2025 Dairy Cattle Show Calendar

Entries are Open

Key things to know when making your Expo Entries

The Expo Entry Fee Schedule and Entry Instructions will guide you through the entry process. Key items include:

Entry fee is $100/entry, no entry fee for group classes or premier entries, entry deadline is Monday September 1, 11:59 p.m. CST

• Premier entries open September 24.

All Account/Owner Registration contact profiles must be updated:

• Add an email address for the representative of the Account/Owner to receive Judge and Committee ballots
• Add String Manager contact name and phone number
• Update Awards & Premium contact information to add Payable To and mailing information. Accept W-9 Authorization by typing the name belonging to the Payable To name.

Stalling Request Form must be submitted:

• You may choose: Stalling by myself, Stalling with others or Unknown.
• Complete the Farm/Exhibitor your cattle are to be tied with, the String Manager contact and number of Heifers, Cows and Breed(s) the entries will be tied with.

Show early release is an option for Junior Holstein and Guernsey shows only, when requested with entries. Choose the checkbox for Early Release with each animal entry to identify early release. Release will be granted only Sunday and Monday evenings 6 p.m. – midnight.

Early Release due to HPAI/H5N1 Influenza A testing return state requirements is a separate Google form in the Dashboard – 6. Other Forms.

Order Dairy Cattle Discount Season Admission tickets via the Dashboard. Your discount tickets are available through September 15. A maximum of 4 season tickets at $30 each are available per exhibitor account. Admission tickets are a separate transaction from Entries.

Need a printed 2025 Premium Book? Please email your name and mailing address to entries@wdexpo.com or call 608-224-6455 ext. 4.

Check your Email Entry confirmations will come via email from entries@wdexpo.com. Approve or trust this email address for the latest updates from World Dairy Expo. Please also check your junk, clutter or spam folders.

Animal Identification Requirements

All cattle attending World Dairy Expo must have official individual identification regardless of age. Acceptable forms of animal identification are: a USDA AIN 840 RFID tag, a Canadian AIN RFID 124 tag, or, if applied prior to November 5, 2024 a USDA AIN 840 visual only tag.  

*NEW for 2025: Official identification applied after November 5, 2024 must be electronic (RFID) AND visually readable. Cattle with USDA 840 visual only tags applied before this date may continue to use that tag for the rest of that animal’s life.

Does your animal need an RFID tag? Datamars Livestock - North America is sponsoring up to ten (10) free 840-series RFID tag sets per exhibitor for U.S. exhibitors who need AIN tags for their entries. A premise ID is required. ORDER DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 2, 2025, 11:59 p.m. CST. Order directly with Datamars.

Breed Show Schedule

This year, World Dairy Expo will have specific starting times for both the cow and heifer shows. The Dairy Cattle Show will begin with the International Junior Holstein Show cow classes at noon on Sunday, September 28. The International Guernsey Show will start with heifers on Sunday at noon and continue with cows on Monday September 29 at 7 a.m. The other breed shows will follow a split-day schedule with their heifer and cow classes.

Breed Rotation Schedule 2025 - 2028
2025 Dairy Cattle Show Schedule

2025 World Dairy Expo full schedule

Ballot Distribution Process Updated for 2026

The Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee approved a change for Judge ballot distribution and vote counting. Judge ballots will be distributed to the exhibitor/owner contact email and allow one (1) breed judge vote for each animal placed in the current year’s completed breed show. The online entry registration requires an email address for a representative of the Account/Owner (as listed on the registration paper). Be sure to review each of your account/owner profiles to make updates for the new information fields.

New Genomic Awards for Holsteins

Youth Showmanship and Fitting Contests

Registration are open

Youth Showmanship Contest and Youth Fitting Contest entries are open online until Friday, September 12 at 11:59 p.m. (CDT). A $10 registration fee per contest is required to participate. Late entries are accepted until Friday, September 19, 11:59 p.m. CDT for an increased fee of $20. Please note an exhibitor account is required for entry registration and entries will not be accepted on-site. Registration can be made with Cattle Entries, Dashboard 6, or by separate individual entry.

A Contests exhibitor meeting will be held Friday, September 26 at 6 p.m.

