Dairy Cattle Welfare Council

Registration Open!

2026 Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to the future of dairy cattle care—be part of the conversation on topics like welfare standards, cow–calf contact, pair raising, and social rearing. We look forward to welcoming you in Minneapolis!

Check out our speaker highlights on LinkedIn!

By joining us, you’ll be at the forefront of meaningful conversations alongside scientists, practitioners, industry professionals, technicians, and educators who are all dedicated to advancing dairy cattle health and welfare.

The annual symposium spans two days, with an additional third day devoted to practitioner engagement presented in Spanish. Through dynamic oral presentations, poster sessions, and panel discussions, the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council (DCWC) creates a collaborative space for the dairy community to share cutting-edge research, practical on-farm insights, and innovative approaches to animal welfare.

About Us

The DCWC was formally established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for educational and scientific purposes

Our Vision:

The purpose of the DCWC is to promote dairy cattle welfare by bringing together dairy farmers, veterinarians, consultants, universities, and the dairy community to develop best recommended practices with focus on animal well-being, management, husbandry, animal-people interaction, health, and productivity.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to advance the care and treatment of dairy cattle by bringing the dairy industry together to inform, educate, and support continuous improvement of animal well-being on dairy farms.

Become a member

Sustaining Sponsor

Upcoming Webinars

SPANISH

February 19th, 12pm CT / 19 de febrero, 12:00 pm CT

“Herramientas prácticas para tender puentes entre el idioma y la cultura en las lecherías”

Speaker: Dra. Laura Solano

Este seminario web destaca aprendizajes obtenidos a partir de conversaciones con médicos veterinarios de lecherías, personal del rancho, encargados de hato y propietarios sobre los desafíos de comunicación y de la fuerza laboral que dan forma a las lecherías actuales. Exploraremos sus perspectivas sobre cómo la estructura del equipo, las dinámicas laborales y la cultura del rancho pueden influir tanto en el desempeño laboral como en el bienestar de las personas y de las vacas, e identificaremos oportunidades potenciales para mejorar los resultados en toda la operación.

ENGLISH

February 19^th, 2pm CT

“Practical Tools for Bridging Language & Culture on the Dairy”

Speaker: Dr. Laura Solano

This webinar highlights insights from conversations with dairy veterinarians, farm staff, herd managers and owners about communication and workforce challenges shaping today’s dairy farms. We’ll explore their perspectives on how team structure, workplace dynamics, and farm culture can influence both work performance and wellbeing for people and cows alike, and identify the potential opportunities to improve outcomes across the entire operation.