Click a link below to see updates on cattle from a specific issue of Progressive Dairy.
2021
Issue 2, 2021: January 19, 2021 Issue 1, 2021: January 1, 2021
2020 Issue 20, 2020: December 12, ...
Today we introduce a small change with a big meaning. We have removed “man” from our name plate in order for the second part of our name to be as open-minded as the first. With the removal of that three-letter ...
You’re busy – milking cows, evaluating feed sources and taking a break to watch the dairy show at the county fair. With that in mind, Progressive Dairy looks at issues in the news impacting you and your ...
U.S. dairy farmers have been struggling with suppressed milk prices for nearly four years. The first part of 2019 has been better, but improved milk prices have been overshadowed by tariff and trade issues, ...
Five years ago, I wrote an article for this magazine on mailbox milk prices. Since that article, much has happened in the dairy industry, especially with milk prices. Now it is time to take another look ...
The extended economic stress in the dairy industry has farm managers taking a close look at all aspects of their operations to find areas to decrease costs, increase productivity and, ultimately, improve ...
Whether the dairy is a smaller operation, with the family all pitching in on whatever job needs doing, or a large operation with round-the-clock specialized crews, effective teamwork is crucial to performance. ...
Ninety-four percent of dairy farmers agree that low somatic cell and low bacteria counts are part of the definition of milk quality. That’s according to a recent online survey conducted by Progressive ...
With replacement heifer-raising costs often exceeding cash value, a growing number of dairy owners are recognizing the need to limit investing in excess replacement heifers and have developed a strategic ...
For 10 years now, the interdependent crossbred calf system put into place between Riverview Dairy and Wulf Cattle, home to Limousin genetic seedstock, “seems to be working,” spokesperson Lauren Osborn ...
The crossbred beef market doesn’t yet have a clear identity in the Northeast. Producers – both beef and dairy – who are early adapters are seeing some success in the markets, and the potential to develop ...
Advanced milking technology provides more data points than many dairies are able to use in their day-to-day routines and management decisions.
With software and tools to monitor and track every step ...
In vitro fertilization (IVF) on commercial dairies has steadily increased over the past few years. While the technology was originally limited to seedstock herds due to the higher cost per pregnancy, recent ...
There are so many factors that affect how efficiently you can get cows pregnant. Cow comfort. Cow cooling. Nutrition. Herd health. Genetics. Dry cow, transition and fresh cow management. And the list goes ...
Numerous studies confirm the periparturient period (immediately before and after calving) is when dairy cows are at greatest risk of developing diseases and involuntary culling.
Cows transitioning ...
Successful dairies have healthy cattle and consistent animal care. Dairy welfare audits aim to evaluate both and provide a structure for measuring performance of animal health and cattle care.
Measuring ...
It seems there is a concerted effort today to destroy American heritage. Statues of bygone days are being torn down, mottos are being erased, and values are being demolished. The rights of the offended ...
The 2019 hay season is shaping up to be a rather challenging one with the seemingly endless rain and lower temperatures across most of the nation.
With the widespread winterkill in many alfalfa fields ...
A significant proportion of my childhood happened in the silence of a tractor cab. There was a brisk manner in which the morning moved from milking to feeding calves to feeding cows, but the afternoon ...
Ask a dairy farmer how things are going, and I bet you’ll get a familiar answer: “We’re still holding on,” which is the polite way of saying “It’s really hard right now. We’re struggling to make ends meet. ...
I hate to sound like that old guy on a bench, drinking free coffee at the hardware store, but remember when things were simpler? The good ol’ days before social media, Uber and Double-Stuf Oreos.
Back ...
Reproductive management of dairy cows has advanced significantly in the past two decades with the advent of ovulation synchronization protocols, improvements in nutrition and cow comfort, and the incorporation ...
When you walk into your home after a long, hard day of work, you’d probably like to enter a space that’s clean, calm and comfortable. Messy, disruptive and uncomfortable living quarters can cause stress ...
As long as a cow or calf is healthy and productive, she has good well-being, right?
No, not necessarily.
An animal’s welfare – how well she is faring – also includes how she’s feeling. For the ...
Dairy farmers struggling to remain profitable face a dilemma: What’s good for an individual operation may not be beneficial for the industry as a whole.
“The more milk we produce as an industry, the ...
2019 marks 10 years of genomic selection. Most livestock genetics conferences that are held this year will have a scientific seminar celebrating this milestone. It’s been a decade since our cattle genetic ...
If I had a dime for every time I heard, “He’s [or she’s] not a real farmer,” I would probably make more than I do currently milking cows. Actually, I don’t milk cows. I hate milking cows. In my opinion, ...
Whether moving weaned calves into a new group or bringing springing heifers into the transition barn, many dairy producers have come to accept that a pen move will likely result in temporarily decreased ...
Farm security is not always top of mind for producers, but unfortunately, it’s necessary to protect the safety of your animals, people on your property and your livelihood. Animal rights activists will ...
When contemplating renting a facility for animals, it can be difficult to know how to calculate the value. There are standardized formats for renting other properties and assets, but no simple formula ...
An opportunity for capturing higher profits may be hiding in a herd’s voluntary waiting period (VWP).
“With better control of when cows get pregnant, you can then control the timing of the pregnancies ...
Improved heifer raising and reproduction results in fewer total days on feed, earlier return on investment, improved cash flow by having fewer heifers on feed and more milking cows, increased first-lactation ...
Created on 13 November 2018
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