Here at Hillcrest Farms, we take pride in what we do. The good days, the bad days, the hot days, and the cold days

A dairy farm is not in the business of making milk. Say that out loud to yourself. A dairy farm is not in the business of making milk

In the span of just over a week, my two oldest cows both passed away. Both developed conditions that sprang up and were treated meticulously — only to no avail

As humans, we often make extra food purposely, so that we have leftovers to eat the next day. That same philosophy doesn’t work for dairy cows, who need fresh feed daily

“Remember that a cow is a mother, and her calf is a baby.” — W.D. Hoard

What came first, the chicken or the egg? It’s a question as old as time, yet people still argue over the theory

Researchers have demonstrated that controlling energy intake prepartum, specifically by targeting nutrient consumption to maintain a consistent body condition, may reduce the subsequent risk of ketosis

Farmers, especially dairy farmers, tend to be more distanced and like staying at home on their own farm. During these times, that is a good thing

Looking at our farm here in East Moline, Ill., it is business as usual. Cows still have to be milked three times a day

Social distancing, self-quarantine, and isolation have become the new nomenclature as we collaborate to quell the coronavirus. However, dairy producers, farm employees, and veterinarians call it biosecurity

As I write this article, the death toll and global panic associated with coronavirus are both steadily rising. The latest human outbreak is being caused by a strain called Wuhan coronavirus

Many farms have invested in facilities designed specifically for heifers, providing a space for these herd replacements to be cared for and grow

We have come a long way in our understanding of fat mobilization in the past decades

Everything on a dairy farm begins with a calf. For that reason, in this article we will explore cow-calf research that was presented at the International Society of Applied Ethology (ISA

A vaccination strategy for the prevention and reduction of clinical disease is of paramount importance on every dairy farm and young stock operation in the world

The last day of July I received a phone call from my husband, Scott, that one of our off-site heifers was injured

Working with family on the farm can be rewarding and enjoyable . . . until you need to move a cow from Point A to Point B together. Do any of you ever feel this way?

"How much does the welfare of people affect the welfare of animals?" is a Hoard's Dairyman Webinar presented by Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University on October 14, 2019.

I heard it. My heart sank and my mind raced. The pop of a rifle echoed in the distance as I briefly stopped working. I knew it was going to happen, yet I was naively unprepared for the reality

Ventilation is a key component of barn design. Natural ventilation and tunnel ventilation are two common options for dairy barns