A recent interview in The Washington Post with the renowned animal welfare specialist leaves many in dairy circles with unanswered questions. With all due respect to Temple Grandin, and the research she...
In some cases, averages can be misleading. That would certainly be true when looking at the average U.S. dairy herd size. These days, the average (mean) U.S. dairy herd has 144 milk cows. That total was...
For calves, the weaning period is almost always filled with change: a new home, new ration, new penmates, new health challenges. This transition can be overwhelming. If animals become too stressed during...
Ration strategies for groups of dairy cows summarized. Maximize production, but don't waste resources. That sums up the art and science of formulating rations for milking groups. The challenge is that...
Hoard's Dairyman Webinar Archives April 11, 2016: Target rations for your milking groups presented by Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University Brought to you by: Kuhn North America (www.KuhnNorthAmerica.com)...
Just over 3,600 bulls were declared active by A.I. marketing organizations. Of those sires, 2,795 were Holsteins, 540 were Jerseys, and the remaining 277 bulls could be found in nine other breeds. For...
As a zoonotic disease, tuberculosis can infect both people and cattle. That also means that tuberculosis can cross back and forth from humans to cows. Unfortunately, these days, if a cow contracts tuberculosis,...
Hillcrest Dairy uses a two-pronged approach to reach out to the public. At Hillcrest, we believe it is important to share what we do on our family farm. However, like most farms, there are only so many...
Living in a rural community is no guarantee that your neighbors understand farming and where food comes from.When you're engaged to a large animal veterinarian and your job is tracking and responding to...
Survey shows: dairy producers believe in the power of prevention. Prevention is key. This was a favorite mantra of my family's veterinarian. Every time he came out to diagnose a particular problem in the...
Hand-scoring and double-checks is still the most efficient for us. The Cow Judging Contest has been part of the Hoard's Dairyman brand for 86 years. Images of the cows were originally printed in just black...
Cameras installed in maternity barns can help determine if expecting cows are in need of assistance. By Taylor Leach, Hoard's Dairyman Editorial Intern You kick off your shoes after a long day on the farm,...
While all cows eventually leave the herd, groundbreaking research on six critical health issues should lead to healthier cows and fewer earlier-than-necessary herd departures. Genomics has allowed us to...
Legislation to curtail on-farm hidden camera investigations . . . often dubbed ag-gag legislation . . . can be counterproductive. That's according to research spearheaded by the University of British Columbia....
Turning adversity into opportunity. Like other dairy farmers who enjoy showing cows, we develop special relationships with our show cows. They're the ones who always want their heads scratched or come...
Check that dipstick. Or more likely, check that milk house floor and make adjustments to the pedestals on the bulk tank to ensure that milk weights are accurate. That's one message gleaned from an ongoing...
What's new in transition feeding? At the ADSA (American Dairy Science Association) meeting, transition cow research abstracts were prevalent. Several abstracts are listed below with a brief summary, a...
Handy Hint: March 10, 2016 Racks help bundle tires Tires that cover bunker silos at Hillcrest Dairy are more organized after creating a number of iron "tire racks." As tires come off the bunker to expose...
Keep your focus so you don't get pinned or pushed out of the ring. By Patti Hurtgen, Hoard's Dairyman Online Media Manager Wrestling can be a bit like dairy farming. Farmers must be scrappy to stay mobile...
