Herd Health

The Eye in the Sky: Why Computer Vision is the Next Great Leap for Dairy Management

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:02:15 GMT

For decades, the gold standard of dairy management was the keen eye of a seasoned herdsman. It was the ability to walk a pen and instinctively know which cow was beginning to favor a foot or which one had dropped a few pounds of body condition. But as herds have grown considerably over the last decade, that human eye has been stretched to its limit.

Enter the era of computer vision (CV).

As Jeffrey Bewley, executive director of genetic programs and innovation at Holstein USA, recently shared at the High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas, the dairy industry is on the cusp of a visual revolution. It is a shift from reactive management to a world where the eye in the sky never sleeps, never tires and — thanks to a decade of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence — is becoming more accurate than the humans it assists.

The ChatGPT of the Barn

To understand why camera technology is exploding now, we have to look outside the barn. Most of us have experimented with ChatGPT, the AI that can write a poem or summarize a legal brief in seconds. As Bewley points out, the engine powering ChatGPT is the same engine now powering the best computer vision systems on dairies.

“Every dollar invested in ChatGPT-style AI lifts all AI — including farm vision,” Bewley says.

The massive global investment in AI (projected at $200 billion in 2025) has created a tidal wave effect. It has made high-powered hardware cheaper, algorithms smarter and a talent pipeline of researchers available to solve agricultural problems.

In 2012, a breakthrough called AlexNet proved deep neural networks could “see” with human-level accuracy. By 2015, a system called YOLO (You Only Look Once) allowed cameras to detect and classify multiple objects in real-time, even in the chaotic, low-light conditions of a dairy barn. Today, that technology isn’t just a university prototype; it’s a commercial reality.

From Geometry to Gold: Body Condition Scoring

One of the most immediate wins for computer vision is body condition scoring (BCS). Traditionally, BCS is subjective and infrequent. One person’s 3.0 is another person’s 2.75.

A variety of camera systems use 3D depth sensors to measure the “geometry” of a cow. By analyzing the angles of the posterior hooks and the spring of the ribs, these systems estimate BCS automatically every time a cow walks under the lens.

The ROI is staggering. Bewley highlights research showing 3D cameras can return 200% to 500% annually, costing roughly $1 per cow per month. This is because the camera detects a downward trend in condition two to three weeks earlier than the human eye. In the high-stakes world of transition cow management, those three weeks are the difference between a simple ration adjustment and a clinical case of ketosis.

The Gait Keeper: Early Lameness Detection

If BCS is about geometry, lameness detection is about symmetry. Tech systems use pose estimation to track landmarks on a cow’s body as she walks. The AI analyzes gait symmetry frame-by-frame, assigning a locomotion score based on how the animal moves.

In a traditional setup, a cow is often only treated once she is visibly “three-legged lame.” By then, the loss in milk production and the cost of treatment have already taken a bite out of the bottom line. Computer vision flags the asymmetric walker long before she becomes the lame walker, allowing for early intervention and significantly higher recovery rates.

Rib-Arrow Dairy in Tulare, Calif., has implemented the Nedap SmartSight vision technology.

“A lame cow used to be something you could see — she was limping,” Ribeiro says. “But the camera showed us we have problems with feet long before there is a limp. It’s like wearing the same running shoes for a year on concrete. That subclinical pressure on the joints, ankles and knees starts a decline we can’t visually pick up until it’s too late.”

The impact is most visible in first-lactation animals. These bulletproof heifers often hide discomfort, but the vision tech caught the subtle crooked gait that leads to chronic issues. At the start of the program, lameness prevalence in first-lactation cows was 6%. Today, overall and severe lameness rates have been slashed to just 2% — one-third of what they were.

Beyond the Cow: Management Visibility

The power of the camera doesn’t stop at the animal’s hide. Computer vision is now being used to monitor the environment that surrounds the cow:

Feed Availability: Cameras can determine exactly when feed events happen and, more importantly, when the bunk is empty, sending alerts to the feeder in real-time.
Bird Detection: Innovative systems use AI cameras paired with guided laser beams to detect and deter birds, protecting feed quality without the use of chemicals or loud noises.
Employee Safety & SOPs: In the parlor, cameras can monitor for missed post-dip events or track phone time, ensuring the farm’s standard operating procedures are being followed when the owner isn’t looking.

The Pitfalls: It’s Not All Plug-and-Play

Despite the promise, Bewley is quick to offer a reality check.

“Camera systems are not plug-and-play,” he warns.

The marketing brochure rarely mentions the physical problems that plague dairy tech: manure splatter, dust, ammonia corrosion and the rural broadband problem.

A single 4K camera stream requires 10 to 20 Mbps of bandwidth. Many rural farms struggle to get 25 Mbps for the entire office. To solve this, the industry is moving toward edge computing — where the thinking happens on the camera itself, only sending a small alert to the cloud — and the adoption of Starlink to bridge the connectivity gap.

There is also the garbage in, garbage out factor. An AI trained on clean, perfectly lit university cows will often fail when faced with a sand-bedded freestall barn full of shadows and dirty coats. Success requires models trained on real-farm data.

The Human Factor: Your Team is the Technology

Perhaps the most critical takeaway from Bewley’s insights is that the best camera system in the world is worthless if nobody acts on the data.

“The #1 predictor of precision technology success on farms isn’t the technology. It’s the people using it,” he says, noting every successful system needs a champion (someone who owns the data), a skeptic (to ensure the alerts are accurate) and a responder (someone with a clear SOP to fix the problem the camera flagged).

The Big Question: Should You Invest?

So, is it time to hang cameras in your barn? Bewley breaks it down into three categories:

Invest Now: If you have a specific, quantifiable problem (like high lameness rates) and reliable internet.
Invest Soon: If you are planning a renovation. It is 50% cheaper to build camera infrastructure into a new project than to retrofit an old one.
Wait & Watch: If your internet is unreliable or your team isn’t yet comfortable using data to drive daily decisions. Focus on wearables first.

The Bottom Line

Computer vision is no longer a someday technology. It is happening now. As labor becomes scarcer and the margin for error in dairy production becomes thinner, the ability to see every cow, every minute of every day, will become the baseline for the modern dairy.

“Technology should serve the animal and never lose sight of the cow,” Bewley exclaims.

