University of Guelph to host calf management event for dairy producers
Dairy producers, veterinarians and calf industry professionals will gather at the University of Guelph this month for Producer Day 2026, a one-day event focused on calf health, colostrum management and practical on-farm strategies.
Taking place on May 23rd at the U of G campus, the event is part of the Second International Scientific Meeting on Colostrum, an international conference bringing together experts in lactation biology and animal health.
The interactive day is designed specifically for producers and industry professionals looking to apply the latest research and innovation directly to their operations.
Attendees will hear from three leading experts in calf health, nutrition, epidemiology and colostrum science including Drs. Dave Renaud and Michael Steele from the University of Guelph, and Dr. Sabine Mann from Cornell University.
“What makes this event unique is that we want the discussion to be driven by the questions producers actually have,” says Steele, professor in U of G's Department of Animal Biosciences.
Steele adds, "we want this to be practical, interactive, and directly relevant to the challenges producers are facing on farm.”
Discussion topics will include advances in colostrum, calf immunity, feeding strategies, antimicrobial reduction and approaches to improving calf health and long-term performance. Attendees can submit their questions during registration, which will help shape a live morning Q&A session focused on current on-farm challenges.
Attendees can also join a producer panel on practical calf management and tour the Ontario Dairy Research Centre and Ontario Beef Research Centre in Elora*.
The tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the world-class livestock research facilities and the applied research helping advance dairy and beef production.
"The Ontario Dairy Research Centre and Ontario Beef Research Centre are among the best livestock research facilities in the world," says Steel. "Every producer should know about these facilities and see how the research being done there is helping advance calf health, dairy-beef production, and practical management strategies for the industry"
More information and registration details are available on the event website
Media Contact:
Dr. Michael Steele, University of Guelph
*The Ontario Dairy Research Centre and the Ontario Beef Research Centre is owned by Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario, an agency of the Government of Ontario, and managed by U of G through the Alliance.