If you grow wheat as part of your dairy cropping mix, this could be a good time to try "frost seeding" red clover to boost forage production. But it is important to follow seeding recommendations. The...
I am working with a 600-cow dairy that is experiencing a unique pneumonia-like situation. The dairy is very well managed. When the symptoms appear, they are across all lactating cows, are random and begin...
What's in your milk? This article appeared in the January 25, 2012 issue of Hoard's Dairyman on the Young Dairyman page. The article discusses the components of typical farm milk from dairy cows
The simple design can limit induced stress. When used routinely, cattle can accommodate to its function, leaving a positive impression. She wrote this series with Paul Rapnicki, D.V.M., formerly with the...
Make parlor trips peaceful Two or three times a day, free stall herds move cows from their home pen to the holding pen. By keeping a routine and using cows' natural tendencies, we can keep the trips low...
Total mixed rations (TMRs) have become widely recognized as the optimal way to provide a consistent balance of nutrients. Despite our best efforts in formulating and delivering the ration to cows, though,...
Dairy Smartphone Apps – compiled by Hoard's Dairyman Hoard's Dairyman Apps World Dairy Expo 2012 While a printed Expo supplement has been and will continue to be a Hoard's Dairyman staple, we wanted...
Dairy stockmanship:What is low-stress handling? Low-stress stockmanship can be taught. If done correctly, it will relax cattle and employees and improve your bottom line. by Heather Smith Thomas Thomas...
Normal calving progress is just 70 minutes long. If you do need to intervene, 30 minutes of pulling is enough. Henry called with a calving just as I was finishing supper. He said he had not worked on this...
by Mark Hardesty, D.V.M. The author is a partner in Maria Stein Animal Clinic, Maria Stein, Ohio. Normal calving progress is just 70 minutes long. If you do need to intervene, 30 minutes of pulling is...
In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in the use of foliar (leaf) fungicide treatments. That extra attention has paralleled the steady upward climb in grain prices. Industry estimates...
Heifer timed A.I. may benefit average heat detectors by Jeff Stevenson The author is a professor of animal sciences at Kansas State University, Manhattan. At the 2009 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council...
Consumers say they hear the warnings about raw milk, but they don't care. A recent article in the San Jose Mercury News highlighted one of the head-shaking realities that the dairy industry is up against...
Growth doesn't stop in her second lactation. When facilities and space allow, most dairy farmers will separate their first-lactation cows from the cows in their second lactation or greater, recognizing...
Multiple options to consider when breeding heifers. One of your greatest assets should be your heifer population. Raising quality heifers starts with proper sire selection, good dry cow and late-gestation...
These pdfs compliment an article, "Will robots make or break the bank?", by Larry Tranel, in our May 25, 2012 issue of Hoard's Dairyman on page 363. The Economics of Automatic Milking Systems The Economics...