Below are the featured articles from recent issues of Hoard's Dairyman.


Sept. 10 2024
recently, I have had breeders express to me a level of concern over the number of bulls whose proofs declined substantially once they had daughters
Aug. 30 2024
The mosquito season continues as crops come off fields and the calendar is turning the page toward fall. Warm, humid days and wet conditions following thunderstorms are still prevalent. Inevitably, with...
Aug. 30 2024
Often, we think of automated milking systems (AMS) as new technology that reduces labor to milk cows; however, we may forget about the importance of testing the mechanical function of the AMS equipment
Aug. 20 2024
I am the richest farmer in the world. Before you pound down my barn door for money, I want to clarify that I am not talking about financial resources. I am talking about the riches of a relationship, specifically...
Aug. 20 2024
Investing in land remains a significant focus in agriculture, with ongoing high-profile sales sparking widespread discussion
Aug. 20 2024
I was recently asked what significant changes I have seen in calf nutrition and growth over my nearly 35-year career at the University of Illinois
Aug. 20 2024
While traveling to the airport early en route to a dairy industry meeting, I tuned into a Hoard’s Dairyman “Herd It Here” podcast episode covering feed conversion efficiency with Mary...
July 15 2024
A small but growing number of dairies are using rotary milking parlors to enhance milking speed and efficiency. In this set-up, cows ride on a rotating platform while being milked. This reduces th
July 12 2024
Rural living comes with a lot of benefits, but amenities that relate to delivery services are not necessarily one of those perks
July 12 2024
In the volatile world of dairy markets, risk management has become key to many producers’ success, enabling them to gain stability and control over their margins
July 12 2024
Historically, criminals who have been sentenced to death have been granted a sumptuous last meal before their execution
July 12 2024
Precision management is a hot topic in the dairy industry, and rightfully so
July 12 2024
Did you milk her for all she’s worth?” With due respect to my mentor and colleague, Don Sanders, who wrote a book by this title, I suggest that we leave a little gas in the tank for our retiring...
July 11 2024
Bad things happen to good people. Likewise, bad things can happen to good farms
July 11 2024
The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program launched its latest Animal Care Program standards on July 1, continuing to provide science-based guidelines for the industry and...
June 10 2024
Patience is one of those things that is wonderful if it is being given to me or my situation
June 7 2024
It is no secret that forage quality can make or break the productivity — and profitability — of a herd
June 7 2024
Succession planning is a process that intertwines economics with emotion, making it overwhelming and difficult for many to initiate
June 7 2024
Respiratory disease in the preweaning period remains a challenge within the dairy industry
June 7 2024
Dairy cattle well-being, productivity, and feeding habits are significantly affected by social interactions, and those are influenced by factors like parity and group composition