Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference
Tuesday, April 1 Pre-Conference Seminar
Time Topic Speaker Company
8:00-8:40 a.m. Maximum Biomass Production: A Plant Breeders Perspective
Dr. Mark McCaslin, president of Forage Genetics, speaks to the dynamics of plant genetics in building a system for maximum biomass production. He will discuss the future in improving forages as dairy feeds. Specific evaluation of genetic improvements in alfalfa being used in corn silages and how this research provides a broader window at harvest time are included.		 Mark McCaslin Forage Genetics, Land O'Lakes
8:40-9:20 a.m. Cost of Feeding Calves. Its More Than the Price of Milk Replacer
Dr. Tom Earleywine, Land O’ Lakes Animal Milk, will focus on how evaluation of wet calf feeding programs is more than measuring the cost of whole milk against commercial milk replacers. Management, nutrition, health and environmental factors also  impact costs and effect nutrient requirements . Dr. Earleywine   reports data relating to temperature impacts on growth . He offers some ideas to why some calves never do well and if calves on higher nutrition programs develop into better cows. 		Tom Earleywine Land O'Lakes
9:40-10:20 a.m. New Horizons in Ethanol Byproducts
Dr. Ken Kalscheur , associate professor at South Dakota State University, presents his research on feeding distiller’s grains to heifers. Ethanol production is the third largest user of U.S. corn . In this process, the starch portion of the corn kernel is utilized, leaving the vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber for livestock feed. Dr. Kalscheur addresses the importance of knowing nutrient components in using of DDGS in any diet and how to best utilize ethanol by-products.		 Ken Kalscheur SDSU
10:20-11:00 a.m. Controlling Heifer Feed Cost: A Nutritionist Perspective
Dr. Greg Bethard operates G&R Dairy Consulting, Inc., Wytheville, Va., and consults in the areas of management, business planning and financial and records analysis. He discusses how to evaluate ingredients for an economical diet, from a nutritionist’s perspective. The emerging topic of limit feeding heifers to control costs will be highlighted as well as environmental factors and the impact on feed cost.		 Greg Bethard G & R Dairy Consulting
Tuesday, April 1 Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference
1:05-2:05 p.m. Changes in the Dairy Industry: What's next?
In the opening keynote address, Mike Brown from Glanbia Foods and Tom Shephard from Dairylea Co-op share their thoughts on changes in the dairy industry.		 Mike Brown
 Glanbia Foods, Inc.
Tom Shephard Dairylea
2:05-3:15 p.m. Virtual Tour: A Passion to Exceed Standards - Success Strategies that Work
This is first of three virtual tours. Presenters Cathy and Gordon Speirs, Shiloh Dairy, LLC, Greenleaf, Wis.; Karen and J. Hall, Hall’s Calf Ranch, Kewaunee, Wis.: and Russell and Holly Edgar, Dakota Valley Growers, Bathgate, N.D.; will highlight their operations  followed by a question and answer session .

Karen & J. Hall - Hall's Calf Ranch

 Vita Plus Corporation
Cathy & Gordon Speirs - Shiloh Dairy
Russell & Holly Edgar
Calf Growers
3:40-4:40 p.m. New horizons in calf feeding system technology
A panel of distinguished individuals  recognized as innovators in calf management. Wayne Thompson shares his experiences working with an automated calf feeding system. Alan Waybright describes building design features which increase labor efficiency and optimize environment for calf and feeder. Drew Vermeire provides insight on nutritional aspects of successful calf feeding options. 		Wayne Thompson
 Allenwaite Farms, Inc.
Alan Waybright Mason Dixon Farms
Drew Vermeire Nouriche Nutrition, Ltd.
4:45-5:45 p.m. Session Repeated    
Dairy Producers Raising Heifers
3:40-4:40 p.m. Heifer genetics & DNA: The rules are about to change
For dairy producers rearing their own heifers, Dr. Weigel will discuss the changing world of genetic selection. Issues of tomorrow’s genetic selection involve managing sexed semen, crossbreeding and marker assisted genetic selection. 		Kent Weigel Univ. of Wisconsin
4:45-5:45 p.m. Session Repeated
Heifer Growers
3:40-4:40 p.m. Quantifying a heifer culling decision
Heifer growers have all raised heifers that perhaps should have been culled. Dr. Greg Bethard, a graduate of VPI, will unravel the tangle associated with culling a client’s heifers.		 Greg Bethard G & R Dairy Consulting
4:45-5:45 p.m. Session Repeated
Business & Management Issues
3:40-4:40 p.m. Why inflation affects dairy and custom heifer operations differently
Bruce Jones from the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability will share how escalating costs and inflation actually affect dairy and custom heifer operations differently. 		Bruce Jones  Univ. of Wisconsin
4:45-5:45 p.m. Session Repeated
Wednesday, April 2 Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference
9:45-10:45 a.m. The Family farm: challenges for succession to the younger generation 
Renowned speaker Val Farmer will share his ideas on the challenges the younger generation must face as they assume leadership of the family farm.		 Val Farmer
10:55-11:55 a.m. Virtual Tour: Utilizing RFID and Database Management to Increase Efficiency and to Open Marketing Opportunities
Presenter Corey Braun leads us through Tuls Cattle Company III in Clovis, NM followed by a question an answer session.		 Corey Braun - Tuls Cattle Company Schering-Plough
Noon DCHA Annual Meeting and Lunch
Calf Growers
2:30-3:30 p.m. Application of new technology in functional proteins for feeding calves
Howard Tyler developed a productive research program in calf nutrition and now updates us on the benefits of including functional proteins in pre-weaned calf diets. 		Howard Tyler ISU
3:35-4:35 p.m. Session Repeated
Dairy Producers Raising Heifers
2:30-3:30 p.m. Experiences with limit feeding and feeding crossbred heifers
Professor Patrick Hoffman’s research program focuses on applied management systems to reduce the cost of rearing dairy heifers. He highlights his research with limit feeding, feeding crossbred heifers and feeding heifers no supplemental phosphorus.		 Patrick Hoffman University of Wisconsin-Madison
3:35-4:35 p.m. Session Repeated
Heifer Growers
2:30-3:30 p.m. Technological advances in record keeping tools
Computerized record keeping programs designed specifically for the custom calf and heifer industry are sparse. Lee McCauley, Mark Doornink and Greg Palas discuss technological advances in record keeping for custom calf and heifer growers. The panel also features how Dairy Comp 305 records transfer between dairy producers and custom heifer growers. 		Lee McCauley
 Profit Source
Mark Doornink Valley Ag Software
Greg Palas Dairy Records Management Systems
3:35-4:35 p.m. Session Repeated    
Business & Management Issues
2:30-3:30 p.m. Creating sustainable calf and heifer businesses - Part I Financial infrastructure
AgStar Financial Services deals with dairy and custom heifer growers across the country. Both sessions focus on ‘Creating Sustainable Calf and Heifer Businesses’ applicable to young stock being raised on or off the dairy farm. Part 1 looks at financial infrastructure based on on-farm records from across the US. 		Barbara Dartt AgStar Financial Services
3:35-4:35 p.m. Session Repeated
Thursday, April 3 Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference
7:45-8:40 a.m. Integrating the dairy industry into the beef quality assurance program
Well-known meat scientist Gary Smith discusses integrating the dairy industry into beef quality assurance programs. The beef industry has le d the way in improving meat quality through appropriate management techniques.    		Gary C. Smith CSU
8:40-9:50 a.m. Virtual Tour: Quality Assurance Mangement in Commercial Livestock Operations
The first half of this tour highlights management tips from three operations submitted to the Dairy Herd Management Magazine. Quality assurance programs on a Minnesota calf ranch comprise the second half of the discussion.		 Robert & Donna Nelson Funded by the Beef Checkoff
Calf Growers
9:55-10:55 a.m. Reprogramming your milk replacer feeding strategies
During the past year, prices for milk replacer have escalated rapidly causing us to re-evaluate ingredients used in milk replacers and other strategies for feeding calves. Dr. Hayes has considerable experience as a technical consultant for commercial calf feeding operations.  		 Steve Hayes APC, Inc.
11:00-Noon Session Repeated
Dairy Producers Raising Heifers
9:55-10:55 a.m. Milk pasteurization: Success and pitfalls
Dairy producers rearing their own heifers get a chance to listen to the best of the best in feeding calves pasteurized waste milk. Lewis Anderson and Bart Hanson share their experiences with milk pasteurization and feeding calves pasteurized milk. Combined these two custom calf growers have raised more than a quarter of a million dairy calves. The panel is moderated by Dr. Sandra Godden , world renowned for research with neonatal dairy calves.		 Sandra Godden
 Cinci/Populatioln Sci-Vet Tch Hospital
Bart Hanson Amber Hills Ranch
Lewis Anderson Calf Source
11:00-Noon Session Repeated    
Heifer Growers
9:55-10:55 a.m. Perspectives of foot health: Observatons, preventon and treatment
The conference is proud to host the world’s greatest hoof trimmer. The legendary Karl Burgi will offer perspectives of foot health, observations, prevention and treatment.		 Karl Burgi Dairyland Hoof Care Institute Inc.
11:00-Noon Session Repeated
Business & Management Issues
9:55-10:55 a.m. Creating sustainable calf and heifer businesses - Part II (People Dynamics)
Part 2 looks more closely at people dynamics. Communication is the key to success on all operations regardless of size. The presentation includes tools for improving the people skill environment to help sustainability of a business. 		Sara Swenson AgStar Financial Services
11:00-Noon Session Repeated