The transition to computer vision doesn’t mark the end of the traditional herdsman; rather, it represents the evolution of the craft. By augmenting human intuition with digital precision, producers can finally reclaim the individual attention that large-scale operations often struggle to maintain. As the industry moves forward, the competitive edge will belong to those who can bridge the gap between the barn and the byte. Ultimately, while the engine of the dairy may be changing, the mission remains the same: providing the best possible care for the cow, one frame at a time.

Rubber Flooring Tips for Installation Maintenance and Longevity

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:26:35 GMT

The surfaces cows walk on every day have a factor on herd health. And because cows spend so much time on concrete, lameness often follows. According to Martin Folkema, product manager at Agri-Comfort in Canada, the problem may be more widespread than many producers realize.

“It seems like 30-35% of cows have lameness,” Folkema said on a recent ‘The Dairy Podcast Show’ episode. “But when we start to look at cull cows and subclinical cases, the number is closer to 74%.”

While lameness can often seem like just a sore foot issue, Folkema is quick to point out that it can trigger a chain reaction of other health issues.

“Lameness is probably the cause of a lot of mastitis issues and even reproductive issues,” Folkema says. “If they’ve got a sore foot, they’re not going to stand for being in heat.”

Part of the challenge lies in the barn surfaces themselves. Concrete flooring helped dairies solve problems such as mud by moving cows into cleaner housing systems, but it also introduced harder walking conditions that require careful design and upkeep.

Concrete essentially functions like artificial rock in the barn. It must be roughened to provide traction so cows do not slip, but that same roughness increases wear on hooves over time. As a result, most lameness shows up in the rear legs, where the majority of a cow’s weight and impact occurs.

Because of that challenge, many dairies have started looking at ways to soften high-traffic areas without sacrificing traction. Flooring design and installation choices can play a role, especially in spaces where cows spend the most time standing and walking.

Bringing Comfort Back to the Barn Floor

Rubber flooring has become one option to help reduce the strain created by concrete alleys and other high-traffic areas. When rubber flooring first began appearing in dairy barns in the early 2000s, there was little research behind it. What producers noticed instead were changes in how cows moved.

“Some people were just seeing phenomenal differences on the cows on rubber,” Folkema says. “The gaits were better. The strides were longer. Cows that might have been limping on concrete got onto rubber and suddenly they’re walking better.”

Folkema notes that rubber flooring helps bring back some of the shock absorption cows naturally experience on pasture. Since cows spend much of the day on their feet, often walking two miles or more, flooring improvements can be especially valuable in the areas where cows stand the longest.

“I do believe the area along the manger is probably your quickest payback,” Folkema says. “They spend about six hours a day in front of the manger. Parlors and holding areas are another big priority.”

Improving comfort in these high-traffic areas can also support longer productive lives.

“If you go from two and a half to three and a half lactations, you double your profit on that cow,” he says.

Installation and Maintenance Considerations

How and where rubber is used in the barn can make a big impact on cow comfort and mobility. Proper placement in high-traffic areas allows cows to benefit from the shock absorption and traction rubber provides, helping reduce stress on hooves and legs throughout the day. But with constant hoof traffic, manure exposure and equipment use, it’s important that the rubber flooring is durable enough to withstand daily wear.

“You’ve got to find something that has very high-abrasion resistance and very high-tensile strength,” Folkema says. “You want to go with a virgin rubber compound. You don’t want something that’s been recycled.”

While recycled rubber products may appear less expensive, they often struggle to hold up in manure-heavy barn environments.

“The bacteria and the nature of manure are not good with recycled rubber,” Folkema adds.

Installation timing can also affect performance. Newly installed rubber often has a thin surface film that can make it slick during the first hours of use. Applying a light layer of sand or lime helps remove that film and improve traction for cows.

Temperature can influence installation too Rubber becomes stiffer in colder conditions, which can make handling and fitting the mats more difficult.

“You don’t want to install something in the dead of winter,” he says. “Maybe put it in your shop first to get it warmed up to temperature.”

Maintenance practices may also need to change once rubber flooring is installed. Although the material is durable, it cannot tolerate the same aggressive scraping used on concrete alleys.

“You can’t have the same level of expectation as concrete,” Folkema says. “You can’t get in there with a steel bucket on your skid steer and just start scraping.”

Even high-quality rubber has its limits.

“You can have the highest abrasion resistant rubber out there,” he says. “But if you really want to hurt it, you can hurt it.”

Clearing Up Common Misconceptions

When producers consider installing rubber flooring, a few common concerns tend to come up. One is the belief that cows’ hooves will overgrow if they spend too much time walking on rubber rather than abrasive concrete.

“If you put rubber everywhere, well, there’s nothing left to wear the cows’ hooves down,” Folkema says.

In practice, hoof growth is usually manageable. Cow hooves grow roughly one eighth to one quarter inch per month, and most dairies already trim hooves at least twice each year.

Another concern is that comfortable alleys might encourage cows to lie down outside their stalls. Folkema says that behavior often signals an issue with stall comfort rather than flooring.

“The bigger rule of thumb is if they’re laying in the alleyway, you’ve got to look at your stall,” he says. “Obviously, your stall’s not comfortable enough.”

The Link Between Comfort and Longevity

For many dairies, flooring decisions ultimately come down to long-term cow health.

“I think the focus on cow longevity is going to get more and more important,” Folkema adds.

When cows are more comfortable on the surfaces they walk and stand on, they move more freely and are less prone to lameness. Investing in thoughtful flooring design, proper installation and realistic maintenance practices helps dairies maximize these benefits.

The Hardest Call in Cattle Health: When to Treat Disease

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:55:55 GMT

“Are we better off treating disease early or treating disease precisely?” Veterinarians of Kansas State University posed this question a recent episode of BCI Cattle Chat .

Deciding when to initiate treatment is one of the most consequential judgment calls in cattle health management. The tension between acting early and waiting for diagnostic certainty persists because there is no single correct approach. Each decision carries both biological and management consequences.

“To me, I’m looking at this and framing the question as should I be sensitive or specific in my diagnostic approach,” says Dr. Todd Gunderson, clinical assistant professor in beef production medicine at K-State.

