Join us June 3-4, 2026 in La Crosse, WI!
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Meet our 2026 Conference presenters
Dr. Lance Baumgard
Title: Re-evaluating Transition Cow Dogmas, is the Nutritionist Really to Blame for the Problems?
Description: Transition cow immune suppression is the presumed reason for why there’s increased incidence of morbidity in early lactation. Proposed mechanisms for the immune suppression include the negative effects of increased NEFA, BHB and hypocalcemia on neutrophil function. Because the changes in these metabolites and minerals can be influenced by nutrition, suboptimal diet and diet formulation has often been blamed for poor transition cow performance. However, whether or not a cow becomes ill is combination between immune competency and pathogen load. This presentation will challenge the idea that cows are immune suppressed and that nutrition is the reason why. It will focus on the history of the dogma and highlight recent evidence from Iowa State University and other institutions coupled with on-farm examples that demonstrate that transition cows may actually have a highly functional and robust immune system. Thus, transition cow morbidity and poor fertility is likely the consequence of increased immune activation stemming from the uterus, mammary gland and intestines.
Biography: Lance is from southwest Minnesota and was raised on his family’s row-crop and farrow to finish hog farm. He attended Worthington Community College and then received his BS and MS at the University of Minnesota. He received his PhD at Cornell University in 2001 and joined the faculty at the University of Arizona. He moved to Iowa State University in 2009 as the Norman Jacobson Professor of Nutritional Physiology. He became a Distinguished Professor in 2022.
Phil Bollman
Post-Conference Session Title: The Power of Alfalfa: Optimize Forage Quality For Dairy Cow Nutrition & Performance
Description: Join us for a post‑conference Lunch & Learn designed specifically for dairy nutritionists, focused on how alfalfa management decisions can translate into forage quality, ration flexibility, and cow performance.
This expert‑led discussion will connect the field to the feedbunk and feature: Luana Queiroz, Extension Alfalfa Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dr. Isaac Salfer, Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutritional Physiology at the University of Minnesota.
The discussion will be moderated by Phil Bollman, Director of Sales & Marketing with Forage Genetics International
Biography: Phil Bollman serves as Director of Sales & Marketing at Forage Genetics International, where he has spent more than 15 years supporting growers, retailers, and the broader forage industry. Raised on a dairy farm, Phil brings deep, practical understanding of agriculture to his role. He holds a bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. With over 25 years of experience across dairy cattle nutrition, animal health, and the seed business, Phil offers a well-rounded perspective on forage systems and farm profitability. He currently resides in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Dr. Barry Bradford
Plenary Title: Finding the next 5 pounds of milk: many ways to fill a tank
Description: In a commodity business, improving productivity and efficiency are constant pressures. Typically, management teams have focused on a combination of genetic progress, cow comfort, and nutrition to enable the peak productivity cows to climb higher – and this strategy continues to be important. However, in this presentation we will discuss the impacts of other areas of focus: preventing clinical and subclinical transition cow disorders and increasing the average age of healthy cows in the herd.
Breakout title: Designing feeding programs for dairy profitability
Description: With feed costs comprising over 50% of the total cost of milk production, feeding programs are central to dairy farm profitability. Although careful diet formulation is critical to dairy profitability, efficient logistics, shrink avoidance, and feedbunk management are also critical to profitable feeding. We will dig into the keys to effective feeding programs, drawing on insights from Michigan State University Extension's assessments of dairy farms ranging from 180 to 3,500 cows. The goal of the presentation is to provide actionable recommendations for dairy farm experts to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity.
Biography: With feed costs comprising over 50% of the total cost of milk production, feeding programs are central to dairy farm profitability. Although careful diet formulation is critical to dairy profitability, efficient logistics, shrink avoidance, and feedbunk management are also critical to profitable feeding. We will dig into the keys to effective feeding programs, drawing on insights from Michigan State University Extension's assessments of dairy farms ranging from 180 to 3,500 cows. The goal of the presentation is to provide actionable recommendations for dairy farm experts to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity.
