Latest News From Milk Quality

Will the 305-Day Lactation Standard Go the Way of the Dinosaur?
Will the 305-Day Lactation Standard Go the Way of the Dinosaur?

For decades, 305 days of lactation, plus a 60-day dry period, has added up to a dairy cow’s target calving interval of one year. But is this a standard that needs to be broken?

Cows Will Tell You Whether They're Happy With How They're Milked
Cows Will Tell You Whether They're Happy With How They're Milked

Paul Virkler, DVM, Cornell University, says teat end scoring is a good way to gather insights on a dairy's milking processes and whether adjustments are needed to improve an individual cow's comfort and care.

Managing Mastitis Through Changing Environments
Managing Mastitis Through Changing Environments

Somatic cell count averages for 2022 were highest in the year's late fall and winter months. Below are some considerations for managing mastitis as the weather changes.

Q&A with the president and CEO of Tillamook County Creamery Association
Q&A with the president and CEO of Tillamook County Creamery Association

The president and CEO of Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), Patrick Criteser shares his career path, advice, lessons learned and more in a casual sit-down conversation.

Facility Focus: Lock-Up Time Could Lead to Lost Production
Facility Focus: Lock-Up Time Could Lead to Lost Production

Whether they’re used for pregnancy checking, herd health days or A.I. breeding, headlocks come in handy for a multitude of reasons. But are our cows spending unnecessary time locked up?

Can Somatic Cell Counts Get Too Low?
Can Somatic Cell Counts Get Too Low?

Somatic cell counts have long been an indicator of milk quality and udder health. But can a cow’s SCC get too low?

A Recap of Dairy Markets Around the World
A Recap of Dairy Markets Around the World

Diving into the international supply and demand picture, Alyssa Badger of HighGround Trading Group explained that every country has its own set of issues that factor into the supply side of things.

There’s a New Mastitis-Causing Pathogen in Town: Prototheca Bovis
There’s a New Mastitis-Causing Pathogen in Town: Prototheca Bovis

“Similar to Staph aureus and mycoplasma, Prototheca [mastitis] is hard to detect, has no known cure, and is contagious by intermittently shedding from cow to cow."

Milk Fat vs. Milk Yield: Which is More Profitable?
Milk Fat vs. Milk Yield: Which is More Profitable?

As the monetary worth of milk fat grows, so does the pay price for the per hundredweight of milk. But what number is more important for a dairy farm’s income – milk fat percentage or milk yield?

Tips for a More Efficient, Productive Parlor
Tips for a More Efficient, Productive Parlor

Dairy farmers are always looking for ways to boost efficiency on their operation. This especially holds true in the milking parlor.

LeBron James and Other Celebrities Team up with Neutral Foods to Elevate Dairy Farms
LeBron James and Other Celebrities Team up with Neutral Foods to Elevate Dairy Farms

The NBA All-Star, LeBron James is redirecting his energy toward a new commitment and has teamed up with other celebrities with the investor Neutral Foods, who claims to be the first-neutral food company in the U.S.

Recycled Bedding's  Impact on Milk Quality
Recycled Bedding's Impact on Milk Quality

Reclaimed sand and recycled manure solids help farmers lower bedding costs. When bedding meets quality thresholds, farms that use recycled bedding produce the same quality of milk as those that use fresh bedding.

Five Tips to Prevent Quiet Quitting on the Farm
Five Tips to Prevent Quiet Quitting on the Farm

The workplace trend, quiet quitting, has gotten a lot of attention lately. Instead of going above and beyond, employees are wanting more from their work-life balance. The question is how do you keep employees motivated?

Trading Princess Kay Crown to Serve in Another Role
Trading Princess Kay Crown to Serve in Another Role

Wearing the crown and title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way has been a dream for Anna Euerle ever since she was little. Euerle followed around her two older sisters to county dairy princesses’ events.

Tips to Make a Fair Work Schedule on a Dairy
Tips to Make a Fair Work Schedule on a Dairy

A headache for most managers is putting together an employee work schedule. Trying to be considerate, but also properly putting a schedule together that aids in the farm’s mission statement is easier said than done.

Tips to Minimize Antibiotic Usage for Mastitis
Tips to Minimize Antibiotic Usage for Mastitis

Constantly utilizing antibiotics to treat mastitis is not always a viable practice.

Roll Up the Curtain: The Debut of Lely North America Business Complex
Roll Up the Curtain: The Debut of Lely North America Business Complex

Centered around, “A sustainable, profitable and enjoyable future in farming,” Lely invested $23 million to support its long-term vision. Recently it held a grand opening of its new state-of-the-art business complex.

