Training new employees in milking procedure always reminds me of the importance of timing in the barn

Those of us who live on multigenerational farms are surrounded by the history of our families

During the summer months, cow cooling becomes fundamental to animal care

Almost every dairy farmer is also an employer. That means in addition to all the work that surrounds owning and caring for cattle, dairy producers must be proficient in human resources

In our barns, flies are the top cause of bunching cows

The transition from heifer to lactating cow is a big change for fresh heifers

Research indicates those that work on dairies have less gastrointestinal related symptoms than nonfarmers

We try to review vaccination schedules every few years on our farm by addressing any issues we’ve seen and asking ourselves questions about what we need from the protocol

Research related to the needs of transition cows has identified calcium as critical to the period following calving, particularly for cows in their second or greater lactation

The time to review a protocol is before procedural drift causes a problem

Most good cow people will tell you that a comfortable cow will rest in a lying position 14 to 16 hours per day

We’ve milked three times per day for more than 20 years, and as such my family’s dairy is incredibly reliant on good employees to execute these milkings

Transition phases in dairy cattle are essential for success. That begins all the way at the beginning of life

So often when we discuss mental health in agriculture, the suicide statistics are cited, and the stresses of the job are rehashed

Dairy animals need plenty of clean water as part of their balanced ration

In the show The Big Bang Theory, one of the main characters, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, has a very particular fondness for one location on the show’s main set, the characters’ living room

It wasn’t until I moved to Wisconsin following college that I truly understood what it meant to try to farm in a place where winter seems to last from November to May

Transition cows face one of the most difficult turnabouts. As soon as the calf is born, they naturally move from no milk production to a significant ramp up both in quantity of milk and the energy required...

There are types of planning that I just love. Task me with making a meal plan for the week, and I am happy as a clam for thirty minutes or so as I research new recipes and page through old favorites to...

Nearly every dairy farmer will tell you that one of the most critical times of a cow’s life is around calving. The weeks preceding and following calving have been well-detailed in research. That...