Join us at our new location in La Crosse, WI June 11-12, 2025!
Jimena Laporta
Title: The Hidden Cost of Heat: Multigenerational Effects on Dairy Cattle.
Description: Heat stress doesn’t just impact dairy cattle during summertime—it can leave lasting effects that ripple across generations. This presentation will showcase how in utero heat stress alters calf development, leading to long-term consequences on growth, health, and future milk production. These generational impacts extend far beyond initial heat exposure, subtly influencing herd performance and farm profitability over time, with estimated industry losses reaching millions yearly. Understanding these hidden costs is crucial for developing strategies that protect animal welfare and the bottom line.
Short Bio: Jimena Laporta is originally from Uruguay, where she earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biology and Animal Sciences before completing her Ph.D. in Dairy Science at UW-Madison in 2014. She then spent four years as a faculty member at the University of Florida before returning to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020, where she has served as an Associate Professor of Lactation Physiology in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding how environmental and nutritional factors influence mammary gland development throughout life and affect lactation performance. She investigates the effects of early-life heat stress and how epigenetic programming shapes calf physiology and long-term productivity across generations. Additionally, her lab explores nutritional and heat abatement strategies to enhance calf resilience and support health, growth, and sustained productivity in challenging environments.
Alex Bach
Plenary Title: Management and nutritional strategies to improve profits from dairy farms
Description: Different aspects influencing the economic returns in dairy farms will be evaluated. First, what and how to use data to make decisions will be reviewed, and then several examples of areas that can make a relevant change to the bottom line of the dairy enterprises will be presented.
Breakout title: Getting the most out dairy replacements: Key nutrition and management aspects
Bio:
Alex Bach is a research professor at the Univerisity of Lleida. Alex conducts research to understand the physiology and metabolism of cattle and to improve nutrition and management of dairy herds to make them more sustainable. He has received several awards in recognition to his research activities, has spoken at more than 150 international congresses, is author or co-author of more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, more than 100 extension articles, and more than 20 books (or book chapters). He has served as a scientific expert in several committees of the European Food Safety Authority and has also served in the European Research Council. He is section editor and sits in the editorial board of several scientific journals, and is member of various scientific committees. In his spare time, Alex enjoys running, biking, and windsurfing.