Despite the still chilly temperatures in Green Bay, Wisconsin, more than 300 calf and heifer growers and industry representatives attended the 2014 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Conference April 1-3. The new conference format included two afternoons of bus tours, with several on-farm presentations at each stop.
The tour stop included a presentation on sanitation from Dr. Skip Olsen of Milk Products, a demonstration about new developments in ventilation from Dr. Ryan Leiterman of Crystal Creek, and tips on disease prevention from Dr. Kelly Peters of Countryside Vets.
The second stop of the day featured Green Valley Dairy in Krakow, Wisconsin. The started calf facility, which can house 1,640 calves, utilizes three-sided buildings with slatted floors over a 10-foot pit. Manager Paul Jacobs says the pit was purposely overbuilt to ensure environmental compliance.
Presentations at the farm included NIR strategies with Chris Horton of Digi-Star, manure as a potential revenue stream with Peter Westra of Hull Co-op Association, and how to perform a TMR audit with Kristy Pagel of Diamond V.
A second afternoon of tours took attendees to Genex Cooperative facilities in Shawano, Wisconsin. Genex employees showcased bull collection facilities, described how the semen is tested and processed, and opened up their new distribution site.
The fourth tour stop of the conference featured Synergy Dairy in Pulaski, Wisconsin. A new calf facility was built in 2010, which enabled the Olson and Jauqet families to bring their heifers back home after their custom grower decided to start dairying again. The operation has a focus on high-quality genetics and markets embryos abroad, including Italy, China and Japan.
On-farm presentations included research on 3X-feeding from Dr. Don Sockett of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, deciding factors on breeding from David Schroepfer of Alta Genetics, and the proper timeline of feeding through six months from Dan Schnell of United Cooperative.
Back at the conference center, classroom-style presentations focused on managing employees, federal policy, advancements in disease surveillance, technology and genomics.
Two panel discussions helped attendees synthesize lessons learned from calf growers. In the first panel, JP Hall of Halls Calf Ranch, Mike Larson of Larson Acres Dairy and Joel Sutter of Fertile Ridge Dairy shared challenges in communication.
Larson Acres is utilizing cameras in calving pens to monitor labor and provide additional training to employees when needed. Halls Calf Ranch is experimenting with iPads and up-to-date notifications about when a calf is picked up.
The second panel of the conference featured Laura Daniels of Heartwood Farm, Lane Sollenberger of Dream Farms and Brett Barlass of Yosemite Dairy. All three growers have incorporated 3X-feeding and shared tips with attendees.
A common theme through the presentations, tours and panel discussions was how Midwest producers dealt with a particularly long and harsh winter. Many growers altered their feeding programs, adding more energy and in some cases, a third feeding.
Keynote speaker Donald Driver was a special treat for Packers fans, and he encouraged attendees to set goals and be willing to lead. The group was also able to enjoy an evening reception at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and receive a behind-the-scenes stadium tour.
The next Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Conference is scheduled for March 30 – April 1, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. PD
Click here to read more about the conference.
PHOTOS
TOP: Conference attendees check out the heifer barn, built in 2010, at Synergy Dairy in Pulaski, Wisconsin.
BOTTOM: Green Bay Packers fans particularly enjoyed the opportunity to receive a tour of Lambeau Field and walk through the players’ tunnel. Photos by Progressive Dairyman Editor Emily Caldwell.
