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Historically, to a lot of dairymen, calving ease has been a bit of a secondary trait. In many cases semen buying decisions were more centered on how much production or how much type a sire had. Calving ease was thrown into the mix almost as an afterthough...
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The National Mastitis Council held its 46th annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on January 21-24, 2007.
The meeting provided a forum for the exchange of information on mastitis control and quality milk production. Throughout the four-day conference, me...
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New zero-interference hoof trimming system available
Hoof Dynamics Inc. has built the first zero-interference, twin-tilt table hoof trimming system. Tests have proven this to be the most efficient trimming system made. This patent-pending design will all...
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I wrote a book titled Blazin’ Bloats and Cows on Fire! It referred to the flammability of rumen gasses and the spectacular, but rarely harmful, occasions when they are ignited.
I assumed that the predilection for ignition was confined to ruminants but,...
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Editor’s Note: The following is the second article of a two-part series including excerpts from the bulletin “Dairy Excel’s 15 Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness” found at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b864/index.html
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Originally conceived as a cement pump, the hose pump is fast becoming the technology of choice for transferring abrasive dairy waste like sand-laden manure.
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For most Americans, as the old saying goes, two things are certain: death and taxes. The lives of dairy farmers, however, and other cattlemen as well, are a little more complex. For dairymen, several other certainties exist, and they can count on a lifelo...
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There is something you can do to manage or avoid farmer-nonfarmer conflicts. Let other farmers advise you about creating and maintaining positive relationships with nonfarm neighbors. Learn from their experiences and follow their advice about being a good...
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One of the primary issues in the dairy production industry is the storage, management and land application of manure. Producers should plan how and when to apply manure to agricultural land to minimize the risk of water pollution and odor nuisance and max...
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Animal waste storage and treatment systems have historically been selected and designed to efficiently use valuable fertilizer nutrients for crop production while protecting soil, air and water quality. The primary reason to store manure is to allow the p...
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Editor’s note: The following is the second of a three-part series of articles entitled “Estate And Farm Transition Planning for Agricultural Producers”
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It is well known that daughters from artificial insemination (A.I.) sires produce more milk than those bred by natural service. Incorrect A.I. techniques can lower the overall success rate of your breeding program. At one time, most producers have learned...
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The goals of a heifer-feeding program are to reach a target freshening weight by 24 months of age or less, to improve feed efficiency and reduce costs – and to do this while allowing the animals to express their full genetic potential for milk productio...
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Young heifers represent the future of your dairy operation, so proper feeding and care of these animals is essential for success. Great emphasis is placed on feeding plenty of high-quality colostrum as soon as possible after birth for passive transfer of ...
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Cash grain producers generally sell their grown commodities through traditional marketing outlets that set a price for delivery or allow the grower to take advantage of various price risk marketing tools (forward contracts, options, etc.). Occasionally, a...
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My friend Steve is in the avocado business, which I think makes him an avocadonist or an avocodinarian. He has many distributors (avocodlers) who count on him to keep them supplied. The freeze that hit southern California this winter wiped out the crop.
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Dairy cows are a major source of beef. Cows marketed to slaughter can represent up to 15 percent of a dairy’s income. Meat packers are implementing hazard analysis critical control point plans (HACCP) and are focusing on the quality of cattle coming int...
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Winter has arrived in Michigan. In weather very similar to that of Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, I have come from the cold and entered the cold.
My leave taking of Afghanistan is nearly complete. I am home physically. However, parts of me are still em...
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I have watched with interest as a local issue has unfolded in the county where I live. In a nutshell, there is an individual who recently submitted a permit to open a dairy that would have nearly 18,500 cows. From what I have been able to see and read, th...
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WSU Livestock Air Quality Program acquires state-of-the-art research equipmentDuring his first year at WSU, Dr. Pius Ndegwa envisioned a mobile Air Quality Laboratory that would facilitate livestock air quality field research. A state-of-the-art equipment...
Re: Two dairymen are making profits with sprout fodder systems
Posted on Saturday, 23 March 2013 by Allan Spicer.I was involved in a similar protect in Ontario about 15 yeara ago. Tbe...
Re: Idaho and New York Senators introduce dairy savings account legislation
Posted on Friday, 22 March 2013 by Rob Hull.It might not be a perfect idea but it would be a good tool to give...
Re: Idaho and New York Senators introduce dairy savings account legislation
Posted on Friday, 22 March 2013 by David Callister.I like the idea.