Dr. Lautaro Rostoll Cangiano
Plenary Session Title: Starting on the Right Hoof: Research-Based Colostrum Strategies for Healthier Calves
Description: Colostrum management remains one of the highest-leverage interventions in dairy calf production, yet its biological complexity is often reduced to a single number on a refractometer. This presentation will explore colostrum as an active programmer of neonatal immune development, review how processing and storage decisions affect its functional capacity beyond just IgG, and examine the upstream transition cow and dry period factors that determine colostrum quality before calving. Attendees will leave with a research-grounded framework for evaluating colostrum management decisions from the close-up pen to the maternity pen to the first feeding, and practical guidance for translating that science into herd-level outcomes. Getting calves started on the right hoof means getting every step in that chain right.
Biography: TBA
Dr. Phil Cardoso
Breakout Title: Nutritional Strategies for the Transition Cow: Does Forage Matter?
Biography: Dr. Phil Cardoso is an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his D.V.M., and M.S. degrees from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Since 2012, Phil has established a unique program and online presence that seamlessly blends his teaching, extension, and research efforts. Phil’s Dairy Science program impact by placing students in applied positions and academia. Phil and his students have published over 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts (original research and invited reviews) and three invited book chapters to date.
Dr. Gail Carpenter
Breakout Title: Industry Perspectives on the Welfare of Beef × Dairy Calves
Description: Despite the rapid growth of beef × dairy crossbreeding in the U.S. dairy industry, published data on how the welfare of these calves is actually being managed in early life remains limited. This presentation synthesizes perspectives from industry professionals working directly with beef × dairy calves across the country, exploring how management practices in the first three months of life compare to those for replacement heifers, and where the biggest gaps and opportunities lie.
Biography: Gail Carpenter is the state dairy extension specialist for Iowa State University, where she has a split appointment with teaching and research in addition to her extension role. A firm believer in the power of applied learning inside and outside the classroom, she also coaches the Dairy Challenge team and serves on the national Dairy Challenge board. Gail held positions at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus and CSA Animal Nutrition in Dayton, OH before beginning at Iowa State. As a Michigan native, Gail is a connoisseur of all things Midwest and can be found exploring the region’s state and national parks when she is away from work.
Dr. Nigel Cook
Pre-Conference Title: What’s going on with lameness these days?
Description: In this session we will discuss some new developments in lameness management with a focus on digital dermatitis control, understanding the pressure theory for claw horn lesion development, and adapting the way we rear heifers to improve long-term lameness control.
Breakout Session: Managing culling in dairy herds - one cow at a time
Description: This session will discuss how farmers currently make culling decisions and current trends in why cows are leaving our herds. Should we focus on lifespan - or should we be more concerned with optimizing healthspan?
Biography: Nigel Cook is a Professor in the Food Animal Production Medicine section of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine. He qualified as a veterinarian in 1992 and worked in a large food animal clinic in Southern England for four years before moving to the Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, where he spent
three years as lecturer and head of the Large Animal Ambulatory Clinic. Since 1999, he has been in Wisconsin, teaching veterinary students, performing research and developing outreach to improve dairy cattle well-being. His particular interests include
lameness prevention, cow comfort and improving facility design. He developed The Dairyland Initiative – a resource to drive the creation of welfare friendly cattle housing in 2010, and launched the Dairyland Initiative Podcast in 2024. He is currently Chair of the
Department of Medical Sciences, Past President of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and was awarded the WVMA Veterinarian of the Year in 2019 and the
AABP Award of Excellence in 2021.
Dr. Lynn Davis
Plenary Session Title: Applying 35 Years of Roasting and Expelling Experience to HO Soybeans
Description: Lynn Davis will describe soybean processing from conventional roasting to the latest advancements in high oleic beans. The presentation details the mechanics of roasting and expelling, and will discuss the importance of quality control through laboratory measurements. Davis will highlight the importance of real-time product testing over generic feed library data to ensure precision in dairy rations.
Biography: Lynn Davis, received his PhD from Iowa State University. He co-founded Nutrition Professionals and has been consulting on dairy farms throughout the US and internationally for over 40 years., He also co-founded Quality Roasting which specializes in value-added soybean processing. Lynn also co-founded Breeze Dairy Group and The Heifer Authority and serves on the Board of Directors for Nicolet National Bank.
Dr. Matt Dodd
Pre-Conference Session Title: Shielding Your Herds against Challenges
Biography: As a technical service specialist since 2020 for Diamond V, Dr. Dodd is responsible for providing technical support for customers in the United States, specifically the Midwest. He earned his DVM from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. Throughout his career Dr. Dodd has focused on dairy production medicine, heifer development, records/data analysis and parlor efficiency.
