Boost your dairy cattle repro knowledge by attending the DCRC Annual Meeting

Make plans to attend the 2026 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) Annual Meeting, Nov. 10-12, at The Plaza Hotel Columbus at Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio. In addition to providing industry-leading, thought-provoking presentations, a special highlight of this year’s event is a tour of Select Sires’ headquarters, which includes a tour of the cooperative’s Global Distribution Center and Kellgren Center, a bull parade and educational forum.

Intended for dairy producers, dairy cattle researchers, bovine veterinarians and dairy cattle product and service providers, the DCRC Annual Meeting fosters learning, networking and idea and experience sharing. Those wanting to take their bovine reproductive aptitude to the next level should attend this exceptional learning event. To register for the meeting, go to: https://bit.ly/DCRC2026MtgReg. Register by Sept. 30 to take advantage of the lowest registration rate. Online registration ends Nov. 5. After that date, attendees must register on-site.

“The 2026 DCRC Annual Meeting features topics that boost reproduction efficiency,” said Program Chair Paula Molinari, GENEX dairy account manager and consultant. “This year’s speakers will discuss some of the latest advancements and technologies related to outstanding dairy cattle fertility and share easy-to-adopt applications that can be implemented to increase dairy cattle health and reproduction, and enhance dairy farm profitability.”

Plenary session presentation topics and presenters for this year’s DCRC Annual Meeting include:

• Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding reproduction traits update – Taylor McWhorter, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
• The use of artificial intelligence in the dairy industry – Jeffrey Bewley, Holstein Association USA

Breakout session presentation topics and presenters for this year’s DCRC Annual Meeting include:

• Optimizing heifer growth targets for reproductive success – Amin Ahmadzadeh, University of Idaho
• Transition cow management: Setting the stage for reproductive success – Gustavo Schuenemann, Ohio State University
• Environmental factors affecting cow health and resilience – John Bromfield, University of Florida
• Leading dairy teams through change: Preparing people, teams, and businesses for the future – Liz Griffith, Liz Griffith Family Farm Consulting
• Building successful repro teams: Training, execution, and accountability – Javier Cheng, GENEX
• Data, technology, and sustainability in modern dairy systems – Luiz Brito, Purdue University
• Data-driven management and impact on fertility – Ronaldo Cerri, University of British Columbia
• Heifer replacement decisions – Steve Eicker, VAS

Panel discussion topics include:

• How dairies successfully push for genetic progress
• How producers implement proactive heifer breeding protocols
• How dairies use monitoring systems and other technologies to boost productivity and efficiency

DCRC is committed to boosting dairy producer and veterinarian (employed by a veterinary clinic) attendance at its annual

meeting. To encourage attendance from these two groups, DCRC is offering ten $200 travel stipends. Stipends will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact JoDee Sattler (jodee@dcrcouncil.org) if interested in this discount. Payment will be made at the meeting upon proof of attendance.

To help veterinarians earn continuing education credits, DCRC will submit an application to receive Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval from the American Association of Veterinary State Boards for the 2026 DCRC Annual Meeting. For more information about RACE credits, contact JoDee Sattler at: jodee@dcrcouncil.org.

Reserve your room for the DCRC Annual Meeting at: https://bit.ly/DCRChotelColumbus by Oct. 23, to get the group rate of $144 per night (plus taxes). The DCRC room block may fill before that date, so reserve your room soon.

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.