See you in Tucson!

Join us for the 2026 Dairy Calf & Heifer Association (DCHA) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Tucson, Arizona, April 7-9!

DCHA will again offer two pre-conference sessions presented in Spanish and simultaneous interpretation (English to Spanish) for all general session and breakout session presentations. Additionally, interested individuals may attend in person or virtually.

Please contact Kyle Wieskus, kyle@calfandheifer.org,  to register virtually or in-person.

 

2026 DCHA Annual Conference

Conferencia Anual DCHA 2026

2026 DCHA Conference Agenda

2026 DCHA Programa de Conferencia

Sessions will be broadcast in English unless presented in Spanish.

Recordings will be available in English and Spanish two weeks after the conference concludes.

All registered attendees will have access to the recordings.

All times listed are Mountain Standard Time.

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Trade show set up

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
DCHA Board Meeting

Todos los horarios indicados están en Hora Estándar de la Montaña.

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Montaje de feria comercial

Ver los proveedores en Young Stock Alley

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Reunión de la Junta de DCHA

All times listed are Mountain Standard Time.

7:00 a.m.
Registration opens

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Trade show set up

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Short Course One *NOT INCLUDED IN CONFERENCE REGISTRATION*

Growth and Development of Dairy Heifers, Including Targets and Economic Consequences
Mike Overton, Zoetis; Joe Dalton, Univ of Idaho; Paul Fricke, Univ of Wisconsin

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Short Course Two *NOT INCLUDED IN CONFERENCE REGISTRATION*

Leveraging Lung Ultrasound to Montor Calf Health and Uncover Management Deficits
Gabe Middleton, Veterinary Wellness Partners; Terri Ollivett, Univ of Wisconsin

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

TOURS

University of Arizona

Sponsored by:

 

Shamrock Dairy

12:00 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SPANISH SESSIONS

Impacts of Thermal Stress on Health and Performance of Preweaned Dairy Heifers
Impactos del estrés térmico en la salud y el rendimiento de becerras pre-destete.
Diego Manriquez AgNext, Colorado State University

 1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SPANISH SESSIONS

Calf & Heifer Euthanasia: From Guidelines to Action
Eutanasia en becerras y vaquillas: De las guías a la acción
Mariana Guerra Maupome, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods

2:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION ONE

Insights into Dairy Heifer Reproductive Efficiency
Douglas Duhatschek, Parnell

Sponsored by:

2:30 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION TWO

The Power of pH: Leveraging Environmental Chemistry for Calf Performance
Randy Robbins, Jones-Hamilton Co,

Sponsored by:

3:00 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION THREE

Understanding Coccidia Management in Cattle
Jeffery Hall, Huvepharma

Sponsored by:

3:30 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION FOUR

Mitigating the Negative Effects of Stress in Dairy Calves
Raphael Saraiva, FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals

Sponsored by:

4:00 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION FIVE

Improving Calf Health: What the Data Shows and How New Traits Can Be Used
Robert Fourdraine, DRMS

Sponsored by:

4:30 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION SIX

Dairy Calf and Heifer Rearing – New Stuff, Old Stuff and What’s on Your Mind
David Prentice, Elanco

Sponsored by:

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

Reception in the Trade Show

Sponsored by:

Todos los horarios indicados están en Hora Estándar de la Montaña.

7:00 a.m.
Registro abierto

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Montaje de feria comercial

Ver los vendedores en Young Stock Alley

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Curso Corto Uno *NO INCLUIDO EN LA INSCRIPCIÓN A LA CONFERENCIA*

Crecimiento y desarrollo de vaquillas lecheras, incluidos objetivos y consecuencias económicas
Mike Overton, Zoetis; Joe Dalton, Univ of Idaho; Paul Fricke, Univ of Wisconsin

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Curso Corto Dos *NO INCLUIDO EN LA INSCRIPCIÓN A LA CONFERENCIA*

Uso del ultrasonido pulmonar para monitorear la salud del becerro e identificar deficiencias de manejo
Gabe Middleton, Veterinary Wellness Partners; Terri Ollivett, Univ of Wisconsin

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

TOURS

 Universidad de Arizona

Shamrock Dairy

12:00 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.

