Latest News From Maureen Hanson

Turns Out "Liquid Gold” May Not Be Gold At All
Turns Out "Liquid Gold” May Not Be Gold At All

The best-quality colostrum is thick, creamy, and has a beautiful golden color, right? Not necessarily, according to Danish veterinarian and researcher Hanne Skovsgaard Pedersen.

What’s the Best Route to Mimicking Transition Milk?
What’s the Best Route to Mimicking Transition Milk?

Numerous studies have now shown that feeding colostrum replacer to mimic transition milk has beneficial effects for preweaned calves.

Dairy Finances: Being Prepared For Tough Times Has Big Payback
Dairy Finances: Being Prepared For Tough Times Has Big Payback

If there’s any assurance about the economic picture for the dairy industry and agriculture in general going forward in the next few years, it’s that volatility will be a constant.

Who “Nose” When a Calf is Getting Sick?
Who “Nose” When a Calf is Getting Sick?

If you want to stay ahead of calf health and catch sickness in its earliest stage, University of Minnesota Graduate Student Abbigail Prins offers a handy detection tip.

Facial Recognition Technology Meets the Cattle Industry
Facial Recognition Technology Meets the Cattle Industry

If you’ve flown internationally recently, you may have had a first-hand experience with facial recognition software.Now that technology has found its way to the dairy parlor.

New Artificial Intelligence Technology Meets the Maternity Ward
New Artificial Intelligence Technology Meets the Maternity Ward

The “old” AI (artificial insemination) is intended to land cows in the maternity pen. Now, the “new” AI (Artificial Intelligence) is being engaged to monitor them.

Labneh: The New Kid on the Dairy Foods Block
Labneh: The New Kid on the Dairy Foods Block

Some call it concentrated yogurt. Others call it yogurt cheese. No matter the description, labneh is an ancient Middle Eastern dairy staple that is making a fresh appearance in the U.S. dairy case.

Dairy Feed Co-products: The Ultimate Recycling Story
Dairy Feed Co-products: The Ultimate Recycling Story

It's a secret that needs to be shared - Dairy cows can take the “leftovers” of human food and fiber processing and turn them into high-quality protein.

Take a Buddy with You to the Bunker
Take a Buddy with You to the Bunker

Feed-out of new-crop corn silage has begun on most dairies, and it appears this crop may be more prone than normal to silage collapses.

The Evolution of Milk Fever Mitigation
The Evolution of Milk Fever Mitigation

A significant body of research now indicates that keeping phosphorus low in the pre-fresh ration has a positive effect on blood calcium levels. 

New Indoor Feed Centers Planned in California
New Indoor Feed Centers Planned in California

California’s Central Valley will soon be home to a new model in dairy feed production: indoor feed centers.

Springers Mixed Despite Lower Inventories
Springers Mixed Despite Lower Inventories

The total U.S. dairy replacement heifer herd is down about 14,000 head compared to the start of 2023.

The Plywood Guide (And 6 Other Helpful Calf Barn Tips)
The Plywood Guide (And 6 Other Helpful Calf Barn Tips)

Whether you’re building a new calf barn or retrofitting an existing structure, there are measures that can be taken to ensure the best possible calf comfort, welfare, and health.

DCHA Heads West for 2024 Conference
DCHA Heads West for 2024 Conference

It’s almost time for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association’s 2024 Annual Conference, and this year the organization heads to a western location in Westminster, Colo. for the 3-day event.

BVDV-Resistant Calf Created Through Gene Editing
BVDV-Resistant Calf Created Through Gene Editing

Gene editing has been used experimentally to produce polled calves and calves with lighter-colored haircoats. Now, USDA researchers, have produced a calf with reduced susceptibility to bovine viral diarrhea virus.

The Microbiome: The Next Big Frontier in Cattle Improvement
The Microbiome: The Next Big Frontier in Cattle Improvement

Is there a drug-free way to improve cattle health, feed utilization, reproductive efficiency, and environmental impact, all at the prenatal level? Researchers at North Dakota State University think so.

