2021 CPDE Expo – March 24-25
For a summary of the breakout session schedule click here.
Session Information
Some things you need to know as you navigate through the most important thing that you will ever do: ‘Transition!’
Alan Hojer, Keep Farmers Farming, a division of First Dakota National Bank
Sponsored by Central Plains Dairy Foundation
From this presentation, you can expect some very direct views and strategies to take home to help you with one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. You will not find this information in a textbook because the book has not been written yet. The information and stories you will hear come from real-life experiences of working with farmers and ranchers. If you’re willing to help yourself, then this presentation will be helpful for you.
Factors that impact reproduction in dairy cows
Geoff Dahl
Sponsored by Phibro Animal Health
Reproductive efficiency is a key driver in determining a dairy farm’s profitability. Farms that get cows bred back quickly and minimize their average days open are generally more profitable than farms that have more days open. In this seminar, Dahl will discuss factors that impact reproduction in dairy cattle. He will discuss practical and applied steps that dairy producers can take to improve their herds’ reproductive efficiency.
Agriculture Policy in 2021: A view from the inside, underside, and now the outside
Ray Starling, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative
Changes in Congress and the White House have the potential to significantly impact the approach to agricultural policy in Washington, D.C. Longtime policy insider, Ray Starling, will share his insights about what to watch, ignore and avoid in the coming year.
Putting Value on Purity and Conception
Mitch Hockett, STgenetics
Sponsored by STgenetics
Economic efficiencies are a priority to dairy producers worldwide. There are opportunities to maximize profit margins through targeted and efficient creation of replacements. Focusing on higher-value protein creation through beef-on-dairy crosses and reducing overproduction of heifers and dairy bull calves optimizes the value of each pregnancy. This approach increases the speed of genetic advancement while also supporting an environmentally and economically sustainable industry. This session will break down the economic value and possible return on investment on modern-day reproductive concepts and models.
Supporting Normal with Effective Probiotics
Steve Lerner, Chr. Hansen
Sponsored by Chr. Hansen
There is a large and continuously growing body of evidence that effective probiotics support all of the normal functions of the gastrointestinal tract, including, digestive, absorptive, barrier and immune functions. All humans, from premature infants in neonatal intensive care units to the elderly, benefit from daily ingestion of effective probiotics. All production animals, from birth to departure, benefit from daily ingestion of effective probiotics. Effective probiotics increase the likelihood of us and the animals in our care being normal. As a producer or supporting nutritionist or veterinarian, what would feel better than having every animal in your herd, lot, flow or flock be normal?
Dairy Margin Outlook & Strategies to Consider
Chip Whalen, CIH
Sponsored by CIH – Commodity & Ingredient Hedging
This breakout session takes a look at the underlying fundamentals of feed and dairy markets, and gives an outlook of forward margins and strategies (cash, futures/options, dairy revenue protection) one may wish to consider given this landscape.
After the storm: A look at dairy and consumer trends in 2021
Phil Plourd, Blimling and Associates
Sponsored by Farm Credit Services
With a tumultuous 2020 in the rearview, Phil Plourd will discuss the trends that will persist, the trends that will accelerate and the trends that will matter most for 2021 and beyond.
On-farm Nutritional Management Practices to Drive Dairy Profitability
Kai Yuan, Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
Sponsored by Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
This breakout session features kay management practices that dairy producers and nutritionists can implement on farm to help reduce costs, improve milk performance and increase profitability. Key practices include feeding management, bunk management and shrink management. Furthermore, the session will address the interaction between nutrition and management.
The power of partnerships to build dairy demand during a global pandemic
Martha Kemper & Allen Merrill
Sponsored by Midwest Dairy
While the pandemic brought disruptions to the marketplace, Midwest Dairy’s checkoff efforts continue to focus on building partnerships to drive dairy demand, resulting in new opportunities and surpassing projected impact. In this session, South Dakota dairy farmer Allen Merrill, Midwest Dairy Board chairman, and Martha Kemper, vice president of dairy experience – demand at Midwest Dairy, will lead a roundtable discussion with four regional retail, convenience store and foodservice partners who will share insights into dairy demand challenges and successes they experienced during 2020. They’ll also outline how they plan to build on lessons learned and relevant consumer insights to fuel continued growth and success for dairy sales in 2021.
