Dairy Production
Newly fresh heifers have to process a lot of changes on the day they give birth. Making their initial milking a pleasant experience can be aided with some advance training.
When and how preweaned calves are moved from individual feedings to group pens can have a big impact on how well they do on autofeeder systems.
While producers aren’t able to control what they receive for their milk, they are able make slight adjustments to the protein and fat levels in their bulk tank.
No dairy facility is perfect. Even the newest operation has its fair share of bottlenecks. In order to allow animals to be productive, it’s important to provide the basic facility requirements.
Whether it’s paying attention to the tiniest detail or taking a step back to look at the big picture, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of what it takes to produce the best milk possible.
The benefits of diverse plant species are well documented — yet sometimes diverse mixes can be difficult to manage due to differences in palatability and maturity dates.
Unfortunately, ovarian cysts are one of the most common ovarian dysfunctions in dairy cattle. In fact, approximately one in 10 cows will become cystic at some point in her life.
Holstein springer values changed little across the country in the past month, but dairy cow numbers, milk production and dairy product stocks continue to grow.
Calves that have incurred traumatic births are often are lethargic, clumsy and have little interest in nursing. These babies may benefit from a simple procedure called the “Madigan Squeeze Technique.”
It’s frustrating, it’s costly, and it happens a lot. The post-weaning slump can set back calves that were well-grown and healthy at weaning -- with illness, stunted growth and social maladjustment
It’s a well-known fact that cattle are social creatures. But studies have shown that even the friendliest cow doesn’t enjoy making new acquaintances on a regular basis
When it is cold, cows can divert their energy into maintaining body temperature instead of producing milk. What can you do to avoid that?
Researchers at the Ohio State recently completed a study evaluating how dietary protein and amino acid supplementation influenced milk production during the first three to four weeks of lactation.
The world of warm season annuals is a new one for many farmers and so is the terminology associated with them.
Milk prices made a health leap in December, but for the most part, dairy heifer prices did not follow suit.
As greenhouse gas emissions have continued to grow over the years, one commonly suggested solution to reduce greenhouse gas output has been to reduce or eliminate the dairy industry in favor of plant production.
Whether or not to feed hay to preweaned dairy calves is a longstanding debate, without an absolute answer.
Here is a bit of information for those producers that are considering planting alfalfa this year.
The stresses of farming can leave individuals feeling bitter, anxious and overwhelmed. Challenges piled on top of one another can lead to chronic stress that interferes with good decision-making and family relationships.
10-year, 7-herd study also shows lower health costs.
If you were not able to forward contract protein commodities early this fall, there are still a few affordable protein options.
It’s crucial that the environment of the parlor itself is an inviting, yet efficient one.
Does increasing the volume of the liquid diet change other feeding behaviors in young calves? Canadian researchers recently examined whether feeding higher volumes of milk or milk replacer would suppress intake of start
The frequency of feed delivery influences a dairy cow’s eating behavior.
One way to help forecast the amount of milk produced from first lactation animals is to record their age at first calving (AFC).
Helping older heifers grow, while at the same time not becoming too fat, is a delicate dance that challenges nutritionists and producers alike.
Unfortunately, there is not a “one size fits all” ventilation system for producers to utilize.
When it comes to animal welfare, could it be possible that activists may actually be able to help improve certain areas of concern within the dairy industry?
From increasing practical livestock biosecurity measures to advancing rapid depopulation and disposal abilities during animal disease outbreaks, Farm Bill funding will support endeavors to protect animal health.
The next frontier will be an increased focus on feed efficiency and will also be centered on expanding the digestible fiber pool.