Cows Have Personalities, Too
Cows Have Personalities, Too

Anyone who works with cows is bound to have “favorite” and “least favorite” based on their dispositions. Those personality traits appear to influence behaviors that can affect their health, well-being, and productivity.

Liver Biopsies Can Reveal Nutrition-Health Links
Liver Biopsies Can Reveal Nutrition-Health Links

Taken periodically on specific groups of animals, liver biopsies can identify nutritional imbalances that can lead to health and performance problems.

New Dairy Cattle Nutrition Model Coming From Cornell Soon
New Dairy Cattle Nutrition Model Coming From Cornell Soon

For the past 13 years, Cornell researchers have been developing the latest, highly anticipated CNCPS version 7.

6 On-Farm Priorities to Help Drive Success This Year
6 On-Farm Priorities to Help Drive Success This Year

With the start of the new year comes the setting of resolutions for personal habits, behaviors and practices. Dairies can and should do the same for their operations. Here are six places to start.

How Will Dairy Fare Alongside New Weight-loss Drugs?
How Will Dairy Fare Alongside New Weight-loss Drugs?

Where do dairy products fit into the changing picture of weight management?

Interest Growing in Inulin for Lactating Dairy Rations
Interest Growing in Inulin for Lactating Dairy Rations

Inulin is a type of soluble fiber found in plants that is not digestible by humans. However, this not-so-talked-about substance is showing considerable promise in enhancing lactating-cow nutrition.

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How a Spreadsheet Can Help Simplify Calf TPI Tracking

Routinely monitoring transfer of passive immunity is an effective way to evaluate colostrum management and identify calves with failure of passive transfer.

Are You What's Standing in the Way of Pain Mitigation?
Are You What's Standing in the Way of Pain Mitigation?

A recent survey shows that the likelihood of using pain mitigation for common procedures like dehorning, disbudding and castration was directly linked to the human managers’ perception of pain for the animal.

3 Offense Tools to Control Crypto in Calves
3 Offense Tools to Control Crypto in Calves

Cryptosporidia is one of the most common scours-causing pathogens in preweaned calves, and, unfortunately, it strikes in the early weeks of life when calves are most vulnerable.

Two Reasons Why Feeding Hay Could Help Alleviate Cross-Sucking
Two Reasons Why Feeding Hay Could Help Alleviate Cross-Sucking

Capturing the benefits of socially rearing calves while avoiding the negative effects of cross-sucking is a challenge. An alternative to keep calves busy? Hay.

Heifer Supply and Global Dairy Demand Remain Flat Heading into 2024
Heifer Supply and Global Dairy Demand Remain Flat Heading into 2024

Dairy replacement heifer trade has been light nationwide. Similarly, global dairy trade has been on the decline. Will the trend continue as we head into 2024?

The Calving Corner Shares Real-time Births in Pennsylvania
The Calving Corner Shares Real-time Births in Pennsylvania

A consortium of dairy industry leadership groups is bringing the birth of dairy calves to life for consumers in Pennsylvania.

New Federal Feed Additive Legislation Proposed
New Federal Feed Additive Legislation Proposed

A bi-partisan coalition of U.S. representatives has proposed new legislation to streamline FDA approval of some feed additives.

Four Strategies to Help Cows Conquer Cold
Four Strategies to Help Cows Conquer Cold

These 4 management tips can help you keep cows productive through cold conditions.

The Sweet Spot for Oral Calcium Supplementation
The Sweet Spot for Oral Calcium Supplementation

Is the blanket approach of giving calcium boluses to every fresh cow really the best route to prevent milk fever?

Debunking Production-Fertility Myths
Debunking Production-Fertility Myths

Despite the myths, you can have both high production and high fertility.

FDA Grants Approval for Replacement Heifer Starter Enhancements
FDA Grants Approval for Replacement Heifer Starter Enhancements

A popular combination of enhancements in calf starter rations has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for replacement heifers.

Replacement Heifer Prices Stronger Heading into Year's End
Replacement Heifer Prices Stronger Heading into Year's End

Dairy replacement heifer values continue to gain ground after years of anemic prices.

