As with any vendor on a dairy farm, companies and organizations that help farms install and run manure digesters have to approach the challenges and opportunities presented with a common mindset
In the early 20th century, tuberculosis was a scourge for cattle. However, in recent decades it’s become extremely rare, with ramifications only being felt by a handful of infected herds
we recently observed Veterinary Appreciation Day. This day just happened to fall a day before we laid to rest the first and finest veterinarian that served our farm
When talking about dairy cattle rations, it would be easy to assume that net energy for lactation (NEL) refers to the energy in a diet that is used to produce milk
Despite widespread drought in the far west, corn and soybeans appear headed for a good crop year. That’s according to USDA’s most recent Crop Progress report on July 26
I routinely track the hay fundamentals at a high level to generate supply and demand balances. This, in turn, drives my alfalfa price forecast, which is an important part of the dairy ration
The dairy industry has been making steps toward more environmentally sustainable production well before it was a buzzword among consumers and with food marketers
To keep our semen tank off of the concrete, we set it on a mover’s dolly. This makes it very easy for the tank to be rolled out to the truck when filling it with nitrogen
Duane and I have been registering our cattle with the Holstein Association USA for as long as we have been raising animals. We have always seen tremendous value in this protocol
With the many immediate needs on a dairy farm, it’s easy to ignore the risk of natural disasters until a flood, blizzard, drought, or other extreme weather event becomes imminent
An effective milking routine relies on multiple quality control factors working together successfully; trained employees, functioning equipment, and clean cows are the big ones we might think about
Karl Burgi, a hoof care consultant and founder of the Save Cows Network, discussed trimming fresh cows during the July Hoard’s Dairyman webinar, titled “Three keys to exceptional hoof health.”
For dairy farmers interested in genetic improvement, a common question is “What do you select for?” This question was also addressed during the July 7 Hoard’s Dairyman DairyLivestream