DCRC webinar, presented in Spanish, highlights breeding strategies

“Strategic economics of breeding: Optimizing beef-on-dairy and replacement heifer” (Economía estratégica de la reproducción: Optimizando el uso de los cruces de razas cárnicas con razas lecheras y las necesidades de novillas de reemplazo), presented in Spanish, headlines the Feb. 4 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) webinar. The free webinar starts at 2 p.m. Central time (USA/Canada). Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin, will serve as the instructor for this one-hour webinar.

Breeding strategies on dairy farms are increasingly influenced by the economic opportunities of beef-on-dairy matings alongside the need to maintain an adequate supply of replacement heifers. This presentation will explore the economic trade-offs involved, focusing on how herd demographics, reproductive performance, and market conditions affect optimal breeding strategies. Practical decision frameworks and economic modeling will be presented to illustrate how producers can balance short-term cash flow with long-term herd sustainability. Attendees will gain insights into applying these principles to maximize profitability under varying farm conditions.

(Las estrategias reproductivas en las granjas lecheras están cada vez más influenciadas por las oportunidades económicas de  los cruces de razas cárnicas con razas lecheras, junto con la necesidad de mantener un suministro adecuado de novillas de reemplazo. Esta presentación explorará las compensaciones económicas involucradas, centrándose en cómo la demografía del hato, el desempeño reproductivo y las condiciones del mercado afectan las estrategias óptimas de reproducción. Se presentarán marcos prácticos de toma de decisiones y modelos económicos para ilustrar cómo los productores pueden equilibrar el flujo de caja a corto plazo con la sostenibilidad del hato a largo plazo. Los participantes obtendrán información sobre cómo aplicar estos principios para maximizar la rentabilidad bajo diversas condiciones de la granja.)

Cabrera is a leading expert in data-driven decision support for dairy farm management, integrating applied research, interdisciplinary approaches and participatory methods to develop practical, user-friendly tools that enhance farm profitability, environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability. He leads the Dairy Brain project, a pioneering initiative in data integration and analytics for dairy farming, and actively contributes to the RuFaS project, which advances resilient and climate-smart agricultural systems.

To register for this webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/DCRCFeb4Web. If you are a DCRC member and cannot attend the live program, you may access the webinar at www.dcrcouncil.org after Feb. 18.

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.