brother every day.
Kevin’s current room was a total dive: the carpet was so dirty that it turned your socks or bare feet a dirty blackish color, the big roaches roaming around at night often woke him up when they ran into the baseboards, and the bathtub was so grimy that he chose to shower with his flip flops on, to avoid getting a new and possibly undiscovered flesh eating disease. Regardless of the filth, the place was cheap and it had a kitchenette, which was key for Kevin because the last thing he wanted to do was eat fast food for every meal.
Outside in the hot air, Kevin found it hard to concentrate. Of course, this could’ve been due to his abrupt departure from the north more so than the heat itself. Thinking back to his past, he still didn’t know why it happened, but for some reason, he just couldn’t seem to stop himself. It was the only way to silence the strange humming sound in his head. Once he took care of the first one, whatever was driving him seemed to get a taste for it and had to have more. He prayed he was through with it all, that the priest from the insane asylum where he’d spent seven long years of his life was finally able to help him put that stuff behind him.
As he sat inside his hot car without air conditioning, preparing to head to the market for some groceries, Kevin’s mind suddenly drifted back to his ride down south. The trip from Michigan all the way to Taos, New Mexico took almost three full days on the Greyhound bus, and on the third and final day of the trip, he remembered waking with a start, scaring the older woman seated next to him. She quickly gave him a look of disgust, and took another seat towards the rear of the slow moving transporter.
The temperature on the bus felt like it had dropped a good twenty degrees during the last few hours of the ride, and Kevin’s first instinct was to yell at the driver to turn up the heat. He was glad he hadn’t, as he realized the reason for his being so cold was due to his own sweat soaking through his clothes. He didn’t know why he was surprised. The same thing happened most of the nights he’d dreamed while inside the asylum. Placing his head down inside his hooded sweatshirt, Kevin blew warm air out from his mouth in an effort to warm himself.
Pushing the button on the side of his watch, Kevin saw that it was already four o’clock in the morning. The estimated arrival time into Taos was seven, so he still had a few hours to go. He turned on the small overhead light and cracked open the paperback novel he’d found lying on a table inside the bus station. He only read fiction on occasion, but he’d picked up the book to help pass the time on the long trip. Since he rarely read while inside the psycho ward, he’d never heard of the author, Harlan Coben. Judging from the brief synopsis on the back of the novel, it sounded decent. It was titled
, a story about a teenage girl who went missing, was presumed dead, and her family’s never-ending search for her or her body.
When the book failed to keep his attention, he threw it onto the seat next to him and wondered,
Why would the humming suddenly start again after remaining dormant for all these years?
At some point, he dozed back off to sleep, and this time he didn’t dream.
When the bus driver announced, “We just arrived in Taos”, Kevin snapped out of his stupor and gathered up his meager belongings. This basically consisted of one small duffle bag with a change of clothes, an old worn out hat, and his recently acquired novel. He debated leaving the novel on the bus, but thought it might come in handy if he was stuck in another ‘time to kill situation’. Those words caused another chill to course through him. He prayed that the hum hadn’t called him back to this place with intentions of making him do it again.
Just as they were about to exit the bus, a medium-built young man hopped on and started talking. “Folks, before you can enter into Taos proper, you’ll have to meet with one of our city council members inside. We have to make sure no one visiting our town plans to trespass or steal from the locals while they’re here. I understand what an inconvenience this might seem, but it really has become a necessity.”
Looking around, Kevin was surprised that no one else on the bus appeared to have a problem with such a preposterous idea. They all acted as if they were stuck in some sort of stupor, like cattle heading for the slaughter. Not wanting to make waves on his first day back in town, he decided it best to follow suit. Still, the very thought of such a thing seemed unconstitutional, in the least.
He filled out their stupid form, which basically stated what his business was in town, and a promise not to bother the locals there. After handing it to the man, Kevin waited patiently for him to read his entries.
“Normally we try to discourage folks from taking up residence here, Mr. Black, but since you used to live in the area, we’ll make an exception.”
Kevin thought it strange, but once again, he was alone on a deserted island in his thinking. Everyone else did as they were told, and were marched to the slaughter line.
Coming back to the present, Kevin fired up the old Pontiac Bonneville that he’d purchased as soon as he arrived in the state. The car had over 200,000 miles on it, but appeared to be in pretty good shape otherwise. Other than a little rust here and there, it ran fine. When he handed over the $1,500 in cash to the salesman, he was once again reminded of how much the priest had done for him during his time at the asylum.
Kevin knew he never would’ve gotten such a good paying job if the priest hadn’t pulled the strings that he had. He had little experience, and had just spent seven years locked away for murdering nine people. Would you hire him? Still, the time he spent reading and writing while in the nuthouse, greatly helped him qualify for the editing position with Riley Publishing Company in the southern part of Michigan. Thankfully he only had to edit the nonfiction stories that the company received, because he just couldn’t seem to get into some of the off the wall stuff people seemed to come up with on the fiction side.
Drifting back to the present again, Kevin found himself perusing an assortment of fruits at the market, when he suddenly caught sight of a young woman having what appeared to be a rather heated discussion with one of the workers there. Moving closer to catch wind of their conversation, he heard her mention something about her sister, and that’s when the red-faced worker simply turned and left without saying another word.
“What are you looking at?” she yelled in Kevin’s direction.
“Me? Oh, sorry. I’m new to the area and…and I guess I was just being nosey.” Kevin replied, not really knowing how else to respond.
