4dBarn Dairy Welfare Seminar 2026 in Oulu, Finland

4dBarn Dairy Welfare Seminar 2026

Keynote Speakers
Speakers
Agenda
Accomodation
Registration
Sponsors

Welcome to the 3rd International 4dBarn Dairy Welfare HYBRID Seminar 2026

Prosperous Welfare in Dairy Farming

Designing systems where cows
thrive, people enjoy their work, and society trusts the result

"International feeling, good speakers with tangible information and tips." – Participant 2024 Seminar

For the progressive dairy producers, veterinarians and experts from the dairy industry

Seminar is held in Oulu Finland November 25-27, 2026 @ Hotel Lasaretti. We offer also virtual participation Nov 25-26!

All participants will have access to the recording for one month.

Why participants attend?
"Very interesting topics with good speakers. The live feed was excellent quality."
"The seminar was professional and the speakers were international professionals."

International keynote speakers, practical experts, dairy farmers and the ProAgria Feeling Good -project explore how leadership, communication, animal welfare, functional robot barn design, cow flow and daily management practices create prosperous and labor-efficient dairy systems for both cows and people.

Day 1 Seminar | People, trust, passion & farm culture . How do we build dairy farms that people trust and where employees feel motivated and valued? (This programme is organised in collaboration with ProAgria.)

Day 2 Seminar | Robot barn design, cow flow & hoof health. How do people, routines and barn design create functional dairy systems?

Day 3 Farm Visit | Workshop in the robot barn Arvolan Karjapiha Oy (for international guests)

#DairyHappiness

Join progressive dairy farmers, veterinarians, advisors and industry experts from around the world for three days of learning, networking and practical discussions about the future of dairy farming. We eagerly anticipate your participation as we work together to chart the path forward for dairy welfare globally.

Event will be in English. Slides are also in Finnish.

We reserve the right to make changes.

Keynote speakers

Laura Solano
DVM, PhD
An Assistant Professor at the University of
Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
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Dr. Laura Solano earned her veterinary degree in Costa Rica and went on to complete a PhD at the University of Calgary in Canada, developing expertise in hoof health and cow comfort through both research and several years of consulting work in Canada.
She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, where she teaches and leads an applied research and outreach program using
epidemiological, qualitative, and agricultural extension approaches. Her work focuses on workplace dynamics and the connections between animal health, welfare, and human wellbeing.
Recognized internationally for her work in dairy cattle welfare and lameness prevention, Dr. Solano is passionate about translating research into practical solutions that improve both cow wellbeing and farm sustainability.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys hiking, traveling, and escaping winter to the sandy beaches of Costa Rica, as well as spending time at her family’s pasture-based dairy farm near the volcanoes.
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Peter Krawczel
Prof.
Associate Professor at University of Helsinki
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Associate Professor of Animal Welfare with Helsinki One Health - split appointment with the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Peter Krawczel earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, followed by a Master of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. He completed his PhD through a joint program between the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Center in Chazy, New York, and the University of Vermont.
Before joining the University of Helsinki, Peter Krawczel served on the faculty of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Tennessee for nearly a decade. His work combined research and extension activities with a focus on dairy cow welfare, helping to advance understanding of the factors that influence animal wellbeing and management in modern dairy systems.
At the University of Helsinki, his research and teaching continue to explore dairy cattle welfare and the practical application of scientific knowledge to improve outcomes for both animals and producers.

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Anu Autio
MBA
CEO of Voima Valmennus, Solution Focused Coach, Insights Partner
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Anu Autio works with leaders who work in complex situations, and farming
entrepreneurs know that better than most. Running a farm means leading people, making tough calls alone, and finding balance between work and life, often all in the same afternoon.
With 20+ years of experience in leadership development, team coaching, and organizational wellbeing, Anu has built a practice around one core idea: when people understand themselves and each other, everything works better. As an Insights Partner, she is one of Finland's most experienced Insights Discovery practitioners, with experience spanning technology, healthcare, logistics, and agriculture.
Anu´s work with farming businesses focuses on the realities of rural leadership: seasonal pressure, family dynamics, independence, and the challenge of building a team culture when the barn is always calling. Her sessions are known for being direct, practical, and — surprisingly — enjoyable.
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Speakers

Antti Puuri
M.Sc.(Agr.)
Barn Design and Efficiency Specialist, 4dBarn Ltd
LinkedIn
Jouni Pitkäranta
Architect
Architect, Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board at 4dBarn Ltd
LinkedIn
Marjo Posio
M.Sc.(Agr.)
Dairy management specialist , 4dBarn
LinkedIn
Virpi Huotari
M.Sc.(Agr.)
CEO, 4dBarn Ltd
LinkedIn

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Agenda

International expertise. Practical solutions. Better dairy systems.

The two or three day event will feature a series of informative sessions. On third day we visit a robot barn.

DAY 1: Nov 25, 2026 PEOPLE,
TRUST, PASSION & FARM CULTURE
The seminar begins with registration, lunch and an expo from 12:00 until 23.59, when dinner party ends.

Seminar program 13.00 - 17.30.

8.00 Virtual platform opens

11.00 –12.00 | Registration

12.00 –13.00 | Lunch

13.00 –13.15 | Introduction of the day

13.15 –14.00 | Prof. Peter Krawczel, Helsinki University - “The state of nature is not a paradise of well-being”

14.00 –14.45 | Dr. Laura Solano,University of Wisconsin-Madison – The human side of dairy welfare. Understanding how people, communication and workplace culture create successful welfare outcomes on dairy farms.

