Stephen LeBlanc to discuss ‘ideal’ cow longevity during DCRC webinar

Mark your calendar to attend the July 29 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) webinar, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Central time (USA/Canada). University of Guelph’s Stephen LeBlanc will address “Extended lactations and cow longevity: How long is long enough?” This one-hour webinar is free.

There are discussions in the dairy industry about whether it should be an explicit aim to increase longevity. Some assert that retaining cows for more years or extending lactation length contributes to sustainability, because fewer replacement animals would be needed – reducing the environmental costs of these non-productive animals. However, the questions should be considered critically. LeBlanc will outline why longevity is not a measure of animal welfare or profitability, and why we should seek to optimize – not maximize – longevity for each cow and herd.

To register for this DCRC webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/DCRCWebJuly29. If you are a DCRC member and cannot attend the live program, you may access the webinar recording at www.dcrcouncil.org after Aug. 12.

LeBlanc is a professor in the department of population medicine at the University of Guelph and director of Dairy at Guelph – The Centre for Dairy Research and Innovation. He received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from McGill University in 1992 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1997 and DVSc in 2001 from the University of Guelph. His research focuses on dairy cow metabolic and reproductive health and management, precision technologies and antimicrobial stewardship. With graduate students and collaborators, this work has resulted in more than 200 peer-reviewed papers.

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians may earn one Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) credit for attending this DCRC webinar. To learn more about this opportunity, contact JoDee Sattler at: jodee@dcrcouncil.org.

For more information about DCRC’s webinars, e-mail Eduardo Oliveira, DCRC Education Committee chair, at: eduardo.oliveira@zoetis.com or e-mail DCRC at: jodee@dcrcouncil.org.

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.