Wait…What! This is How You Should Tube Feed a calf?
Andrew Beckel, Golden Calf Company
Sponsored by Golden Calf Company
The goal of successful transfer of passive immunity is directly related to colostrum feeding. In this session, we will dive deep into the physiology of a newborn calf to understand the basics of neonatal esophagus and the gastrointestinal tract. Expect a hands-on session with a practical demonstration of how to properly use an esophageal tube feeder and the reasoning behind the best practices. We will discuss when and why to tube feed and how to use different types of tube feeders.
R.E.S.E.T-ing the Dairy Industry to Attract and Retain Employees
Jorge Delgado, Alltech
Sponsored by Alltech
For all producers, one of the most important resources is farm labor. While it may not be easy to find people willing to work long hours – especially long hours of performing the physically demanding task of milking cows – we should make every effort to attract and retain people to work on our dairies. Although this is not an easy task, with the right conditions and the right tools, employees will see the dairy industry as a unique place that supports and cares about them.
Dairy producers and industry supporters must change their mindset about human resources and start dedicating time and effort to this area, regardless of the size of their dairies. This does not require a big investment, but it does require time and securing the right information about how to reduce the challenges around labor and the workforce. Attracting and retaining employees is not a new problem, but the current circumstances are different than before, mainly driven by immigration challenges and competition for labor with other industries.
To create a positive culture on a dairy, the organizational basics must be in place and there should also be a reset in the way employees are managed. R.E.S.E.T the business to create the right organizational structure for reducing turnover and minimizing employee management frustrations.
Overlooked Risk Exposures that may be Detrimental to Your Dairy
Allen Schlenker, Marsh & McLennan Agency
Sponsored by Marsh & McLennan Agency
In many cases, the risk exposures to the modern dairy have outpaced their existing coverage. Learn about specific risks in the dairy industry and what you should understand. We’ll review the current state of the insurance market and review exposures that often get overlooked or may not be covered by your current program.
Beyond Nutrition: Efficient Cows Start with Strong Gut Development
Tom Earleywine, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Sponsored by Land O’Lakes, Inc.
You only get one chance to set your herd on the right path. We know that nutrition impacts growth, development, breeding and overall health. Learn how to optimize feeding your calves to support the gut microbiome, rumen development and productivity. It’s an investment you shouldn’t miss.
Dry Cow Therapy: Aim, Applicability and Advice (Presented in Spanish)
Maristela Rovai, South Dakota State University assistant professor and extension dairy specialist
Raul Mendoza, South Dakota commercial dairy farm herdsman
Dry therapy is a common practice among dairy cattle farms and its proper management plays a key role in the following lactation. Drying off involves interrupting lactation for generally 45 to 60 before calving. In this period, in addition to the demanding final phase of fetus development, there are structural changes in the mammary gland secretory tissue that influence both colostrum and milk production in the subsequent lactation.
One of the most important concerns during the dry period is the high gland susceptibility to intramammary infections. To ensure a cow’s comfort and udder health during this period, several dry-off protocols are available that may include prophylactic antimicrobials and teat sealants. Dry cow therapy may seem simple, but it requires care, consistency and responsibility.
In this session, participants will receive an update on the recommendations and precautions to be considered during drying-off treatment. In addition, attendees will have a real udder, hands-on experience to apply the knowledge acquired in this talk.
This workshop will be offered only in Spanish.
Feeding for rumen development and animal health
R.M. Thornsberry, Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition
Sponsored by Kent Nutrition Group
R.M. Thornsberry will discuss the need for proper nutrition to maximize rumen development in baby calves to 400 pounds. Rumen development is key to successful production throughout the animal’s life. Learn which feeds provide the greatest development and when to feed or not feed certain feeds. Rumen development is critical to animal health and disease prevention. Additionally, he will discuss the effects and importance of producing the healthiest calf with proper feeding, and review the importance of how it influences growth. Getting the best protocols and management for feeding in place is important to achieve the best performance. Come, listen and learn how to get the most from your calves.
