AgNext Dairy Systems Specialist Named to the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council 

Dr. Diego Manriquez, a Dairy Systems Specialist at AgNext, was named to the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council (DCWC). Dr. Manriquez was recommended as a candidate for the council by local producers and was officially voted in as of mid-March 2024. His three-year term with DCWC will officially begin in early June 2024. Dr. Manriquez’s experience as both a veterinarian and animal welfare specialist will provide invaluable insight to the council to help advance dairy cattle welfare. 

DCWC is a non-profit committed to advancing the care, treatment, and well-being of dairy cattle to develop sustainable welfare practices in the dairy industry. This organization disseminates their practices and strategies through various symposiums, conferences, and webinars throughout the year.  

As a new member, Dr. Manriquez is looking forward to providing a multicultural perspective in this leadership position. Based on the reach the non-profit has, Dr. Manriquez is hopeful that a multilingual aspect will benefit additional, non-English speaking audiences. He finds this council can bridge the gap between producers and academia, making his leadership role important in promoting sustainable animal agriculture practices.  

This position not only provides Dr. Manriquez the opportunity to establish new connections amongst producers and in academia, but he can educate audiences that are not always reached. 

“[This opportunity] allows me to connect what I do in research so that it can be translated in a meaningful way that can be applied in the field,” said Manriquez. “This makes me feel like my work is relevant because it is being used in the field.” 

In addition to beginning his term in June, Dr. Manriquez will present at the pre-conference session at the 2024 Dairy Cattle Welfare Council Symposium focusing on his research of air quality in dairy barns. This pre-conference session is exciting because it will be delivered in both English and Spanish.  

Dr. Manriquez thinks it is incredibly valuable to provide resources and information through a multilingual platform at conferences to ensure all individuals in the industry are educated. 

“[It is] important to offer the symposium in Spanish because it makes sure the knowledge we have developed in animal welfare gets delivered to people who practice it on the farm,” said Manriquez. “A lot of the time this is the workers who speak Spanish. Offering the program in Spanish allows the workers to understand what welfare is, practice it, and identify gaps.” 

For more information about the DCWC Council, visit their website. Additional information for the 2024 DCWC Symposium including speakers and registration information can be found here. For more information about the pre-conference meeting hosted in Spanish, can be found here 

Dr. Diego Manriquez Dairy Systems Specialist at AgNext
Dr. Diego Manriquez and team touring a dairy in Northern Colorado