Western Canadian Dairy Seminar
March 4 - 7, 2025
Red Deer Resort & Casino, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Excellence in Efficiency
Downloadable link coming soon...
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Once again, there will be no pre-conference tour as the Virtual Farm Tours will be returning as part of the Producer Panel on Thursday March 6.
Pre-conference workshops are hosted by various sponsors and will be promoted as they are confirmed.
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Registration
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Opening Reception
Please join us at our opening reception for cocktails, refreshments and live music.
Entertainment by The BixMix Boys
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Morning Plenary Session
8:30 Welcome – Miriam Sweetnam, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Chair, WCDS Advisory Committee
Introductory Remarks and Conference Overview –Karin Orsel, University of Calgary, Chair,WCDS Program
8:45 Committee Q&A - Steve Eiker, moderated by Diane Finstad
9:45 Nutrition Break
Session I: Dairy Products: Emerging Opportunities for Dairy and Dairy Products
10:30 Presentation - Dr. Mike von Massow, University of Guelph
11:10 Presentation - Dr. Dan Wong, Western Dairy Council
11:50 Harnessing Precision Technologies for Improving Dairy Herd Performance and Management - Dr. Julio Giordano, Cornell University
Afternoon Plenary Session
Session II: Nutrition: What is needed to feed our cows?
2:00 Corn Silage in Western Canada - John Winchell, Alltech
2:40 Insulin Resistance - Dr. Geert R.G. Opsomer, Ghent University, Belgium
3:15 Nutrition Break
Session III: Reproduction: Making Reproduction More Efficient
3:45 Improving Dairy Herd Fertility: Genomics & Beyond - Dr. Jodi Wallace, DMV, Quebec
4:20 Demystifying Reproductive Performance Data- Why Randomness Matters - Dr. Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin -Madison
Evening Banquet
6:00 Cash Bar
7:00 Supper
Entertainment – The Denim Daddies
The banquet is optional. Separate registration required.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Morning Plenary Session
Session IV: Student Research
8:30 Student Research Presentation Competition
Five graduate students will present their dairy-related research findings
9:45 Nutrition Break
Session V: Producer Panel & Virtual Farm Tours
10:30 Producer Panel Presentations
Three dairy farms demonstrating sustainability and resilience on their operations will be virtually toured followed by a Q&A period
12:30 Lunch
Afternoon Plenary Session
Session VI: Animal Welfare: Finding your Feet: Pathways to Improved Locomotion
2:00 A Problem Shared: A Collaborative Approach to Tackling Lameness - Sara Pederson, Farm Dynamics Ltd
2:40 Healthy Feet Initiatives- Finding our Hidden Mojo - Dr. Nick Bell, Nottingham University, UK
3:15 Nutrition Break
Session VII: Future Proofing: Topics for Progressive Dairy Management
4:10 Adult Cow Barn Ventilation Design and Assessment - Courtney Halbach, University of Wisconsin-Madison
4:45 Manure Management - Dr. Mario E. de Haro Martí, University of Idaho
5:30 Cocktail Reception
Announcement of Winners for the Student Research Presentation and Poster Competitions
Friday, March 7, 2025
Morning Plenary Session
Session VIII: The Other Things you Need to Know
8:40 Presentation - Dr. Frank van der Meer, DMV, University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine
9:20 Leadership & Management - Dr. Mireille Chahine, University of Idaho
10:00 Nutrition Break
Session IX: Feeding the Youngstock for an Efficient Future
10:30 Presentation - Dr. Mike Steele, University of Guelph
11:10 Feeding Post-Weaned Dairy Heifers- Dr. Pete Erickson, University of New Hampshire
11:50 Presentation- Dr. Marcos Marcondes, Miner Institute
12:30 Closing