Dairy Herd

From Hilmar to the world, this California dairy farmer is driving the global dairy revolution as USDEC’s first female chair — bridging the gap between the family farm and international trade.
Crossbreds are now part of the genetic picture, and new tools are making their evaluations more accurate.
2026 milk prices are defying a massive supply surge as a revolution in protein demand and steady exports create a great rebalancing for U.S. dairy producers navigating market volatility.
Chocolate is back at No. 1 among U.S. ice cream flavors, with butter pecan gaining ground and richer options continuing to rise in popularity, according to a new survey.
As dairy farms collect more data than ever, the real challenge is helping the next generation cut through the noise and focus on the signals that drive better decisions.
In a major legislative milestone, the House-passed H.R. 7567 offers a roadmap for the next five years of American agriculture.
Rising input costs and geopolitical tensions drive growing pessimism among ag economists, though views differ on how the industry is being reshaped, according to the latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.
Michelle Schack is redefining dairy medicine by bringing veterinarians, producers and farm teams together through hands-on training and shared understanding.
America’s largest retailer has opened its third milk processing plant, this time in Robinson, Texas.
Cheese has been the strong silent type as far as market leaders in dairy. The impressive demand despite an abundance supply has started to catch traders’ eyes.
Surveillance, reporting and veterinary partnerships are framed as critical ways to prevent a single case from becoming a national crisis.
Organic dairy farmers are taking their concerns over federal milk pricing to court, seeking exemption from the Federal Milk Marketing Order system and compensation for payments they say were wrongly collected.
Many farms have detailed treatment protocols in place. However, errors often occur not because protocols are absent, but because employees are trained on how to perform a task without understanding why it matters biologically.
Nominate the innovators and advocates redefining dairy. Apply by August 1 for a chance to win an all-paid trip to the 2026 Milk Business Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cattle moving from unaffected states no longer have to test for H5N1 avian influenza first.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says a multi-agency Trump administration effort will target fertilizer costs and boost U.S. production, with a major announcement expected yet this week.
When a good employee’s behavior changes, knowing how to respond can be challenging, especially when the right answer is not clear.
After 17 years battling the silent killer of stray voltage, the Den Hoed family is using an audacious faith and elite self-sufficiency to build a brand-new future for the next generation.
Ammonia can build in calf hutches and affect growth, but small changes in bedding and daily management can help keep levels in check.
From the evolving H5N1 virus to the looming screwworm threat, discover why a line of separation is the new strategic foundation for safeguarding the U.S. milk supply in 2026.
Changing market signals are pushing one Arizona dairy to move away from Jerseys, using IVF embryos to quickly build more Holsteins and reshape the herd for better profitability.
Kansas leads a 30-year high for the U.S. dairy herd as production surges 25.4%, anchoring a massive geographic shift toward the high-precision infrastructure of the High Plains.
Over-treating for metritis could be costing the U.S. dairy industry close to $270 million annually.
As milk pricing signals shift and Holsteins improve components, some dairies are rethinking the role of Jerseys and adjusting breeding strategies to build cows that better fit today’s market.
By transforming the dairy barn into a high-precision factory floor, beef-on-dairy provides the consistent, year-round supply of high-quality cattle the beef industry has chased for decades.
A steadier dairy outlook is starting to take shape for 2026, with stronger signals building into the second half of the year.
While global production climbed in 2025, the latest Alltech survey highlights a diverging landscape of North American contraction and rapid commercialization in Africa and Asia.
By pairing immigrant grit with a million-worm revolution, Anthony Agueda is using natural engineering to protect his family’s legacy and redefine the American Dream for California dairy.
Feed shrink is taking a bite out of profits between storage and the bunk.
After several years of tight replacement numbers, rising use of sexed semen suggests U.S. dairy producers are beginning to slowly rebuild heifer supplies.
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