Feeding Management Strategies for Improving Profits and Cow Health (Presented in Spanish)
Fernando Diaz, Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health
Sponsored by Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health
One of the primary goals of a successful feeding program is to deliver a total mixed ration that matches the formulated one by the nutritionist, and is consistent, in both physical and chemical composition, throughout the day. This workshop, directed toward dairy feeding managers and feeding technicians, will explain dairy cattle physiology and eating behaviors, feeding strategies focused on supplying a consistent diet over a 24-hour period to avoid feed sorting, maximize milk component production and income over feed cost, and business profitability.
This workshop will be offered only in Spanish.
Translating udder physiology with effective communication to improve parlor efficiency
Mario Solis Flores and Marco Lopez, Form-A-Feed Inc.
Sponsored by Form-A-Feed Inc.
Understanding the physiology of the cow’s udder and working with her natural milk letdown cycles in your milking procedure can significantly improve parlor efficiency. Communicating those parlor efficiencies to your milking team through the use of good data can greatly improve team buy-in and performance. Come learn how biology, analytics and communication can improve your operation’s performance and bottom line.
Adding precision to yeast culture applications
Kamal Mjoun, Alltech
Sponsored by Alltech
Join Kamal Mjoun as he discusses the beneficial effects of yeast cultures in dairy rations. He will also introduce Alltech’s new laboratory tool that will add a new level of precision to supplementation strategies and help define the value of adding yeast cultures to dairy diets as they change due to formulation adjustments and seasonal variations in feed ingredients.
Are unseen microbial pressures negatively impacting your bottom line?
Ricardo Arias, United Animal Health
Sponsored by United Animal Health
High-producing dairy cows face extraordinary energy demands and can be susceptible to a variety of health challenges, particularly in the transition and early lactation periods. These health challenges negatively impact performance and thus your bottom line. U.S. dairy surveys continue to reveal that multiple opportunistic microorganisms and virulence genes are elevated in the lower GI tract of cows exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders.
Increasingly, direct-fed microbial (DFM) technologies, specifically strains of Bacillus spp. with potential to impact rumen and/or gastrointestinal health, have been studied for their effect on dairy cow health and performance. Learn how feeding a Bacillus-based DFM to dairy cattle improved transition cow health, reduced somatic cell count, increased milk fat, protein and energy corrected milk, and enhanced reproductive performance.
Breeding for Higher Profits, The Roadmap has been Validated
Brenda Fessenden, Zoetis Sr. Scientist, Genetics Technical Services
Sponsored by Zoetis
Robotics Panel Session
More to come soon!
Milk quality and Mastitis, am I responsible? (Presented in Spanish)
Jorge Luna, Zoetis Sr. Dairy Production Specialist
Sponsored by Zoetis
The objective of this workshop is to explain why milk quality and mastitis are critical for the consumer and how everybody that works at a dairy has a responsibility in this endeavor. Learn why compliance to milking protocols and following basic cow comfort and hygiene guidelines are critical for the cow health, dairy well being and consumer satisfaction. The milk quality and mastitis workshop will focus on easy-to-implement management, basic hygiene practices and monitoring strategies that can significantly decrease mastitis risk and improve milk quality.
Speaker Information
Alan Hojer
Alan Hojer is manager and legacy consultant of “Keep Farmers Farming,” a division of First Dakota National Bank that is completely focused on estate planning, legacy transition and other growing pains that are facing farmers and ranchers across South Dakota and bordering states. Hojer recently became a certified estate planner. He also focuses on marketing and risk management, farm labor development and recruitment, and best financial business practices
After graduating from South Dakota State University in 1981, Hojer joined Land O’ Lakes as a sales manager for milk procurement in South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, until he returned to the family farm in 1989. In 1994, Hojer and his wife Pam started Hojer Gelbvieh Ranch. Today, Hojer Ranch LLC consists of 400 Registered Gelbvieh, Balancer and Angus females, and a 1,200-head feedlot.
