“The 2024 DCRC Annual Meeting highlighted topics that are crucial to operating dairy businesses long term, said Program Chair Benjamin Voelz, STgenetics technical services team manager. “This year’s speakers included some of the world’s most prominent dairy cattle reproduction experts who discussed incorporating new technologies into reproductive strategies to achieve improved reproduction performance.” Featured topics included The Resilient Dairy Genome Project, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 infection in dairy cattle, and dairy herd health in the context of a sustainable future.
DCRC’s Annual Meeting was delivered in a hybrid format – for in-person and online attendees. This feature helped deliver reproduction-focused presentations to DCRC members around the world and broaden the group’s reach. All sessions were recorded, so DCRC Annual Meeting attendees may access the recordings after Dec. 5. In addition, DCRC members may view 21 recorded research poster presentations.
Outgoing DCRC President Tracy Burnett, University of Guelph, handed the DCRC gavel to Ralph Bruno, Zoetis. Other DCRC board members include Vice President Jennifer Spencer, Texas A&M University; Secretary-Treasurer Alex Scanavez, Alta Genetics; Past President Burnett and director members Kim Egan, GENEX; Augusto Madureira, Michigan State University; and Mark Doornink, Parnell. Committee chairs include Awards, Katelyn Allen, Hoard’s Dairyman; Program, J.P Martins, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Education, Caio Figueiredo, Washington State University; Membership, Jennifer Spencer, Texas A&M University; and Nomination, Tracy Burnett. DCRC thanks outgoing board members William “BJ” Jones, Center Hill Veterinary Clinic, Luciano Caixeta, University of Minnesota, and Brian Schilling, Schilling Farms LLC, for their outstanding service to DCRC.
DCRC thanks its annual meeting sponsors who contributed to the professional development program’s success. The Gold sponsor was Merck Animal Health. Bronze sponsors included Agrarian Solutions, GENEX, Parnell, Select Sires, STgenetics and Zoetis. Parnell and Select Sires were the Excellence in Dairy Reproduction Awards sponsors.
Next year’s DCRC Annual Meeting is set for Nov. 11-13, in Middleton, Wis. Watch the DCRC website – www.dcrcouncil.org – for program updates.
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.
Be the first to comment