Dairy Days to Feature Profitable Dairy Practices

Iowa dairy producers have the opportunity to learn about emerging dairy industry issues during the 2023 Dairy Days events hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The program will be held at four eastern Iowa locations and one northwest Iowa location in January.

Dairy Days will be offered Jan. 17 in Elma at Innovative Ag Service, Jan. 19 in Elkader at Johnson’s Restaurant, Jan. 24 in Kalona at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 26 in New Vienna at the New Vienna Community Center, and Jan. 31 in Sioux Center at the Dordt College-Stewardship Center.

Topics and presenters (named presenters are dairy specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach):

• Raising Your Dairy Best Heifer, Larry Tranel.
• Weaning: The Other Transition, Jennifer Bentley.
• Using Records to Meet Your Heifer Goals, Gail Carpenter.
• Dairy Heifer Market Outlook, Fred Hall.
• Research Spotlight, Iowa State grad students.

The day-long event has been developed to help dairy producers learn about current practices and hear the latest research — all topics to help producers make sound herd management decisions.

“With nearly 25% of a dairy’s production costs associated with raising heifer replacements, optimizing growth and health is important to every dairy operation,” said Jenn Bentley, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach in northeast Iowa. “We anticipate great discussion and learning during this year’s Dairy Days with a focus on heifer management.”