A sensitive approach prioritizes catching disease early, accepting that some animals will receive treatment they might not truly need. A specific approach limits treatment to animals that clearly meet disease thresholds, reducing unnecessary intervention but increasing the risk of missing cases that would have benefited from earlier action. The trade-off is unavoidable.

Gunderson puts forth different clinical scenarios where either approach could be beneficial or detrimental.

“Treating scouring calves and, as a result, creating more scouring calves because I’m contaminating equipment, I’m contaminating my clothes … I’m overly aggressive at going into the calving pen,” he says.

On the other hand, waiting too long could negate any help treatment might offer.

“[If] I wait until the animal is at a pathological state where they have consolidation, they already have fibrinous pleuritis of the chest cavity or adhesion and fibrous attachments,” he says. “That animal has enough pathology that even if I kill every microbe in that animal’s system that’s causing disease, it would still not recover.”

Disease Treatment as a Dynamic Process

Rather than viewing treatment as a one-time, irreversible decision, a more effective framework treats intervention as a dynamic process. Choosing not to treat immediately does not mean choosing inaction; it means committing to close monitoring and reassessment over defined time intervals.

“I don’t get trapped into thinking that I have to make the decisions that I’m going to stick with,” says Dr. Bob Larson, professor in production medicine at K-State. “Let me make a decision today and act on it and then reassess it in 12 hours and reassess it in another 12 hours, and be flexible because I’m not good enough today to predict the next 12, 24, 72 hours and be right all the time.”

Repeated evaluations allow decisions to evolve as new information emerges, improving accuracy over time.

“Just because I acted doesn’t mean that now all my thinking is over,” Larson says. “If I act, I need to maintain vigilance, observations, reassess, be willing to change my mind.”

Make Decisions Based on the Herd

Treatment decisions should also be considered in the context of the group not in isolation. Individual animal signs can be ambiguous, but herd-level trends provide valuable context. During times of disease pressure, subtle changes might warrant treatment, while the same signs in an otherwise healthy group could justify continued observation.

“We sometimes take these decisions and try to make them in a vacuum, and you can’t do that,” says Dr. Brad White, Professor and Production Medicine Director of the Beef Cattle Institute at K-State. “Often, that individual animal is a part of a group. My expectations for that group today should impact my decision.”

This includes the recent health of the herd and the number of animals presenting as ill.

In addition, environmental and situational factors should further shape treatment thresholds. Weather conditions and recent stressors both impact disease risk and recovery potential. Incorporating these variables into treatment decisions expands diagnostic accuracy beyond the animal itself.

5 Livestock Diseases That Could Impact U.S. Food Security and Economic Stability

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:44:59 GMT

Production animal disease outbreaks are not only animal health events but threats to economic stability and food security. A new report from The Farm Journal Foundation , The Mean Sixteen: Biosecurity Threats Facing U.S. Agriculture, estimates the collective annual costs to U.S. agriculture due to outbreaks of the top five livestock diseases could top $300 billion without proper preparation.

“It is absolutely crucial that the U.S. should support mechanisms to protect farmers from risks and make sure that our food supply chain can remain resilient even when challenges occur,” wrote Stephanie Mercier, senior policy adviser at Farm Journal Foundation.

Mercier identifies five diseases with the potential to disrupt U.S. livestock production, trade and response infrastructure at scale. These include foreign animal diseases as well as ongoing threats:

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
African swine fever (ASF)
New World screwworm (NWS)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Trade-Stopping Risk to U.S. Livestock

Foot-and-mouth disease, an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease affecting a range of ungulates, remains one of the highest-impact foreign animal disease threats to U.S. agriculture. While the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are classified as FMD-free, outbreaks in Taiwan (1997), the United Kingdom (2001), and this year in Germany and Hungary, represent how relevant this disease remains as both an animal health and economic threat.

Modern production systems characterized by high animal density and frequent interstate movement would complicate containment efforts in case of an outbreak. In 2015, a report from Kansas State University found an FMD outbreak beginning in a U.S. state with high populations of vulnerable livestock could cost nearly $200 billion to the U.S. economy if no emergency vaccine program was implemented.

A 2018 provision to the farm bill mandated the establishment of an animal vaccine bank; FMD was chosen as the first disease for vaccine stockpile. While FMD vaccines reduce an animal’s chance of being infected, they are generally not administerd in FMD-free regions as it is difficult to distinguish between vaccinated and FMD-infected animals in a clinical setting. Further, World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) protocols allow for trade bans to be imposed on countries using these vaccines.

African Swine Fever: Persistent Threat to U.S. Pork Production

African swine fever has expanded globally over the past decade and remains one of the most significant threats to the U.S. swine industry causing hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates. In 2018, a massive ASF outbreak in China resulted in the loss of half of the country’s swine herd, approximately 225 million animals, and cost the country’s economy around $111 billion. Since then, ASF cases have been reported in countries across much of Asia and Europe .

(Farm Journal Foundation)

It has been estimated an ASF outbreak in the U.S. would cost the economy nearly $80 billion, due to loss of exports and reduced industry revenue, but could also affect the crop sector due to decreased feed demand. The extensive feral hog population across much of the country would further complicate containment efforts.

There is no globally available ASF vaccine; however, in May 2025, the WOAH adopted their first international standard for ASF vaccines . This was followed by the release of field evaluation and post-vaccination monitoring standards in July.

New World Screwworm: Reintroduction Risk and Surveillance Dependence

The NWS fly lays eggs in an animal’s skin, often at wound sites, and the hatched larvae burrow into the animal, consuming the flesh. Prior to 2025, NWS had been largely absent in the Western Hemisphere north of Panama; however, since the beginning of the year, outbreaks have been creeping northward, with most recent detection being just 120 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The USDA estimates that if NWS were to cross the border into Texas, it could cost the state’s economy at least $1.8 billion while putting the rest of the U.S. beef sector at risk. In an effort to tackle this threat, the USDA announced a five-pronged plan to combat the pest including sterile fly production, closing of the U.S.-Mexico border to cattle trade and increased communication with state animal health officials.

The same sterile male fly technique that eradicated the pest in the U.S in 1966 is being applied for the current outbreak, with sterile fly production facilities open in Tampico, Mexico and opening in Edinburg, Texas .