The woman’s anger quickly dissipated, and in its place came a smile—a nervous one, but a smile nonetheless. Making her way over to Kevin, she stuck out her hand and said, “I’m Amanda. Amanda Billingsley.”
“Mr. Nosey,” Amanda interrupted, still smiling. “Kevin Black, a.k.a. Mr. Nosey. Are you from around here, Amanda?”
“No. Well, sort of. I used to live here when I was younger, but we moved away after…when I turned twelve.”
The pause by Amanda wasn’t lost on Kevin as he said, “You did? Look, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I used to live here when I was younger too. We moved when I turned nine. How long have you been back?”
“I’ve been here about a month now. How about you?”
“Just got in a week ago. What brings you back to this sleepy little town? It’s not exactly on the top of the
Best Places to Live in America,
“I…I’m looking for some information about my sister. And you?”
“Just needed a change of scenery.” Kevin replied, knowing better than to tell her that he’d started hearing the hum again or about the incident he’d experienced down in the old tunnel. “So what are you trying to find out about your sister?”
“This might sound a little much, but I think someone around here had her killed.”
“Had her killed? Why do you think that?” Kevin asked, trying hard to mask a look which basically said,
this girl is crazy
. He wasn’t prepared for Amanda’s response, nor was he interested in hearing more from her at that point. He had enough of his own problems to deal with; the last thing he wanted was to hook up with a crazy woman.
“It’s a long story and judging from the look of shock on your face, one you probably wouldn’t believe. So, I’ll spare us both the time and the embarrassment. I have to get going. Keep a wary eye out around here, Kevin. These people can’t be trusted.” Amanda warned as she turned and headed for the door.
Since the parking lot for the grocery store was no bigger than that of a gas station, Kevin watched as Amanda got into a big Chevy Tahoe SUV, and spun her way back out to the road. It was obvious that she wanted the store clerk to know how she felt about his lack of help.
Forty-five minutes later, Kevin returned to his new home at the roach motel and whipped up a dinner of canned green beans and canned roast beef over Texas toast. It wasn’t 100 percent home cooked, but it was better than eating fast food, in his mind.
Needing to get some fresh air and walk off his dinner, Kevin left his motel at around eight at night and headed north back in the direction of town. The motel was only about a mile and a half from the town via Highway 115, and the only thing along that particular stretch of road was a small grouping of newer apartments.
The clear blue sky seemed to hold out each of its stars, as if to say,
up here, look at us. Aren’t we looking amazing tonight?
Kevin found himself spinning around doing just that—taking in each one.
As he neared the apartments, Kevin noticed what he thought was Amanda’s white SUV parked in front of one of the apartments, and the door appeared to be standing wide open. Straining to get a clearer view of the license plate, he realized it was indeed her vehicle. The plate read: 1PRSN, something that had automatically stuck in Kevin’s subconscious for some reason, when he watched her leave the grocery store. It could’ve been the fact that he’d often considered himself one person against the world.
When he heard Amanda’s screams pierce through the silence of the night, he took off running in that direction. He arrived at her front door, out of breath and fearing the worst. Slowly, he made his way into her apartment. Right away, he saw signs of a struggle: broken glass, overturned furniture, and what appeared to be a body imprint in the drywall on the right side wall of the foyer. “Amanda? Hello? Are you okay?” Kevin asked as he slowly peered around the corner towards the bedrooms.
The sound of breaking glass gave Kevin momentary pause. “I’ve already called the police,” he yelled, knowing good and well that he hadn’t. “They’ll be here any minute.”
Finally getting up the nerve to move forward, Kevin cautiously made his way towards the open door of Amanda’s bedroom. His mind conjured up images of her body lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood. Unfortunately, he knew more than most about these things, because he’d been on the other end on numerous occasions. He didn’t like the feelings he was experiencing on this side.
“Hello? Are you in there, Amanda?” Kevin yelled outside her bedroom doorway. His heart thumped so loudly it made it hard for him to focus. He could feel his body tremble, making it hard to get up the nerve to move found. A strong sense of déjà vu hit him as he moved across the threshold of Amanda’s doorway— this time he wasn’t holding a pillow in his hand, getting ready to snuff out the life of his ex.
Getting no response to his question, he cautiously moved deeper into the ransacked room. Clothes were strewn about on the floor, the queen mattress from the bed was flipped over near the window, with…with blood splattered all over it and the walls. Picking up pace, Kevin went over to the mattress, and that’s when he saw a woman’s foot sticking out from underneath.
Quickly tossing the mattress aside, Kevin looked down on Amanda’s unmoving body. She had two stab wounds to the chest, and they were both bleeding profusely. Feeling for a sign of life along the right side of her neck, he was happily met with a faint pulse. Grabbing a discarded blouse up off the floor, Kevin bent down and applied pressure to her wounds as best he could.
When blood suddenly splattered down onto Amanda’s face, he knew right away what was happening. The nose bleeds were back. Using the sleeve of the blouse, he applied pressure to Amanda’s wounds with one hand and pinched his nostrils together with the other.
Knowing his efforts were futile, Kevin temporarily released the part of the shirt covering Amanda and pulled out his cell phone to call the police. After explaining what he thought happened, he went back to task of saving as much of Amanda’s blood as he could.
When his nose finally stopped bleeding, he began to hear the humming louder than he’d ever heard it before. His head started pounding, as an instant migraine headache assaulted him from all directions. Releasing the shirt covering Amanda’s wounds, Kevin put his head between his legs in an effort to battle his pounding head. Five minutes later, the pain intensified to the point where he started banging his head against Amanda’s solid cherry bed, in search of some relief. He did this three or four times before losing count and passing out.
When he came to, Kevin found himself in handcuffs, riding in the back of an ambulance. Struggling to sit up, he turned to the EMT on his right and asked, “Is the woman okay?”
“Just try and get some rest, sir.” “Rest? I can’t rest! Is she okay?”


