A Successful 2022 Southwest Dairy Day

The 2022 Southwest Dairy Day hosted in Scotland and Windthorst Texas highlighted three different automated milking systems, or robotic dairies. This was the first time Southwest Dairy Day was held in this region of Texas and the first time there were three host dairies. This provided attendees an educational opportunity to see how each dairy was different. During the tours, attendees looked at the milking robots, and heard presentations and discussions by three field experts who talked about a unique aspect of each dairy.

Speakers and topics discussed were:

1. Wolf’s Legendairy: The use of other precision technologies on close-up cows and within an automated milking system, Dr. Barbara Jones, assistant professor, Tarleton State University, and director of the Southwest Regional Dairy Center.
2. Hemmi Family Dairy: Retrofitting an existing dairy facility to implement automated milking systems, Tim Terry, farm strategic planning specialist, Pro-Dairy, Cornell University.
3. Vieth Dairy: Cow comfort in automated milking systems and calf management, Dr. Marcia Endres, professor and director of graduate studies, University of Minnesota.

Approximately 500 people participated in this event including dairy families, allied industry professionals, AgriLife Extension personnel, students and local community residents. There were about 50 sponsors and 45 vendor booths displaying their companies’ services and products. Additionally, Texas universities sent student volunteers and had booths to highlight what they are doing and show their involvement in the dairy industry.

One of the highlighted university booths was the U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium (USDETC), a program developed and hosted by Texas A&M University and New Mexico State University. This year, the program was able to highlight some of the 12 USDETC alumni from the area. This program is held annually in Clovis, New Mexico, for six weeks during the summer. For more information, please contact Dr. Mike Tomaszewski at michael.tomaszewski@ag.tamu.edu or visit their website at https://usdetc.tamu.edu/. Applications are now open for summer 2023 and can be found under the “student information” tab on the website.

During lunch, Dr. Zong Liu, assistant professor and AgriLife Extension specialist from College Station, gave an update on some of the research and AgriLife Extension activities that are being done regarding manure management. In addition, AgriLife Extension county agents and personnel, sponsors, and 4-H and FFA students were recognized for helping make this event possible.

If you are interested in hosting the 2023 Southwest Dairy Day, participating in USDETC, or would like to be a sponsor for either event next year, please send us an email (Drs. Jennifer Spencer or Juan Piñeiro at jennifer.spencer@ag.tamu.edu or juan.pineiro@ag.tamu.edu) and we will answer your questions or add you to our sponsor email list.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Wolf, Hemmi and Vieth families for co-hosting the 2022 Southwest Dairy Day with us and all the support from the allied industry representatives, university dairy clubs, AgriLife Extension agents and personnel, and local 4-H and FFA groups. This event wouldn’t be possible without you all.