Hojer contributes their first-generation success not just to hard work but to “thinking non-traditionally,” when times were tough to find solutions. As a result, he spent 14 years in the agribusiness sector prior to joining First Dakota National Bank in April of 2014 and was given the opportunity to work extensively with farm/ranch estate planning and transition. This has been the most challenging and rewarding experience of his professional career, but he feels blessed to be part of this great effort.
Mario Solis Flores
Mario Solis Flores has been with Form-A-Feed for six years and has 21 years of experience in the dairy industry. He has an animal science degree from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico. He has been involved in all phases of a dairy, from working and managing every position, start-up, expansion, staffing, training and developing employees. His experience in the Midwest managing large dairies and employment as a milk quality specialist for 16,000 cows has taken him all over the United States and to Canada, Columbia, Jamaica and Mexico. He understands cows, people, equipment and the interactions among them to bring the performance desired in a dairy operation.
Marco Lopez
Marco Lopez, Form-A-Feed technical service specialist, has more than 20 years of experience in the dairy industry. He graduated from Washington State University with an animal science/dairy production management degree. During his career, he has worked across the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean in dairy sales roles and provided technical support to dairy producers and feed dealers. He has spent a vast amount of time developing dairy employees into dairy leaders. He provides technical support to Form-A-Feed clients in areas beyond nutrition, such as employee development, parlor performance, animal welfare and safety.
Kamal Mjoun
Kamal Mjoun received his master’s and doctoral degrees in dairy science from South Dakota State University, as well as other master’s degrees from universities in Morocco and France. Upon graduating, Mjoun completed a post-doctoral program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service before joining Alltech’s research team in 2011 as a junior scientist. He currently maintains research and technical roles as a research project manager.
Mjoun’s research activities at Alltech focus on optimizing rumen fermentation, using rumen modifiers, maximizing nitrogen and starch utilization by dairy cattle, and additive supplementation strategies to promote animal health and welfare. He also provides technical support to the dairy team and to Alltech ruminant labs globally. Mjoun has published several pieces about animal nutrition, with a focus on dairy cattle.
Phil Plourd
Phil Plourd is president of Blimling and Associates and on the senior leadership team at Dairy.com. For more than 20 years, he has been involved in dairy market analysis, research, forecasting, consulting and risk management activities. He draws on that experience to lead an expert team of professionals, who help clients find better ways to do business – across the supply chain and around the world. He is a popular speaker who engages audiences on a variety of topics. A resident of Cottage Grove, Wis., Plourd also serves on the Madison Public Library Foundation board of directors.
Allen Schlenker
Allen Schlenker’s family history runs deep in the farming and dairy industries. He spent many summers at his grandmother’s and uncle’s farms, learning about the various aspects of agriculture, farming in general and the value of a hard day’s work.
Schlenker graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1989 with a degree in mass communications, focusing on public relations and advertising. He spent his entire career in a consultative sales role listening to customers and finding solutions.
Currently, Schlenker is a business insurance risk consultant for Marsh & Mclennan Agency, based in Sioux Falls, S.D. He specializes in agribusiness-related exposures, with an acute focus on dairy operations. Schlenker also works with many agricultural co-ops, grain elevators, feed mills and agronomy centers.
Geoff Dahl
Geoffrey E. Dahl serves as professor and chair in the department of animal sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He was raised on a dairy farm in Massachusetts and pursued his bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Massachusetts, his master’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech, and received his doctorate degree in animal science from Michigan State University. Prior to serving at the University of Florida, Dahl has held positions at the University of Michigan, University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
In addition to serving as department chair, Dahl maintains active research and outreach programs focused on environmental management of production animals, particularly dairy cattle. His specific research program includes determining effects and mechanisms of photoperiod manipulation and heat stress abatement during the dry period on cow and offspring productivity and health. He has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels in animal science, dairy management, animal physiology, lactation physiology, endocrinology and reproductive physiology, and received teaching and mentoring awards from the Universities of Maryland, Illinois and Florida. To date, Dahl has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous book chapters, proceedings and popular-press articles. He has trained 18 graduate students and seven post-doctoral fellows.
