Marilyn HersheyOur farm sits right beside a township road. In fact, the road runs right between the main farm and our numerous calf hutches, so we cross the road several times a day. Duane and

We all have learned a lot more about the importance of facilities and cow comfort by studying cows housed in freestall barns, which may include turn-out lots on dirt or pasture

The herd makes its way to the milking parlor where the cows are fed a supplemental total mixed ration (TMR) during morning and night milking

Adding these welding strips of metal grating onto our skid loader attachments greatly improved traction and reduced the risk of falls

The new year is now two months under our belt. How many of you have kept up on your New Year’s resolutions? The simple resolutions I vowed to work on, and I am thankfully still working on today

While some young dairy enthusiasts grow up participating in dairy cattle judging and quiz bowl contests, students with an interest in dairy products can have a similar experience

Along with many other day-to-day responsibilities of running a dairy farm, managing odors and making efficient use of manure nutrients are becoming more important all the time

Every dairyman and dairywoman should be asking themselves that very question. With milk prices below the cost of production for most of us, it’s challenging to justify the number of calves and heife

We had a problem with our cows’ tails falling into our manure pan in the parlor, especially in the summer months when it’s warm and flies are present. Looking for a solution, I cut the botto

We knew it was coming, and there wasn’t anything we could do but buckle down and await the arrival of the arctic forecast. Not only was the impending weather all over the news

A stillbirth is defined as death of the calf within 24 to 48 hours after delivery. Unfortunately, these deaths continue to be a major problem on dairy farms

An “honest athlete” is how Scott and Pam Pralle described their prized registered Holstein cow, Selz-Pralle Aftershock 3918. As a 5-year-old, 3918 broke the national record for milk

Karen Bohnert I’ve learned this the hard way. For more than four years, I’ve battled with anxiety

John Wooden, a highly successful basketball coach for the UCLA Bruins, is quoted to have said: “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

The genomic era not only has revealed a great deal about an animal’s genetic makeup from a DNA sample at birth, this in-depth study of the genome has allowed us to accelerate genetic progress. Aside

We have calves that always want to step up into the water fountains and make them filthy. To prevent that, we cut off the bottom of a 55-gallon drum and notched slits into the sides that slip onto the

While colostrum is known to be needed by newborn calves as they are born without any immunity, there is more to this picture

The amount of organic matter present in the sand directly determines cleanliness. Put another way, high-quality sand is nearly free of organic matter

Every once in awhile we will get a cow that comes into the milking parlor with an uneven udder. No matter how hard you try to position the milking machine properly, it will squawk. My boss simp

It is hard to believe that we closed out 2017. I probably say this every year, but it seems that this one flew by in record time