Our farm created this calf pen with a roof that can be lifted up and down. My dad, Fred Ritsema, and employees from his 3,000-cow dairy welded the pen. The roof is lifted by a hand winch and strong cable,...
Serving up the very first meal What matters more: The amount of colostrum fed or the method in which it is delivered? If quality colostrum is fed in large quantities, both bottle and esophageal tube delivery...
Internships, like the Hoard's Dairyman editorial internship, let college students "try on" a job before graduation and entering the real world. A new school year has just begun, but it's not too early...
The 50th World Dairy Expo will be special. There is no doubt that the 50th World Dairy Expo will be a memorable show with special events held throughout the week of October 4 to 8, 2016, in Madison, Wis
Milk bacteria vary with the seasons by Maggie Seiler, Associate Editor Seasonal variation affects bacterial communities found in milk. That was the conclusion of research conducted at the University of...
Safe bunks require top planning. Corn silage harvest season is upon us. While chopping in the southern United States may be wrapped up, many locations in the North are just gearing up for this busy time...
Past and present dairy safety nets By Mark Stephenson The author is the director of the Center for Dairy Profitability, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The dairy industry has had several price cycles...
They bet the farm to save World Dairy Expo. Talk about dedication. The founding fathers of World Dairy Expo literally bet the farm - to the tune of $100,000 - just to save the show in its third year. Sounds...
Hoard's Dairyman compiles details on dairy colleges. School is about to start or has already begun for a few. It's a new school year with new teachers, and maybe even a different school. For high school...
I was restoring a John Deere 4250 tractor, and the original tractor seat had tears in the fabric and the armrests didn't work properly. Rather than replace it with a new identical seat, I decided to use...
The dairy faculty at Penn State launched a dairy MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) this past spring that includes a genetics section. The most frequent topic for the genetic discussion board relates to...
Utilizing a bedded pack, adequate feedbunk space, and careful monitoring, this herd gets their special needs cows back in business quick. Every operation is unique and different, but there are some ideas...
Grocery stores, restaurants, and schools/work places were all popular locations for weekly food purchases. Dairy is what they have in common. Domestic dairy sales are an important part of dairy's business,...
Subclinical ketosis should worry you. Clinical ketosis is a regular problem for all milk producers. It is estimated to affect 7 to 14 percent of all cows within a few weeks of calving
Social media should not replace face-to-face advocacy. Almost every co-op meeting, checkoff organization conference, or dairy industry event includes a speaker or breakout session about telling our story,...
Editorial: Sustainability could reduce food waste The work by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has placed the dairy sector in the forefront of the sustainability movement. While dairy was an early...
Great silage takes great planning Corn silage harvest is just around the corner and could even be started in some parts of the country. Harvesting corn for silage may be one of the most important activities...
As summer comes to a close, so does the end of an internship. Just like every good book, the story must come to an end. My story was only 12 chapters long, one for each week during my internship here at...
As the number of dairy farms continues to consolidate, the enthusiasm of some young people who want to learn more about dairying does not. The Hoard's Dairyman Farm has provided one such opportunity
