Managing corral conditions year round in open-lot dairies is important for cow health, comfort and production in the rainy season. In the areas of the country where open-lot dairies are popular, the onset...
National-winning FFA Dairy Judging Coach talks about preparing a non-traditional dairy judging team. "This was an extremely hard-working bunch of kids," commented coach Bland Baird. His dairy judging program...
Understanding these conditions, we can manage feed quality and costs. During "A crop and feed outlook for the months ahead" webinar, Mike Hutjens and Mike Rankin gave an overview of dairy ration ingredients...
Over 250 dairy judges and their coaches converged on the Hoard's Dairyman Farm this morning. Two Guernsey cow classes were presented to the contestants in preparation of Monday's national dairy judging...
Aggressive management yields impressive statistics. The Hoard's Dairyman Farm has been in existence since 1899. Numerous advancements have been made in technology and management since those early days....
Aggressive management yields impressive statistics. The Hoard's Dairyman Farm has been in existence since 1899. Numerous advancements have been made in technology and management since those early days....
Webinar stresses the importance of diligent administration protocols. "People are not perfect," stated Pam Ruegg, D.V.M., with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For that reason, every attempt should...
Sanitary feeding equipment is a vital part of the calf health equation, especially early in life. The equipment used to feed calves on your farm may look clean, but is it really? Oftentimes, there's more...
Average cost is approximately one-third higher than it was in 2006. The cost of making milk never seems to go down, a hard reality that data from the nation's largest dairy accounting firm drives home...
Feed makes up the bulk of cattle rearing costs, but other expenses chip away at profits, too. Today's high price for beef may entice more dairy producers to raise some steers as a second enterprise. Mixed...
Futures prices this far out already point to belt-tightening in the first half of 2016. Plenty of change could still happen in the next few months – both good and bad – but right now the milk...
Illumination improvements yield energy and cost savings if you avoid common upgrade stumbling blocks. Incandescent. Compact fluorescent. Light emitting diode. Metal halide. From antiquated to efficient,...
Pathogen-based and selective antibiotic use reduces your residue risk and adds dollars to your bottom line. By Amanda Smith, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor We're under a microscope. Whether the topic...
Understanding forage digestibility aids in maximizing production. Manager High-quality forage fiber in a milking cow's ration can help milk components, result in fewer metabolic disorders and foot problems...
A dairy in southwest Indiana has reaped major benefits from installing precision dairy technologies on their farm. When one visits the Koester family farm in far southwestern Indiana, they'll notice a...
Not all cases of mastitis need to be treated. Let the causative pathogen be your guide. "Do not administer antibiotics to cows that will not benefit," cautioned Daryl Nydam, Cornell University, at the...
One of the most widely known animal rights groups is no stranger to using emotional appeal to win over people's minds. We've seen them all when we view websites, videos or photos posted by anti-agriculture...
Cattle can be efficient users of leftovers. By Patti Hurtgen, Hoard's Dairyman Online Media Manager Last week I blogged about different management types that produce beef. One of the interesting facts...
There are some benefits to be gained when manure is injected directly into the soil rather than applied on top. By Abby Bauer, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor Manure smells like money to farmers because...
Legendary dairy cattle judge and professor Fred Foreman passed away on July 22, leaving behind a grand legacy of teaching and passion for the dairy industry. He was born on a small farm in Kansas, but...