Be in the know for animal health requirements

1. You will need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued within 30 days of arriving for all animals coming to WDE.
2. Individual lactating cows will also require a negative Influenza A PCR test to get into Expo.
3. To return home from Expo, you must work closely with your veterinarian and your State’s Animal Health Officials (SAHO) to develop a plan that will not require an Influenza A test to be done at Expo.
4. To help accommodate travel guidelines, Expo will permit early departures for return destinations outside of Wisconsin, with a request submitted and confirmed by WDE.
5. It is possible that additional testing requirements for animal movement across the Canadian border, interstate within the US and intrastate in Wisconsin will change between now and your departure for World Dairy Expo.

Please see the 2025 Premium Book for current Health Testing requirements.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Resources:

• State Animal Health Offices
• DATCP Home Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Dairy Cattle (wi.gov)
• Federal Order Requiring Testing for and Reporting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Livestock (usda.gov)
• aphis-requirements-recommendations-hpai-livestock.pdf (usda.gov)
• DATCP Home Biosecurity Resources for Events (wi.gov)
• Technical Notes: Clarification to Inquiries Received on April 24, 2024 Federal Order (usda.gov)
• Recommendations to Minimize Influenza Transmission at Dairy Cattle Livestock Exhibitions (usda.gov)
• Wisconsin Cattle Testing Order: Lactating dairy cattle must test negative for Influenza A virus before moving to fairs or exhibitors. Access the FAQ.

Cattle Arrival

World Dairy Expo has adjusted the cattle arrival schedule to remove one overnight timeframe with no cattle or tack may arrive on Saturday 12:01 a.m. – 5 a.m. This change was necessary because of credit hours adjustments made at the UW Veterinary School and an expected reduction in the student vet team members. All entries must be on grounds Noon Saturday, September 27. No late arrivals are permitted.

World Dairy Expo Showring and Code of Ethics Updated 

The revised Showring Policy and Code of Ethics is printed in the Premium Book, available online.

Dairy Cattle Show Farm Affiliate & Service Provider Programs

Cattle Show Farm Affiliate Program

This allows an exhibitor’s affiliated company or business (under the same ownership as an exhibited animal’s registered owner) to hang promotional signage in the designated stalling area. The affiliate company or business is marketing products such as, but not limited to cattle genetics, cattle panels/gates, feed vendor, dairy-related products, feed additives, etc. This program does not apply to the promotion of animals in the string, boarding facilities, or trucking. See the application for details.

Show Service Provider Program

This is for vendors that offer cattle services on-grounds such as, but not limited to, hoof trimming, chiropractic service, MagnaWave©, tail services, etc. See the application for details.

Dairy Cattle Photography Service Provider Program

For Photographers and Videographers capturing dairy cattle footage and images for a service fee. Application coming soon.

Each Program Application is available at worlddairyexpo.com - Dairy Cattle Exhibitors. Review the application for complete details and rules. Applications open July 1 and accepted until September 15 for $150. Applicants must also provide a certificate of insurance as detailed.

Service Providers will receive:

• Listing on the Dairy Cattle Service webpage, interactive maps on Expo website and mobile app
• Listing in the Dairy Cattle Exhibitor newsletter

Catch all the showring action on ExpoTV!

No matter if you are in the barns, at home, or with us in the Coliseum, never miss a moment with ExpoTV. ExpoTV unlocks full access to live and on demand coverage of the Dairy Cattle Shows, recorded award presentations, and educational seminars. This year, ringside commentary will be offered during the International Holstein Show, exclusively on ExpoTV. A subscription is $20 (plus tax) and allows exclusive access to both livestreams and on demand coverage of the event until January 1, when the videos are made available to the public.

Access the ExpoTV streaming platform by visiting our ExpoTV website.

ExpoTV is presented by

Golden Calf Company, Lely, Semex/Boviteq and Zoetis

Camping and Hotel Updates

Event Camping Reservations are open

Reservations to camp at Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center Camping are now open. Please see the camping reservation form for complete details. Other nearby and off-site locations can be found by visiting Dane County Parks.

Book your Expo stay at one of World Dairy Expo’s Preferred Hotel Partners.

Laurie Breuch 

lbreuch@wdexpo.com

Dairy Systems Manager

Direct phone: (608) 960-7910

Lexa Miller

lmiller@wdexpo.com

Cattle Show & Contests Coordinator

Direct phone: (608) 960-7907

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