While no NWS cases have been detected in the U.S. yet, the fly is still having an impact on the economy. With the U.S.-Mexico border closed to cattle imports , the already reduced U.S. cattle herd could shrink even further. With strong demand supporting U.S. beef prices, Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe predicts ground beef prices could reach $10 per pound by the third quarter of 2026.

(Farm Journal Foundation)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: An Ongoing Multispecies Challenge

Highly pathogenic avian influenza remains an evolving threat to U.S. animal agriculture. Twice in the past decade, major outbreaks in the U.S. have devastated poultry operations with losses of over 50 million commercial birds from 2014 to 2015. The latest HPAI outbreak began in 2022 and has since been detected in flocks in all 50 states resulting in an estimated loss of 169 million birds as of April 2025.

(Farm Journal Foundation)

HPAI is a zoonotic disease with reported infections in humans, hogs, cats and dogs. In March 2024, HPAI was detected in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas. Since then, HPAI outbreaks have been confirmed in over 300 dairy herds across the U.S. in 14 different states.

The 2014 to 2015 HPAI outbreak is estimated to have cost U.S. agriculture over $1 billion when accounting for losses to both the poultry and animal feed sectors, as well as losses in land value. Both this outbreak and the subsequent 2024-25 outbreak caused significant spikes in egg prices, with March 2025 prices rising to 350% of those of the previous year. U.S. milk prices have not yet been affected by the outbreak.

(Farm Journal Foundation)

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome: Endemic Disease, National Cost

The infection of hogs by PRRS has had a significant impact on the U.S. pork industry. First detected in the U.S. in 1987, PRRS infection causes pregnancy loss in sows and respiratory problems in pigs of all ages leading to poor performance. Unlike other animal diseases, PRRS infection can go undetected until issues with pregnant sows occur.

Analysis from Iowa State University shows PRRS caused an estimated $1.2 billion per year in lost production in the U.S. swine industry from 2016 to 2020. This marks an 80% increase over numbers reported a decade earlier.

With no cure at present, disease impact is minimized through biosecurity practices, vaccinations and management of infection with antibiotics. In April 2025, FDA granted PIC approval for the gene edit used in its PRRS-resistant pig. This technology could have a large impact on animal welfare, production costs and pork prices if adopted, though any impact is likely many years out.

Policy and Preparedness Implications for U.S. Animal Health

Across these diseases, the report identifies recurring gaps in U.S. animal health preparedness that extend beyond individual pathogens and suggests some key policy and infrastructure needs to help mitigate these threat risks:

Improved national biosecurity coordination including culling guidelines
Training for veterinarians for outbreak identification and reporting
Support for vaccine stockpiling programs and prioritized regulatory approvals for prevention and treatment products
Increased research support for both international collaboration and domestic work on biological control techniques of pests and pathogens, and disease-resistant genetic traits

“Investing in agricultural research, development and the long-term viability of our food supply chain is critical for protecting our national security and economy, and we are hopeful that our nation’s leaders will rise to meet this challenge before it’s too late,” Mercier writes.

The Farm Journal Foundation is a farmer-centered, non-profit, nonpartisan organization, created by Farm Journal in 2010, working to advance agriculture innovation, food and nutrition security, conservation and rural economic development.

Emergency FDA Approval Sought for Tick-Borne Cattle Disease Treatment

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:00:04 GMT

The Ranchers Cattleman Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) has submitted a request to USDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine requesting emergency approval for the medication buparvaquone to treat cattle infected with theileriosis, the disease transmitted by the Asian longhorned tick (ALHT).

The letter , penned by R. M Thornsberry, chairman of the R-CALF USA Animal Health Committee, asks the FDA to take action to combat the disease, which has been spreading in the United States since 2017 when its carrier was introduced. Since then, the ALHT has been identified in 21 states, most recently as far west as Kansas .

“As a food animal veterinarian, I can prescribe appropriate treatment protocols for tick control, but I must watch my client’s cattle die because I have no approved therapeutic protocols to treat a properly diagnosed case of theileriosis,” Thornsberry writes.

Buparvaquone has a history of use for the treatment of theileriosis in other regions including Asia, Africa, Pacific Island nations and the Middle East. R-CALF USA proposes extended withdrawal times to ensure food safety.

Signs of theileriosis infection in cattle include:

Weakness
Fever
Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing
Reduced milk production
Foamy nasal discharge

Pregnant cows and calves are most susceptible to infection, and once infected, cattle can be lifetime carriers.

As the ALHT continues to expand its range, the approval of this medicine could be very important for nationwide cattle health.

For more information:
Theileria and the Asian Longhorned Tick: What Beef Producers Need to Know

Tips to Make Informed Culling and Cow Longevity Choices in a Dairy Herd

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:54:27 GMT

How long a cow should remain in a milking herd is a tricky question without a straightforward answer. Some people will argue that increased herd longevity is a good thing. Nigel Cook from the University of Wisconsin outlines how this argument has been presented to him:

“People think longer lives result from healthier cows and that reflects better animal welfare, decreased environmental footprint (raising fewer replacements can decrease our methane emissions per pound of milk), and we can improve our economics because we’re keeping cows longer,” he says.

However, if you look a little deeper, this reasoning may be flawed. When comparing real herds, there are a variety of situations that may explain why there is no one-size-fits-all for turnover rates in a dairy.

“There are herds with lower turnover rates, with great welfare and excellent health. They sell heifers or build another barn, they expand. But there are also herds with lower turnover rates that have low turnover rates because they have to keep cows. Those cows may be high somatic cell count cows, mastitic cows or lame cows, and that impacts their overall performance and fertility,” Cook explains.

On the other hand, high turnover rates can also reflect good herd management.

“There are herds with high turnover rates that can support those rates because of good health and good fertility. They have the replacement supply they need to do it,” Cook continues.

Avoid Hasty Culling Choices

In the U.S, the average time for a dairy cow to remain in the herd is 2.5 lactations. Over the past 10 years, many improvements have been made in dairy herds: cattle are producing more milk with improved component contents, fertility rates are up and somatic cell counts are down. Despite these changes, herd turnover rates have remained fairly constant. Cook proposes this is because producers follow breeding, and not necessarily culling.

“The process of culling is enormously variable,” Cook says. “Few farms use relatively well organized, high quality summaries of data to help them select cows early enough in lactation to decide which cow leaves.”

Cook highlights how a lot of farms put too much focus on the cow’s immediate production history instead of their lifetime production.

