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...
The Senate has devolved into a cemetery filled with burial plots of pending legislation as Democrats and Republicans can only agree on one matter - to disagree. That funeral procession ended in early June...
Overcrowding sometimes seems to make economic sense, but at a certain level it hurts your cows and your bottom line. Rumination, reproduction and milk quality may all suffer in an overcrowded pen. Think...
Gravity-flow disinfecting hose Buckets with a small amount of disinfectant solution often don't last in narrow chutes. We elevated a 55-gallon drum above the palpation chute. Then, we attach a hose with...
As a commodity price rally rolls over and a trend or cycle price high is identified, attention shifts to evaluating how low a price may fall. A number of sophisticated technical price analysis tools are...
How long do you wait before you start A.I. breeding your cows after calving? That is the very definition of voluntary waiting period (VWP). Setting the duration of your VWP should take into consideration...
In May, our genetic industry leaders - A.I., breed associations, and milk testing organizations - publicly shared the first of two draft documents that are to guide U.S. dairy genetic evaluations next...
Rotary feed pusher keeps feeding safe This feed pusher makes pushing feed cleaner, faster, safer, and quieter. The materials include some 2- by 2-inch tubing, 4- by 4-inch tubing, a skid-steer adapter...
After over two years of discussion, industry leaders have begun to publicly share draft documents which could one day guide U.S. genetic evaluations. The first document, known as the Cooperative Agreement,...
Parmesan. Provolone. Feta. These words are as common as terms like tenderloin, peanut butter, and applesauce. However, if the European Union's trade negotiation team gets its way, these before-mentioned...
Fatal design flaws can be found in many nonengineered buildings. Check with your structural engineer before proceeding with your next project. Every year, various pockets of the country experience a rash...
Polish seals marker We found that magic marker often wore off our tools. To permanently mark our things, we use ear tag markers, then cover it with clear coat nail polish for a durable finish. Ethan
After over two years of discussion, industry leaders will publicly share draft documents which could one day guide U.S. genetic evaluations. The first document, known as the Cooperative Agreement, details...
Subsurface drainage often is called "tile drainage," but as practiced today, that's a misnomer since very few drainage installations in farm fields still are done with clay tiles. Modern drainage systems...
Alarm rings when water pressure is too low Using a water pressure switch and a used bell from an old crowd gate, we installed an alarm that alerts us if the fountains in the free stall barn have low water...
Steel pieces improve palpation rail My palpation rail holds about 10 cows at once, but I normally need to manage five cows or less. My new device holds them in place. I made a bar out of a scrap piece...
by Scott Brown The author is a research assistant professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Missouri. The elimination of the Western federal milk order sheds...
How this year's contest classes were placed BROWN SWISS - C A B D C A B D is my placing for this class of Brown Swiss cows. The class sorted itself into two pairs. The stylish C places over the dark A...
Genomic evaluations were officially released for the first time in January of 2009. The third anniversary gives us a good opportunity to review the accuracy of those initial predictions. There were more...
Nature always has a way to restore balance. In the chase to capture the highest possible returns, countless crop farmers turned a blind eye to Mother Nature and planted continual rotations of corn, soybeans,...