CDX is an exclusive dairy trade show, showcasing the latest in innovation, genetics, robotics, dairy products and services. After its inaugural year in 2013, CDX will double in size to take up the entire Stratford Rotary Complex. This will provide additional space for more than 350 company exhibits.
One of the newly added hockey rink surfaces will host the “TMR Superstore,” an area where attending dairy producers will be able to view and compare every available TMR mixer brand and model to determine which machine best suits their individual operation. The second hockey rink will have a hay and forage equipment focus with a quality hay competition. The Milk Maker Forage Competition is open to both seed companies and individual producers.
Live demonstrations will take place throughout the two-day event. Producers can see ultrasound demonstrations, rumination collar intelligence demonstrations and live robotic milking demonstrations. Five different global robotic milking manufacturers will be showcased at the 2014 CDX. Producers can expect to see multi-box style robots, double-box style robots, single-box style robots and, of course, the new tiestall robot in operation.
CheeseFest will return on Wednesday evening as a complimentary networking social to bring together dairy producers, commercial industry and consumers under one roof in the Cow Coliseum. It features a massive cheese buffet with cheeses from around the world.
Last year’s single-day dairy classroom program will now run both days, from 9:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. The Maizex Dairy Classroom features innovative content from world-class guest speakers. Progressive Dairyman reached out to the speakers to obtain a description of each presentation. Their responses are listed within the classroom schedule.
Feb. 5 – Heifer Creation, Health and Development
9:50-10 a.m.
Welcome & launch of the Pride In Dairy video
Jordon Underhill, CDX & Andy Dellava, Hoards Dairyman 
10-11 a.m.
“Like ME or leave ME” The Bullvine Bottom Line on selective
mating to produce a durable, high-production, working female
Andrew Hunt, founder and owner, The Bullvine and Inbound Sales Network, Toronto, Ontario
Many breeders have strong beliefs about what type of sires they should be using, but the question becomes: Do those sires match your management goals? It’s not always the top sires on the LPI, TPI or other lists that will give you the best results in your herd. It’s also important to not always be using that month’s hot sire or the recommendation from your semen salesman. You need to have a clear understanding of how your breeding goals fit within the bigger picture of your operation and how you can select the best sire for your herd. It’s also important to make sure that you are taking the time to understand how corrective mating works, how you can use it on your farm, and how you can do so effectively. That is what “Like ME or leave ME” will cover.
11 a.m.–Noon
Semen sexing and cloning for elite dairy daughters
Juan Moreno, co-CEO Sexing Technologies, Navasota, Texas
(Progressive Dairyman was unable to obtain a description for this presentation.)
Noon-1 p.m.
Automated calf feeding and group housing
Markus Straub, head of procurement and sales, Förster Technik, Gerwigstr, Germany
Current studies show that intensified feeding during the first weeks of a calf’s life has a crucial influence on the later cow performance. These results led to the growing awareness that calf-rearing strategies have to be adapted to support this. Förster-Technik supports this strategy with innovative functions and accessories of the automatic calf feeders, such as automatic calibration and temperature-controlled feeding, which are part of the so-called 40FIT concept. This concept facilitates intensive calf rearing and a high labor productivity to achieve an optimum basis for the future high-performing cow and a profitable dairy business.
1-2 p.m.
Youngstock signals workshop
Joep Driessen, founder of Cowsignals, Bergharen, Netherlands
How to raise happy heifers? To help determine the best strategy, we will look at what the best farmers in 55 countries are doing to make it a success. Look. Think. Act. Use the power of nature.
Feb. 6 – A Global Dairy Perspective
9:50-10 a.m.
Welcome & launch of the Pride In Dairy video
Jordon Underhill, CDX & Andy Dellava, Hoards Dairyman
10-11 a.m.
Robot signals workshop
Joep Driessen, founder of Cowsignals, Bergharen, Netherlands
What does the cow want? Let your cows live happily and twice as long in a robotic milking facility. The three big success factors include health, accessibility to the robot and a good reward (concentrate feed). Find out how to maximize labour efficiency with the right design. Happy cows, happy farmers.
11 a.m.-Noon
The creation of GDF and Top 5 insider global dairy trends … you need to know
Bram Prins, founder, Global Dairy Farmers, Ten Boer, Netherlands
Global Dairy Farmers is a network of 60 leading farmers from all over the world and 12 international global acting companies. They are working on innovations and trends in the international dairy sector. Its purpose is to positively promote the dairy sector. It is a platform and not a farmers’ union.
At GDF, we see the next trends worldwide to be:
1. Enlargement of scale is going on, yet margins are not growing on bigger farms.
2. Due to volatility of prices, more financial management is needed, especial liquidity management.
3. Decoupling of milk and feed prices is a fact. This is asking for a new balance between obtaining feed (costs), use of land and capital.
4. We don’t have enough next-generation farmers and skilled labour workers. For this reason, farming needs to be more attractive with the help of people management, automation and a cow approach in larger herds.
5. Society is asking new demands from farmers, and this means farmers have to work on “desired farming.”
Noon-12:30 p.m.
ProAction Initiative – Integrated delivery of on-farm programs and our face to the consumer
Tom Hoogendoorn, producer ambassador, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Agassiz, British Columbia
My presentation will be about proAction and how it will be used to help farmers, processors and consumers. For farmers, it is a way to show and prove how we are managing our farms to achieve animal care, sustainability and food safety. For processors and retailers, it will be something they can use to measure our commitment to food safety and sustainability as a trusted supplier in their food chains. For consumers, proAction will show our commitment to achieve and meet everything they expect from our Canadian dairy products in terms of quality. How we are managing our farms and animals in a sustainable and humane fashion. I will also relate why our farm is looking forward to proAction and how it will enhance many of the management practices we are already doing.
12:30-2 p.m.
Global Dairy Summit meeting
An international panel of progressive dairy producers from around the planet discussing global dairy trends and management solutions, while interacting and answering questions from dairy producers in attendance.
For more information, visit the website or call (226) 381-0282. PD