“They have a heifer, they have a slot. They’re just making that decision that day without a lot of prior planning. I wish we could change that,” he says.

This can lead to hasty cull decisions that may not be the best move for the herd overall. This was confirmed in an unpublished survey of over 60 Wisconsin dairy herds. Cook and colleagues found that 29% of cows culled for production reasons were better performers than half of the cows in their own herds.

“We should be holding our farms accountable to the quality of the cows leaving the herd, not the quantity,” Cook says.

The Economics of Culling Decisions

Mike Overton, global dairy platform lead for Zoetis, suggests letting herd economics be a driving factor when making the decision to cull and selecting cull cows.

“When we look at [culling decisions], we’re trying to replace an inferior cow, and that represents an opportunity to improve the herd,” Overton says. “It comes down to timing. We do it too late, we cost the herd money. If we do it prematurely, we cost the herd money.”

Consider the predicted value of the incoming and potential cull animals. If you replaced that animal, what would the improvement in milk production be? How about the improvement in herd genetics? One additional consideration is the revenue for the current cow when she leaves.

“When you have a heifer calving into a herd and her predicted value is greater than the lowest value cow in the herd, replace that cow. If not, that heifer should go elsewhere,” Overton says.

While Overton advocates for more aggressive replacement strategies, he says he is often countered with the idea of whether the departing cow has ‘paid for herself’.

“The decision to replace the cow should never account for when she’s paid for herself. That’s flawed logic,” Overton says. “This line of thinking might work for your average and above average animals, but your lower producing cows, the ones you should be culling sooner, will end up staying in the herd longest.”

Also consider older cows have a higher risk of health complications, as well as a lower market value per pound at slaughter. The salvage value of a cow should play into your culling decisions.

“Most people assume a low replacement rate equals greater profitability,” Overton explains. “It would be true all things being equal. If you think about if all cows were healthy and equal in production and market value, and the only reason for replacement was mortality, a lower replacement rate is going to be better. But we also know that cows are not equal in value or productivity.”

It’s possible to fall into the trap of trying to hit longevity, productivity or replacement rate benchmarks; however, these may cause lower performing cows to be kept for longer. Cull decisions should be well informed and tailored to each herd.

“Don’t be afraid to replace poor producing animals, even first lactation animals, if you’ve got heifers available to take their place. Never restrict replacement just to try and hit a benchmark,” Overton says.

A Bottle of Hot Water, Please

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 19:02:46 GMT

Water is the most essential nutrient for all animals, and makes up about 70% of a preweaned calf’s body weight.

In addition to the water they consume in their milk or milk replacer rations, calves need supplemental water to accelerate their digestive development and support excellent growth. Drinking more water has also been research-proven to encourage more starter grain intake.

The late Sam Leadley , longtime calf and heifer management specialist from Attica, N.Y., explained that this “free” water fuels the fermentation process of starter grain in the developing rumen. Rumen bacteria need water to survive, so lack of water slows fermentation.

The growth of the rumen lining and development of nutrient-absorbing rumen papillae depends on the products of fermentation. In short, water is critical to building robust rumens, which are vital to lifetime animal performance.

So, what’s the best way to feed water? Key elements include:

Warm is the best form – Leadley noted regardless of the temperature at which it is fed, water will be at the same temperature as the calf’s body within an hour after it is consumed. But especially in cold weather, that internal warming process robs calves of precious energy and can suppress growth rates.

A South Dakota State University study also showed feeding calves cold water shocks the rumen environment, which can disrupt fermentation. Delivering water to calves at body temperature, 100°F to 105°F, is easiest on the calf’s system and also might be more palatable to calves.

Bottle it up – A study at the Provimi North America Inc. Nurture Research Center compared the consumption of water by calves from a bucket versus a nipple bottle over the first eight weeks of life. One group was offered a 3-qt. bottle of hot water daily at midday. The other group was offered free-choice water from a pail at ambient temperature.

The bottle-fed calves consumed an average of 1.4 qt. of water per day, compared to 0.2 qt. for the pail-fed group. At the end of 56 days, the calves receiving water from a bottle also consumed 10 lb. per head more starter grain.

Timing matters – The Provimi researchers advise waiting to offer water at least 15 to 20 minutes after regular feedings to ensure the esophageal groove has closed and water enters the rumen instead of the stomach.

Calves that receive water are able to convert dry feed more efficiently. Two quarts of water should promote about 1 lb. of grain intake. Leadley noted as calves grow, about two-thirds of every pound they gain is water.

Facility Focus: Are You Managing Footbaths as Well as You Think?

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Footbaths are one of the most commonly used management tools on the dairy, yet they often don’t get the attention they deserve. With lameness ranking among the most costly health issues in today’s dairy operations, a “set it and forget it” approach is not an effective way to prevent the spread of digital dermatitis (DD)—an incurable disease that can quickly take hold if not managed properly.

Aerica Bjurstrom, a Regional Dairy Educator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, shares key management practices to help producers keep their footbaths operating efficiently.

Monitor Use
To be effective, footbaths should be at least 10 feet long, allowing each cow’s hooves to step into the solution twice. Additionally, the solution depth should be maintained at a minimum of four inches to ensure dewclaws are fully submerged. As solution levels drop, footbaths can be topped off, but it’s essential to maintain proper concentration levels as per product recommendations.

“[The footbath] solution should be changed after 150 to 350 cows pass through,” Bjurstrom advises. “If cows have cleaner hooves and legs, the solution can last for 300 to 350 cows. However, dirtier hooves require more frequent changes.”

Tracking daily cow traffic through the footbath can provide better insights into when the solution needs refreshing. Additionally, Bjurstrom notes that cows should have the option to bypass treatment when necessary. “A simple chlorinated or soapy bath on non-treatment days can help maintain foot cleanliness.”

She also emphasizes that treatment frequency should be tailored to your herd needs. “During a DD outbreak, start with three footbath treatments per week. If the condition does not improve, increase frequency to four or five times weekly. For maintenance, a schedule such as Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday or Monday-Wednesday-Friday can be effective.”

Know Your Product
Footbath effectiveness is not one-size-fits-all, and proper solution management is key to success.

