Dairy Production
As energy prices climb, some farmers are feeling the sting of high electric bills.
The time of consistent heat stress is upon us. Heat-stressed cows produce less milk, have reduced fertility, and have higher SCC. Providing proper heat abatement can have both an economic and welfare impact on the farm.
How you prepare cows for heat stress and the adjustments made to management and feeding practices can help your herd successfully navigate this challenging time period.
High temperatures take a toll on dairy cattle and costs the dairy industry nearly $2 billion annually.
The benefits of dry-period cooling for cows have been documented for several years. But what about first-calf heifers, who don’t technically have a “dry” period?
The relationship between the digestive tract and brain function is receiving a lot of newfound attention. Ruminant nutritionist Mariah Gull explores the connection between the two and how stress can upset the balance.
The milk market over the last several years certainly challenged farmers to remain optimistic. Robin Schmahl with AgDay says that the current positivity in the dairy industry stems from the latest milk production report.
A more traditional approach to feeding ration elements separately could help address concerns related to overhead costs, labor shortages, and fuel usage.
Milk prices have soared and producers are looking at each line of the milk check to learn just what the money maker is. The takeaway is that strong component prices easily help drive that price per hundredweight up.
Dairy sprinklers and fans generally idle on low until summer. With an extreme heatwave across the midsection of the U.S., farmers are stepping up their cooling systems to ensure their cows are as comfortable as possible.
Learn how two Ontario dairy farmers stretch their forage acres by sandwiching rye in between regular-season no-till crops.
Use on-farm culturing to determine proper care.
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.
Your milking equipment can play a big role in attracting and retaining employees. Is your current equipment helping or hindering employee satisfaction?
Texas milk production growth has steadily rose over the last two decades. The latest USDA March 2022 Milk Production report shows the Lone Star State pushed past Idaho, to now rank No. 3 for milk production.
A high incidence of sole ulcers in a dairy herd is probably not the fault of the ration.
Most research recommends 5-7% sugar as an upper limit. However, cows can certainly handle lots of sugar in the diet.
It’s important to stay abreast of new research that can influence dairy management practices. That’s what happened recently at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Watertown, Wis.
More than 5% of U.S. dairy herds closed their doors in 2021, but that was the slowest rate of decline in four years.
Access to livestock drugs through over-the-counter (OTC) channels was curbed considerably starting in 2017. Soon, OTC antibiotics may no longer be available through traditional channels at all.
During a time when feed costs are eating away at farmer’s profits, ration consistency and proper feed management practices are more important now than ever before.
Two dairy farmers from opposite ends of the country share how they push past the trials and tribulations Mother Nature throws their way.
You work too hard to pay for feed commodities to allow them to literally blow away.
The milk price outlook has been a welcomed change. Increasing the number of cows in the herd may be a way to capture the benefit of high milk prices. However, feed prices and animal behavior should also be considered.
With the dairy at maximum capacity, the Larson’s use genomics as part of a comprehensive herd strategy on narrowing down not only which females they want to keep, but addressing what resources those females need.
It is well-known that sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a harmful and costly condition for adult dairy cows. But when calves get SARA, is it bad news for them, too? A Canadian researcher’s conclusion: maybe not.
When milk prices are high, producers begin to question if they should milk more cows to capitalize on that milk check. Leading experts say the answer lies in good management and good animal husbandry skills.
USDA’s Milk Production report illustrated year-over-year declines in both January milk production and cow numbers. Although South Dakota hummed a different tune, leading year-over-year milk volume growth, up 18.3%.
TMR consistency and composition are important to efficient and reliable nutrient delivery in lactating cow rations. But the impact of those factors actually can span much further.
High PI counts typically indicate less than ideal cleanliness of either equipment or cows, but the cause can be difficult to pinpoint.