Prior to joining Diamond V, Dr. Dodd spent the past 19 years in private practice, including 12 years as a contract technical consultant for businesses including Monsanto and Elanco. He has worked at various veterinary clinics in Wisconsin and Minnesota, always with a bovine emphasis. Dr. Dodd is based in Southern Minnesota.
Paul Dyk
Panel Title: Feeding high oleic soybeans to dairy cows: Opportunities to decrease purchased feed costs and increase cow performance.
Description: High oleic soybeans are moving into dairy rations quickly across the Midwest. This presentation will focus on economics of high oleic soybeans in high producing dairy rations and some practical tips on quality control and roasting of high oleic soybeans. Paul will sit on the panel for this discussion.
Biography: Independent Dairy Consultant with GPS Dairy Consulting working with world class dairy producers in the US, Asia and Middle East. His core is dairy nutrition with a focus on ration balancing and feed management but entrenches himself in the entire dairy operation including herd management, data analytics, financial benchmarking and personnel development. HIs international business is focused on using local resources to meet world class goals. This includes analyzing local feedstuffs to meet requirements of modern dairy cattle. His goal is to maximize income over feed costs with the resources available to the dairy.
Dr. Luiz Ferraretto
Title: Corn silage after BMR
Description: This presentation will discuss corn silage management and feeding considerations to improve fiber digestibility.
Biography: Dr. Luiz Ferraretto is a Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his research interests are applied dairy cattle nutrition and management with emphasis on starch and fiber utilization by dairy cows, forage quality and digestibility, and the development and evaluation of assays for feed and forage analysis.
Dr. Sam Fessenden
Breakout Session Title: Practical Considerations for Using the CNCPS model on Farms
Biography: Samuel Fessenden grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, where he developed a strong passion for dairy farming and applied nutrition research. He obtained his BS and PhD from Cornell University and his MS from the University of Minnesota. Sam’s PhD work focused on measuring and predicting rumen microbial output, with application through the refinement and development of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). In 2016, Sam joined the team at Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems (AMTS), where he provided nutrition and CNCPS training for nutritionists and allied industry support personnel around the world. In 2020, Sam stepped back from full-time work with AMTS to start a new robot milking dairy farm with his wife’s family in southeast Minnesota. In between busy farming seasons, Sam continues to share his CNCPS and applied nutrition experiences with academic and industry professionals, especially as it relates to robotic management and precision feeding applications. Sam and his wife Brenda have three children and enjoy raising them on the farm.
Dr. Paul Fricke
Title: Optimizing reproductive efficiency in dairy heifers
Description: Dr. Fricke will discuss the following concepts for managing reproduction in dairy heifers: 1) heifers should be reared to achieve the target % Mature Body Weight (MBW) targets at first insemination (55% MBW) and within 30 d postcalving (85% MBW); 2) delaying P4 insert removal by 24 h within a 5-dCIDR-Synch protocol for first insemination suppressed early estrus during the protocol without affecting fertility to timed AI when heifers were inseminated with conventional semen but led to decreased fertility when heifers were inseminated to sexed semen; 3) use of sexed semen in conjunction with a 5-d CIDR-Synch protocol for first insemination in nonlactating Holstein heifers tended to increase P/AI and decrease the cost per pregnancy compared to heifers inseminated to a detected estrus.
Biography:
Dr. Paul Fricke was raised on his family's row crop and dairy farm located near Papillion, Nebraska where his father continues to farm today. After receiving a B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1988 from the University of Nebraska, Paul went on to complete a M.S. degree in 1992 and a Ph.D. degree in 1996 in Reproductive Physiology from the department of Animal Sciences at North Dakota State University. Paul joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. His current position includes both research and extension responsibilities in dairy cattle reproduction.
Dr. Fricke’s research program focuses on understanding the biology underlying the many reproductive problems of dairy cattle. Paul has authored or co-authored 110 peer-reviewed journal publications, 144 abstracts, and 6 book chapters. He has mentored 16 M.S. and 6 Ph.D. students, and his research program has attracted $4.5 million in extramural research grants, contracts, and gifts. The goal of Dr. Fricke’s extension program is to improve reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle by applying scientific research to develop practical management strategies and assess new reproductive technologies. Dr. Fricke is a sought-after speaker and has spoken to too many audiences in Wisconsin to count since 1998.