14.45 –15.30 |Coffee Break & Expo

15.30 – 16.30| Anu Autio, Voimavalmennus – “Understanding people, communication & team dynamics” – Insight Analysis

16.30 –17.15 |Dr. Laura Solano – One Welfare – Why human well-being matters on dairy farms. Exploring how employee well-being, stress, handling practices, workplace environment and motivation influence dairy cow welfare and farm performance. Healthy cows need
healthy work environments.

17.15 –17.30 | Closing Remarks

17.30 –19.30 |Outdoor access & sauna

19:30 – 24.00 | Dinner and Networking

DAY 2: Nov 26, 2026 ROBOT BARN DESIGN, COW FLOW & HOOF HEALTH

08.00 –08.45 | Welcome Coffee, Expo & Networking

08.45 –09.00 | Day 2 Introduction. What makes welfare work in real dairy farms?

09.00 –09.45 | Dr. Laura Solano, Building functional dairy teams (and happy cows…). Exploring how training, communication, clear routines and consistent working practices create strong teams (= human & cows) and successful dairy farms.

10.30 –11.30 | 4dBarn, The 14 Golden Rules of Functional Robot Barn Design. Design principles that support healthy cow movement, hoof health, efficient workflows, cow comfort and long-term barn functionality.

11.30 –13.00 | Lunch, Expo & Networking

13.00 –13.45 | Dr. Laura Solano, Lameness Prevention Starts with Functional Systems. How barn design, cow flow and daily management practices affect hoof health, cow movement and long-term dairy performance in modern robot barns.

13.45 –14.30 | 4dBarn, What Cows Really Do in Robot Barn. Insights from timelapse videos and measurements.

14.30 –15.00 | Coffee Break & Expo

15.00 –15.30 |4dBarn + Farmer Story - virtual tour. Practical Improvements That Changed Our Barn Performance. How small design and management changes improved hoof health, cow comfort, robot
efficiency and workflow.

15.30 –16.00 | 4dBarn +Farmer Story – virtual tour. Lessons from a Modern Robot Barn. Dairy farm case on improving cow flow, hoof health, labor efficiency and daily functionality in a robot barn environment.

16.00 –16.20 | Cowhouse & Practical Farm Case Stall Comfort, Mattress Lifecycle & Cow Health. Practical
examples from dairy farms on mattress selection, stall comfort, maintenance,
replacement timelines and long-term effects on hoof health.

16.20 –17.20 | Open / Panel Discussion & Questions. What Makes a Functional Dairy Barn? Interactive discussion on the future of functional, welfare-oriented dairy systems with speakers, farmers and industry experts.

17.20 –17.30 | Closing Remarks. Summary of key takeaways from Day 3

17.30 –19.00 | Outdoor Access & Sauna

19.00 –22.00 | Dinner Buffet & Networking. Evening networking dinner with speakers, guests and seminar partners.

DAY 3: Nov 27, Finnish dairy farm visit

08.00 – 14.00 The final day features a morning tour of a Finnish dairy farm Arvolan Karjapiha Oy (307 cows and 14,236 kg ECM per cow), including a 90-minute workshop where 4dBarn will guide participants through an efficient robot barn in four groups focusing on VIC, cow handling, gating, and the robot area. Lunch. After tour you can change your clothes at the hotel.

We reserve the right to make changes.

Accommodation

We welcome you to book your accommodation from Hotel Lasaretti. It is located by the Oulujoki river nestled in the area of Ainola park and Hupisaari Islands, and only a 15 minute walk from the city centre. The distance to the railway station and the bus station is only about one kilometer and the drive from the airport to Lasaretti takes about 20 minutes.

Hotel Lasaretti has 49 hotel rooms. Hotel is smoke free and they use allergy friendly materials in the rooms. Lasaretti’s abundant breakfast consists of organic products and local delicacies. Hotel sauna and fitness room are at customers disposal.

Please book your room at Hotel Lasaretti soon using the code: '34049 4dBarn Oy 25.-27.11.2026' before 27 October 2026. The number of rooms is limited. There are many other hotels within a 10–20 minute walk. Lapland Hotel Oulu has a special offer with code ALLARCTIC26 until 26th October.

To guarantee the reservation credit card information needs to be provided.

Hotel guest has responsibility for the room reservation made from the allotment, including payment, cancellation, and no-show.

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Registration

Participation in-person and virtual.

"Internationality of the event, all the conversations." REGISTER NOW

In-person registration is open until Nov 16, 2026 but remember that there are limited number of seats.

Early bird prices before August 31, 2026. Prices (incl. VAT 25.5%)

890 € In-person | Full meeting 3 days incl. Farm visit, Nov 25–27

730 € In-person | Seminar 2 days, Nov 25–26

290 € In-person | One day ticket, Nov 25

340 € In-person | One day ticket, Nov 26

395 € Virtual participation 2 days, Nov 25–26

Virtual registration is open until Nov 25, 2026

You will only be able to buy virtual tickets one at a time.

The event will be recorded. All participants will have 30 days to view it again and again.

Please visit our registration page. We look forward to your participation and hope you find the seminar both informative and engaging!

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