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Current Progressive Dairy digital edition

1. Market Watch: Cattle: (Organizations); Click a link below to see updates on cattle from a specific issue of Progressive Dairy. 2020 Issue 17, 2020: October 19, 2020 Issue 16, 2020: October 1,2020 Issue 15, 2020: September 12, 2020 ...; Created on 07 August 2020
2. Go beyond ‘staring up the steps’: (From the Editor); In January, my fiancé, Scott, started trying to convince me that we needed to purchase the house right next to his family’s business. He plans to run the company someday and having our home next door would ...; Created on 25 August 2016
3. So much to see and do at Manure Expo: (Event Coverage); The Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio, will welcome more than 100,000 visitors in less than a month for its annual Farm Science Review, but earlier in August, the 80-acre exhibit area was ...; Created on 25 August 2016
4. International free trade agreements and their impact on U.S. dairy prices: (Management); Recently there has been much media buzz about “free trade agreements.” Free trade agreements cover many products, but this article will focus on dairy products. Certainly these free trade agreements will ...; Created on 25 August 2016
5. Is our milk pricing system broken?: (Management); This question is being asked at industry meetings, policy workshops and is now a recurring topic among company executives. The answer to this question will affect the future of our industry and, as such, ...; Created on 25 August 2016
6. Test your marketing decisions for potential outcomes: (Management); Math is integral to your dairy operation. You routinely crunch numbers ahead of making important decisions. Those numbers tell you whether it’s wise to, for example, expand the herd, add employees and ...; Created on 25 August 2016
7. Managing the margins is in the details: (Management); Penn State Extension recently did a survey of the projected breakeven cost on 110 Pennsylvania-based dairy farms. The average projected breakeven was $19.04 per hundredweight, about $4 per hundredweight ...; Created on 25 August 2016
8. Creating policies to clarify your family business focus: (Management); As I mentioned in my last article in the Aug. 7 issue, the following is a trick question: “Is yours a family-first or business-first family business?” Your answer should be “neither” and “both.” Running ...; Created on 25 August 2016
9. Employee engagement is the key to a farm’s success: (Management); Employees are the greatest assets an organization has; thus, knowing them and caring is top priority. The foundation of employee engagement during the summer months is no different than at any other ...; Created on 25 August 2016
10. Why good employees quit when things are running the best: (Management); Eighty dead calves in two weeks: “The dry cow ration is not working; colostrum quality is suffering; my calves are dying …” On a recent farm call from a producer, his calf-raising operation had taken ...; Created on 25 August 2016
11. Latest research on synch protocols and ideal voluntary waiting period revealed at ADSA-ASAS joint meeting: (A.I. & Breeding); The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) organized their 2016 joint annual meeting this past July in Salt Lake City, Utah. Passionate dairy science ...; Created on 23 August 2016
12. Jerseyland Dairy identifies five keys to reproductive success: (A.I. & Breeding); At Jerseyland Dairy LLC, dairy manager Tanner Schmidt knows a solid reproduction program depends on more than just shots and semen; it comes down to having the right people in place, doing the right things ...; Created on 23 August 2016
13. Prevent fresh cow failures with genetic predisposition: (A.I. & Breeding); Would you invest in something that causes metritis, ketosis or mastitis? You probably already have. The unit of semen you purchased last week and thawed this morning could actually cost hundreds of dollars ...; Created on 23 August 2016
14. Omega-3 fatty acid-rich flaxseed, fish oil may boost fertility: (A.I. & Breeding); Can you believe up to 60 percent of embryos don’t “make it” in the lactating dairy cow? That’s right. In addition to poor estrus expression and low conception rate, embryonic loss is another significant ...; Created on 23 August 2016
15. ‘No cow left behind’ and other strategies for reproduction success from Dairy Dreams: (A.I. & Breeding); Dr. Don Niles, partner on Dairy Dreams in Casco, Wisconsin, said there is no single miracle for a good breeding program and transition of heifers into the dairy herd; rather, there are several very important ...; Created on 23 August 2016
16. Four dairymen share their strategies for genomic technology: (A.I. & Breeding); How are genomics working on your farm? That was the topic of a panel discussion at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference held in February in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The panel included Steve ...; Created on 23 August 2016
17. Make the most of robotic milking systems with right genetics: (Barns & Equipment); As automated milking gains traction across the country, dairy producers are learning that some cows are just better suited than their herdmates to thrive in these systems. By breeding for specific robot-friendly ...; Created on 23 August 2016
18. Measuring lying time can signal health changes: (Herd Health); Activity monitoring systems are becoming increasingly popular tools to help dairy farmers manage their herds and detect changes in cow behavior. One of the first applications of activity monitoring systems ...; Created on 23 August 2016
19. IVF versatility: It’s more than creating more of one elite cow: (A.I. & Breeding); Until recently, assisted reproductive technologies such as multiple ovulation embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization (IVF) have seen limited use in the commercial dairy sector. Traditionally, these ...; Created on 23 August 2016
20. Confidently select recipient heifers for embryo programs: (A.I. & Breeding); Reproductive technologies like embryo transfer (ET) and in vitro fertilization can help advance the genetic level of heifers entering the milking herd, offering enhanced profits for producers. With the ...; Created on 23 August 2016
21. Open days, dollars and the heifer paradox: (Calves & Heifers); In the current economic state of the industry, there is an understandable need to hunker down and tread water until milk prices and margins start trending in a positive direction. Projects, expansions ...; Created on 23 August 2016