“Your footbath solution should be maintained at a pH of 3.5–5.5,” Bjurstrom explains. “Making the solution too acidic or too alkaline won’t improve DD management. Since healthy skin naturally falls within a pH range of 4–5.5, keeping the solution in this range helps maintain skin condition and optimize treatment results.”

Copper sulfate is one of the most widely used footbath treatments, known for reducing both the incidence and severity of hoof lesions. However, Bjurstrom cautions that its effectiveness can be diminished by organic matter. “Dirty footbaths will be less effective than clean ones, as organic matter can rapidly neutralize copper sulfate. The recommended concentration is between 2–5%.”

Don’t Put It Off
While managing footbaths isn’t the most glamorous job, it’s certainly one that can’t be overlooked. A well-maintained footbath plays a critical role in preventing lameness and keeping your herd healthy.
Take the time to develop a routine maintenance schedule that includes:

Regular solution changes based on herd size and cleanliness
Consistent monitoring of concentration levels and pH balance
Thorough cleaning to remove organic buildup and maintain effectiveness
Employee training to ensure proper handling and safety procedures

By staying proactive and making footbath management a priority, you can help prevent the spread of digital dermatitis and keep your cows on the right track—literally and figuratively.

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Don’t Let Cold Weather Leave You Chapped: Protecting Teats in the Winter

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:43:31 GMT

Chapped lips and hands aren’t the only things we need to worry about now that we are in the middle of the winter season. Winter weather has a significant impact on teat skin. Cold weather can lead to teats drying, cracking, and chapping, providing more surface area for bacteria to thrive. Preparing for changes in the weather can help promote better teat health and reduce mastitis cases.

Manage the environment

We often talk about keeping cows clean and dry to prevent mastitis, but the environment can also impact teat health in cold temperatures. Teat skin is unique because it has no sweat, oil glands, or hair follicles. These characteristics make teats especially susceptible to cold temperatures. A wet environment increases the likelihood of damaged teats.

Chapping can occur when teats are exposed to air movement and drafts. Prevent cows from being directly exposed to wind as they leave the parlor and avoid rapid cold air movement in their housing area.

To dip or not to dip

Cracking and chapping of teats usually occur at temperatures less than 0° F. Temperatures can also impact which teat dips should and could be used. Teat dips that were being used during other times of the year can be used until temperatures drop below the freezing point. Check teat dip labels for suggested temperature ranges and freezing points. Symptoms of cold weather exposure may not become visible for 2 to 3 days. Avoid using barrier dips during cold spells because these dips tend to have a slower drying time because of the film they create.

At 20° F below zero, teats are at risk of frostbite. Winter dips are designed to be used during when teats could freeze. However, they often cost much more than a regular dip. Because the cold weather can impact the teat skin, high-emollient dips can be beneficial to teat health. Most high-emollient dips consist of at least 50% teat conditioners, which will hydrate and soften teat skin, leading to less chapping. However, these dips can have a slower drying time.

The goal of any teat dipping protocol should be to provide an effective germicide and teat conditioner. What should be avoided is allowing excess dip to freeze at the end of the teat. We are safe from this on most winter days, but dabbing the drop off the teat end will prevent teat end damage on bitterly cold days or cold wind chills.

Boost Your Dairy Success: Hendel Farms' Top Dry Cow Program Tips

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:54:34 GMT

When it comes to managing a successful dairy operation, each stage in the lifecycle of a cow is critical, but perhaps none more so than the transition period for dry cows. At Hendel Farms in Caledonia, Minnesota, owner Matt Hendel emphasizes the importance of details when it comes to the needs of these cows, which are key for their health and productivity.

Feeding Strategy for Optimal Health
Hendel and his team at Hendel Farms have developed a comprehensive approach to feed management, striving for excellence from start to finish. This begins with securing high-quality feed at the right moisture levels and sourcing top-tier products. A significant part of their approach involves providing dry cows with a fully acidogenic diet by using Animate, starting 21 days before they freshen.

“We like consistency. It keeps our cows on the right track and has been part of our program for nine years,” Matt shares.

Additionally, for cows in their second lactation and beyond, Hendel Farms administers a bolus at calving. Older and larger cows even receive two boluses, minimizing the risk of health issues, such as a down cow. The farm employs routine ultrasounds, and in cases where a cow is carrying twins, she is brought into the dry cow program one week earlier.

Beyond Nutrition: The Importance of Comfort and Genetics
While nutrition is pivotal, Hendel highlights cow comfort and genetic selection as other vital components of their program. The farm selects bulls with above-average health and performance traits, ensuring strong hereditary lines. In 2002, they constructed a four-row transition barn to accommodate their cows, adhering to strict non-overcrowding policies to ensure each cow has ample space to rest and feed.

The barn design includes double the water capacity of standard recommendations and lower curb stalls, simplifying movement for the cows. The environment is further characterized by its quiet, comfortable, and efficient nature, which supports the cows as they transition through their stages.

A Team Effort for Success
At Hendel Farms, the focus is on a holistic approach—from dry-off to lactation—which involves teamwork and meticulous oversight. Hendel, along with his family and 15 part-time and full-time employees, monitor the herd with close attention. Their efforts are supported by technology, such as cameras, and regular visits from their Phibro representative.

Hendel Farms, a fourth-generation family-run dairy operation, is dedicated to maintaining high standards of animal care and operational efficiency. Home to 400 registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss cows, and with more than 1,000 acres under cultivation, the farm exemplifies how tradition and innovation can go hand in hand for agricultural success.

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Protecting Potency: Best Practices for Effective Vaccine Storage on the Farm

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 21:16:57 GMT

Vaccines are only as effective as the conditions in which they are kept. That’s why paying a bit of extra attention to storage can go a long way when it comes to ensuring these immunizations do their job.

According to Curt Vlietstra, DVM at Boehringer Ingelheim, improper storage or handling can result in ineffective vaccines. Temperature fluctuations, exposure to light and improper handling can all impact a vaccine’s potency, reducing its protective power. Vlietstra advises farmers to pay close attention to vaccine storage conditions to help maintain effectiveness.