SESIONES EN ESPAÑOL PRE-CONFERENCIA

Impactos del estrés térmico sobre la salud y el desempeño de vaquillas lecheras en pre-destete
Diego Manriquez AgNext, Colorado State University

 1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.

SESIONES EN ESPAÑOL PRE-CONFERENCIA

Eutanasia en becerras y vaquillas: De las guías a la acción
Mariana Guerra Maupome,TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods

2:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.

Preconferencia 1

Insights into Dairy Heifer Reproductive Efficiency
Perspectivas sobre la eficiencia reproductiva de las novillas lecheras
Douglas Duhatschek, Parnell

Patrocinado por:

2:30 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.

The Power of pH: Leveraging Environmental Chemistry for Calf Performance
El Poder del pH: Aprovechando la Química Ambiental para el Rendimiento de los Terneros
Randy Robbins, Jones-Hamilton Co,

Patrocinado por:

3:00 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.

Preconferencia 3

Understanding Coccidia Management in Cattle
Comprendiendo la gestión de la coccidiosis en el ganado
Jeffery Hall, Huvepharma

Patrocinado por:

3:30 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.

Mitigating the Negative Effects of Stress in Dairy Calves
Mitigando los efectos negativos del estrés en terneros lecheros
Raphael Saraiva, FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals

Patrocinado por:

4:00 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.

Improving Calf Health: What the Data Shows and How New Traits Can Be Used
Mejorando la Salud de los Terneros: Lo que Muestran los Datos y Cómo se Pueden Utilizar Nuevos Rasgos
Robert Fourdraine, DRMS

Patrocinado por:

4:30 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.

Dairy Calf and Heifer Rearing – New Stuff, Old Stuff and What’s on Your Mind
Cría de terneros y novillas lecheras: cosas nuevas, cosas antiguas y lo que tienes en mente
David Prentice, Elanco

Patrocinado por:

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

Recepción en la feria comercial

Patrocinado por:

All times listed are Mountain Standard Time.

6:30 a.m.
Registration opens

​7:00 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION ONE

Workforce Development, Certification and Auditing – Why it Matters. – Josh White, NCBA, Kaitlyn Briggs, fairlife, Rodolfo Nava, NM NewCan Cattle, LP

8:55 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

WET CALF/WEANING TRACK

AI for Dairy Calf Management: What Do We Know and Where are we Headed? – Melissa Cantor, Penn State University

Sponsored by:

POST-WEANED/REPRODUCTION TRACK

Alternative Forages for Heifers: Balancing Yield, Quality, and Cost – Doug Duhatschek, Parnell

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

BEEF CROSS TRACK

What Your Mother Never Told You About the 21-Day Cortisol Surge in Cattle – Blaine Ellison, Applied Biotechnologies, Inc

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Morning Break – Located in the Trade Show

Sponsored by:

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

10:15 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

WET CALF/WEANING TRACK

AI for dairy calf management: What do we know and where are we headed? – Melissa Cantor, Penn State University

Sponsored by:

POST-WEANED/REPRODUCTION TRACK

Alternative Forages for Heifers: Balancing Yield, Quality, and Cost – Doug Duhatschek, Parnell

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

BEEF CROSS TRACK

What Your Mother Never Told You About the 21-Day Cortisol Surge in Cattle – Blaine Ellison, Applied Biotechnologies, Inc

11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Lunch

Sponsored by:

DCHA Annual Business Meeting

12:15 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

WET CALF/WEANING TRACK

Beyond the Bag: Understanding Trends in Calf Milk Replacer Formulation – Tana Dennis, Actus Nutrition; Bethany Dado-Senn, VitaPlus

