The stress of calving, for both the cow and the calf, can be lessened with a proper maternity pen. There's no one cookie cutter design that all farms must follow, but general recommendations include an...
I walked around a 2,300-cow dairy in Florida earlier this month. No guide, no restrictions, and no objective other than taking a few pictures. A simple thing happened that was a first for me and it's already...
USDA's release of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report in mid-February provided neutral to slightly negative news for U.S. dairy producers. On the input side, feed costs could...
Place yourself in a consumer mindset. In doing so, you'll develop a much clearer dairy conversation. by Mark Rodgers When dairy farmers speak to each other, we often toss around terms such as TMR, DA,...
The once steady growth in milk quality has become stagnant. After dropping by nearly 100,000 cells per milliliter from 2005 to 2012, somatic cell counts (SCC) have leveled off near 200,000 over the past...
Don't look now, but Michigan's dairy industry is on a roll. Surprise, California's is not. California is still the largest U.S. dairy state for both cows and milk, and by a wide margin, but not much is...
Let's be clear . . . every glass of milk, every slice of cheese, and all dairy products for that matter are antibiotic free. It doesn't matter whether it's produced on an organic or conventional dairy...
Dairy Challenge competitions combine book learning with real-life situations. By Taylor Leach, Hoard's Dairyman Editorial Intern It's the same old routine. You're sitting in a classroom listening to lecture...
A few factors play a big role in the quality of colostrum. While breakfast may be our most important meal of the day, for calves, that first feeding of colostrum is the most critical meal of their lives....
Expect big things from U.S. dairy over the next decade. That would definitely be one take away from USDA's recent USDA Agricultural Projections to 2025, released in mid-February. For starters, the federal...
When stepping to the milk case, we all have preferences that weigh heavily on our selections. The same is true across the globe. The Chinese market is one that saw tremendous growth through the early part...
Significant scientific evidence that does not support benefits often associated with tail docking. by Brandon Treichler, D.V.M. The author wishes to thank Gatz Riddell, D.V.M.; Fred Gingrich, D.V.M.; Dave...
"To predict the global economy, focus on the top 20 countries," said Jeffrey Rosensweig, director of the Gouizueta Business School of Emory University. In making that statement, he alluded to the fact...
Business owners, including dairymen, felt the pinch when an estimated 20,000 people converged on Wisconsin's state Capitol last Thursday, February 18 during the "A Day Without Latinos" rally. Attendees...
It is no easy feat to manage labor on farms today. Owners sometimes struggle to recruit and keep talented employees, just as many businesses and industries across the country face the same challenges
Major renovations will be made to the Oklahoma State University Dairy thanks to a generous gift from a former student. Who would have thought that a love story from years past would lead to new state-of-the-art...
Farmers need to share their stories with each other, too. As dairy farmers, we hear a lot about sharing our stories with consumers. Stories about why we farm and how we care for our cattle help us connect...
Fluid milk consumption has been on the decline for decades, but some milk categories are bucking that trend. In the year that ended on November 1, 2015, flavored milk came out as the real winner. According...
Animal activists are becoming bolder in their actions; even events like dairy shows could attract guests with ulterior motives. You've lined up the judge, secured the award sponsors and ordered the ribbons....
"While scarcity may be the most pressing water issue, water quality is a close second," said Mike McCloskey, owner of Fair Oaks Dairy and chairman of the Sustainability Initiative for the Innovation Center...
