ORANGE CITY — Iowa dairy producers will hear about raising their “dairy best heifers” during the 2024 Dairy Days events hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team. The program will be held at four eastern Iowa locations and one northwest Iowa location during January.

Dairy Days will be offered Jan. 16 in Elma at Innovative Ag Service, Jan. 18 in Elkader at Johnson’s Restaurant, Jan. 23 in Kalona at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 25 in New Vienna at the New Vienna Community Center, and Jan. 30 at the Dordt University Ag Stewardship Center near Sioux Center. Check-in for all events starts at 9:45 a.m. and the program will conclude by 2:30 p.m.

The day-long event has been developed to help dairy producers learn about current best practices supported by the latest research. All the topics will help producers make sound heifer management decisions.

“With nearly 25 percent of a dairy’s production costs associated with raising heifer replacements, optimizing growth and health is important to every dairy operation,” said Jenn Bentley, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach in northeast Iowa. “We anticipate great discussion and learning during this year’s Dairy Days.”

Dairy Days 2024 topics and presenters include:

• “Dairy Best Heifer: Lessons Learned and Path Forward” — Dr. Gail Carpenter, ISU.

• “Decision Tools for Heifer Inventory Management” — Greg Palas, DRMS

• “Starting Your Calves on the Right Hoof” — Dr. Jardon/Jennifer Bentley, ISU

• “What Does it Cost to Raise Your Dairy Best Heifer?” — Larry Tranel, ISU

There is no cost to attend any of the Dairy Days. However, registration is encouraged to plan for the noon meal and proceedings. Local sponsors will be recognized at each event.

Pre-registration is requested by the Friday before each event to reserve a meal. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/2024DAIRYDAYS.

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach dairy field specialist in your area: in northwest Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu; in northeast Iowa, Jennifer Bentley, 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu; in east central Iowa, Larry Tranel, 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu; in Ames, Dr. Gail Carpenter, 515-294-9085 or ajcarpen@iastate.edu.