The dairy business is part of the agriculture commodity community. An agriculture commodity means the raw product looks the same no matter where it is produced around the world. Corn looks like corn whether...

Significant scientific evidence that does not support benefits often associated with tail docking. by Brandon Treichler, D.V.M. The author wishes to thank Gatz Riddell, D.V.M.; Fred Gingrich, D.V.M.; Dave...

Editorial: Dairying's educational dilemma Since the land grant system was signed into law by President Lincoln, dairying and all of agriculture have benefited from a university system that collectively...

Handy Hint: February 25, 2016 PVC pipes track calf feeding Keeping track of which calves get fed milk twice per day, once or not at all is handled rather easily for the calf feeders at Paint Creek Heifers...

Milk checks depend more on butter. From the time milk leaves the cows until the time it leaves the farm, dairy farmers see the milk they produce as a single liquid product. But they know that it's actually...

Americans do not consume enough of four primary nutrients. Dairy delivers three of those four dietary needs - calcium, potassium and vitamin D. The final version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans...

Editorial: Dietary Guidelines Reaffirm Dairy Dairy products bring a host of healthy attributes to American diets. That is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with USDA, reconfirmed...

Handy Hint: February 10, 2016 Get little helpers ready for barn chores For most farm moms, the worst part of taking little ones out to the barn is getting them ready. It can take half as long as chores...

The health of your dairy herd will have a huge impact on your ultimate success. The same is true of reproductive performance. Your veterinarian should be deeply involved in both of these areas. He or she...

The USDA is rewarding young dairy and livestock veterinarians who work in underserved areas of the country with a loan repayment option. Escalating veterinary school costs often push new grads toward higher...

In routinely denouncing mainstream agriculture and its associated food systems, Chipotle Mexican Grill has become entangled in its own spider web of contradictions. It turns out that it is far easier for...

Handy Hint: January 25, 2016 A milk house floor saver The purpose of this recessed stainless steel drain pan is to save the concrete from the detergent and acid that run under the bulk tank washer. This...

On-farm technologies have brought an onslaught of information that we're still struggling to mine. While it assists in the decision-making process, ensure automation is your best fit before investing....

I just don't know why my cell count has gone through the roof. It was 250,000 three months ago, and it's now 500,000 and rising fast. I need your help." These were the comments from Mike, a desperate...

I distinctly remember my first veterinary truck. It was a brown, rusted out 3/4 ton 79 Chevy. Back then, it was common practice to "hand down" the oldest truck from the practice owner's fleet to the new...

Handy Hint: January 10, 2016 Hinged gate closes man pass From a safety standpoint, a man pass allows a person working with livestock to make a quick exit from the pen to avoid injury. There are over 56...

It's like milk price déjà vu all over again by Mark Stephenson The author is director of Dairy Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison. As we head into 2016, I can't help but focus...

If consumer advocates have been in an uproar over genetically modified plants, the atmosphere gained substantial energy when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AquaBounty's application to...

Have you read all 20 issues of Hoard's Dairyman this year? The 41st annual Young Dairymen Quiz features questions from articles that appeared throughout 2015. Starting December 10, these same questions...

Handy Hint: December 2015 Make It Easy to Keep Tanks Clean To ensure that water tanks are cleaned out regularly at Duncan Acres Dairy in Franklinton, La., farm owner Brent Duncan placed several milk house...

The nutrition facts label of your favorite cereal may help in understanding a ration's fiber and starch story. Thinking in terms of a nutrition facts label can help us better understand our rations