During the 2026 Dairy Calf & Heifer Association (DCHA) Conference and Trade Show in New Prague, Minn., DCHA revealed its revised Gold Standards — the industry benchmarks and best management practices for raising dairy calves and heifers and beef x dairy animals. The overarching goal of DCHA’s Gold Standards is to improve the health and welfare of youngstock, allowing them to achieve their genetic potential, while helping producers improve the profitability and sustainability of their businesses.
“The Gold Standards have been developed using published data and input from DCHA leaders and advisers,” stated DCHA President Kendall Wassenaar, Orange City, Iowa. “While individual herd goals, current level of attainment and geography may vary, the Gold Standards are meant to provide a framework for successful dairy replacement and beef x dairy raising. Dairy calf, beef x dairy and heifer raisers should use this information to identify areas for improvement, conduct training and implement plans that support the performance targets they want to attain.”
A comprehensive document which includes charts and graphs, the DCHA Gold Standards book integrates all pre-lactation ages into one document. It features performance and production standards — with animal welfare and best management strategies as the top priorities. Performance standards are the objective measures used to evaluate performance. Production standards are the recommended practices that enable achievement of performance goals. Industry-based research supports these standards.
“The DCHA Gold Standards strive to reflect positively on the dairy/beef x dairy industry and present a positive image to consumers,” Wassenaar added. Thus, the Gold Standards address newborn care, colostrum management, nutrition, health status, biosecurity, housing and environment, growth rate, reproduction and euthanasia.
DCHA members have access to the Gold Standards. Those interested can go to to: https://calfandheifer.org/member/membership-benefits to discover membership benefits and to join.
