In the movie "Patton," there is a famous opening scene where the accomplished four-star general, played by George C. Scott, is pacing in front of an enormous American flag. He delivers a blistering, motivational...
Simply guessing as to the cause is part of the problem. Death loss is a challenge to every producer. Minimizing early removals from the herd should be the goal, but it starts with an understanding of the...
Additional questions from roundtable article: "Excellent cow care leads to repro success" November 2014 Issue, page 735. Breeding - Who breeds? Dutchland Dairy: Crosby Krischel and Dave Duitscher breed...
Hoard's Dairyman Webinar Archives November 10, 2014: "Moving toward longer-lasting cows" presented by Frank Garry, Colorado State University "Towards longer lasting cows" was presented by Frank Garry,...
Three dairy judging contests were held at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky., on Sunday, November 9. In all, 51 teams participated in the collegiate, post-secondary...
by Abby Bauer, Associate Editor Reproductive performance is instrumental to farm profitability, but no single measure can capture all facets of a reproductive program. One important number we can look...
As a parched postscript to a third straight year of drought, farmers in California's San Joaquin Valley who hold senior water rights are suing the state for deliveries they didn't receive in 2014, in hopes...
Weld County, Colorado, plus 11 additional counties from last year's analysis, produced 25 percent of the nation's milk this past May. The nation's other "super-milk" counties included seven in California,...
Over the past year, I have repeatedly been asked how I became interested in dairy cattle considering I grew up in a state more well-known for beef and wheat. Many times, that conversation prompt leaves...
Handy Hint: November 2014 Keep vaccines convenient and cool I'd like to make an addition to the handy hint, "Keep vaccination supplies handy," which appeared on page 549 of the August 25, 2014, issue....
Automatic feeders and group housing are very trendy topics in calf raising today, and for good reason. The opportunity to feed more milk and provide social interaction appears to deliver great benefits...
Not long ago, dairy bull calves were sent to market with low expectations. At times, farms simply hoped calves would be purchased at a price that covered trucking and commission costs. Fast forward to...
Fluid milk sales have been slumping for decades. Value-added products, such as Greek yogurt, cheese and, as of late, butter, are an area we've been able to hang our hat on. Much like blueberries, kale...
Just how important does USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack think the farm bill's new Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) is to dairy farmers? He took time out of his busy schedule to fly to Dallas,...
An estimated 6.5 million fulltime employees in California – including those who work on dairies – will begin earning three days per year of paid sick time off from their employers under the...
Even well-educated parents with access to healthy foods struggle to meet the nutritional needs of their children. The groundwork for a healthy life is built during childhood. Unfortunately, financial limitations,...
Green County Cheese Days recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, earning the title of the oldest festival in the Midwest. Cheese Days is a three-day festival which takes place only in even-numbered...
Frustrated by the clear lack of progress after three years from the "Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group," USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced he would take matters into his own hands. The secretary's...