Top Vaccine Storage Pitfalls

Vaccines are sensitive biological substances that need specific conditions to maintain their potency. Three issues Vlietstra commonly sees when it comes to vaccine storage include:

Improper Temperature: Most vaccines must be stored between 35°F and 46°F. Any exposure to freezing or excessive heat can denature the active ingredients, making them ineffective.
Exposure to Light: Many vaccines are sensitive to light, which can also degrade their quality. These vaccines should be protected from UV light once removed from the refrigerator.
Expired Vaccines: Use older vaccines first and always check expiration dates. Storing newer stock at the back and keeping older doses at the front makes it easier to avoid using expired vaccines and helps maintain the effectiveness of your supply.

Steps for Proper Vaccine Storage

Vlietstra suggests implementing the following steps to help ensure vaccines are stored properly.

Invest in Reliable Refrigeration: “Don’t go with the cheapest fridge you can find,” Vlietstra advises. Instead, he recommends investing in a quality refrigerator that is designated solely for medical usage.

“I don’t want your lunch or drinks in there because the more time it gets open and closed, the more changes you have in the temperature. Plus, there’s a higher likelihood that it doesn’t get closed all the way.
Use Temperature Monitors: Implement temperature monitoring systems that alert staff if the vaccine storage deviates from the optimal range.

“Usually, a fridge doesn’t go bad overnight,” Vlietstra says. It slowly starts to lose its effectiveness. Having a good thermometer can warn you when your barn fridge is on its way out. Some of these thermometers even have wireless alerts that can connect to an app on your phone.”
Handle With Care: When it comes to vaccine handling, keeping doses at a stable temperature is crucial, even after mixing. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, Vlietstra recommends storing mixed vaccines in a transportable cooler to help protect them from extreme temperature fluctuations and sunlight.

“How we mix, handle and store these vaccines matters,” Vlietstra adds. “Have conversations with your veterinarian and consider implementing a training day to review proper storage and handling SOPs with your team. Regularly refreshing this training ensures everyone is on the same page, which can make a real difference when it comes to herd health.”

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Navigating HPAI: Supporting Producers and Safeguarding Cows

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:04:24 GMT

The first person who will notice illness in the herd is the one who works hands-on with the cows. It’s a cow that just looks off, a drop in production or changes in cow activity and behavior that triggers a call to the vet, monitoring or treating. Treatment is on a case-by-case basis, depending on which cow it is and what’s going on.

But for matters of trade and human health, the health of the entire U.S. herd must be addressed systematically. Rosemary B. Sifford, DVM; Deputy Administrator; USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says disease monitoring actually looks very similar on the state and national level. “Except, of course, we’re looking across all the herds. In some cases, we do have surveillance programs in place for diseases that we that we know are of concern for us.”

She adds, “Our trade partners are very interested in what controls we put in place and how we eradicate diseases, so we share that information, and that helps to build their confidence, and allows us to trade, even sometimes in the face of an outbreak.”

Top of mind right now is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and Sifford says that although this battle has been a long one, the USDA team can effectively follow protocols that have been laid out for other viral diseases in the past.

“Our action strategy is really made up of four key parts,” she says. “Understanding the virus in the cattle, understanding how it’s moving and what the effects are on the cattle, how it’s distributed amongst the cattle herd, and being able to address that by mitigating the movement of the virus, and then providing support to the producers to ensure business continuity.”

Ken McCarty, one of the owners of McCarty Family Farms in western Kansas identifies factors that are largely beyond their control as events they are closely watching. Events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and their subsequent effects on fuel and commodity markets exemplify these difficulties.

“Those sort of ‘black swan events’ that used to be once in a decade now appear to be occurring yearly or every couple of years,” McCarty explained. In response, the farm aims to price-proof their operations, ensuring they can withstand these unpredictable shifts.

HPAI was not on the 2024 radar for McCarty Farms. Nonetheless, their prior planning for foreign animal disease outbreaks allowed them to quickly adapt and take necessary actions. As they put it, “It’s those types of events that are midterm challenges that we’re always trying to prepare for.”

Sifford emphasizes that farmers are not alone in prevention or treatment for HPAI. “We do have a number of financial incentives available to help producers through all of this, from covering the testing and some of the veterinary costs, to having somebody come out and help you with a biosecurity plan or audit, personal protective equipment for employees,” she says.

“We really encourage producers to be involved in the status program, because this is an important way for us to understand where the virus is and what’s going on, and it gives producers a level of confidence that they’ve maintained the biosecurity necessary to keep from having to worry about the virus.”

Find more HPAI resources and support at www.aphis.usda.gov .

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Dry Period Cues for Better Lactation Performance

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:29:48 GMT

For decades, dairy research and conventional management have pointed to 60 days as the optimal standard for dry period length between lactations.

But Barry Bradford, Professor of Dairy Management and Nutrition at Michigan State University, sought to challenge this traditional standard, armed with two arguments regarding the research data upon which that recommendation was formulated:

The short dry periods in many of these studies were unplanned and likely mostly composed of cows that calved early for various reasons; and
The suggestion that long dry periods result in lower milk production could be based on a false correlation between the two factors. Low milk production is often the cause of early dry-off. So, the data from older studies on long dry periods was likely based on cows that were lower producers in general.

At the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Bradford presented findings from a study he lead to examine these issues with a different lens.

Bradford and his team sought to conduct a fresh data analysis on gestation length and dry-period length that removed these biases. Added to the mix were variables including previous lactation length, and milk and component production across lactations. They evaluated a data set from 16 U.S. dairy herds totaling 32,182 lactation records.

They hypothesized that cows with a dry period deviating from their intended dry-period length due to biologically shorter or longer gestation lengths have more severe impacts on cow productivity compared to cows with management-intentional variations in dry-period length.

Their data mining from these cow records resulted in the following conclusions:

Shorter gestation length is the main contributor to poor performance in the following lactation. In other words, calving early – which creates a shortened dry period – is associated with worse outcomes than the dry period length itself.
There is little to no evidence of negative impacts from moderately short (40-50-day) dry periods, when gestation length is normal.
Cows with greater production potential (e.g. those with higher previous-lactation milk yield) were most negatively impacted by short gestation.
Managing for shorter dry periods (e.g. 45 days vs. 60) appears to be feasible, with a few caveats. Cows that dried off with high milk yield seemed to benefit the most from a “full” dry period. And cows with short dry periods and an average gestation length had, on average, greater somatic cell counts at first test.
Cows with long lactations followed by long dry periods are at greater risk of removal after calving, likely due to poor metabolic health. These cows had a 24% increased removal rate compared with the reference population.
The long-dry-period group also showed greater fat:protein ratios in early lactation, and these relationships were even more extreme for cows with both a long previous lactation and long dry period. Bradford said this data points clearly to a subset of cows that become over-conditioned prior to calving, resulting in excessive body fat mobilization, poor fertility, and greater culling rate.

