Greg Hooker of Diamond H Dairy in Chowchilla, California, served as the host producer for the 2011 Western Regional Dairy Challenge. Fifty-six students from six different universities evaluated Hooker's operation and presented their findings to him and a panel of judges. Here was Hooker's feedback on his Dairy Challenge experience. Q. What suggestion from the students are you most likely to implement? HOOKER: The biggest suggestion the students mentioned was mastitis, and that's definitely something I'm going to look at. We'll reevaluate the milking protocol and look at dipping.
Another thing the students talked about was how I had my low group right next to the milking parlor. A good idea, and something I hadn't really thought of before, would be moving the high group closer to the parlor and that low group a little farther away.
Q. What suggestion from the students are you least likely to implement?
Some of the students suggested an a.m./p.m. heat detection protocol. If it's just by observation, we might be able to work that in, but if it's going to involve locking up the cows for another period of time, we're not likely to take the extra time and resources to do that.
Q. What did you enjoy most about participating in this year's Dairy Challenge event?
HOOKER: I've really enjoyed participating. It's great to be seeing this group of people at the doorstep of becoming industry people. I can anticipate working with these students as consultants within five years, when they're doing this for real.
This is a really good program. I'm open to criticism [of my operation], and I like to be challenged. A lot of times, I just get used to the way things are, and it's good to get a kick in the butt every now and then.
Q. Anything you'd like to add?
HOOKER: One of the most common comments from the judges to the students — and I think this is good information for any consultant out there — is to go out and look at the operation yourself and gather your own information. Don't just take the producer's word for it. Gather as much raw data for yourself as possible, since you might be able to pull things out that the producer hadn't thought of or was tracking differently. PD
Click a link below to see more coverage from the 2010-2011 Dairy Challenge events:
2011 Midwest Dairy Challenge: Producer feedback
Midwest Dairy Challenge draws more than 65 students to Menomonie, Wisconsin
Thanks to Dairy Challenge, non-ag student now proud part of dairy industry
2010 Southern Dairy Challenge: Producer feedback
Mississippi hosts Southern Regional Dairy Challenge
2010 Northeast Dairy Challenge: Producer feedback
114 attend Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge
