Western Canadian Dairy Seminar
Virtual. Dairy. Reality.
March 8 – 12, 2021
Details for the WCDS 2021 virtual platform will be available soon
Download the WCDS 2021 Program (pdf)
All times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Monday, March 8, 2021
10:00 am Welcome – Nelson Dinn, University of British Columbia, Chair, WCDS Advisory Committee
Session I: Calf Health
10:03 am Overview by Session Chair – Karin Orsel
10:08 am Nutraceuticals: An alternative strategy for the use of antimicrobials in dairy calves – Michael Ballou, Texas Tech University
10:35 am Giving calves a good start: Lessons from the maternity pen – Kathryn Proudfoot, University of Prince Edward Island
11:00 am Coccidiosis in dairy calves – John Gilleard, University of Calgary
11:30 am – 12:00 Noon Speaker Q&A Period
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Session II: Nutrition
10:00 am Overview by Session Chair – Masahito Oba
10:05 am Growth benchmarks and nutrient requirements of dairy heifers from weaning to calving – Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University
10:30 am Managing high-straw dry cow diets to optimize health and performance – Trevor DeVries, University of Guelph
11:00 am Protein during the dairy cow transition period: What we feed and what they lose – Jacquelyn Boerman, Purdue University
11:30 am – 12:00 Noon Speaker Q&A Period
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Session III: Virtual Farm Tours
10:00 am Overview by Session Chair – Tietsia Huyzer
From the comfort of your own home or office or in the barn virtually tour three progressive and innovative dairy operations. Locations TBD.
10:05 am Farm Tour Video #1: Hoek Holsteins, Agassiz, BC
10:25 am Farm Tour Video #2: Deerfield Colony, Magrath, AB
10:45 am Farm Tour Video #3: Robella Holsteins, Balgonie, SK
11:05 am – 12:05 Noon Farm Tour Hosts Q&A period
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Session IV: Student Research Presentation Competition
10:00 am Overview by Session Chair – Karen Beauchemin
Four graduate students will present their dairy-related research findings. To enter the competition, students submit a short summary of their research. A panel of judges then select the top 4 research summaries based on a number of criteria, including a well written summary, demonstrating good and relevant science.
10:05 am Anogenital distance is consistent throughout adult life in Holstein cows and associated with embryo quality – Iswarya Rajesh, University of Alberta
10:20 am Effects of Glutamate Supplementation During the Periparturient Period on the Performance of Dairy Cows – Satoko Hisadomi, University of Alberta
10:40 am The effect of gradual weaning method and forage type on feeding behaviour and growth of dairy calves – Allison Welk, University of British Columbia
11:00 am Effect of selective removal of high proviral load cattle on the herd prevalence of bovine leukosis – Sulav Shrestha, University of Calgary
Student competition voting and awards announcement
11:25 am Nutrition Break
Session V: Producer Panel
11:30 am Overview by Session Chair – Devon Simmelink
Three dairy producers will discuss different aspects of their farming operations.
11:35 am B.C – Casey Pruim, Prime Acres Ltd.
11:50 am Saskatchewan – Michael McLeod, Caroncrest Farms
12:10 pm Manitoba – Saskia Reutter, Reutter Dairy
12:30 pm Producer Panel Q&A Period (1 hour)
Friday, March 12, 2021
Session VI: Reproduction and Genetics
10:00 am Overview by Session Chair – Divakar Ambrose
10:05 am Advancing genetic gain in dairy cattle through genomics and reproductive technologies – Kent Weigel, University of Wisconsin
10:30 am Impact of altering the voluntary waiting period on reproduction and economics in dairy herds – Julio Giordano, Cornell University
11:00 am Daily profit of 3-breed crossbreds compared to Holsteins – Our experience from a 10-year designed study – Les Hansen, University of Minnesota
11:30 am Speaker Q&A Period
12:00 Noon Closing – Nelson Dinn, University of British Columbia, Chair, WCDS Advisory Committee
Program is subject to change