22. Predict future milk production using average daily gain: (Calves & Heifers); From the perspective of an A.I. company, the strategic breeding and genetic decisions you make today have a huge impact on the profitability and bottom line of your future milking herd. However, it’s important ...; Created on 23 August 2016
23. Sexed semen advancements: Opportunities for use on dairies: (A.I. & Breeding); The ability to actively choose the gender of the calf to be born is now a reality on dairy farms. Indeed, the last 10 years have seen rapid evolution in semen-sexing technologies. When sexed semen ...; Created on 23 August 2016
24. Watch me grow: Pre-weaned calves gain 2.2 pounds a day at Gervais Family Farm: (Calves & Heifers); When Robert Gervais, founder of Gervais Family Farm in Bakersfield, Vermont, bought the original farm in 1960, his wife, Gisele, was seven months pregnant and he had to borrow $10 for the lawyer’s fee ...; Created on 23 August 2016
25. NAHMS Dairy 2014: Producers making progress on pre-weaned calf management: (Calves & Heifers); While sexed semen is often cited as the reason for the increased number of available dairy replacement heifers, another factor is helping create a larger pool of next-generation milk producers: U.S. dairy ...; Created on 23 August 2016
26. Can nutritional strategies improve calfhood disease immunity, future resistance?: (Calves & Heifers); The latest USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) study results show dairy producers are doing a better job of colostrum management (see related story NAHMS Diary 2014: Producers making ...; Created on 23 August 2016
27. 5 steps to perfect cleanliness: (Management); Editor’s note: This article is part two in a three-part series on evaluating your hygiene protocols. Visit Are you saving money with hygiene? to read part one and Are your calves secure? 7 ways to make ...; Created on 23 August 2016
28. What makes the best colostrum?: (Calves & Heifers); The virtues of colostrum in successful calf raising cannot be overemphasized. This “liquid gold” not only delivers critical immune protection but also provides specialized nutrients, energy, fluid and ...; Created on 23 August 2016
29. Feeding calves: It’s not just what’s in the pail: (Calves & Heifers); Feeding calves is much more than what is in the pail or bottle. The way milk, water and starter are delivered can play just as big of a role in the health and performance of the calf. Bottle feeding ...; Created on 23 August 2016
30. Use VFD to your advantage: Focus on nutrition: (Calves & Heifers); In just a few months, the use of medically important feed-grade antibiotics on your dairy will require veterinarian authorization. When the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) takes effect on Jan. 1, 2017, ...; Created on 23 August 2016
31. Just dropping by ... ‘No Man is an Island’: (Yevet Tenney); Back in the day, when I woke up to the quiet sounds of birds chirping in the trees and the warm serene light of morning streaming through my curtains, and the warm secure feeling of family wrapped around ...; Created on 23 August 2016
32. Mechanics Corner: Which mower is for me?: (Barns & Equipment); My dad had a lot of home-grown wisdom. He came from a time when common sense was a lot more common than it is now. I was very fortunate to grow up and later partner as an adult under his guidance and advice. ...; Created on 23 August 2016
33. The Milk House: I walk the river: (Ryan Dennis); I walk the Corrib often. I’ll stroll its banks if it’s a nice day, or sometimes at night, if I happen to be feeling contemplative. The River Corrib is supposed to be the shortest and fastest river in Europe. ...; Created on 23 August 2016
34. Herd management: It’s always the special ones ...: (Guest Blog); I remember the call like it was yesterday. I was on a business trip to Pennsylvania and took a quick jingle from my husband as I waited for my lunch to arrive. “I’ve got some bad news,” he started. “Roofus ...; Created on 23 August 2016
35. Is overstocking affecting your heifer management?: (Calves & Heifers); How much impact does heifer stocking density have on their conditioning? Many herd managers seek to prevent freshening heifers from being overconditioned by dietary dilution with low-energy forages. ...; Created on 22 August 2016
36. Molasses in calf starter: A help or a hindrance?: (Calves & Heifers); Molasses is a common ingredient in texturized calf starters. It is added for palatability and reduction of dust. Unfortunately, molasses brings some challenges to the manufacturing process because of its ...; Created on 22 August 2016
37. The Manure Spreader: Pet labels: (Tim Moffett); To most people a dog is the family pet. A dog on a farm is a working dog. That’s why you never see a poodle or a dachshund on a farm. And if you do you see one, it’s not for long. Small dogs tend to “run ...; Created on 22 August 2016
38. Manure agitation equipment options: Answering the million-gallon question: (Manure); It’s estimated that cows, along with the process of milking, produce 20 gallons of manure and 10 gallons of water per cow per day. Add this up and consider the need for six months of storage plus extra ...; Created on 19 July 2016
39. Calf video goes viral: How a tetherball in the calf pen racked up more than 250,000 views: (Guest Blog); Editor’s note: Christina Winch originally posted this blog on Progressive Dairyman’s Proud to Dairy network. Join the site for free and share your ideas for keeping calves entertained. Farmers have creative ...; Created on 01 June 2016
40. Public outcry prompts work group to address 5 concerns for manure irrigation: (Manure); As the general public outcries against applying manure products via irrigation methods grew louder, a unique work group formed to review related issues, discuss the technical details and develop guidance ...; Created on 16 May 2016
41. Study identifies public health risk from irrigating dairy manure: (Manure); A first-of-its-kind field study was recently completed to estimate the risk of acute gastrointestinal illness from airborne pathogens during manure irrigation and to identify the other variables, such ...; Created on 16 May 2016
42. Your schedule or the cow’s schedule – which should you follow?: (Feed & Nutrition); Cows want to do certain things at certain times, and there’s a reason for that. Cows naturally try to synchronize rhythms so that milk synthesis will occur when nutrients are available. “All physiological ...; Created on 29 January 2016