“Age at calving and herd replacement rates are the largest factors influencing heifer costs,” shared Jud Heinrichs, Penn State extension specialist. “This affects the numbers of heifers...
Lameness can be a major health concern on many dairy farms. Not only is this an animal welfare issue, but various reports indicate that each case of lameness can cost $90 to $300
Why do you people stomp all over the idea of consuming raw milk? You would think a dairy magazine would try and promote as much good publicity for dairy products as possible. But instead, you are agai
Having a good group of employees is one of the best blessings we have received here at Hillcrest Farms. Yes, we occasionally have the hard to fill position
Light-emitting diode (LED) light options have been touted as game changers in efficiency and energy savings. The well-approved option for the environment also may carry benefits for milk flavor
Recently, I received a dairy product promotion email. The title was “How do nut milks compare to cow’s milk? First of all, stop calling it nut milk! It is nut juice or beverage or drink
Likened to a sieve, the digestive tract of a newborn calf is a catch-22 for everything in its environment. Immunoglobulins, nutrients, and bacteria alike have free rein in the digestive tract
The good kind of cover-up. While a criminal trying to "cover up" a crime is a bad thing, crops used to "cover up" fields between cropping seasons are just the opposite. And even though cover crops are...
Understanding immunity promotes calf health. Vaccinations are designed to stimulate the immune system. They aren't cures, but tools to help the calf defend its body from viruses, bacteria and parasites....
Farms with more cows prove that animal welfare is still a priority. The average herd size for dairy farms in the United States keeps growing while the number of farms continues to decline. This trend is...
Herds are getting bigger and more productive, but the cost of employees is rising faster. Everyone who milks cows knows that the dairy industry is struggling with a labor crisis that is only getting worse....
It appears some current NBA players should have listened to their mothers when they were children and drank their milk. While injuries are almost to be expected in the life of a professional athlete,...
The Spaghetti Western film - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - had a complex plot where three cowboys form an uneasy alliance to find hidden gold. Of course, good triumphs over bad . . . and good eventually...
Limited pen space on-farm often ties our hands when we attempt to develop a grouping strategy. The options, such as separating cows based on stage of lactation, reproductive status or body condition, are...
It may not seem like it, but times are a changing on the milk price front. After a stellar run in farm-level margins from mid-2013 through 2014, signs are pointing to dramatically reduced margins next...