In addition, Paul has presented at conferences in 36 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces and has been an invited speaker for international meetings in 31 countries spanning 6 continents around the world.
Simon Guillaume
Title: Phytogenics: A Smart Link Between Nutrition and Health
Biography: Mr. Simon Guillaume is the Ruminant Product Manager for Phytosynthese, the world leader in applying phytogenics to animal health and production. Simon was raised on a dairy farm in France and graduated from Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle with a degree in agricultural engineering and specializing in animal production. He has worked for over 10 years with dairy and beef producers world-wide utilizing plant-derived compounds and secondary metabolites for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Simon and his wife have three children and live near Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Dr. Ken Kalscheur
Session Title: Use of cover crops in dairy cattle nutrition
Description: This presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities of including cover crops into the diets of lactating dairy cows.
Biography: Dr. Kenneth Kalscheur is a Research Animal Scientist at the USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison. Research conducted by Dr. Kalscheur focuses on the utilization of feedstuffs in dairy cattle diets to improve milk production, milk composition, nutrient utilization, and feed efficiency while reducing nutrient excretion to the environment. The overall goal of Dr. Kalscheur‘s research program is to investigate how we can optimize forages such as cover crops in dairy production systems.
Dr. Paul Kononoff
Plenary Session Title: Conventional and High-Oleic Soybeans and Dairy Nutrition Models: Chemistry, Fuel Profile, and Lactation Responses
Description: This session will summarize what nutritionists need to know about feeding conventional and high-oleic roasted soybeans. We will review their chemical and fuel characteristics, how they are represented in nutrition models, and what responses to expect in lactating cows. The goal is to provide clarity on when and how these ingredients can add value in rations and what trade-offs may arise. Practical insights for formulation and on-farm feeding practices will be included.
Breakout Session Title: Forages: what do we know and what are we learning about feeding alfalfa to dairy cows?
Description: This presentation reviews the role of alfalfa in dairy cow diets, emphasizing its nutritional characteristics, agronomic value, and comparisons with other forages. It highlights that intake and performance are influenced not only by nutrient composition but also by factors such as fiber fragility, palatability, and physical form, and questions the consistency of commonly used metrics like uNDF240 across forage types. Overall, the talk frames alfalfa as an underappreciated functional feed whose impact depends on both its chemistry and its physical and behavioral effects on the animal.
Biography: Paul Kononoff is a Saskatoon native who earned degrees in Animal Science from the University of Saskatchewan and a PhD in Dairy and Animal Science from Penn State. Since 2005, he has been on the faculty at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a research and extension appointment. Kononoff’s work centers on feeding the lactating dairy cow, with contributions in forage quality and particle size, feed characterization, byproduct utilization, and energy metabolism. He co-invented the Penn State Particle Separator and uses indirect calorimetry to study diet effects on methane and energy use. He serves Nebraska’s dairy industry through leadership roles on the Nebraska State Dairy Association, Dairy Council of Nebraska, and the Western Dairy Management Conference. He recently completed a six-year term as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dairy Science and contributed to the NASEM Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (8th rev. ed.)., genomic prediction, multi-omics data integration, and network modeling.
Dr. Francisco Peñagaricano
Session Title: Feed efficiency in dairy cows: a data cruncher's perspective
Description: TBA
Biography: Francisco Peñagaricano is an associate professor and the Judge John J. Crown Chair in Dairy Genetics at the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on developing and applying methods to understand, dissect, and predict economically relevant traits in dairy cattle. He focuses primarily on traits that affect the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of dairy farming, including fertility, health, resilience, feed efficiency, and methane emissions. He typically combines large, nationwide phenotypic datasets or field trials with high throughput genomic technologies, and advanced statistical and computational methods to elucidate the connection between genome to phenome. His research involves gene mapping, genomic prediction, multi-omics data integration, and network modeling.
Luana Queiroz
Post-Conference Session Title: The Power of Alfalfa: Optimize Forage Quality For Dairy Cow Nutrition & Performance
Description: Join us for a post‑conference Lunch & Learn designed specifically for dairy nutritionists, focused on how alfalfa management decisions can translate into forage quality, ration flexibility, and cow performance.
This expert‑led discussion will connect the field to the feedbunk and feature: Luana Queiroz, Extension Alfalfa Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dr. Isaac Salfer, Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutritional Physiology at the University of Minnesota.