Feeding Behavior Can Signal Issues with Feed Quality, Management
Feeding Behavior Can Signal Issues with Feed Quality, Management

Paying attention to feed-bunk behaviors can alert dairy producers to issues with diet, feed management or delivery that impact health and performance.

The Road to Robots: A Canadian Dairy Shares Their Journey
The Road to Robots: A Canadian Dairy Shares Their Journey

A barn fire was almost a blessing in disguise for the de Jong family who owns and operates ELBI Dairy in Manitoba. The family says that the fire left them with a new vision for dairy where technology became a key driver.

South Dakota Farmers Impacted by a Double Punch of Storms in May
South Dakota Farmers Impacted by a Double Punch of Storms in May

Over Memorial Day, a series of severe storms that brought strong winds, heavy rain, hail and multiple tornado warnings, impacted South Dakota. Victory Farms shares how the double punch storms impacted their farm.

Make the Most of Milk Check by Maximizing Components
Make the Most of Milk Check by Maximizing Components

Producers can make a significant impact on their milk checks by increasing milk fat and protein in milk. Changes in feed mixing, frequency and other feed-management strategies can make a notable difference.

The Nightmare Before Christmas, Part Two: Readington Producers Forced to Find New Milk Market
The Nightmare Before Christmas, Part Two: Readington Producers Forced to Find New Milk Market

Four months have passed since Kent and Coreena Meyer opened a letter from their milk processor, Wakefern Food Corp., owner of Readington Farms, informing them they no longer would pick up their milk.

Georgia to Begin Allowing Raw Milk Sales
Georgia to Begin Allowing Raw Milk Sales

The demand for raw milk has grown due to consumer interests. Despite testimony about the health risks of drinking raw milk, the general assembly approved the Georgia Raw Dairy Act.

Two Tales of Weather Impact the Mid-Section of the Country
Two Tales of Weather Impact the Mid-Section of the Country

Two tales of weather hit the midsection of the country. In North Dakota, another round of wintery weather came after the storm of the century plowed through. In Nebraska, a different weather story is worrying farmers.

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Tips to Control Those Feed Costs

Like it or not, feed prices have dramatically risen year-over-year, and leading experts advise producers to gain some control over their feed costs.

AgSource Gains Agronomy Lab and Brand Update
AgSource Gains Agronomy Lab and Brand Update

Just announced, a broad-based agricultural service cooperative specializing in laboratory testing, AgSource Cooperative Services, acquired Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. Agronomy Services Division in Stratford, Wisconsin.

TikTok: These New York Farm Girls Won’t Stop Telling Their Dairy Story
TikTok: These New York Farm Girls Won’t Stop Telling Their Dairy Story

The names Evelyn, Claudia and Jojo Leubner might not ring a bell, but if you search for NYFarmGirls on social media, you’ll quickly see they certainly have made a name for themselves by sharing their dairy story.

Dairy Leaders Oppose Raw Milk Bill Passed by Iowa Senate
Dairy Leaders Oppose Raw Milk Bill Passed by Iowa Senate

Top dairy leaders oppose the bill to legalize the sale of raw milk at dairy farms just passed by the Iowa Senate. If this becomes law, it would be legal to sell raw milk and unpasteurized products.

A Single Mom’s Inspiring Journey Raising Four Kids and 1,500 Cows
A Single Mom’s Inspiring Journey Raising Four Kids and 1,500 Cows

Five years to the day after her father’s cows left, Mitzie Blanchard moved back to the family farm. The determined young woman raised a successful herd of cows and four sons who learned the true meaning of hard work.

USDA Provides $80 Million in Grants for Dairy Business Innovation Initiative
USDA Provides $80 Million in Grants for Dairy Business Innovation Initiative

USDA announced it is making $80 million available to the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. The additional funding will expand the capacity of the four initiatives to provide technical assistance and sub-grants.

Higher Components and Parlor Efficiencies Helps Rosy-Lane Holsteins Bottom Line
Higher Components and Parlor Efficiencies Helps Rosy-Lane Holsteins Bottom Line

Working to make continuous improvements to their dairy – in terms of developing a functional cow that makes sense for the current market – has allowed Rosy-Lane Holsteins to remain optimistic.

Lely Robotic Milker
Should We Manage Dry Off Differently in Robotic Herds?

Farmers utilizing robotic milking facilities may have an upper hand when it comes to gradually drying cows off.

