As another year comes to a close, we reflect on the events that shaped the dairy industry in 2021. Challenges remained, with high production costs, proposed regulations, and continued struggles associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, there were also reasons to celebrate, as some events returned after a year-long hiatus, awards were distributed to dairy leaders, and dairy cattle research and dairy product innovation keep moving our farms forward.
Our Hoard’s Dairyman editorial team is honored to be news source for our readers. We are thankful for the opportunity to share stories and information focusing on current events, herd health, financials, dairy products, and more through the print magazine and our electronic newsletter. Below are five of our top read Hoard’s Dairyman Intel items from 2021:
A few of our most read Hoard’s Dairyman Intel articles revolved around a 2021 ballot initiative that would have made artificial insemination illegal in the state of Colorado. This article shared background information on that proposed initiative. Fortunately, the next month it was struck down by a unanimous vote by the Supreme Court.
A number of consultants noticed milkfat and protein levels climbing in some of their herds during the spring of 2021, reaching well above historic levels. One of our guest writers with an extensive background in dairy cattle nutrition discussed the possible reason why in this article.
One of our top read articles honored a dairy leader who passed away in 2021. Tom Lyon was a strong believer in science and education, and throughout his long career in the dairy industry, he served several roles. He was credited with developing Cooperative Resources International, or CRI, the organization that combined a cattle breeding cooperative and a dairy records cooperative.
With the cancellation of the 2020 show, World Dairy Expo returned in 2021 with much anticipation from both participants and visitors. While attendance was down from years before, cattle show entries were strong, and winners from each breed along with a Supreme Champion were selected from the 2,340 head that were shown.
The internet can be a fantastic way to promote dairy, but sometimes social media trends turn sour. A popular challenge on TikTok in 2021 had a connection to dairy – people stacked milk crates in the shape of a pyramid and tried to climb over it. This activity was quickly deemed dangerous by health professionals and was eventually banned from the social media platform.