Tom Earleywine
Tom Earleywine is director of nutritional services for Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Solutions where his team is responsible for neonatal animal research on more than 1,800 head annually and provides technical support for North America. Earleywine has published hundreds of articles in scientific journals and popular press. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was raised on a dairy farm near Brodhead, Wis.
Mitch Hockett
Mitch Hockett is the U.S. technical and sales service manager for STgenetics. Originally from Tennessee and currently residing in Raleigh, N.C., Hockett oversees development of STgenetics’ service and support programs. He grew up on his family dairy farm in Tennessee, where he was active in 4-H and FFA. Hockett completed his doctorate degree in reproductive physiology from the University of Tennessee, where he focused on embryo development and endocrinology. He was on faculty at North Carolina State University animal science for eight years, where he taught reproduction physiology, anatomy, physiology and dairy cattle evaluation. He was also co-owner and manager of Kingsmill Farms in Durham and Liberty, N.C. Before joining STgenetics, he spent eight years as vice president of external research and technical marketing for Advanced Animal Diagnostics, building cow-side health diagnostics for dairies and feedlots.
Ricardo Arias
Ricardo Arias is a native of Honduras where he earned his bachelor’s degree in dairy science. In 2007, he came to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition and forage management at Purdue University. He then moved to the University of Wyoming where he obtained a doctorate degree in reproductive physiology. Arias has been working for United Animal Health (UAH) as a dairy technical specialist since 2015 and recently assumed the role of manager of dairy specialty products and technical service. He specializes in giving technical support to his team and their customers on the adoption and evaluation of new technologies to improve animal well-being and overall profitability of their farms. Arias and his team are also responsible for the discovery and development of new products and generating research to support and improve their current ones. Over the last four years, he has been heavily involved in the research for development and evaluation of new bacillus-based products, UAH’s national pathogen surveillance program, the Pathkinex testing program, and on-farm evaluations of Strateris ECL.
Ray Starling
Ray Starling was raised on a diversified century family Farm in North Carolina, which laid the foundation for his career in law and agricultural policy. Starling’s experiences have taken him from clerking for Supreme Court justices to serving at the highest levels of government in the White House and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Starling attended North Carolina State University for his undergraduate degree, while also keeping busy as a National FFA officer. He received his law degree from the University of North Carolina with multiple noteworthy recognitions. Before working his way to serve as the general counsel to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Starling clerked for the state Supreme Court and practiced law at an international law firm. He enjoyed a stint in the North Carolina legislature before heading to Washington, D.C., to serve Sen. Thom Tillis as an agricultural policy adviser, chief counsel and later as chief of staff.
In 2017, Starling became a special assistant to the president for agricultural policy as staff for the National Economic Council at the White House. He left the post in mid-2018 to serve as chief of staff to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to help oversee an agency with more than 108,000 employees and a $140 billion annual budget.
Starling recently returned to his home state to serve as general counsel to the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce while also promoting Starling Farms sausage from his family’s farm.
Steve Lerner
Steve Lerner is head of marketing – North America for the Animal Health and Nutrition division of Chr. Hansen. In this role, Lerner and his team are responsible for supporting Chr. Hansen’s science-based, research-proven products in the North American animal health and production markets, including beef cattle feedlots, commercial dairies and calf ranches, and poultry and egg production facilities.
Lerner earned a doctorate degree in reproductive physiology from West Virginia University and a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular genetics from the University of Southern California. He holds a master’s degree in biology/embryology from West Virginia University and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Maryland. Prior to joining Chr. Hansen, Lerner worked at Nutrition Physiology Company as vice president of product development and commercialization. Also, Lerner is an invited lecturer on customer lifetime value modeling at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bentley University and the University of Rhode Island.
