The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Nominations are open for the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) 2019 Reproduction Awards program. This program encourages dairy industry professionals, including veterinarians, extension agents, artificial insemination and pharmaceutical company representatives, dairy processor and co-op field staff, and consultants, to nominate dairy herds with reproduction excellence. It recognizes outstanding dairy operations for reproductive efficiency and well-implemented procedures.

Last year there were 102 dairy herds nominated for the program.

To nominate a herd, go to: www.dcrcouncil.org/awards/nominate-a-herd and complete the required information. From the nominations, which are due April 30, judges evaluate reproductive performance criteria and winnow the nominations to a group of finalists. Dairies named as finalists submit herd management data and judges rank the finalists as Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze. To learn more about past winners, go to: www.dcrcouncil.org/awards/past-reproduction-award-winners.

Herds earning Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze are invited to attend the DCRC Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 13-14, at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center in Pittsburgh. Watch the DCRC website – www.dcrcouncil.org – for program updates.

The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council is focused on bringing together all sectors of the dairy industry – producers, consultants, academia and allied industry professionals – for improved reproductive performance. DCRC provides an unprecedented opportunity for all groups to work together to take dairy cattle reproduction to the next level.