On Tuesday, December 2, genetic evaluations for cows and bulls will be released to the entire industry. While some shifting in predicted transmitting abilities (PTA) and indexes occurs at each run, this...
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...
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...
Another genetic base change is just around the corner. While a base change is nothing new (genetic bases were updated previously in 1965, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010), the one that will...
John Umhoefer of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) recently assembled the first-of-its kind list of the nation's top natural cheese processors. In making the list, the WCMA executive director...
Water quality is paramount to cow health. "My cows are dying. What is going on?" sobbed the 65-year-old dairy producer as his cracked hands cradled his cheeks and covered his swollen eyes. "They calve,...
Dozens, if not hundreds, of variables make a single precise answer impossible for all farms, but there is one statement that applies to everyone: It was expensive. According to income and cost data for...
It's over half of the frozen desserts consumed. There was a time when ice cream was just for the affluent. With the advent of insulated ice houses in the early 1800s, it could stay cold. Ice cream is a...
Each person has approximately 40 chances – or 40 years – in his or her adult life to make a positive impact on the world. That is the basic philosophy of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation 40...
Fall 2011 PDCA showmanship scorecard changes are slow to be adopted. Old habits are hard to break. Forming new habits helps reinforce positive actions, but breaking old ones, can be challenging. In the...
The more a cow produces, the lower its environmental footprint will be. Climate change has always occurred. Yet, the heating trend over the last decade has been outside the normal range. Humans and livestock...
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, said Stacey Hamilton, dairy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, at their grazing conference last week. Designing a grazing system takes thoughtful...
Tools from even a few years ago can't hold a candle to new equipment. A dairy producer who hasn't bought a new tractor or piece of forage equipment in less than five years - which industry surveys say...
Shade, ventilation and water are critical for them. Record heat across the West in recent weeks has driven home a sad and expensive reminder for some dairies: heat stress can kill calves. For those that...
"On the 8th day," Paul Harvey begins, "God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker.'" With that, my Super Bowl party fell silent. Did yours?
The long-standing county quota system has been eliminated. One of the most popular activities for Wisconsin dairy youth is exhibiting at the state fair. Last year, there were over 800 dairy exhibitors....