Sponsored by:

POST-WEANED/REPRODUCTION TRACK

How are We Working to Get to Great? Best Practice Metrics for Growth, Health, and Reproduction – Kevin Miller, Kansas Dairy Development

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

BEEF CROSS TRACK

Short and Long-distance Transport of Dairy and Dairy-Beef Cross Calves –Gustavo Schuenemann, Ohio State University

Sponsored by:

1:15 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

WET CALF/WEANING TRACK

Beyond the Bag: Understanding Trends in Calf Milk Replacer Formulation – Tana Dennis, Actus Nutrition; Bethany Dado-Senn, VitaPlus

Sponsored by:

POST-WEANED/REPRODUCTION TRACK

How are We Working to Get to Great? Best Practice Metrics for Growth, Health, and Reproduction – Kevin Miller, Kansas Dairy Development

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

BEEF CROSS TRACK

Short and Long-distance Transport of Dairy and Dairy-Beef Cross Calves –Gustavo Schuenemann, Ohio State University

Sponsored by:

2:05 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Afternoon Break – Located in the Trade Show

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

2:35 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
GENERAL SESSION TWO

Training That Sticks: Why Documentation Matters on Today’s Dairy Farm
Michelle Schack, DairyKind

3:35 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Producer Round-table Discussion
Producers TBD

4:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

Reception in the Trade Show

Sponsored by:

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Get together at “The Last Territory”
 
 
 
 

Todos los horarios indicados están en Hora Estándar de la Montaña.

6:30 a.m.
Registro abierto

​7:00 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.
Buffet de desayuno

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Sesión general Uno

Desarrollo de la fuerza laboral, certificación y auditoría: por qué es importante. – Josh White, NCBA, Kaitlyn Briggs, fairlife, Rodolfo Nava, NM NewCan Cattle, LP

8:55 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Sesiones de trabajo (Elige una)

Becerros lactantes / Destete

 IA para el manejo de becerros lecheros ¿qué sabemos y hacia dónde vamos? – Melissa Cantor, Penn State University

Patrocinado por:

Post-destete / Reproducción

Forrajes alternativos para vaquillas: equilibrio entre rendimiento, calidad y costo – Doug Duhatschek, Parnell

Patrocinado por:

Sponsored by:

Becerros cruce con carne

 Lo que tu madre nunca te contó sobre el aumento de cortisol de 21 días en el ganado – Blaine Ellison, Applied Biotechnologies, Inc

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Descanso matutino – Ubicado en la feria comercial

Patrocinado por::

Ver los proveedores en Young Stock Alley

10:15 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Sesiones de trabajo (Elige una)

Becerros lactantes / Destete

 IA para el manejo de becerros lecheros ¿qué sabemos y hacia dónde vamos? – Melissa Cantor, Penn State University

Patrocinado por:

Post-destete / Reproducción

Forrajes alternativos para vaquillas: equilibrio entre rendimiento, calidad y costo – Doug Duhatschek, Parnell

Patrocinado por:

Sponsored by:

Becerros cruce con carne

 Lo que tu madre nunca te contó sobre el aumento de cortisol de 21 días en el ganado – Blaine Ellison, Applied Biotechnologies, Inc

11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Almuerzo

Patrocinado por:

Reunión Anual de Negocios de DCHA

12:15 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.
Sesiones de trabajo (Elige una)

Becerros lactantes / Destete

Más allá del saco: tendencias en la formulación de sustitutos de leche para becerros – Tana Dennis, Actus Nutrition; Bethany Dado-Senn, VitaPlus

Patrocinado por:

Post-destete / Reproducción

¿Cómo estamos trabajando para llegar a la excelencia? Métricas de mejores prácticas para crecimiento, salud y reproducción – Kevin Miller, Kansas Dairy Development

Patrocinado por:

Sponsored by:

