In the past, it was generally recommended that dairy farms raising their own replacements on an ongoing basis needed enough heifers to equal 90 to 110 percent of their total cow numbers

Take a look at long forage particles in your feed. They may be slowing your cows down at the feedbunk.It is time to update our recommendations for optimal ration particle size

One of the best parts of my job is getting to be on some of the best-run dairies throughout Wisconsin

I do a lot of corn planting at night in the dark. My planter doesn’t have any work lights at the back by the row units and seed tanks, and it is a headache to always have to carry a fl

Rest is one of those things we don’t always talk about. Honestly, I almost feel a twinge of guilt when I do talk about it. I am not convinced that life was always this way

We got tired of running to the milking parlor office to get calf treatment supplies, so now we use this basket. Everyone knows where the medicine is, there are easy directions in there on what to brin

Despite living in the home of John Deere and being surrounded by hundreds of acres of corn, my three children — Tyler, 15; Cassie, 13; and Jacob, 9 — are a minority

Health and milk production are optimized by ensuring dairy cows maintain sufficient nutrient intake to meet their requirements

Originally included in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, known to many of us as the farm bill, it has finally reached the point where dairy farmers must decide their level of participation

One of the challenges of growing alfalfa is the potential for winter injury and stand thinning or loss

Several years ago, I found out that I am allergic to cow dander. It is not an intense allergy but rather a nuisance that includes itchy eyes, sneezing, a stuffy nose, and a lot of clearing my throat

I made a bottomless box from pallets to “bale” plastic from silage tarp, bags, and net wrap. I place the box on a hard surface and line it with heavy plastic twine from square bales. As the...

Host any type of social event, and the combination of food and fellowship typically brings people together, whether it be in the kitchen, around the table, or at a picnic

Our understanding about cow comfort is continually improving. However, assessing and translating these needs to fit specific situations can be a challenge

Aventilation system for adult dairy cows must provide fresh air year-round and fast-moving air in the resting space to aid summertime cooling

A peculiar set of circumstances has led to the emergence of a new hoof lesion in growing heifers and adult dairy cattle

Continued low milk prices make cost control essential on dairy farms. Milk prices may improve in the second half of the year, but it’s going to be somewhat longer before they reach profitable levels

Leadership is about perception. Body language and word choice matter. When both are absent, football teams and dairy farm teams flounder

On the south side of the barn, I boxed in a tunnel ventilation fan on a frame

John F. Kennedy once said, “Don’t pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.” I often think of these words when I pray before bed. I ask for the strength to endure what lies ahead....