I’m sorry to say but my email program didn’t receive the updates from Elizabeth LeBrun from the National Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference. But I finally did and without further ado here they are. This one is her wrapup of Thursday:
The third full day of the National Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference in Visalia, Calif. began with regional caucuses, followed by a variety of industry-related seminars for Professional Diary Heifer Growers Association members, non-members, students and associates alike. Seminars on this day touched upon a variety of subject matter from feeding to reproduction, and offered attendees the following topics and breakout sessions:
• Intensive Feeding, Calf Growth and Mammary Development (Dr. Mike Amburgh, Cornell University)
• Nutrition and Management of the Transition Calf (Dr. Jon Robison, California State University – Fresno)
• Nutrition and Management Systems for Reducing Variance in Heifer Performance (Pat Hoffman, University of Wisconsin- Marshfield)
• Heifer Reproductive Management (Dr. Jose Santos, University of California-Davis)
• Animal Health Protocols (Dr. Jim Reynolds, University of California-Davis)
• Mycoplasma Control (Dr. Ricardo Rosenbusch, Iowa State University)
• Observations on Large Calf Operations (Dr. Jon Robison)
• Colostrum Management and Pasteurization (Dr. Sandra Godden, University of Minnesota)
• Colostrum Substitutes and Gut Modifiers (Dr. Jim Quigley, Diamond V-Mills)
• On-Farm Pasteurizer Management for Waste Milk Quality Control (Dr. Bob James, Virginia Tech)
A PDHGA luncheon and annual business meeting proceeded two Wet Calf Diagnostic Lab sessions held by Dr. Jim Reynolds and Dr. Rob Moeller of the University of California-Davis. During these public labs, members of the audience were able to gain up-close views and descriptions of the body composition of the animals in sessions consisting of Calf Health Procedures and Management and a Calf Necropsy Lab.
A California fiesta was held in the evening, featuring a scrumptious dinner which shared the time slot with an awards session and the appointment and reappointments of the following 2006-2007 officers:
– PRESIDENT: Steve Bechard, West Chazey, NY
– 1st VICE PRESIDENT: Tom Gustafson, Willmar, MN
– 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Bart Hanson, Rupert, ID
– Secretary: Margo Souza, Turlock, CA
– Treasurer: Don Gardner, Huddleston, VA
– Past President: Vickie Franken, Sutherland, IA
– NW Regional Director: Jim Mohoric, Chehalis, WA
– SC Regional Director: Cheryl Madison, Oakley, KS
– NC Regional Director: Mike “Hoss” Strayer, Wadena, MN
– SW Regional Director: Ronnie Walterscheid, Carlsbad, NM
– Senior Advisor: Dr. Bob James, Blacksburg, VA
– NE Regional Director: Jeanne Wormuth, Elba, NY
– SE Regional Director: Bob Patrick, Eatonton, GA
One top honor given at the event was the Roger Cady Award, which was presented to Hugh Chester-Jones for his dedicated work towards PDHGA and the overall dairy industry.
Panel Discussion for Hispanic Employees and Hispanic Farm Managers followed dinner to close out the day, with both old and new PDHGA members coming together to pass along and gain new ideas pertaining to the dairy industry.
Thanks Elizabeth for sending us an update!