Calf Microbial Supplements: Sorting out the “Pre,” the “Pro,” and the “Post”
Calf Microbial Supplements: Sorting out the “Pre,” the “Pro,” and the “Post”

In both human and veterinary medicine, we’re hearing more about the benefits of gut supplements to support health, performance, and well-being.

Dairy and Beef: A Merger of Many Merits
Dairy and Beef: A Merger of Many Merits

Beef cross calves are currently generating healthy profits for dairies. They also are a welcome addition to the beef supply chain, according to Dr. Zeb Gray, Beef Technical Feedlot Specialist with Diamond V.

Can We Improve Colostrum Through Dam Nutrition?
Can We Improve Colostrum Through Dam Nutrition?

The more we learn about the myriad virtues of colostrum, the more of it we want. And if it also could be even higher quality and/or produce higher offspring immunity, that would be even better for calves.

Ten Holiday Gift Ideas for the Livestock Lover in Your Life
Ten Holiday Gift Ideas for the Livestock Lover in Your Life

If your Christmas shopping list contains people who work daily with animals, you’ll want to get them something meaningful that speaks to the things they enjoy, and might make their workday a little more pleasant, too.

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World Forage Analysis Superbowl Winners Announced

The 2023 World Forage Analysis Superbowl, held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. in October, once again produced a host of stunning forage quality results.

Chip-less, Battery-free Sensing Technology Could be Next Phase of Animal Monitoring
Chip-less, Battery-free Sensing Technology Could be Next Phase of Animal Monitoring

A team of Irish researchers has developed a breakthrough innovation to monitor activity and health characteristics of dairy cows – and it doesn’t involve and wires, chips, batteries, or electronics of any kind.

It Pays to Prevent Respiratory Disease in Feedlot-Bound Cattle
It Pays to Prevent Respiratory Disease in Feedlot-Bound Cattle

More calves born on dairies than ever before are eventually headed to feedyards these days. Performance and profitability merits sending healthy animals from the calf-rearing stage to the feedlot.

New Discoveries to Head Off Health Setbacks in Transition Cows
New Discoveries to Head Off Health Setbacks in Transition Cows

Five tips to fine-tune your transition cow health protocols.

Back to the Future for Dairying in Ireland
Back to the Future for Dairying in Ireland

With tempered climates, enthusiastic producers and a strong relationship with China, dairy leads the way for exports in Ireland.

Springer Values Stronger, Calves Go Wild
Springer Values Stronger, Calves Go Wild

Holstein heifer calf values are at moderate levels less than $200/head. Male and beef-cross calves, on the other hand, are through the roof.

Milk Carton Shortage Disrupts Dairy Marketplace
Milk Carton Shortage Disrupts Dairy Marketplace

Supply chain issues once again are hitting the U.S. dairy industry. This time, it’s a shortage of milk cartons.

Waste Milk: Freebie or Foible?
Waste Milk: Freebie or Foible?

Waste milk is not necessarily the “free lunch” it is often perceived to be, and may actually be a quite harzardous and costly liquid ration option.

NO3-N or NO3-: An Important Distinction
NO3-N or NO3-: An Important Distinction

Whether forage test results report nitrate results as nitrates or nitrate nitrogen makes a big difference.

FARM Program Beefs up Biosecurity Tools for Dairy
FARM Program Beefs up Biosecurity Tools for Dairy

Stronger, or enhanced, levels of biosecurity will be needed to protect dairy cattle.

Keeping 2023’s Drought in Perspective
Keeping 2023’s Drought in Perspective

The agricultural headlines of 2023 have issued a steady drumbeat of drought – particularly in the Corn Belt, where so much U.S. livestock feed is grown. But just how bad was it?

Organic Valley Partners Up on Seaweed Feed
Organic Valley Partners Up on Seaweed Feed

Organic Valley, the nation’s largest farmer-owned organic cooperative, is partnering with Hawaiian seaweed grower, Symbrosia, to test the viability of feeding seaweed as a means of mitigating livestock methane emissions.