Bradford said that because high-producing cows tend to benefit the most from a full-lengthy dry period, “delaying dry-off because of concerns about cows giving too much milk may be counter-productive.”

Finally, a rather compelling conclusion was that modern Holstein cows have an average gestation length of around 276 days, several days shorter than current references typically suggest.

Disease Risk and Feed Losses are for the Birds

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 21:03:14 GMT

With the emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) in dairy cattle, wild birds are more than just a nuisance on dairies and calf facilities now.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that mammals can be infected with H5N1 bird flu viruses when they eat infected birds, poultry, or other animals and/or if they are exposed to environments contaminated with the virus.

In addition to the added layer of HPAI risk, birds can spread other diseases via their droppings, according to University of Kentucky Wildlife Specialist Matthew Springer, and Dairy Extension Specialist Donna Amaral-Phillips. The duo said birds also can introduce unwelcome E. coli and Salmonella to dairy facilities.

Additionally, the damage and waste caused by birds can be significant. One starling can eat about 0.0625 pounds of feed per day. But starlings tend to show up on dairies in massive flocks. A flock of 10,000 starlings could potentially consume 500 pounds of feed per day.

Amaral-Phillips pointed out that not only does this problem represent lost feed, but the feed that remains does not contain the correct mixture of ingredients intended and balanced for the cows. Birds tend to eat high-nutrient feeds and leave the less nutritious components behind. Plus, the bird droppings that accumulate from overnight roosting create a daily mess in facilities and even on the cows themselves.

Currently there are no perfect solutions for ridding dairies of birds. “Loud noises or plastic owls are minimally effective and often the birds become accustomed to the noise or fake owl and continue to roost in barns,” said Amaral-Phillips. “To be somewhat effective, birds must be driven away for 7 to 10 days and not allowed to enter barns. This disruption can potentially scare cows within the barn -- not a good cattle management practice.”

Predatory birds, such as hawks, living in a barn can be effective, but are not often used. Toxicants that were available two decades ago are no longer available for use. Amaral-Phillips said exclusion seems to be the most effective, but costly method. “The use of netting in areas birds can roost prevents this behavior. Ideally, this exclusion netting should be in place prior to birds attempting to roost in barns,” she advised.

At Washington State University, researchers were asked a few years ago to find a solution to deal with pest birds. Along with feed losses, producers were noticing that birds were crowding bunk space, causing cows to become more aggressive with each other as they competed for smaller spaces to feed.

Amber Adams-Progar, Associate Professor in Dairy Management, and her colleagues at the University’s Knott Dairy Center found two solutions to the problem. First, they introduced a predator species – American kestrels – to scare away the European starlings.

Second, they installed lasers that turn on right before dusk to deter the starlings from settling into their night roosts in barns.

Commercial entities that promote bird control tools include Bird Barrier ; Bird Control Group ; BirdGard ®; Global®Industrial ; Grainger ; and Nixalite® of America, Inc.

The “Big 3” Energy Wasters for Cows

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:35:27 GMT

With feed inputs representing the #1 expense for most dairy operations, and little relief in sight in terms of feed prices, efficient utilization of feedstuffs is a dairy sustainability imperative, according to Dr. Isaac Salfer, Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutrition at the University of Minnesota.

“The most important metric for determining a herd’s whole-farm feed efficiency is feed cost per hundredweight of energy-corrected milk sold,” Salfer stated.

In a recent publication , he cited data that showed the top 10% most profitable dairy farms in Minnesota (in terms of net return) spent 60% as much on feed per cwt. of milk ($9.58) compared to the lowest 10%, who spent $15.61/cwt.

Salfer said outright loss of feed – due factors like shrink and refusals – is one of the two overarching factors that affect whole-farm feed efficiency. The other is the digestive and metabolic efficiency of the cow herself. He identified the following factors that contribute to losses of energy that are wasted on anything other than milk production:

(1) Fecal and urinary losses – Salfer said fecal energy losses occur due to inadequate digestion of feeds, improper feed processing, poor ration formulation, and/or feeding high concentrations of low-digestibility feeds. Digestive efficiency also can be negatively influenced by poor bunk management, decreased eating frequency, heat stress, disease, poor water quality, and even noise. Overfeeding protein can add to urine energy loss because more energy is required to excrete excess nitrogen.

(2) Gas emissions – Rumen fermentation produces byproducts of methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases that are expelled by the cow and lost to the environment.

(3) Heat energy – Rumen fermentation also generates heat, as does metabolism, as nutrients are utilized further in the digestive process. “The total amount of heat an animal loses can be reduced by lowering the total number of chemical reactions – particularly ‘wasteful’ reactions – in digestion,” he stated. He noted feed additives like ionophores can help minimize wasteful digestive processes. Reducing stress also can stem heat energy losses, because any activation of the immune system, which may be triggered by factors like heat stress and metabolic stress, results in unproductive energy consumption.

Salfer pointed out that minimizing wasted energy in cows has dual benefits for both the dairy operation and the environment. Strategically balancing for protein – and, more precisely, specific amino acids – can lower feed costs while also reducing the nitrogen load in the environment. Reducing gas emissions has received much recent attention from an environmental standpoint. “But it also benefits farmers because gases can represent a loss of up to about 10% of total feed energy,” explained Salfer.

Reducing methane emissions without negatively impacting rumen microbial growth is a delicate dance, according to Salfer. He said most ration-based approaches to reducing methane focus on increasing concentration of the volatile fatty acid propionate, because propionate consumes hydrogen that would otherwise fuel methane production.

Finally, Salfer said higher milk production can promote feed efficiency, even if it requires more feed. Lactating cows require about 14-16 pounds of dry matter for basic maintenance of functions like breathing, muscle contraction, digestion, and hormone production. “Because maintenance energy needs are fixed, increased milk production decreases the percentage of energy intake used for maintenance functions compared to milk production, even if total feed intake increases,” Salfer explained.