text:
ADHD is a common disorder that can be misunderstood at times. This brief 30 minute training program is based on the latest research evidence. It incorporates testimonies from ADHD specialists and patients with lived experience to depict a clear picture of this complex disorder. Use the previous and next buttons to navigate through this resource.
Please note: The previous and next buttons can be found at the bottom of this page, together with the audio controller.

domain: psychology


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Actress Kangana Ranaut is all set to resume the shooting of her next ambitious project ‘Tejas' on Saturday. She has been wrapping up her upcoming film ‘Dhaakad' in Budapest.
Announcing the same on her Instagram handle, Kangana shared a picture of herself dressed in the uniform of an airforce pilot as per her character in the film with the director Sarvesh Mewara. Sharing the Behind-The-Scene (BTS) picture, she further wrote, “On to my next mission #Tejas Starting today … Josh is soaring high thanks to my fabulous team.”
View this post on Instagram
The film ‘Tejas’ portrays a fierce story that revolves around an Indian Air Force pilot, essayed by Kangana Ranaut. The film is backed by the makers of Vicky Kaushal’s Uri: The Surgical Strike.
Apart from ‘Tejas', Kangana has several other films, including ‘Thalaivi', ‘Dhaakad' and ‘Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda', in her kitty. She will also be seen essaying the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for a political drama titled ‘Emergency.’


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Posted 3/18/2013 12:00 am
Southern Business & Development, has rated the Little Rock region among the “Top 10 Smaller Markets in the South for Foreign Investment,” with three (now four) major foreign advanced manufacturer locations since 2007. Additionally, the region’s largest manufacturer employer (Dassault Falcon Jet) is headquartered in France.
Little Rock has the designation as Foreign Trade Zone — 14, with sub-zones located across Arkansas, and is a U.S. Customs Port of Entry for freight with Customs officials on call. The region is also is home to a Mexican Consulate — Consulado de Carrera de México.
- Dassault Falcon (France)
- LM Windpower (Denmark)
- L’Oréal USA Products, Inc. (France)
- Saint-Gobain (France)
- Welspun Tubular, LLC (India)

