About - Dairy Dynamics: Social Housing, Cow Comfort, and Fertility

Join Penn State Extension for "Dairy Dynamics: Social Housing, Cow Comfort, and Fertility," a free educational webinar series designed to help dairy producers make management decisions that support herd performance and profitability. This research-based program will explore practical approaches to calf and cow management that influence long-term health, comfort, and reproductive success. Participants will learn how management practices at different stages, from calf housing to daily cow comfort, can affect future performance and overall herd outcomes. Presentations will focus on real-world application, common on-farm challenges, and adaptable strategies for a variety of dairy operations. Topics include social housing approaches for preweaned calves; cow comfort and time-budget principles that support milk production, mobility, and herd performance; and reproductive strategies, including synchronization programs, that improve breeding efficiency and fertility.

Participants will gain practical insight into how housing, cow comfort, and reproductive practices influence outcomes across the dairy operation. Topics include:

What successful social housing looks like for preweaned calves and how to avoid common pitfalls
How lying time, feed access, time away from the pen, and other factors influence daily cow performance
Where comfort bottlenecks commonly occur and how they affect mobility and milk production
Practical approaches to improving reproductive success and fertility outcomes