Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) members from 28 states and 6 countries gathered in Pittsburgh, Nov. 13-14, for the group’s annual meeting. The 200-plus attendees, representing reproductive physiologists, animal health researchers, dairy producers, bovine veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dairy industry partners, obtained valuable information to “bridge the gap” in dairy cattle reproduction programs and consumer communications.
“The DCRC Annual Meeting featured sustainable and forward-thinking strategies to attain cost-effective repro success in today’s dairy operations,” said Program Chair Anibal Ballarotti, ABS Global. “Conference speakers not only addressed on-farm tools and strategies but also looked at animal care protocols and available technologies from a consumer perspective.”
“DCRC is more than dairy cattle reproduction,” added DCRC President Glaucio Lopes. “We covered every aspect of dairy management that affects reproductive performance – from employee management to nutrition, from dry and fresh cow performance to fertility programs, from high-end technologies to cow comfort, and from herd health to cow welfare. Our goal is to help attendees go home and apply strategies they learned at the DCRC Annual Meeting.”
Outgoing DCRC President Glaucio Lopes, Alta Genetics, passed the gavel to Julio O. Giordano, Cornell University. Other DCRC board members are: Vice President Mike Overton, Elanco; Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Stevenson, Kansas State University; Past President Lopes; and director members Luis Mendonca, Kansas State University; Natalia Martinez-Patino, Zoetis; and Matt Utt, Select Sires. Committee chairs include: Awards Chair Corey Geiger, Hoard’s Dairyman; Program Chair Eduardo Ribeiro, University of Guelph; Education Chair Paulo Basso, Zoetis; Membership Chair Eli Caldera, COBA Select Sires; and Nomination Chair Lopes. DCRC thanks outgoing board members Ronaldo Cerri, University of British Columbia, and Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin.
DCRC thanks its annual meeting sponsors who contributed to the professional development program’s success. Platinum sponsors were Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck Animal Health. The Gold sponsor was STgenetics. Silver sponsors included ABS Global, Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition, Nedap Livestock Management, Select Sires and Zoetis. Bronze sponsors were Afimilk, Alltech, Alta Genetics, CRV, Genex, IMV Imaging, Jefo Nutrition, Parnell, Phibro, ProCROSS, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin and Trans Ova Genetics.
Next year’s DCRC Annual Meeting will be held Nov. 10-12, in Madison, Wis. Watch the DCRC website for program updates.
The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council is focused on bringing together all sectors of the dairy industry – producers, consultants, academia and allied industry professionals – for improved reproductive performance. DCRC provides an unprecedented opportunity for all groups to work together to take dairy cattle reproduction to the next level.