The discussion will be moderated by Phil Bollman, Director of Sales & Marketing with Forage Genetics International
Biography: Luana is the Alfalfa Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension in the Crop and Soils Program. Originally from Pernambuco, Brazil, she earned her B.S. in Animal Sciences from UFRPE and completed both her M.S. and Ph.D. in Forage Management at the University of Florida. Her research has focused on grass‑legume systems, nitrogen dynamics, and integrated crop‑livestock systems, including cover crops, forage legumes, and grazing impacts on row‑crop performance. Luana is passionate about advancing alfalfa research and working collaboratively with stakeholders through impactful extension outreach.
Dr. Isaac Salfer
Post-Conference Session Title: The Power of Alfalfa: Optimize Forage Quality For Dairy Cow Nutrition & Performance
Description: Join us for a post‑conference Lunch & Learn designed specifically for dairy nutritionists, focused on how alfalfa management decisions can translate into forage quality, ration flexibility, and cow performance.
This expert‑led discussion will connect the field to the feedbunk and feature: Luana Queiroz, Extension Alfalfa Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dr. Isaac Salfer, Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutritional Physiology at the University of Minnesota.
The discussion will be moderated by Phil Bollman, Director of Sales & Marketing with Forage Genetics International
Biography: Dr. Isaac Salfer is an assistant professor of Dairy Nutritional Physiology at the University of Minnesota, with a joint appointment in teaching and research. Dr. Salfer’s research program focuses on improving feed efficiency and productivity in dairy cattle through a variety of approaches. These include: investigating circadian and seasonal changes in metabolism studying the effects of rumen modifiers on nitrogen and energy utilization, enhancing the characterization of perennial forage crop digestibility, and developing preweaning nutritional strategies to improve gain and feed efficiency of dairy and beef × dairy calves.
Dr. Mark Thomas
Pre-Conference Session Title: Making Research Work: Translating Dairy Science into Practical Farm Implementation
Description: This session will focus on how to critically evaluate research trial data and translate findings into practical, on-farm applications. Emphasis will be placed on understanding study design, identifying limitations, and adapting results to commercial dairy systems.
Real-world examples will be used to demonstrate how research can inform decision making while accounting for variability in farm conditions, management, and economics.
Breakout title: From Sensors to Solutions: Leveraging Dairy Tech Data in the Field
Description: These sessions will present practical case studies from commercial dairy farms utilizing technology platforms (e.g., activity monitoring, milking systems, and data aggregation
tools). The focus will be on how consultants can interpret and apply farm-generated data to improve health, reproduction, and overall performance. Attendees will gain actionable insights and frameworks they can apply directly in their own consulting work.
Biography: Dr. Mark Thomas is a dairy veterinarian and consultant with over 25 years of experience in herd health, reproduction, and data-driven dairy management. He is co-founder of Dairy Health & Management Services (DHMS), now part of Telus Agriculture & Consumer Goods (TAG), where he works within a global platform focused on integrating data, technology, and applied science to improve dairy
production systems.
He collaborates with dairy operations across the United States, Mexico, and internationally, helping translate research and farm-generated data into practical, high-impact management decisions. His work emphasizes scalable, data-driven approaches to improving health, reproduction, and overall herd performance.
Dr. Thomas is a graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and is board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Dairy Practice. He is a past president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and was
named the 2025 AABP Bovine Practitioner of the Year.
Barry Visser
Panel Title: Feeding high oleic soybeans to dairy cows: Opportunities to decrease purchased feed costs and increase cow performance.
Description: High oleic soybeans are moving into dairy rations quickly across the Midwest. This presentation will focus on economics of high oleic soybeans in high producing dairy rations and some practical tips on quality control and roasting of high oleic soybeans. Barry will sit on the panel for this discussion.
Biography: Barry grew up on his family’s registered Holstein dairy farm in Northwest Minnesota. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota in 1994.
In 2003, he obtained his Master's Degree in Dairy Cattle Nutrition from the University of Minnesota.
For over 23 years, Barry has served as a dairy consultant with Vita Plus providing technical support in the areas of nutrition and management throughout Minnesota, Eastern South Dakota and Northwest Iowa. Barry lives in Hutchinson, MN along with his wife, Shannon, and three daughters (Rachel, Kayla and Hannah).