Thomas Noyes
OSU Extension Wayne County
The Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association was established in 1997 at the National Meeting of Dairy Heifer Growers in Atlanta, Georgia. Today there are almost 500 members including heifer growers, veterinarians, extension and industry representatives. This rapidly growing and important organization has as their mission:
Heifer growers dedicated to growing high quality dairy replacements.
One of the goals of the organization is to provide educational programs and professional development opportunities for heifer growers. That opportunity will be available on November 1 & 2, 2000 in Akron, Ohio. The northeast region of the Professional Heifer Growers Association has planned an excellent meeting and tour to be held at the Radisson Hotel, Akron City Centre.
The program will begin the evening of October 31 with a dinner and program Getting Started as a Heifer Grower with Dr. John Foley, Cargill Dairy Nutrition. The conference on November 1 will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude with an evening dinner and a presentation by Maynard Moen of Land O'Lakes on facility options. Conference speakers will discuss transportation stress, Johnes, biosecurity, vaccinations, contracts and a panel of growers.
On November 2 will be an optional tour of area heifer operations. Tour stops will include: heifer grower Ray Ruprecht raising heifers for a high producing Holstein herd; the 1100 cow herd at Stoll Farm's calf facility; the 600 head contract raiser Orrson Farms; and heifers in a grazing system at the Doug Billman farm.
Registration for the conference, if made before October 1, is $35 and after October 1 is $45. The evening dinner and program is $20 and the farm tour is $25. The pre-conference symposium is $20. For a program brochure and registration information, contact your local extension office or contact Tom Noyes at the Wayne County Extension office at 330-264-8722.