Magazine

Serving as CEO of CDCB since September 2014, João Dürr reflects on the accomplishments of the last decade while emphasizing the future needs to advance genetic progress and serve producers worldwide. Read his complete comments [Read More …]

DMI’s O’Brien Highlights Science-Based, Partnership-Driven Results

Checkoff leader addressed nearly 800 farmers, others at joint annual meeting Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) CEO and President Barbara O’Brien outlined a series of checkoff-led successes, including more science-based and partnership-driven results, to 780 dairy [Read More …]

DeLaval to Host VMS™ Batch Milking Webinar Series

In early 2024, DeLaval plans to host a webinar series to introduce VMS™ Batch Milking to the North American dairy industry. These sessions will educate and inform producers, consultants, academics, and other industry personnel on [Read More …]

The Financial Impact of More Components per Cow

Cheese now utilizes over 50% of the U.S. milk produced. Cheese and other dairy items need only components, not milk volume. Fluid milk continues to decrease in consumption. Butterfat is at record high prices, and [Read More …]

Why Does It Take So Much Time?

Often, Clients will ask “Why does this improvement process take so much time?” I often respond with a thought from my business coach Dan Sullivan of The Strategic Coach organization who said, “Reaching your goals [Read More …]

Everything You Need to Know About Canola Meal

A literature review published in the journal “Advances in Dairy Research” consolidates all the research conducted on feeding canola meal to dairy cattle that has been published since 2000. The manuscript entitled “Canola Meal as [Read More …]

The Haplotype Call for Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome

Introduction of HMW The December 5, 2023, dairy cattle genetic evaluations will contain a new haplotype call for Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome. Abbreviated HMW, U.S. genetic evaluations will include the reporting of noncarrier (0), [Read More …]

Where are the Most Productive Cows?

In the last post, the long term economic impact of increasing components was reviewed. One of the reasons components increased was by increasing milk production. Over the last 23 years milk production per cow increased by [Read More …]

The Do’s and Don’ts of Winter Manure Spreading

If winter manure spreading is absolutely unavoidable, follow these requirements to do it legally. Spreading manure in the winter is discouraged because it is a high-risk time period for nutrient losses and contamination of surface [Read More …]

A Successful 2023 Southwest Dairy Day

1 Graduate Research Assistant 2 Extension Dairy Specialist Department of Animal Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service The Texas A&M University System The 2023 Southwest Dairy Day hosted in Bovina Texas highlighted anaerobic digesters, water [Read More …]

How Data Insights Can Improve Heifer Reproduction Efficiency

After a heifer calf hits the ground, what are the chances she will survive calfhood, reach the breeding pen, become pregnant and deliver a healthy calf herself? Many variables affect a heifer’s journey from birth [Read More …]

Experts Examine, Validate Checkoff’s Environmental Research Path

External review and feedback are critical parts of the scientific process. There are many benefits to be gained by having experts poke and prod at research, providing support for what’s going “right” as well as [Read More …]

Training Your Feed Team: The Four Pillars to Feeder Success

In the world of dairy farming, the delicate balance of a cow’s routine can make or break her health and performance. As creatures of habit, cows rely on consistency, especially when it comes to their [Read More …]

Foreign Investment in U.S. Ag Land – The Latest Numbers

Foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land is a hot topic, largely spurred by media reports raising concerns about bad actors from adversarial nations purchasing land for potentially hostile purposes. Several questions arise when considering this [Read More …]

Where are Milk Prices Going?

Producer milk prices are based on the wholesale price of four dairy commodities: butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk (NDM), and dry whey. The Agricultural Marketing Service does a weekly survey of these wholesale commodities. At [Read More …]

Do You Know the Rules of the Game?

I understand that these are tough times in our economy currently. This is characterized by high inflation, high interest rates, ridiculous costs of repairs and, in fact, almost all of your inputs. People are [Read More …]

Fall Burndown of Weeds and Declining Forage Stands

Fall is a great time to control winter annuals and perennials weeds as well as declining sod stands. In the fall, foliar-applied herbicides can be effective if the plants are green and appear healthy and [Read More …]

Comparing New York dairy farm characteristics, costs, and performance across four quartiles of profitability in 2022

In 2022, the milk price paid to farms reached a 30-year high, according to data from New York dairy farms participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary and Analysis Program (DFBS).1 These data also show [Read More …]

Dairy Heifer Reproductive Management. Part 1:Estrus Synchronization Protocols

Each individual dairy farm is an intricate and complex business, with many important operational aspects such as reproduction. When looking at the input costs of running a conventional dairy farm, around 50% is spent to [Read More …]

Streptococcus spp. in Dairy Foods? Is it a New Problem?

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is not a new pathogen, but it does pose a risk to humans. A recent article (Bosica et al., 2023) described a foodborne illness outbreak due to Streptococcus in unpasteurized milk. The title [Read More …]

Timed AI Protocols: Presynch Ovsynch

Presynch Ovsynch is a good, well-researched TAI protocol with proven success and significant advantages over Ovsynch alone. Timed artificial insemination (TAI) is a common reproductive management strategy used on U.S. dairy farms. It lessens the [Read More …]

Three Ways to Slow the Spread of BRSV

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is an aggressive, fast-acting disease that often opens the door to other infectious pathogens that cause bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves and their dams. Because the virus itself is [Read More …]

Two basic management practices that impact dairy cow performance and profitability

Regardless of markets or economic conditions in the dairy industry, dairy owners and managers should continuely ask themselves these questions: · How can we improve feed efficiency? · How can we increase components and milk [Read More …]

Dairy’s Role In Brain Development During The First 1,000 Days

As a dairy farmer, you understand the importance of dairy foods in building a healthy life right from the start. However, not all consumers are aware of the incredible impact that dairy foods can have [Read More …]

The Success Strategies Advantage Software

Recently released, the Success Strategies Advantage Software™ offers the following benefits: “Real-Time Insights” that allow you to stay on top of your dairy’s Year-to-Date financial results, make more informed decisions, and maintain a competitive edge. [Read More …]

Potential spoilage microbe found in microfiltered milk

A new filtration process that aims to extend milk’s shelf life can result in a pasteurization-resistant microbacterium passing into fluid milk if equipment isn’t properly cleaned early, Cornell food scientists have found. Microfiltration – a [Read More …]

Have you Identified Your Top 20%?

Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian economist who made numerous contributions to economics, particularly in the area of income distribution and people’s choices. He is best known, though, for his observation that 20% of the population [Read More …]

Dairy Farm Fires: 8 Ways to Protect Your Property and Your Livestock

The recent fire and explosion at a Texas dairy were national news that has shaken the dairy industry, alarmed property insurance underwriters, and illuminated the need for improved fire protection tactics at dairies across [Read More …]

Unleashing the power of precision nutrition for dairy cows

The dairy industry is facing a complex challenge to keep up efficiency in producing dairy products while protecting profitability, assuring the commitment to work together to collectively reduce methane emissions, meeting animal welfare requirements, and [Read More …]

The Real Reason for Slower Dairy Milk Demand and Lower Producer Prices!