Themed “One team. Gold dreams,” the 2018 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) annual conference, set for April 10-12 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will challenge attendees to take their heifer-raising programs to the next level.

In addition to numerous networking opportunities, attendees will be able to attend seminars on a wide variety of topics including group housing, calf barn design, colostrum management and dairy beef.

For more information, visit online (Dairy Calf and Heifer Association), call (855) 400-3242 or email (Dairy Calf and Hiefer Association). View the full conference agenda below.

Tuesday, April 10

7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Attendee and trade show registration desk open

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Pre-conference seminar — Sponsored by Zoetis

9:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Morning break

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Pre-conference seminar —Sponsored by STgenetics

12:15 – 1 p.m.
Lunch at STgenetics

1 – 4:45 p.m.
Farm and industry tours

Select one industry tour:

• Industry Stop A: STgenetics,
  Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

As a leader in bovine genetics, you will get a glimpse into the research and technology that supports the growing industry. Hear from the experts on the latest in genomic testing and sexing technology.

• Industry Stop B: Milk Products,
  Chilton, Wisconsin

A behind-the-scenes tour of milk replacer manufacturing. Learn about the research and expertise that goes into calf milk replacer and milk replacer for a variety of species.

Farm Tour: Vir-Clar Farms,
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Exceptional calf-care protocols and cleanliness are key to calf management success on this 2,000-cow dairy. Hear from the dairy’s calf manager, Katie Grinstead, about their approach to getting calves and heifers off to the best start possible.

6:30 – 8 p.m.
Trade show reception and entertainment
Soggy Prairie Boys

Connect and relax with fellow conference attendees while enjoying the sounds of a homegrown Wisconsin band featuring acoustic country and bluegrass hits.

Wednesday, April 11

7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
Breakfast and welcome in the trade show

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
The Power of Influence 

Ty Bennett,
founder of Leadership, Inc.

How do you become a good leader? Through influence. How do you become a great leader? By using influence and integrity to engage and inspire others.

Regardless of the type of company, or the role you play in it, you are in the business of people. Because of that, great leadership is the driving force behind growing your business.

Based on his highly rated book, The Power of Influence, Bennett shares his philosophies and tools for increasing your influence and impact as a leader. You’ll learn what leadership is all about, skills for becoming “interested” and not “interesting,” how to practice the Platinum Rule and specific ways to invest in your people.

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Track A: Producer Panel: Keep on truckin’ – Long-distance cattle hauling

Moderator: Kristin Barlass-Paul,
Jersey Marketing Service

Get ready to hit the highway with insights from two producers and two professional cattle haulers. Learn how to effectively and safely prepare calves and heifers for long-distance transport.

Track B: The future of dairy beef in U.S. feedlots – Management, nutrition and marketing challenges
Tom Peters, Superior Attitude Livestock Technologies LLC

This presentation will discuss global and U.S. feedlot issues covering management and marketing challenges. From crossbreeding dairy cows to producing high-quality feedlot cattle with limited packers that harvest dairy feedlot cattle, Peters will discuss the state of the industry.

Track C: Producer Panel – Your guide to group housing
Moderator: Bob James, Professor emeritus, Virginia Tech University

Three producers from across North America will share their tips, tricks and firsthand experience raising and managing pre-weaned calves in group housing.

Track D: Partnership is the new leadership
Ty Bennett, founder of Leadership Inc.

What do leaders want from others? The answer: Commitment.

What builds commitment is the leader’s approach to building relationships, providing value, creating buy-in and communicating with influence. Using case studies of leaders and organizations whose culture and growth is built through partnership-based leadership,

Bennett will share proven strategies and techniques to increase the leadership and overall commitment of others.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Track A: Producer Panel: Keep on truckin’ – Long-distance cattle hauling
Moderator: Kristin Barlass-Paul,
Jersey Marketing Service

Track B: The future of dairy beef in U.S. feedlots – Management,nutrition and marketingchallenges
Tom Peters, Superior Attitude Livestock Technologies LLC

Track C: Producer Panel – Your guide to group housing
Moderator: Bob James, Professor emeritus, Virginia Tech University

Track D: Partnership is the new leadership
Ty Bennett, founder of Leadership Inc.

