DAIRY NEWS – Understanding the impact of animal care and handling on the health and wellbeing of dairy cows is key to a farm’s productivity and profitability. The 2025 Dairy Wellbeing Workshop presented by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP), provides a unique opportunity for dairy team members to learn from industry experts and go behind-the-scenes at a beef processing plant to see firsthand how animal care choices impact beef quality.
Two repeating sessions of the one-day workshop will be held on Wed., Nov. 19, and Thurs., Nov. 20, at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, Wis. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the program will conclude at 3:45 p.m. each day. All program sessions will be presented in English with simultaneous Spanish translation.
“The Dairy Wellbeing Workshop offers attendees a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Cassandra Strupp, Richfield, Wis., dairy producer and PDP Program Manager. “Not only does it combine classroom-style learning and a walk-through tour of a processing facility, it also features simultaneous Spanish translation, allowing every member of the dairy team to learn at a high level.”
Each day’s program will kick off with a tour of the American Foods Group facility during which participants will trace the cull cow’s experience from harvest floor to cooler. Beef buyers, market experts and USDA meat inspectors will share insights on carcass conditions, body condition and condemned cows, as well as how animal care at the farm impacts beef quality.
Dr. Jennifer Van Os, PhD, associate professor and extension specialist at University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present “Practicing the principles: stockmanship in action.” Participants will sharpen their stockmanship and animal handling skills through interactive scenarios and explore practical strategies that support calmer cows, safer handlers and more productive herds.
Dr. Laura Solano, DVM, PhD, assistant professor in the food animal production section of UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, will present “Every step counts: act early for healthier cows.” She will share practical prevention strategies for lameness, early detection and tools producers can use to intervene more promptly.
Dairy Wellbeing Workshop is accredited for up to 5.0 Dairy AdvanCE (DACE) continuing education credits and up to 6.0 ARPAS continuing education credits.
Preregistration is required for the program. Learn more and register your team for Dairy Wellbeing Workshop at www.pdpw.org or by contacting PDP at 800-947-7379. Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following @dairyPDPW on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
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