When a lifelong dairyman passes away, it’s hard. But when that man is your grandfather, it’s even more difficult to cope. My wife’s grandfather, Riley L. Mickelson of Lago, Idaho, a dairyman since his ...
Dairymen in Llanquihue, Chile, are experiencing a drought, the likes of which hasn’t been felt for nearly a decade. With producers facing a 30 percent reduction from the region’s normal 70 inches per year, ...
Dairy farmers from as far away as Latvia gathered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a two-day presentation focused on the elements of establishing or expanding a dairy operation earlier this year. The ...
In 2006, University of Georgia student Cameron Prince used the website “Facebook.com” to unite agricultural college students like himself. Using one of Facebook’s applications, Prince created a group and ...
Neighbors judged Dan Brick and his dairy for its smell and mud on the roads – until he held his first dairy tour. Now the fifth-generation dairy farmer from Greenleaf, Wisconsin, says he and his employees ...
Those producers who survive the current economic uncertainty will be the ones that have managed the risk of their businesses. We all recognize the risk of price both in terms of buying commodities and ...
Genomics is creating a new buzz in the genetics industry and is getting quite a bit of press, as you may have noticed. I am convinced it is not just “techno-babble,” either. It’s a technology that promises ...
Providing adequate energy is a fine balancing act in an ever-changing rumen environment. Low levels may not provide the necessary energy to support high production while excessive energy can result in ...
After a brief period of excellent milk prices and reasonable feed prices, the dairy industry is once again slipping back toward a break-even mode of production. Hopefully, that won’t be long-lived. In ...
As temperatures warm in spring, you may check fans and the sprinkler system so they work for the hot, sticky days of summer. Maybe now you are making sure water tanks are clean and full of cool water, ...
Historically, extensive dairy cow lameness is a relatively new problem with many causes. As with any complex problem, it takes time to understand its numerous components and develop the correct solution ...
Since taking the parlor to the cow is impossible in most modern dairy systems, keeping cows healthy and able to walk without pain is paramount to getting milk in the tank. Matt and Karl Hendel changed ...
I remember sitting across from her in her living room. Her angel-white hair shining in the sunlight streaming though the window. She had been a widow for years, and the years had taken their tole, but ...
I was at the Governor’s Ag Conference in Dover, Delaware recently. My column runs in the Delmarva Farmer. Bruce, the publisher, asked me … well, here’s how he put it: “A debate is raging here about which ...
Most dairy cows are now housed indoors for most, if not all, of their lives. Very few cows are moved to pasture or dirt lots during the dry period or when weather permits. Concrete is the prevalent flooring ...
National survey data concerning dairy calf health and survival have shown little change in success rates over the last 10 to 15 years. The National Animal Health Monitoring System reports the number of ...
The cost of raising dairy heifer replacements represent 20 to 25 percent of the total costs of milk production. Keeping heifers healthy, developing consistent growth to attain target goals for frame size ...
The dairy industry is very dynamic and has undergone tremendous change in the last few decades. During the 1940s and 1950s, industry leaders were touting the benefits of using purebred dairy bulls to increase ...
First milking colostrum is an important source of nutrients, non-specific immune factors and passively absorbed maternal antibodies (immunoglobulins or Ig), critical to promote growth and to protect the ...
I know what you are thinking. The same thing I was when I saw the news proclaiming Speedo has invented the world’s fastest swimsuit. Yes, practical fashion at last. I don’t know if it will have an impact ...
I am in our nation’s capital for two days. I’ve written about the first day, just completed, and described the second day that will follow tomorrow. About two dozen of us are in Rosslyn, a business district ...
Created on 10 June 2008
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