Local food is the new "sustainability" trend. Walk into any upscale restaurant and there's a good chance that the menu will be awash with proud proclamations of food sourced from local producers
No more spilled milk We took a 12- by 15-inch piece of plywood and cut four holes in to fit a 3-quart milk replacer bottle. Then we screwed a 12-inch 2 by 6 on both ends. Now the bottles don't tip
by Stephen C. Nickerson The author is a professor of dairy science at the University of Georgia. To comply with global quality standards, consumer demand, and exportation requirements, the dairy industry...
Getting fresh cows off to a good start is important. Many reproductive disorders are complex and have their root in fresh cow conditions. A myth is a tradition or legend that attempts to express or explain...
Add sodium to the growing list of ingredients and foods that are responsible for obesity, poor heart health, and a whole host of ailments. At least that is what some health professionals would like us...
Quick-attach feed pusher At Boucher Family Farm, Highgate Center, Vt., Denis Boucher was looking for a way to push up feed using an existing skid-steer loader attachment. Using the bale fork, he made a...
Since genomics burst onto the scene in 2008, the dairy genetics sector has been under constant flux. This seismic change brought on by genomics caused some leaders to investigate a new long-term approach...
There is generally good feedback on articles that I submit to Hoard's Dairyman. I must admit the comments have been exceptionally heavy regarding my September 25, 2011, article, "Stress test potential...
Electric String Winder To solve my problem of used string storage, I took old electrical wire reels and wound the string on them with a drill. I used a 1/2- by 6-inch bolt with a couple of nuts as
Now that the harvest season is nearly complete, mailboxes and computer inboxes will be filled with seed catalogs and silage plot results. We thought it might be helpful to offer a silage plot report primer...
Changes in the Foundation for the Future (FFTF) initiative as shown in The Dairy Security Act of 2011 (HR 3062the Peterson-Simpson bill) represent another positive step toward significant and long-overdue...
Cold weather impedes calf growth Supplementing extra energy or encouraging starter intake keeps calves growing. Calves that don't grow well in cold temperatures produce less milk as cows
Easy system to refill dip cups Everyone knows that postdipping is one of the most critical steps in bolstering milk quality. At the Larry and Brent Simon farm of Westphalia, Mich., they partnered with...
And the tie goes to. . . Cornell In a rare tie in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest, the Cornell and Virginia Tech teams both racked up 2,485 points. This was the second-ever tie in the...
Weighted Barrel Protects Feed Bags Our bulls are kept outside. The bull ration in the 25-kilogram (55-pound) paper bags gets spoiled if rained on. So, we thoroughly cleaned an empty predip barrel and cut...
Dairy reform package introduced in Congress As our October 10 issue closed, Representatives Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) introduced the Dairy Security Act (DSA) in the House. "I...
As Halloween approaches, we are all wondering if 2012 milk prices will be a "trick" or a "treat." The "trick" would be a continuation of the three-year milk price cycle - two years of good milk prices...
We have the opportunity to capture our share of the growing global dairy market. But international trade is more difficult, and corrupt, as we reach past the low-hanging fruit
Handy Hint: October 10, 2011 Freezer is now mob feeder We made a mob feeder for calves from a nonworking chest freezer. We drilled four holes on each side of the freezer and attached "peach teat" nipples,...