Rising world dairy prices and focused efforts by the American dairy industry grew international sales. by Mark Stephenson The author is the director of dairy policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin....
There's no excuse for irresponsible drug use In today's media environment, the mistakes of a single farm can be rapidly broadcast. Understanding allowable drug usage, reading the labels and working with...
Calculating manure's price tag Manure is no doubt a useful by-product, but one must realize the time and money it takes to get it from the cow to the field. Funding for the project was provided by a USDA-RME...
Not all feed changes are created equal Feed and forage samples are the basis for your rations. Yet, variation is inherent in the process. Taking multiple samples will reduce the "noise" within your results
Heed the saying "measure twice and cut once" when designing or renovating your tie stall. If stalls are sized properly to meet their needs, your cows will thank you. Barn design and stall dimensions contribute
Prompt and proper care during this critical period in a cow's annual life cycle can be considered the foundation on which a cow builds a profitable lactation and provides a healthy replacement
Design facilities to optimize transition cow comfort Maximizing comfort and minimizing stress are the goals to keep top of mind when designing a transition cow facility
Staying ahead of the flavored milk curve Here is some additional information to compliment the March 25, 2015, article on page 202 of Hoard's Dairyman. The Dale McClellan family knows dairying from two...
Pinpoint cows with an unseen calcium challenge Diagnostic tools provide a window into cows' calcium status. Monitoring subclinical hypocalcemia at the herd and cow level allows for informed decision making....
These tables compliment the article, "Economical substitutes exist for corn grain" which was printed in the March 25, 2015 issue of Hoard's Dairyman on page 218. Tables similar to that for protein were...
With the right design, tie stalls can provide excellent cow comfort. If you're milking in an older setup, evaluate what changes could be made to foster comfort and production. by Emily Morabito and Jeffrey...
The author is a nutrition and management consultant with Progressive Dairy Solutions based out of California. Once a modernized and well-maintained forage harvester is set up and operating properly, it...
A calf is like a bank account; for best results, make high-quality deposits starting at day one. On the farm, the best way to measure a calf's immune defenses is by testing for total protein (TP) in blood....
Rations don't always require a TMR Component feeding is an art form. For success, balance your rapidly degradable nutrients with feeds that break down slowly. While TMRs may dominate feeding today, some...
Additional questions from roundtable article: "Excellent cow care leads to repro success" November 2014 Issue, page 735. Breeding - Who breeds? Dutchland Dairy: Crosby Krischel and Dave Duitscher breed...
The original article (printed below) appeared in the July 2014 issue of Hoard's Dairyman. Reader responses were printed in subsequent issues and are shared below. When life turned ugly Domestic violence...
Total mixed ration (TMR) mixers are an integral part of the day-to-day operations on a dairy. These pieces of equipment are used several times a day, and selecting the proper machine can make feeding a...
Before making a purchase, evaluate these factors to ensure you will be able to feed cows efficiently. Properly sizing a TMR mixer to meet your needs and account for the ingredients in your ration can reduce...