Chip Whalen
As vice president of the education and research team at Commodity & Ingredient Hedging (CIH), Chip leads the group responsible for developing and teaching seminars on commodity risk management; conducting and disseminating commodity market research; and producing the firm’s educational publications for agriculture producers and their lenders. In addition, he is a frequent contributing author on the topic of commodity risk management for a variety of agriculture publications, including Progressive Dairyman, National Hog Farmer, Progressive Cattleman and Watt Poultry USA. Chip has been with CIH since its inception in 1999. Prior to joining the firm, he was a broker at Agri Analysis, where he helped clients identify and manage price risk using exchange-traded derivatives, including futures and options.
Kai Yuan
Kai Yuan serves as the senior scientist and technical advisor for Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc. (QLF). In this role, he provides leadership into QLF business/program developments and business growth. Previously, he served as the QLF technical sales manager. His responsibilities included leading dairy nutrition technical services and sales support, influencing large-herd nutritionists to implement company products into ration programs, developing key customers, promoting the growth of sales volumes and providing nutrition and management advice.
He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Yangzhou University, master’s degree in dairy nutritional physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and doctorate degree in animal nutritional physiology/immunology from Kansas State University.
Midwest Dairy Staff
At Midwest Dairy, we are proud to represent approximately 5,800 dairy farm families to 39 million consumers across our 10-state region. We work on their behalf to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in our products and production practices. We focus our efforts on sharing insights and developing programs for our retail, foodservice, health and wellness, school food service and industry partners. Our goal is to maximize our impact by working with and through partners to share resources, insights and real-time experiences that showcase how dairy products resonate with today’s consumer. Be sure to stop by our booth to speak with Midwest Dairy Board Chairman Allen Merrill, along with Midwest Dairy staff and farmer leaders across the Midwest.
Andrew Beckel
Andrew Beckel is the owner of Golden Calf Company, an innovation leader in colostrum management and colostrum pasteurizing.
Jorge Delgado
Jorge Delgado leads the Alltech Training, Talent Development and Retention Program as part of the Alltech on-farm support program. He previously served as a dairy specialist and uses his expertise to help dairy producers with employee management practices, herd health, milk quality, calf management, protocol customization and animal welfare.
Originally from Ecuador, Delgado comes from a family of dairy farmers. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and dairy science from EARTH University in Costa Rica. Afterward, he returned to Ecuador, where he worked in the dairy industry to represent a genetic company through consulting, sales and training. In 2002, Delgado moved to the United States, where he worked for 10 years on multiple dairies as a herd manager. He has also worked with Elanco’s dairy training program, focusing on empowering dairy workers.
Maristela Rovai
A veterinarian from Brazil, Maristela Rovai earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Veterinary Medicine School of Fundação de Ensino Octávio Bastos, São João da Boa Vista, São Paulo, along with master’s and doctorate degrees from Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. Her postdoc positions focused on mammary gland physiology and ruminant management, and her research work involved milkability in dairy ruminants (goat, sheep, camels and cows), with a strong focus on milking technology, milk quality improvement and mastitis impact on technological properties of milk and cheese.
Since 2014, Maristela has served as an assistant professor/extension dairy specialist in South Dakota State University’s department of dairy and food science. Her main responsibilities are to develop extension programs to improve milk quality and assist dairy producers and industry personnel on workforce development and best production practices. Also, she coordinates “Semillas.” This program helps Latino youth of dairy workers within the region embrace their heritage and gain a sense of community while understanding the dairy industry.
R.M. Thornsberry
R.M. Thornsberry graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977 and completed his 43rd year of food animal practice in 2020. Thornsberry classifies himself as a country practitioner with a love for food animal medicine and management. He owned and managed a preconditioning feedlot for 18 years in southern Missouri. Currently, Thornsberry travels the United States as a field veterinarian for Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition to help the dairy calf feedlot sector of the U.S. beef industry. He recently authored the eighth edition of his Dairy Calf Production Protocol book, a reference for calf raisers for dairy calf production systems from birth to 300 pounds.
