Midwest’s Premier Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference

The 2025 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference on June 11 and 12 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This conference features the latest insights to improve productivity and profit. A new highlight his year is the award for herds in the Four State area with the highest pounds of solids produced per cow.

The Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition pre-conference symposium focuses on improving efficiency through better health. Dr. Joel Pankowski, Dr. Sangita Jalukar, Dr. Isaac Salfer, and Jesse Thompson will discuss various aspects of improving efficiency, including immune function, mycotoxin mitigation, and probiotics.

Four State conference speakers include Dr. Alex Bach (University of Lleida in Spain), discussing management and nutritional strategies to improve profitability. Dr. Jackie Boerman (Purdue University)is talking on muscle composition changes throughout lactation. A panel featuring the award-winning farmers sharing their successes in achieving high solids production.

The other general session will focus on advances in nutritional efficiency. It includes Dr. Mike Van Amburgh (Cornell University) who will present nitrogen efficiency strategies. Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, University of Wisconsin, will address corn silage management’s impact on efficiency and Dr. Isaac Salfer, University of Minnesota, will offer practical approaches to improving feeding efficiency. Both sessions will include panel discussions with the speakers.

Breakout sessions will cover topics such as:

· The role of amino acids in fatty acid synthesis
· Maximizing dairy replacement performance
· Using videos to enhance feeding management
· Hidden costs of heat stress
· Calcium and negative DCAD impacts on reproduction
· The latest in dairy technology
· Cocktail forage mix effects on cow production
· Nutritional approaches to reduce calf stress
· AI timing strategies using sexed and conventional semen based on increased activity and synchronization on fertility.

The conference will also host the third annual Three-Minute Student Thesis (3MT) contest with a poster session where graduate students from the partner universities will present their research in a fast-paced, engaging format.

In addition to the educational program, there is a trade show with over 40 companies exhibiting their latest products, enjoy evening receptions, and network with dairy professionals from across the region. CEU credits are available.

For register of learn more information, visit fourstatedairy.org or contact your state dairy specialist. For questions, contact Jim Salfer at 612-360-4506 or salfe001@umn.edu

This conference is a collaborative effort of Iowa State University Extension, University of Illinois Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin-Extension.