domain: economics


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The American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA) is a professional nursing association representing assisted living registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses. Our number one goal is to promote safe, effective, and dignified nursing practice in assisted living. With over one million older adults residing in assisted living communities and given the actual and potential increase in the nature and intensity of their health and personal care needs, the demand for licensed nurses in this domain is making assisted living one of the fastest growing segments in the nursing spectrum. As such, we hold ourselves accountable for our nursing practice.
AALNA was formed in June 2001 by a group of assisted living nurses and is still operated only by nurses currently practicing in the field. We have developed two distinct Scope and Standards of Practice statements for assisted living nurses (one for RNs; one for LPN/LVNs) that draw on principles of gerontological nursing, as well as a certification exam with demonstrated validity and reliability. Through this, we have started the process towards assisted living nursing professional certification as a specialty practice. In addition, AALNA has held nine national conferences for which continuing education credits have been awarded.
About Our President, Calvin Groeneweg, RN C-AL
Mr. Groeneweg is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience. In addition to being a Registered Nurse, Mr. Groeneweg also carries the designation of Certified Assisted Living Nurse (C-AL). Mr. Groeneweg has experience in nursing administration, staffing, and admissions at Summit Medical Center of Oakland, and has been a Director of Risk management at Magnolia. Currently, he is working as a Director of Risk Management for NCPHS. In addition, Mr. Groeneweg has operated a 44 bed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly in Napa, CA for the past 21 years that is dedicated to serving the needs of those with Dementia.
Mr. Groeneweg is very active in the Assisted Living industry. He was a member of the Little Hoover Advisory Commission on Long Term Care, and has consulted for various attorneys and organizations on issues facing Resident Care. Mr. Groeneweg is not only the current President of the American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA), but is also a founder member.
As one of AALNA’s founding members, Mr. Groeneweg has played a significant role in growing membership to over 3000 nurses in 50 states. Throughout his 13 years of involvement with AALNA, he and the board of directors have served members by cultivating parnterships and collaborations with other organizations to provide resources and opportunities for education and networking for our individual and corporate members. In years to come, Mr. Groeneweg will strive to increase the visibility of AALNA and inform more nurses about AALNA what it does for nurses in assisted living.

domain: medical


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On the heels of our request for your assistance in completing paperwork with regards to the annual influenza vaccine, we now are able to provide you with Manitoba Health’s Factsheet for the soon to be available Covid19 Bivalent mRNA vaccine.
We are expecting to receive delivery of both this new bivalent covid vaccine, along with our seasonal influenza vaccine the week of September 19th.
Starting early next week, Justin Lagace, RN BN, will be calling primary contacts of Residents who have not had a booster dose in the past 3 months to obtain consent for this new Bivalent vaccine. For Residents who have recently tested positive for Covid19, we will be waiting 3 months before seeking approval to proceed with this Booster.
For some families who Justin has had recent discussions with about the vaccine, be assured your wishes have been noted and will be respected. 😊
Justin will be happy to speak with families about the vaccine over the phone next week, and of course feel free to reach out to him or any of our nursing team in the meantime, should you feel the need. (Justin’s contact particulars are: Phone: 204-453-4663 ext. 206; email: ).
As always, thank you for your support of your loved one and our efforts to provide a health-safe Home for all who enter our humble abode.


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The Device Experience (DX) division of Samsung Electronics is cutting costs, according to a new report citing an intranet notice posted by the company earlier this week. According to the notice, the DX division of Samsung has entered emergency mode due to the current economic climate.
According to a company representative quoted by BusinessKorea, Samsung is “suffering a decline in sales of televisions and home appliances,” adding, “We cannot expect a quick recovery in sales now.” One financial firm forecasts that Samsung Electronics’ operating profit will decrease by 29% in 2023 compared to this year.
High exchange and interest rates, disruptions in the supply chain, and a decline in consumer demand, according to Samsung, have contributed to this recent shift to emergency mode.
Reducing costs in several areas
Samsung Electronics has decided to reduce overseas business trips and global marketing events for its Device Experience division, which is responsible for smartphones, televisions, and home appliances, to reduce its losses.
In addition, the report indicates that Samsung’s new cost-cutting initiative will reduce expenses and trips to international trade shows, such as CES 2023 in Las Vegas. Samsung may or may not be present on the exhibition floor, but the company plans to unveil new products via video conferencing, i.e. virtual events.
This contradicts previous rumors about the launch of the Galaxy S23 lineup in 2023, according to which the company will revert to a more traditional method of unveiling the phones in front of an audience. There is a possibility that Samsung will reduce business trips and events for some devices, but not for its most significant releases, such as the Galaxy S23.
Samsung reportedly intends to unveil the Galaxy S23 in San Francisco at an official Unpacked event in early February 2023. The exact date of the reveal is unknown, but it should occur during the first half of the month.

domain: finance