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What’s Causing Your PI Count to Spike?

High PI counts typically indicate less than ideal cleanliness of either equipment or cows, but the cause can be difficult to pinpoint.

Michigan Milk Producers Take Home Nearly Half of National Dairy Quality Awards
Michigan Milk Producers Take Home Nearly Half of National Dairy Quality Awards

Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) brought home nearly half of the National Dairy Quality Awards, with 21 of their member farms being nationally recognized.

Innovation Drives Sustainable Success
Innovation Drives Sustainable Success

Named IDFA 2022 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, the Hildebrand's have been at the forefront of innovation — from their processing plant to multifaceted industry partnerships to tapping into the A2 milk market.

Where to Find Farm Labor: 7 Tips and Tricks
Where to Find Farm Labor: 7 Tips and Tricks

From local grocery shops to nearby warehouses to the neighboring farm, help wanted signs are literally everywhere you turn. The growing issue of labor shortages has many dairy farmers asking, “Where can I find help?”

Three Surefire Ways to Improve Winter Teat Health
Three Surefire Ways to Improve Winter Teat Health

To avoid possible teat damage during the winter months, it’s important to consider the following factors.

How One Dairy Cultivates a Team Environment to Retain Employees
How One Dairy Cultivates a Team Environment to Retain Employees

Dairy farmer Roger Herrera addressed labor at the recent 2021 Milk Business Conference and while labor shortages are not a new to the dairy industry, it continues to be a constant headache that producers battle daily.

Technology Paves Room for the Next Generation of Farmers
Technology Paves Room for the Next Generation of Farmers

Three dairy producers discuss how efficiencies and technology play a role on their farm and how the industry needs to continue to evolve and adapt for future farmers in the next 10 to 20 years.

It’s Time to Start Normalizing Mental Health Conversations on the Farm
It’s Time to Start Normalizing Mental Health Conversations on the Farm

Mental health hit center stage as the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the mental headspace of many. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that one third of Americans experience symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Passing the Torch from One Generation to the Next at Steinhurst Dairy
Passing the Torch from One Generation to the Next at Steinhurst Dairy

Along with much planning, open communication, hard work and strong values have allowed Steinhurst Dairy to pass the torch from one generation to the next despite a string of grief and mountains of heartache.

Hit the Reset Button to Attract and Retain Employees
Hit the Reset Button to Attract and Retain Employees

Everywhere you go, help wanted signs are out. Farmers can relate because they too are dealing with labor shortages. They are trying to learn how to keep their valuable employees from quitting.

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Help Reduce Stress at Dry Off

The dry period is a time to allow a cow to rest and prepare herself for the next lactation. However, the drying off process can be incredibly stressful for the animal.

Can Cow-side Mastitis Management Improve Profitability?
Can Cow-side Mastitis Management Improve Profitability?

Twenty-five percent of cows get mastitis every year, regardless of how well they’re managed.

A2 Milk Demand Broadens Markets for Dairy Producers
A2 Milk Demand Broadens Markets for Dairy Producers

Many consumers purchase A2 fluid milk and cheese because they’ve found them to be more easily digested. Explore the science, promotion and logistics involved in marketing this product.

Efficiencies and ROIs: Dairy Farmers Weigh in When it Comes to Technology
Efficiencies and ROIs: Dairy Farmers Weigh in When it Comes to Technology

Optimizing productivity and improving efficiency are top goals that are talked about in farm meetings. The big-ticket question is, “What can help a dairy producer launch their operation to the next level?”

The Nitty Gritty on Hyperkeratosis
The Nitty Gritty on Hyperkeratosis

More frequently referred to as ‘rough teat ends,’ hyperkeratosis is the production of excess keratin at the end of the teat canal which causes a rough, bacteria-harboring, calloused surface.

This Sustainable Dairy Model Wins ‘MVP’
This Sustainable Dairy Model Wins ‘MVP’

When it comes to solving problems, it is said that two heads are better than one, so it makes perfect sense that when two families share one common vision, success can be found. MVP Dairy is proof of that.

Goodrich Farm: A Definition of Sustainability
Goodrich Farm: A Definition of Sustainability

Chase and Danielle Goodrich's drive to outline the farm’s sustainability pillars of environment, economics and society underscores why they were recognized as one of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Winners.

Jersey Youth Academy Spells Opportunity
Jersey Youth Academy Spells Opportunity

Exploring careers and gaining dairy knowledge brought 31 Jersey youth from 15 states together for the Jersey Youth Academy in Ohio last week.