Becerros cruce con carne

Transporte de corta y larga distancia de terneros de leche y cruzas de leche y carne – Gustavo Schuenemann, Ohio State University

Patrocinado por:

1:15 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
Sesiones de trabajo (Elige una)

Becerros lactantes / Destete

Más allá del saco: tendencias en la formulación de sustitutos de leche para becerros – Tana Dennis, Actus Nutrition; Bethany Dado-Senn, VitaPlus

Patrocinado por:

Post-destete / Reproducción

¿Cómo estamos trabajando para llegar a la excelencia? Métricas de mejores prácticas para crecimiento, salud y reproducción – Kevin Miller, Kansas Dairy Development

Patrocinado por:

Sponsored by:

Becerros cruce con carne

Transporte de corta y larga distancia de terneros de leche y cruzas de leche y carne – Gustavo Schuenemann, Ohio State University

Patrocinado por:

 

2:05 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Descanso de la Tarde – Ubicado en la Feria Comercial

Ver los proveedores en Young Stock Alley

2:35 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Sesión general dos

Capacitación effectiva: por qué la documentación importa en la lechería actual
Michelle Schack, DairyKind

3:35 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

 Mesa redonda con productores
Productores por determinar

4:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

Descanso de la Tarde – Ubicado en la Feria Comercial

Sponsored by:

Ver los proveedores en Young Stock Alley

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Reunión patrocinada en “The Last Territory”
 
 
 

All times listed are Mountain Standard Time.

 

7:00 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.
Breakfast

 

8:00 a.m. -8:50 a.m.

BEEF CROSS PANEL

The New Frontier: Success strategies for Beef on Dairy Crosses
Moderator – Ellen Cushing, Elanco

Panelists:
Kolton Kreitel, R&P Calf Ranch
Eric Behlke, Black Shirt Feeders
Matt Ballou, Double M Ranch

 

8:50 a.m. -9:55 a.m.

Break – Located in the Trade Show

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

POST-WEANED/REPRODUCTION PANEL

Does technology pay?
Moderator – TJ McClure, Prairie Wind Heifer Development

Panelists:
Justin Graham, Brooks Co Dairy
Joao Costa, Univ of Vermont
Fabio Lima, Univ of California

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

10:55 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

WET CALF/WEANED PANEL

Calves vs. Climate: Heat Stress Strategies That Work
Moderator – Courtney Halbach, The Dairyland Initiative

Panelists:
Joe Hammes, Silverstreak and Lakin Dairies
Matt Mitchell, Barton Keifer
Jimena Laporta, Univ of Wisconsin

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Trade show tear down

View the Vendors in Young Stock Alley

 

Todos los horarios indicados están en Hora Estándar de la Montaña.

 

7:00 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.
Buffet de desayuno

 

8:00 a.m. -8:50 a.m.

Panel de becerros cruce con carne

La Nueva Frontera: Estrategias de éxito para cruces de carne en vacas lecheras

Moderador – Ellen Cushing, Elanco

Panelistas:
Kolton Kreitel, R&P Calf Ranch
Eric Behlke, Black Shirt Feeders
Matt Ballou, Double M Ranch

8:50 a.m. -9:55 a.m.

Pausa – Ubicada en la Feria Comercial

Ver los proveedores en Young Stock Alley

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Panel post-destete / reproducción

¿La tecnología realmente paga?
Moderador – TJ McClure, Prairie Wind Heifer Development

Panelistas:
Justin Graham, Brooks Co Dairy
Joao Costa, Univ of Vermont
Fabio Lima, Univ of California

10:55 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Panel becerros / destete

Becerros vs. clima: estrategias efectivas contra el estrés por calor
Moderador – Courtney Halbach, The Dairyland Initiative

Panelistas::
Joe Hammes, Silverstreak and Lakin Dairies
Matt Mitchell, Barton Keifer
Jimena Laporta, Univ of Wisconsin

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Desmontaje de la feria comercial

Ver los proveedores en Young Stock Alley