Recap DCHA 2026

Even with the mild weather we have been experiencing in Southern Idaho this winter and spring, it was still nice to escape to some real "warmer" weather in Tucson Arizona for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association annual meeting!

There was so much good information shared in all the break-out sessions, but I wanted to highlight some of those that I felt were most important.

Revised Gold Standards

A fifth edition of the Gold Standards was presented at the conference this year.  Changes included:

• Morbidity rates
• Colostrum recommendations
• Average daily gain targets
• Beef-dairy cross guidelines
• Weaning criteria
• Heifer retention

DCHA members can access the Gold Standards document in the member center.  Those that are not yet DCHA members can join by visiting the DCHA website. Member benefits include networking, job board, online learning library, continued education, and scholarship opportunities.

Antimicrobial Resistance

There were several topics discussed along the lines of antimicrobial resistance. The most concerning is metaphylactic use. Although metaphylactic use of an antimicrobial, especially around shipping time, is effective, it has been found that it also causes an increase in bacterial resistance.

More research around this topic may prove helpful in our understanding of the mechanism and what we can do to prevent resistance. In the meantime, it may prove beneficial to source out natural products that enable the calf to have a robust innate immune system, modulate the corisol response, and that control bacterial infections without the use of an antimicrobial. Antibodies, clays, plasma, yeast and mushroom extracts are examples of tools we might have in our natural toolbox.

Beef x Dairy

One of my favorite parts of calf raising is that it is a crossroads between dairy and beef production!  Sadly, our nations native beef cattle population is at an all-time low. It pains me that so many ranchers were made to exit the business.  Fortunately for the consumer, beef-on-dairy cross breeding programs are here to save the day when it comes to beef supply in the grocery store. 

Early on, we didn't really know if the beef cross calves would need to be raised any differently than our dairy replacements.  I would say most of the time they were probably shorted in comparison to full dairy offspring. Some research has been done and more will be coming. Using what we have learned so far, the reviewed DCHA Gold Standards now include recommendations for beef-on-dairy!

• Morbidity & Mortality
• Castration
• Growth Rates
• Genetics
• Nutrition
• Weaning
• Handling & Transport 

A big thank you to all that we involved in planning and presenting the DCHA conference!  I appreciate the contribution that each has made to the industry and for the learning opportunity that was provided!  Hope to see some new faces next year at DCHA 2027 in Sioux Falls, SD!

Written by: Mariah Gull, M.S.