Join us June 3-4, 2026 in La Crosse, WI!
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Meet our 2026 Conference presenters
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.
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. 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.
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.
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).
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.
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. 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; Dr. Isaac Salfer, Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutritional Physiology at the University of Minnesota; Phil Bollman, Director of Sales & Marketing with Forage Genetics International
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Erika Rodbell, Forage Genetics International.
Biography: Dr. Isaac J. Salfer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota. He earned his Ph.D. in Animal Science from Pennsylvania State University in 2019, an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2015 and 2013, respectively. His research focuses on dairy nutritional physiology, particularly understanding how circadian and seasonal rhythms impact metabolism and behavior in dairy cows to influence feed efficiency. He also studies the effects of novel feeds and feed additives on rumen nitrogen and energy balance, as well as the impact of neonatal nutrition on calf growth, feed efficiency, and health.