Fernando Diaz
Fernando Diaz works as a dairy nutrition and management consultant at Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health. He provides consultation to dairies and feed companies, including nutrition and feeding management, forage and crop plans, ingredient procurement and research and product development of new feedstuffs, additives and technologies for dairy cows.
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Terapia de Secado: Objetivo, Aplicabilidad y Recomendaciones
Maristela Rovai, South Dakota State University assistant professor and extension dairy specialist
Raul Mendoza, South Dakota commercial dairy farm herdsman
La terapia de secado es una práctica común entre las explotaciones de vacuno lechero, y el buen manejo de la misma juega un papel clave en la siguiente lactancia. El secado implica interrumpir la lactación por generalmente 45-60 días antes del parto. En este periodo, además del desarrollo final del feto que exige más energía por parte de la vaca, hay cambios estructurales del tejido secretor de la ubre que influyen tanto en la producción del calostro como en la producción de leche en la siguiente lactación.
Una de las preocupaciones más importantes durante este periodo de descanso o “renovación” de la glándula es la susceptibilidad a las infecciones intramamarias. Para asegurar la salud de la ubre durante este periodo, se disponen de varios protocolos de secado que pueden incluir antimicrobianos de uso profiláctico y sellador de pezones. La terapia de secado puede parecer sencilla, pero exige cuidado, consistencia y responsabilidad.
En esta charla, los participantes recibirán una actualización sobre las recomendaciones y cuidados necesarios al momento de secar las vacas antes del parto. Además, se llevará a cabo una disección de ubre para aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos en la charla. El taller será ofrecido en español.
R.E.S.E.T. eando la industria lechera para atraer y retener empleados
Jorge Delgado, Alltech
Patrocinado por Alltech
Para todos los productores, uno de los recursos más importantes es la mano de obra agrícola. Si bien puede que no sea fácil encontrar personas dispuestas a trabajar largas horas, especialmente largas horas de realizar una tarea físicamente exigente como la de ordeñar vacas, debemos hacer todo lo posible para atraer y retener a la gente para trabajar en nuestras lecherías. Aunque esta no es una tarea fácil, con las condiciones y las herramientas adecuadas, los empleados verán a la industria lechera como un lugar único que los apoya y se preocupa por ellos.
Los productores de leche y los que apoyan la industria deben cambiar su mentalidad sobre los recursos humanos y comenzar a dedicar tiempo y esfuerzo a esta área, independientemente del tamaño de sus lecherías. Esto no requiere una gran inversión, pero sí requiere tiempo y asegurar la información correcta sobre cómo reducir los desafíos en torno a la mano de obra y la fuerza laboral. Atraer y retener empleados no es un problema nuevo, pero las circunstancias actuales son diferentes a las anteriores, impulsadas principalmente por los desafíos de inmigración y la competencia por el trabajo con otras industrias.
Para crear una cultura positiva en una lechería, los conceptos básicos de la organización deben estar en su lugar y también debe haber un restablecimiento en la forma en que se manejan a los empleados. Hay que R.E.S.E.Tear el negocio para crear la estructura organizativa adecuada para reducir la rotación de empleados y minimizar las frustraciones del manejo de empleados.
Jorge Delgado
Jorge Delgado dirige el Programa de Capacitación, Desarrollo de Talento y Retención de Alltech como parte del Alltech On-Farm Support Program. Anteriormente se desempeñó como especialista en lecherías y utiliza su experiencia para ayudar a los productores lecheros con las prácticas de manejo de empleados, salud del hato, calidad de la leche, manejo de terneros, personalización de protocolos y bienestar animal.
