Award nominations are sought from professionals working with herds with a high level of reproductive success. This group would include veterinarians, nutritionists, genetic and pharmaceutical company representatives, DHIA field staff, or extension specialists. After the initial form is submitted by the nominating professional, the top herd candidates will then be asked to provide specific herd information to determine award recipients.

"Dairy producers are constantly working towards improving herd reproductive success, and we are excited to continue our support of their efforts through the Reproduction Awards Program," says DCRC secretary and Reproduction Awards coordinator Dr. Andrew Skidmore. "Each year we are impressed with the high-performing herds that are nominated from across the country; we encourage industry professionals to nominate herds with a high caliber of reproductive success."

The award program began in 2009, and the winners are honored at the DCRC Annual Meeting, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., on November 8 to 9, 2012.

The DCRC website provides the online nomination form and additional details on the organization. It also contains resources for producers seeking reproductive information, including Dairy Cow Synchronization Protocols, available in both English and Spanish.

The DCRC organization consists of dairy researchers, consultants, practitioners, and producers. Their goal is to deliver the latest technology and resources to producers.