The author is the managing editor and covers animal health, dairy
housing and equipment, and nutrient management. She grew up on a dairy
farm near Plymouth, Wis., and previously served as a University of
Wisconsin agricultural extension agent. She received a master’s degree
from North Carolina State University and a bachelor’s from University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Sanitary feeding equipment is a vital part of the calf health equation, especially early in life. The equipment used to feed calves on your farm may look clean, but is it really? Oftentimes, there's more...
Feed makes up the bulk of cattle rearing costs, but other expenses chip away at profits, too. Today's high price for beef may entice more dairy producers to raise some steers as a second enterprise. Mixed...
Step aside, liquid margarine; butter is here to take your place. Fast-food chain McDonald's has announced that it will begin using real butter on its Egg McMuffin and other breakfast sandwiches served...
Computers and the internet are becoming an integral part of every day farm life. The internet can provide a wealth of information for dairy producers . . . if they have access to it. A frustration across...
The uterus plays an instrumental role in pregnancy; it is, of course, where the fetus lives. When it comes to dairy cattle, there are many reasons why some cows can't get pregnant, from hormonal and cyclicity...
Genomic testing allows a dairy to be more selective about which heifers to keep as part of the future herd. By Our Hoard's Dairyman Farm began genomic testing Jersey heifer calves last year. Those test...
While some smaller dairy farms do use them, anaerobic digesters typically have the reputation of being a manure handling method strictly for larger operations. And of the 202 anaerobic digesters operating...
Research in calves may have unlocked the key to treating a certain respiratory disease in children. Whether you are a caregiver for calves or children, your top goals are to keep them safe, growing and...
Europe currently maintains a tight leash on farmers in terms of what genetically modified (GM) crops they can use. Just one GM crop is cultivated in Europe right now: maize. Almost 60 GM crops are permitted...
To beat the heat, the nation's cows are concentrated in more temperate regions of the United States. know that cows tend to seek out the coolest places on the farm: beneath shade, under sprinklers and...
Unless they are born polled, all dairy cattle will grow horns. The horn bud attaches to the bone sometime between the first and second month of a calf's life. For that reason, the earlier disbudding or...
With the global population expected to grow by 3 billion in the next century, AgriCorps volunteers are doing their part to help train the farmers of today and the future. By Abby Bauer, Hoard's Dairyman...
The career of a milkman has gone a little more high-tech at one Arizona milk cooperative, and others across the country may soon be following suit. The United Dairyman of Arizona (UDA) first added automation...
There are some benefits to be gained when manure is injected directly into the soil rather than applied on top. By Abby Bauer, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor Manure smells like money to farmers because...
Some bacteria are bad, but "good bacteria," the kind found in foods like yogurt, have rightfully earned some time in the spotlight. Beyond the benefits good bacteria, or probiotics, can play in our digestive...
Protect yourself and others by making sure your implements of husbandry are road ready before you hit the streets. By Abby Bauer, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor The roadways can be a dangerous place,...
Gypsum, a product recycled from manufacturing and construction waste, has hit the agricultural scene. When added to the soil, gypsum adds sulfur and calcium while reducing phosphorus runoff. In some situations,...
