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Dairy producers benefit from DCHA’s gold standards

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association uses a set of gold standards to help producers raise calves to their potential. 

Veterinarian Sam Barringer with the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association tells Brownfield the Gold Standards they’ve developed over several years of research covers many aspects of animal agriculture. “Our goal is to hit all of the main topics, all the way down from animal welfare, public health, growth, water quality, all of the things that go into raising a healthy animal that will grow up to recognize its genetic potential and give our public the best possible product with both dairy and beef.”

Barringer says the Gold Standards have some similarities to the National Dairy FARM or Farmers Assuring Responsible Management from the National Milk Producers Federation but with a focus on the calves.  He says the health, production, and biosecurity research in the standards is the main reason farmers join DCHA.

Barringer spoke to Brownfield during the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association conference in Appleton, Wisconsin.