With a water bottle in hand and branded shirt, boots, and sunglasses on, Michael Azevedo is out the door to greet the sunshine of the Central Valley of California

One of the most important jobs on the farm is formulating and feeding rations that optimize cows’ genetic potential to produce milk without breaking the bank

On many farms, it’s well understood that the calf’s first meal is of vital importance

“Sometimes we focus on yield and not what’s important,” Oak Point Agronomics’s Ev Thomas said when discussing the feeding of brown midrib (BMR) corn silage

Each year, the Hoard’s Dairyman and Hay & Forage Grower editorial staffs dedicate three or four days to a team wide photo trip

Even in the northern U.S. climates, we are now well into forage harvesting season

Variation of milk throughout the year has more do to with seasonal differences than heat stress, explained Penn State’s Kevin Harvatine at the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference

After planting, the best strategy to promote a good stand of alfalfa is weed control

A logical conclusion drawn by some dairy producers is that cows that produce large amounts of milk early in lactation don’t breed back as well

In order to get on their feet and get back into reproductive form, research has shown that a good fresh period is essential for cows

According to Ohio State’s Bill Weiss, error can sidetrack even the best of rations

Not quite a year ago, the first dairy company said they would make the transition to selling dairy products that had been produced by cows that were fed feeds free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The raised without antibiotics (RWA) program has gained steam in consumer circles

An area of milk quality that is at times overlooked is emptied milk tankers that haven’t been cleaned

Grouping strategies have a huge impact on cows’ lactations and lifetime production

With the rising cost of labor and the declining number of people willing to work on dairies, Viterbo University’s Tom Thibodeau suggested farmers need to embrace a culture of caring on the farm

I’ve always been a big fan of March Madness. Initially it was because of my interest in the sport of basketball and my propensity for cheering for my team — the K-State Wildcats

“Cows don’t need feed, they need nutrients,” shared Ohio State’s Bill Weiss at the recent Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin annual meeting

Extra milk production throughout the country again this spring means some milk cooperatives have introduced quotas for milk production

In the past decade, yogurt has achieved many health accolades being praised for its association with gut health, diabetes deterrence, and most recently heart health