This session will be presented in English.

Lessons Learned With COVID-19 will discuss strategies U.S. dairy farmers were facing in the spring of 2020. With wide fluctuations in milk prices, profitability was a key focus area when farmers faced supply management reductions of 5 to 20 percent less milk being purchased. Strategies to reduce milk yields included culling cows, early drying off cows, and feeding surplus milk to calves and cow. Building milk component sales, especially milk protein, added to the milk check. Feed efficiency improved economic responds of 20 to 30 cents per cow per day while match milk yield to dry matter intake. Body condition scores were managed to improve transition health and fertility in the next lactation. Feed additives were critically evaluated and removed for the wrong reasons on some farms. Forage quality continues to be key take home strategy.

Speaker: Dr. Mike Hutjens
Mike Hutjens was raised grade Holstein farm near Green Bay, Wisconsin. His bachelor, masters, and Ph.D. degrees were awarded from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. From 1971 to 1979, Dr. Hutjens was extension dairy specialist at the University of Minnesota where he coached the national champion team in 1978 at the World Dairy Expo. Since 1979, he has been a member of the University of Illinois Animal Sciences Departments as extension dairy specialist. He speaks at 60 to 70 meetings at conferences in 46 states, 17 foreign countries, and nine Canadian provinces. Mike writes feed columns for Hoard's Dairyman, Progressive Dairyman, and hosts the Hoard’s Dairy monthly webinars. Award recognitions include the Undergraduate Teaching Purina Award from the American Dairy Science Association, National DeLaval Extension Worker Award, ADSA, Applied Nutrition Award from ADSA, Outstanding Extramural Instructor (University award) in 1993 and 2000, and two citations from the Minnesota Board of Regents,. Mike was president of the American Dairy Science Association. In 2008, he was select “Service Person of the Year” by World Dairy Expo. In 2009, he received the Award of Honor from ADSA and Fellow, the “Eagle Award” from the IL Farm Bureau Association, the national DHI Service in 2013, and the Dairy Shrine Person of the Year in 2019. He resides in Savoy, IL, with his wife, Carol and five children and seven grandchildren. Mike served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve Mike retired from the University of Illinois on Dec 31, 2010.