Originario de Ecuador, Delgado proviene de una familia de productores lecheros. Recibió su licenciatura en Agricultura y Ciencias Lecheras de la Universidad EARTH en Costa Rica. Posteriormente, regresó a Ecuador, donde trabajó en la industria lechera representando a una empresa genética a través de consultoría, ventas y capacitación. En el 2002, Delgado se mudó a los Estados Unidos, donde trabajó durante 10 años en múltiples Lecherías como gerente. También ha trabajado con Elanco en el programa de capacitación lechera, centrándose en fortalecer a los trabajadores de las lecherías.
¿Así es como se debe alimentar por sonda a un ternero?
Andrew Beckel, Golden Calf Company
Patrocinado por Golden Calf Company
El objetivo de la transferencia exitosa de la inmunidad pasiva empezará con alimentación del calostro. En esta sesión, profundizaremos en la fisiología de un ternero recién nacido para comprender los conceptos básicos del esófago neonatal y el tracto gastrointestinal.
Espere una sesión práctica con una demostración de uso propio de un alimentador de sonda esofágica y el razonamiento detrás de las mejores prácticas. Discutiremos cuándo y por qué alimentar con sondas y cómo usar sondas distintas.
Andrew Beckel
Andrew Beckel es el dueño de Golden Calf Company, un líder en innovación en el manejo del calostro y la pasteurización del calostro.
Prácticas de manejo alimentario para mejorar la rentabilidad de la explotación y la salud de las vacas
Fernando Diaz
El coste de alimentación continúa siendo el mayor coste individual en los sistemas intensivos de producción lechera. Según el Servicio de Investigación Económica del Departamento de Agricultura de los EEUU (USDA), durante la última década el coste de alimentación representó entre el 42 y el 56% del coste total de producción de leche. Con el coste de los alimentos constituyendo el mayor coste operativo, la nutrición y las prácticas de manejo alimentario son los principales factores que afectan a la rentabilidad de las lecherías. Este seminario, dirigido a Encargados y Técnicos de Alimentación, explicará la fisiología y comportamiento
Alimentario de las vacas lecheras, prácticas de manejo enfocadas en el suministro de una dieta consistente a lo largo de un periodo de 24 horas para prevenir la selección de alimentos y maximizar la producción de componentes lácteos y, con ello, la rentabilidad del negocio.
Optimización del coste de alimentación y del rendimiento productivo de las vacas lecheras mediante el manejo alimentario
Fernando Diaz, Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health
Patrocinado por Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health
Uno de los principales objetivos en la implementación de los programas alimentarios en granjas lecheras es el suministro en el comedero de una dieta TMR similar a la que fue formulada por el nutricionista y que sea consistente, tanto en su composición química como en su presentación física, a lo largo del día.
Este seminario, dirigido a Encargados y Técnicos de Alimentación, explicará la fisiología y el comportamiento alimentario de las vacas lecheras, estrategias alimentarias enfocadas en el aporte de una dieta consistente a lo largo de un periodo de 24 horas para prevenir la selección de alimentos y maximizar la producción de componentes lácteos, los ingresos sobre el coste de alimentación y la rentabilidad de la granja.
Fernando Diaz trabaja como Consultor Lechero en Nutrición y Manejo en la compañía Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health. Fernando provee servicios de consultoría a granjas lecheras y empresas de alimentación en áreas relacionadas con nutrición y manejo alimentario, forrajes y planes de cultivo, e investigación y desarrollo de nuevas materias primas y aditivos utilizados en las dietas de vacas lecheras.
Calidad de leche y Mastitis, soy yo responsable?
Jorge Luna – Zoetis
Patrocinado por Zoetis
El objetivo de este taller es explicar porque la calidad de leche y la mastitis son criticas para el consumidor , y como todos los que trabajan en una lecheria son responsables de esta tarea. Aprenda porque seguir las rutinas de ordeño, seguir reglas basicas de comfort para la vaca y la higuiene son criticas para la salud de la vaca , el bienestar de la lecheria y la satisifaccion del consumidor. El taller de calidad de leche y mastitis se enfocara en practicas de manejo faciles de implementar, practicas basicas de higuiene y estrategias de monitoreo que nos ayudaran a disminuir el riesgo de la mastitis y el mejoramiento de la calidad de la leche.