Eighth DISCOVER Conference on Food Animal Agriculture:

REDUCING CULLING RATES IN THE DAIRY HERD:

Creating an Environment for Success

October 3-6, 2004     Abe Martin Lodge     Nashville, Indiana    

Presented by the American Dairy Science Association

 

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Sessions will be primarily in the mornings and evenings, with afternoons free for further discussion or recreation.

All sessions will be in Melodian Hall of Abe Martin Lodge unless otherwise indicated.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2004

4:00 – 6:00 PM                Registration – Melodian Hall, Abe Martin Lodge

6:00 – 9:00 PM                Welcoming Reception and Dinner: Salt Creek Golf Club

                                Moderator: Ken McGuffey, Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN

                                Welcome. Bill Baumgardt, DISCOVER Opportunities and Ken McGuffey, Program Co-Chair

                                Keynote Speaker. A Historical Review of Culling of Dairy Cows from US Dairy Herds. Duane Norman, USDA, Beltsville, MD

                                Discussion

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2004

7:00 AM                 BREAKFAST – Dining Hall, 2nd Floor, Abe Martin Lodge

8:00 – 12:00                 Morning Session I: Setting the Stage for Discussion

Moderator: Richard Patton, DVM, Galisteo, NM

                                Opening Remarks. Bill Baumgardt, DISCOVER Opportunities and Ken McGuffey, Program Co- Chair

                                Establishing a Consistent Definition of Terminology and Nomenclature Associated with Cow and Heifer Disappearance from the

Dairy Herd (Report from DISCOVER Conference subcommittee). John Fetrow, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

                                Discussion

                                Economics of Culling:  Optimization of Culling on Herd Measures of Profitability. Steve Eicker, Valley Agricultural Software,

King Ferry, NY

10:00                       BREAK

                                Morning Session I (cont’d)

Moderator: John Smith, Kansas State University, Manhattan

                                Supply of Heifers and Herd Equilibrium: Impact of Culling on Needs for Replacements.  Mike Schutz, Purdue University,

W. Lafayette, IN

                                Financial Impact of Culling on Return to Capitol Investment. Terry Smith, Dairy Strategies, Madison, WI

                                Discussion and Wrap-up of Morning Session

 

12:00 PM                LUNCH      

1:00 - 6:15 PM                Afternoon free for further discussion or recreation. Dinner on your own.

 

6:15                           Ice Cream Social

 

7:00 – 9:15 PM                 Evening Session II

Moderator: Gary Rogers, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

                                Genetics of Longevity and Productive Life. Kent Weigel, University of Wisconsin, Madison

                                Lameness and its Impact on Cow Health and Survival. Jan Shearer, University of Florida, Gainesville

                                Reproduction and its Impact on Cow Survival and Replacement. Steve LeBlanc, University of Guelph, Canada

                                Discussion

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2004

7:00 AM                 BREAKFAST – Dining Hall, 2nd Floor, Abe Martin Lodge

8:00 – 12:30                 Morning Session III

Moderator: John Fetrow, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

                                Stocking Density and Movement Between Pens as Factors Affecting Risk of Culling of Cows from Herds. Ken Nordlund, University of Wisconsin, Madison

                                Freestalls and Time Budgets. Nigel Cook, University of Wisconsin, Madison

                                Issues Associated with Increasing Milking Frequency in Early Lactation. Matt VanBaale, University of Arizona, Tucson

10:00                       BREAK

                                Managing Heat Stress. John Smith, Kansas State University, Manhattan

                                Discussion

 

11:45 PM                LUNCH

 

12:45 – 2:15 PM                Afternoon Session IV

Moderator: Gordie Jones, DVM, Wheatfield, IN

                                Impact of Implementing Cow Comfort on a Large Dairy. Gordie Jones, Fair Oaks Dairy, Wheatfield, IN

                                Panel discussion of the day’s speakers

 

2:15 – 7:00                 Balance of afternoon free for further discussion or recreation. Dinner on your own.

 

7:00 – 9:15 PM                  Evening Session V

Moderator: Richard Pursley, Michigan State University

                                Overview of Transition Cow Issues. Jesse Goff, NADC-USDA, Ames, IA

                                Transition Cow Health. Todd Duffield, University of Guelph, Ontario

                                Mastitis as a Cause for Culling. Michael Overton, University of California, Davis

                                Discussion

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004

7:00 AM                 BREAKFAST – Dining Hall, 2nd Floor, Abe Martin Lodge

8:00 - 12:00                Morning Session VI

Moderator: Mike Schutz, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN

                                Timing of Culling Decisions. Roger Cady, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

                                Turnover Rates from Animal Well-Being Perspective. Speaker TBA

                                Morning Session VI (cont’d)

Moderator: Ken Nordlund, University of Wisconsin, Madison

                                Open Discussion – Where from Here?  Ken McGuffey, Elanco Animal Health; Basil Eastwood, USDA-CSREES; Gary Rogers, University of Tennessee; Richard Patton, Private Consultant; and J. Richard Pursley, Michigan State University

10:00                       BREAK

                                Conference Summary.  Ken Nordlund, University of Wisconsin, Madison

 

11:45 AM                LUNCH

1:00                         Adjourn