** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF ORGANIC DAIRIES THROUGH IMPROVED YOUNG COW (YOUNGSTOCK) LIVEABILITY AND PERFORMANCE. THREE OBJECTIVES SUPPORT THIS GOAL: 1) OPTIMIZE YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT ON ORGANIC DAIRY FARMS; 2) IDENTIFY ON-FARM SOURCE(S) AND ROUTE(S) OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INTRAMAMMARY INFECTIONS IN ORGANIC YOUNGSTOCK; AND 3) PROVIDE ORGANIC DAIRY EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO U.S. VETERINARY STUDENTS.TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES, WE ASSEMBLED A NATIONAL TEAM SPANNING THE MIDWEST, NORTHEAST, MOUNTAIN WEST, PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST; WITH EXPERTS IN YOUNGSTOCK HEALTH AND WELFARE; ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION; MASTITIS EPIDEMIOLOGY; NATIONAL FARM SURVEYS; AND DAIRY EDUCATION. THE PROJECT IS GUIDED BY AN ADVISORY BOARD INCLUDING MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS IN ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION.INTEGRATED PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE NATIONAL SURVEYS OF YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES; COMPREHENSIVE ON-FARM YOUNGSTOCK HEALTH ASSESSMENTS; AND MULTI-YEAR DATA COLLECTION TO DOCUMENT LONG-TERM OUTCOMES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT FARM PROFITABILITY. INNOVATIVE STATISTICAL AND MOLECULARMETHODS WILL BEUSED TO ANALYZE THESE INFORMATION-RICH DATASETS TO FINDRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ON-FARM PRACTICES, YOUNGSTOCK HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE, AND PROFIT-BEARING OUTCOMES. FINDINGS ARE BROUGHT BACK TO FARMERS THROUGH PRACTICAL, EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT. PROJECT OUTCOMES ADDRESS A CRITICAL NEED FOR ORGANIC DAIRY FARMERS TO OPTIMIZE YOUNGSTOCK OUTCOMES FOR SUSTAINED HERD SIZE.