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AB Event

WCDS 2026

"Navigating the Future"

Location

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

3310 50th Avenue, Red Deer

Dates

Mar 10 - Mar 13

2026

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Tickets & Admission

Pricing has not been announced.

About the Event

The 43rd Annual WCDS brings together dairy producers, researchers, and industry experts. The 2026 theme is "Navigating the Future." Keynote speakers include Karen Churchill and Dianne Finstad. Seminars cover milk composition (Xiaoyan Chen, Phil Cardoso, Rachel Gervais), emerging diseases (Murray Gillies, Kerri-Rae Millar), reproduction (Tony Bruinje, Christine Baes), trace minerals (Olivia Genther Schroeder, Melissa Duplessis), heat stress (Véronique Ouellet, Geoffrey Dahl), lameness and cow comfort (Laura Solano, Dan Weary), and calf management (Joao Costa). The event also features an 80-booth trade show, student research competitions, and virtual farm tours.

Visit Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the WCDS 2026?

The WCDS 2026 is scheduled to take place from March 10, 2026 to March 13, 2026.

Where is the WCDS 2026 located?

The event is held at the Red Deer Resort Conference Centre, located at 3310 50th Avenue, Red Deer, AB.

How much are tickets for the WCDS 2026?

Ticket prices have not been published yet. Please check the official website or contact the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar for current gate pricing.

Daily Itinerary

Wednesday, March 11

8:45 AM

to 10:00 AM

Event

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Plenary Session: Dairy Business and Navigating the Changes (Fireside Chat with Karen Churchill & Dianne Finstad)

10:30 AM

to 11:10 AM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Managing Milk Composition & Market Trends (Xiaoyan Chen)

11:10 AM

to 11:50 AM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Altering Milk Protein Concentrations and Yield (Phil Cardoso)

11:50 AM

to 12:30 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Milk Fat: Easy to Love, Difficult to Master! (Rachel Gervais)

2:00 PM

to 2:40 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Emerging Diseases and Best Management Practices (Murray Gillies)

2:40 PM

to 3:20 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: What We Learned from a TB Outbreak (Kerri-Rae Millar)

3:45 PM

to 4:25 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Using Data and Technology to Optimize Repro Management (Tony Bruinje)

4:25 PM

to 5:00 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Genomics of Fertility (Christine Baes)
Thursday, March 12

8:30 AM

to 10:00 AM

Agricultural Competition

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Student Research Presentation Oral Competition

10:30 AM

to 12:00 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Adapting to Change: 3 Virtual Farm Tours from BC, MB, and SK & Producer Panel

2:00 PM

to 2:40 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Trace Minerals in Calves (Olivia Genther Schroeder)

2:40 PM

to 3:20 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Assessing Trace Mineral Feeding Practices in Dairy Cows (Melissa Duplessis)

4:00 PM

to 4:40 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: When Canadian Dairy Cows Lose Their Cool (Véronique Ouellet)

4:40 PM

to 5:20 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Late Gestation Heat Stress in Cows (Geoffrey Dahl)
Friday, March 13

8:30 AM

to 9:10 AM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Reducing Lameness: Voices from Across Our Dairy Industry (Laura Solano)

9:10 AM

to 10:00 AM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Cow Comfort - Past, Present, & Future (Dan Weary)

10:30 AM

to 11:10 AM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Calf Raising with Goals (Joao Costa)

11:10 AM

to 12:00 PM

Ag Education & Trade

Red Deer Resort Conference Centre

Seminar: Lessons Learned from a Veterinary Delivered Calf Herd Health Program (University of Calgary)