2025 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council Annual Meeting
** Schedule subject to change **
All times listed are Central Time
7:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Dairy Farm Tours
Sponsored by:
University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station
Maier Farms, Waunakee
Blue Star Dairy, Arlington
J.Henry & Sons, Dane (bourbon tour and tasting)
12:30 3:00 p.m.
Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council DCRC Mid-manager Workshop
Sponsored by:
For the first time, the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council will offer a Mid-manager Workshop, presented Spanish. This initiative is designed to better engage Spanish-speaking professionals and provide valuable insights into dairy herd management
All Presentations will be presented in Spanish
Funding for this workshop is made possible via support from Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd. (SCCL), Zoetis and Merck Animal Health. The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council does not support one company or product over another.
El poder del calostro: de la nutrición temprana a la productividad a largo plazo
(The power of colostrum – from early-life nutrition to long-term productivity)
Dr. Lucía Pisoni, University of Guelph and Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd.
Período de transición factores claves que impactan la salud y el Rendimiento de las vacas lecheras
(Transition period key factors that impact the health and performance of fresh dairy cows)
Dr. Flavio Silvestre, Zoetis
De los datos a las decisiones: uso de herramientas de monitoreo y prácticas de manejo para mejorar la salud del ganado lechero
(From data to decisions: Using monitoring tools and management practices to improve dairy cattle health)
Dr. Tiago Tomazi, Merck Animal Health
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Preconference Session
From data to decisions: Using monitoring tools and management practices to improve cattle health
Tiago Tomazi, Merck Animal Health
Sponsored by:
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Opening Reception and Poster Session
Sponsored by:
6:45-7:45 a.m.
Breakfast and Poster Session
7:50-8:00 a.m.
Opening remarks
Ralph Bruno, Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council
8:00-8:55 a.m.
Plenary Session
Beef on dairy: Lessons learned and future trends, a beef industry supply chain consultant point of view
Neil Mellers, Ranch2Retail
9:00-9:55 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
Evaluating reproductive performance at the farm level
Scott Earnest, ProAGtive Technologies
A new perspective on sold and dead cow analyses
Mike Overton, Zoetis
Sponsored by:
Optimizing reproductive performance in nonlactating dairy heifers
Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin
9:50-10:20 a.m.
Break/Poster Session
10:20-11:10 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
Strategic economics of breeding: Optimizing beef-on-dairy and replacement heifer needs
Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin
Employee training and outcome evaluation
Glaucio Lopes, Merck Animal Health
Resources for farm staff to learn, practice, and maintain appropriate cow handling techniques
Jennifer Van Os, University of Wisconsin
11:20 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Plenary Session
Excellence in Dairy Cattle Reproduction Awards Ceremony and Panel Discussion
Moderated by Kylene Anderson, Hoard’s Dairyman
Sponsored by:
12:00-12:55 p.m.
Lunch
DCRC Annual Business Meeting
Ralph Bruno, Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council
1:00-1:55 p.m.
Plenary Session
Is in vitro fertilization the end of the road? Exploring the next generation of reproductive technologies
Peter Hansen, University of Florida
2:00-2:55 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Extended lactations and cow longevity: How long is long enough?
Stephen LeBlanc, University of Guelph
Strategic economics of breeding: Optimizing beef-on-dairy and replacement heifer needs
Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin
Managing culling in dairy herds – one cow at a time
Nigel Cook, University of Wisconsin
2:55-3:25 p.m.
Break/Poster Session
3:30-4:20 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Evaluating reproductive performance in the era of semen and embryo options: Make breeding records simple and effective
Scott Earnest, ProAGtive Technologies
Optimizing the use of biosensors to monitor health in dairy cows with a focus on the transition period
Aurora Villaroel, Athyr Vet
Managing culling in dairy herds – one cow at a time
Nigel Cook, University of Wisconsin
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Plenary Session
Dairy Producer Panel Discussion
Moderator: Alex Scanavez, Progressive Dairy Solutions
Panelists: Sandy Larson, Larson Acres, Amanda Story, De Saegher Dairy, and Jim Winn, Cottonwood Dairy
Sponsored by:
5:30 p.m.
Adjourn
6:30-7:45 a.m.
Breakfast and Poster Session
8:00-8:55 a.m.
Plenary Session
Pricing formulas, trade wars, and dairy beef: The Evolving landscape for U.S. dairy in late 2025
Chuck Nicholson, Penn State University
9:00-9:50 a.m.
Panel Discussion
An industry perspective on automated health monitoring systems
Panelists: Amit Golan, Afimilk, Brandon Thesing, Select Sires Member Cooperative (CowManager), Steven Pavelski, Nedap, and Caio Gamarra, Merck Animal Health (SenseHub)
9:50-10:10 a.m.
Break/Poster Session
10:10-11:00 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
A new perspective on sold and dead cow analyses
Mike Overton, Zoetis
Sponsored by:
Optimizing the use of biosensors to monitor health in dairy cows with a focus on the transition period
Aurora Villaroel, Athyr Vet
Resources for farm staff to learn, practice, and maintain appropriate cow handling techniques
Jennifer Van Os, University of Wisconsin
11:10 a.m – 12:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Extended lactations and cow longevity: How long is long enough?
Stephen LeBlanc, University of Guelph
Optimizing reproductive performance in nonlactating dairy heifers
Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin
Employee training and outcome evaluation
Glaucio Lopes, Merck Animal Health
12:00 p.m.
Adjourn