BLANCHARDVILLE — Truttmann Dairy LLC, owned by Dan and Shelly Truttman of Blanchardville, will host a Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) program for dairy producers, calf managers, employees, veterinarians, and nutritionists. With a focus on showcasing various ways producers can successfully raise healthy calves, the PDP Calf Facility Tours are scheduled for August 11, 12 and 13. The Truttmans will kick off the program by hosting the first of three tours on Tuesday, August 11, from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
At Truttmann Dairy LLC, newborn calves spend their early life in a nursery barn. Once off colostrum, young calves receive either pasteurized milk or milk replacer. Eventually, heifer calves are transitioned to group-housing facilities featuring auto feeders. The Truttmanns calf-care program will soon include pasteurization of colostrum.
“Every dairy has different goals, facilities and resources, so there is never just one right answer to successful calf raising,” said Laura Raatz, dairy producer and calf manager from Oconto Falls, Wis., and PDP board member. “These tours give participants the chance to see a variety of effective systems, ask questions and learn why producers have made their decisions.”
For more details and to register for the program, visit www.pdpw.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379. Each tour is accredited for up to 2.0 Dairy AdvanCE continuing education credits. Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following PDP on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
PDP Calf Facility Tours will also be facilitated at the following locations:
Wednesday, August 12, 1 to 3 p.m.
● Calf Source, De Pere
Attendees will learn protocols and practices behind effective large-scale calf raising for the Milk Source family of dairies; the farm is home to 11,000 dairy and beef calves and 4,000 goat kids.
Thursday, August 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
● McFarlandale Dairy, Watertown
Attendees will tour new facilities designed for health and biosecurity where youngstock are raised in four all-in, all-out barns with individual housing until six months of age, then transition to a monoslope group housing barn.
