THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE AND SUSTAIN ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL WELFARE THROUGH BREAKING BARRIERS TO ORGANIC DAIRY TRANSITION. ONE OF THE MAJOR BARRIERS PREVENTING TRANSITION TO ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION IS DAIRY PRODUCERS' CONCERNS ABOUT DISBUDDING DAIRY CALVES AND THE CHALLENGES WITH ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE IN AN ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM. FURTHERMORE, FINDING SUITABLE POLLED GENETICS FOR DAIRY HERDS MAY BE CHALLENGING FOR ALL FARMERS. THE PRESENT PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THESE CHALLENGES THROUGH RESEARCH INVOLVING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S WEST CENTRAL AND RESEARCH CENTER'S CERTIFIED ORGANIC DAIRY HERD. WE WILL DEVELOP METHODS TO INVESTIGATE THE MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY TO ADDRESS PAIN AND ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR DISBUDDING FORDAIRY FARMS. WE WILL IDENTIFY SUITABLE POLLED GENETICS FOR USE IN BREEDING FOR DAIRY HERDS. WE WILL ALSO EVALUATE MARKERS OF CALF HEALTH, BEHAVIOR, AND WELFARE TO ULTIMATELY PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEST CALF DISBUDDING OPTIONS FOR PRODUCERS. HOLSTEIN AND CROSSBRED CALVES WILL BE COMPARED ACROSS AND WITHIN EACH CALF DISBUDDING OR POLLED OPTION. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE VALUABLE TO DAIRY PRODUCERS AND WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO TRANSITIONING AND ORGANIC PRODUCERS AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. OUR RESEARCH RESULTS WILL BE SHARED WITH OUR LARGER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THROUGH FIELD DAYS, CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS, AND WEBINARS. RESULTS FROM THIS STUDY WILL PROVIDE RESEARCH-BASED INFORMATION ON BEST OPTIONS FOR POLLED GENETICS, PAIN MANAGEMENT AND DISBUDDING IN YOUNG CALVES WHICH WILL HELP ENHANCE THE PROFITABILTITY OF US ORGANIC DAIRY FARMS AND IMPROVE DAIRY INDUSTRY'S PUBLIC PERCEPTION.