The 2026 Dairy Wellbeing Workshop Will Address Cattle Health and Beef Quality
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) will conduct the workshop in two identical sessions at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Registration will open at 8 a.m., and each day will finish at 3:45 p.m. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available throughout both sessions.
The programme includes a visit to the American Foods Group beef-processing facility. Participants will follow a cull cow from the farm through the harvest floor and into the cooler. The organisers say the tour will show how decisions about animal care on dairy farms relate to carcass condition, processing outcomes and value.
After the visit, industry specialists will lead a discussion on cull-cow carcass value. It will address the factors behind valuation and the reasons some animals or carcasses are discounted or condemned.
Dr Simon Peek, a clinical professor of large-animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, will present “Prevent the Down Cow: Protocols to Improve Outcomes.” His session will describe the physical changes that occur when a cow can no longer stand and will cover prompt intervention and response procedures suitable for dairy farms of different sizes.
Pain assessment and treatment will be covered by Dr Jennifer Walker, co-founder and chief animal-welfare officer at Kinder Ground, in a session titled “Recognize Pain: Better Decisions for Better Care.” The session will address signs associated with pain from calving, lameness and injuries, as well as practical considerations surrounding available pain-management tools.
Cassandra Strupp, a dairy producer from Richfield, Wisconsin, described the combination of the plant visit and educational sessions as a particularly impactful learning experience for dairy producers. The workshop is accredited for up to 5.75 Dairy AdvanCE continuing-education credits and up to 5.0 ARPAS credits.
Preregistration is required. Registration is available through the PDP website, and the organisation can also be contacted at (800) 947-7379. PDP will provide updates through @dairyPDPW on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
