Let’s talk about first-calf heifers, or, as I like to call them, first-calf velociraptors

One of the reasons I love hanging out with people in the agricultural community, especially dairy farmers, is because it is so easy to start a conversation about all the classic debates

When we started milking in our robotic milking facility, we were fetching cows that hadn’t come up to milk on their own seven to eight times per day

They say the spots on a Holstein are as unique as a human fingerprint. There might be an even better comparison for cattle, though — the animal’s muzzle

My first cow was Star. She was a beautiful, mostly black Holstein that was large in stature and a gentle, old soul-type personality

College has been so busy the last year or so, and I realized I hadn’t seen my beloved show cow from my 4-H days in quite some time. So, when I finally got to visit her and help milk the other day,...

New genetic evaluations will be published Tuesday, April 4, for dairy producers to make breeding, culling, and other management decisions with updated predictions of animals’ genetic merit. Nearly...

This creative piece was written by one of our regular authors, Gerald Anderson. Be sure to read the full story to reveal a fun twist at the end!

For the past few weeks, we have been keeping our eye on one amazing cow that has far exceeded our production expectations

The one question I get asked the most as a robotic dairy farmer is this: How many cows can you run per robot? This is such a loaded question to me. I can dissect this one question into many diffe

One of our cows tried to jump over a gate, but she was less athletic than she thought

From people to cows, no one likes to be overcrowded, so the goal is to put up facilities that will meet today and tomorrow’s needs

It can be so easy to get wrapped up caring for the “problem cows,” but our average animals also deserve attention and some true appreciation

Milking in both our parlor and with the robots provided some benefits, but certain costs recently led us back to milking exclusively with one system

There’s no right opinion or way to look at dairy farming, dairy foods, or life

Corn silage harvest means all hands are on deck to make the best feed we can for our cows

Standing tightly together or “bunching” is not a new behavior in cows, but it is one that is frustrating for many dairy farmers

Cows are remarkable creatures, but it is up to us to unlock their potential by providing basic elements including water and enough access to it

Fresh cow pens continue to grow in popularity, especially for larger dairies, farms that are building new facilities, or those looking to improve cow health and performance

Consumer expectations and farmer responses to whether cows should have pasture access may vary, and in between there is a lot to think about