Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is bringing its annual Calf Care Connection® program to Wisconsin this October, providing dairy owners, calf managers and veterinarians with practical, science‑based instruction on raising healthy, productive calves. The two one‑day workshops will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at North Central Technical College in Wausau and Thursday, Oct. 15 at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore.
Hands‑On Labs Focus on Nutrition and Growth
Each session begins with registration at 9:00 a.m., followed by a full day of instruction from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All presentations will be simultaneously translated into Spanish to serve the diverse workforce on many dairy farms.
Dr. Bethany Dado‑Senn, PhD, herd manager and calf consultant for Four Hands Holsteins, will lead a case‑based lab that demonstrates how starter‑grain intake influences early rumen development and overall gut health. Attendees will see real‑world scenarios that illustrate feeding strategies proven to improve calf growth rates and future milk production.
Cost Analysis and Feeding Regimes
Land O’Lakes’ national young animal nutrition manager, Dr. Jill Soderstrom, PhD, will walk participants through cost‑per‑pound‑gain calculations, helping producers evaluate the economic impact of different feeding regimes. By comparing feed efficiency and market prices, dairy managers can make informed decisions that protect family profitability while maintaining high animal‑welfare standards.
Housing Choices and Animal Welfare
University of Wisconsin‑Madison associate professor and extension specialist Dr. Jennifer Van Os, PhD, will discuss how calf housing design affects health, behavior and growth outcomes. Her presentation will compare individual stalls with social housing systems, highlighting trade‑offs and offering guidance on selecting the best environment for each operation.
Producer Panel and Continuing Education Credits
The workshops will conclude with a “Decisions in Action” panel where experienced producers share the rationale behind their calf‑care programs, offering peer‑to‑peer insight that resonates with family‑run farms. Attendees can earn up to 4.75 Dairy AdvanCE (DACE) credits and up to 4 ARPAS continuing‑education credits, supporting professional development for the next generation of dairy leaders.
Registration is available at www.pdpw.org or by calling 800‑947‑7379. Updates and live coverage will be posted on the PDP social channels @dairyPDPW across Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
Professional Dairy Producers, the nation’s largest dairy‑producer‑led organization, continues its mission to promote producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach. By delivering targeted education on calf nutrition, housing and cost management, the Calf Care Connection workshops aim to strengthen Wisconsin’s dairy families and preserve the industry’s vital role in the state’s economy.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
