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Taylor Leach Hildebrandt

Taylor Leach

Assistant Editor of Dairy

Taylor Leach is the Assistant Editor of Dairy Herd Management and Milk Business Quarterly, blending her background in journalism and dairy farming. Raised on a dairy farm in Kansas, she now farms in Wisconsin with her husband. She is actively involved in cattle showing and agricultural advocacy.

Latest Stories
Drugs
Education
Here’s What You Need to Document on Drug Treatment Records
If you or an employee treats an animal with a drug, it’s important to keep adequate and updated treatment records.
November 01, 2021 07:27 AM
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Taylor Leach
Holstein Cow
Opinion
Making that Tough Decision
I knew the day would eventually come where I would have to make a hard decision on my own at the farm, but I wasn’t ready for it to be then.
October 28, 2021 02:48 PM
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Taylor Leach
"If you wait and only evaluate this once a year, you may not notice a negative trend that occurred months ago."
Education
Parlor Talk: Why is it Important to Manage Your Farm’s Financial Risk?
Regardless of what type of business you’re running, it’s important to know and manage your financial risk to know exactly where you stand on that net income or net loss spectrum.
October 27, 2021 01:20 PM
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Taylor Leach
Not all buildings are built the same. Therefore, it’s important to know just how much snow your roof can handle.
Education
Keep Your Feeding Program Priorities Straight this Fall/Winter
The busyness of the summer season is finally over, but it has some producers staring out into their fields wondering what they need to do to help stretch their feed inventories throughout the fall and winter.
October 20, 2021 12:00 PM
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Taylor Leach
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.
Dairy Production
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.
October 12, 2021 12:00 PM
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Taylor Leach
You’ve heard the horror stories. The ones about farm families who spend months in court fighting over assets. The result? A destroyed business and fractured family. Why does this situation play out over and over?
Dairy Business News
Wis. Governor Introduces Five Bills Totaling Nearly $25 Million in Support of Agriculture
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, along with Democratic lawmakers, announced on Tuesday five bills totaling more than $25 million in investments in the state’s agriculture industry.
September 29, 2021 08:47 AM
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Taylor Leach
More and more farms have made the switch from feeding calves individually to group autofed systems. However, disease detection in group-housed calves remains a challenge.
Education
Facility Focus: The Road to Automated Calf Feeders
The Klipp family shares their journey of going all in with calf technology.
September 27, 2021 12:30 PM
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Taylor Leach
A cold, damp fall can cause poor soil conditions, leading to a less than ideal manure application.
Education
Two Things to Consider Before Spreading Manure this Fall
Now that corn silage harvest is finally complete, it’s time to accomplish one of the ‘crappier’ jobs on the farm: spreading manure.
September 27, 2021 11:59 AM
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Taylor Leach
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Education
Help High Producing Dairy Cows Get Pregnant
High producing dairy cows are in heat for a shorter period of time, thus increasing the challenges in the timely insemination of cows visually detected in heat.
September 23, 2021 12:00 PM
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Taylor Leach
Butter prices also saw a bit of an increase, jumping 6 cents in 2023 to $2.49 per lb.
Dairy Production
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.
August 25, 2021 07:00 AM
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Taylor Leach
If you have an interest in adding a separating system to your dairy, there are several steps you’ll need to take before making any decisions.
Education
Facility Focus: Is a Separating System Right for You?
If you have an interest in adding a separating system to your dairy, there are several steps you’ll need to take before making any decisions.
August 24, 2021 07:00 AM
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Taylor Leach
A well-planned calving pen gives producers the opportunity to provide the best treatment for both the cow and the calf.
Dairy Production
Facility Focus: Managing Maternity Pens
A well-planned calving pen gives producers the opportunity to provide the best treatment for both the cow and the calf. But what goes in to creating the ideal pen? Here are a few things to consider . . .
August 10, 2021 03:29 PM
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Taylor Leach
Juan Piñeiro, assistant professor and extension dairy specialist with Texas A&M recommends providing enough shade and drinking water to all milking cows, dry cows and heifers.
Dairy Production
Facility Focus: Don’t Let Sprinklers Fizzle Out this Summer
When utilizing an evaporative cooling system, there are several factors to keep in mind to cool cows correctly and efficiently.
August 04, 2021 03:18 PM
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Taylor Leach
When building or remodeling a calf facility, there are five key factors every producer needs to keep in mind.
Education
Facility Focus: The 5 Things to Look for in Calf Facilities
When building or remodeling a calf facility, there are five key factors every producer needs to keep in mind.
August 04, 2021 03:18 PM
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Taylor Leach
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Dairy Production
Facility Focus: Optimizing Resting Behavior
Just because a cow is resting does not mean that she is recovering properly. In order to maximize optimal rest on your facility, analyze these key areas.
August 04, 2021 03:17 PM
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Taylor Leach
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