12 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch in the trade show

1 – 1:30 p.m.
Annual business meeting

1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Track A: Producer Panel: Keep on truckin’ – Long-distance cattle hauling
Moderator: Kristin Barlass-Paul,
Jersey Marketing Service

Track B: The future of dairy beef in U.S. feedlots – Management, nutrition and marketing challenges
Tom Peters, Superior Attitude Livestock Technologies LLC

Track C: Producer Panel – Your guide to group housing
Moderator: Bob James, Professor emeritus, Virginia Tech University

Track D: Partnership is the new leadership
Ty Bennett, founder of Leadership Inc.

3 – 4 p.m.
The milk-fed calf: Social housing and animal welfare

Marina von Keyserlingk, 
University of British Columbia

von Keyserlingk will highlight some of her most recent work looking at calf behaviors associated with milk hunger and correlated perceptions of animal welfare. She will share how these behaviors can be useful in identifying milk feeding practices that cause hunger in dairy calves.

4 – 6 p.m.
Reception in the trade show

Connect with industry-leading companies, fellow producers, veterinarians and students. Unwind from day two, all while enjoying cheese, light appetizers and drinks.

Thursday, April 12

7 – 7:45 a.m.
Breakfast in the trade show

8 – 9 a.m.
Advances in colostrum management
Dr. Sandra Godden,
University of Minnesota

Dr. Godden will discuss the key aspects of a successful colostrum management program, including the old standbys as well as recent advances in feeding clean colostrum. She will also discuss herd-level monitoring to evaluate program success.

9 – 9:45 a.m.
Break in the trade show

10 – 11 a.m.
Track A: Getting the most out of your feeding operation investment

David Greene, Barton,
Kiefer & Associates

The largest expense on your operation is centered around feeding animals. Every effort has to be taken to manage all areas of the feeding operation. It can be a complex area to manage.

The main focus areas include making sure the proper ration is being formulated and delivered for the target animal to meet its demands, managing the shrink around the forage and feed storage areas, and managing the efficiency of the actions around the feeding operation. Having checkpoints for these areas will allow you to better manage this large expense of your business.

Track B: Calf barns designed to enhance health

Dr. Ken Nordlund, Emeritus clinical professor,
University of Wisconsin – Madison

Calf barns can equal calf hutches in terms of reduced risk for respiratory and enteric disease but provide improved working conditions for calf caregivers. Key features include positive-pressure tube ventilation systems to supplement natural ventilation, drainage below bedding and all-in, all-out grouping systems.

Track C: Vaccinating calves – What’s the latest?
Dr. Amelia Woolums,
Mississippi State University

Do you ever wonder whether vaccines you give calves are actually helping? Or whether there are any new ideas about how to vaccinate calves effectively? We’ll briefly review the calf immune system; then guidelines for successful vaccination of calves will be presented.

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Track A: Getting the most out of your feeding operation investment
David Greene, Barton,
Kiefer & Associates

Track B: Calf barns designed to enhance health
Dr. Ken Nordlund, Emeritus clinical professor,
Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison

Track C: Vaccinating calves – What’s the latest?
Dr. Amelia Woolums,
Mississippi State University

12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch in the trade show

1:30 – 3 p.m.
The Fairlife story
Sue McCloskey,
Fair Oaks Farms

It all started with “a belief in better.” This belief drove Mike and Sue McCloskey, after years in the dairy business, to break away and start Select Milk Producers with others who shared their vision for providing better nutrition for the world.

Today, Select Milk Producers has grown and partnered with the Coca-Cola Company to create and distribute the Fairlife line of milk across the U.S. Join us for the final session to hear Sue McCloskey share how their vision became a reality and their plans to continue growth in the future.