International Dairy Short Course
2026 World Dairy ExpoFRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
Monona & Wingra Rooms, Exhibition Hall, Alliant Energy Center, World Dairy Expo grounds
7:45-12;30 AM
8:45 AM
Fiber Management for Feed Efficiency and Nutrient Management on Dairy Farms
Dr. Kenneth Kalscheur
USDA Forage Research Center Scientist, Affliate Faculty Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
This talk will discuss how foarge quality impacts lactation performance and milk composition in high producing dairy cows. Forage quality impacts nutrient digestion resulting in changes in feed efficiency and nutrient output, which affect overall environmental and economic sustainability of milk production.
10:00 AM
Foundational Reproduction Programs for Dairy Herds
Dr. Paul Fricke
Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Scienes, University of Wisconin-Madison
Before the early 2000’s, poor reproductive performance in dairy herds prevented commercial dairy farms from adopting assisted reproductive technologies. A reproduction revolution occurred in the dairy industry over the past 25 years, during which the long-term decrease in repoductive performance dramatically reversed and began to increase. This talk will overview key reproductive technologies and concepts that have affected reproductive performance in dairy herds. These technologies include: 1) development and adoption of fertilit programs; 2) the concept of the High Fertility Cycle; 3) adoption of sexed semen, beef semen, and IVP embryo transfer programs.
11:15 AM
Maximizing a Cow’s Healthspan through Optimized Cow Comfort
Dr. Nigel Cook
Professor, Veterinarian, School of Veterinary Medicine, Dairyland Initiative, University of Wisconin-Madison
We will discuss the aspects of a cow’s housing environment that have a positive impact on her ability to mrest when she wants to, for as long as she needs to, to promote a healthy life worth living. This will include aspects of physcial and thermal comfort, and a focus on lameness prevention.