Dairy farmers strive to get the most return on investment from every asset on their farm. One part of the business that might be overlooked as an asset, though, is the feed center

To all the avid Hoard’s Dairyman readers out there — thank you! Over the nearly 15 years since graduate school, I’ve written articles for different publications

During unprecedented times like our society has been through the past two-plus years, the week-to-week swings may seem daunting

As shelled corn prices are a couple dollars higher per bushel (56 pounds as-fed basis) compared to prior years, dairy farmers are asking what alternatives and strategies could be considered

When it comes to feed costs, we are in uncharted waters and seem to be going “where no man has gone before.”

While farms have made positive strides toward reducing fresh cow health problems, the transition period remains a challenge for our dairy industry

Early lactation is widely regarded as both the most precarious and the most rewarding time in the lactation cycle for dairy cows

A high producing dairy cow needs to consume a lot of feed, but there is only so much time in the day. Cows must be able eat enough feed to meet their nutrient needs in a certain time frame

Brewers grains and distillers grains are two examples of waste products humans would need to dispose of that cows can transform into nutrient-dense milk and meat

As the year comes to an end, many dairy farmers have or are beginning to open 2021 silage storage and finding that it’s not feeding as well as some other years despite mostly having good fiber

From drought in the West to rain in the Northeast, the 2021 crop year created challenges for farmers across the country

For years, it was a goal for many dairy farmers to avoid calf-to-calf contact in their young stock housing. More recently, though, the industry has seen an opposite trend

Growing up, my family drove Chevy trucks. I still prefer Chevys over Fords, but I actually drive a Dodge Ram at the moment! Go figure

This article continues our discussion on the new Dairy NRC 2021 that’s more formally referred to as NASEM Dairy 2021. My overall impressions are conservative

In any system, calf care is done best by individuals who are patient and detail focused

The long awaited, and at times delayed, Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle finally had its first days in the sun in 20 years

Whether exercising, practicing your sport, or sighting in your rifle, repetition equates to power. We know this based upon experience. In exercising, repetitions build strength over time

Starting in August 2021, dairy producers will have at their disposal an enhanced Lifetime Net Merit (NM$) index, the selection tool designed to maximize cows’ lifetime profitability

For heifer feed troughs, we use half of a ditch culvert. We make metal brackets for them and use wooden half circles to close up the ends

On Tony Brubaker’s Pennsylvania dairy farm, they began dry matter intake tracking 15 years ago