A look at Circle Bar Heifer Ranch LLC

This week's tip features a video tour of a leading custom heifer raising facility that endorses DCHA's Gold Standards III.

The video premiered at the recent 2012 Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference in Visalia, Calif. Known for its premier educational sessions, networking opportunities and an industry trade show with a focus on dairy calves and heifers, the DCHA Conference combined practical production information with personal and professional growth opportunities. The nationally-known speakers and sessions were tailored to dairy calf and heifer operation needs.

In this video tour of one of the leading heifer ranches, you'll see how Vance Kells, owner of Circle Bar Heifer Ranch LLC, the South Central Regional Director for DCHA and a member of the Gold Standards III Committee, is "raising the bar" in growing replacement heifers for the dairy industry. Vance and his family operate a 10,000+ head heifer-raising facility in Satanta, Kan. They contract grow heifers from five months of age until 60 days prior to calving. Vance explains why DCHA's Gold Standards are a priority at Circle Bar Heifer Ranch and what they are doing to meet production and performance standards. The videography was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health.

Copies of the 2012 Conference Proceedings, which features articles and presentations by this year's speakers, are available in the online store at the DCHA website. And plans are already underway for the 2013 Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference, April 4-5, in Lancaster, Pa. We hope to see you there!