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Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Achieving any significant accomplishment is not the result of luck or chance. The winning Super Bowl team is not surprised they won. They know their reward is the result of great teamwork, good communication and, most importantly, from having a plan that was followed exactly as practiced.

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 feed intake, reduced gains or production, and the potential for a few sick or “off” animals.

As you work to provide a consistent ration to your cows at the same time each and every day, the mixing operation is critical to your success. Today, I want to talk about getting the feed mixed and some of the factors that affect the quality of mix.

How do you use the mountain of information that is at your fingertips every month? How do you find the next opportunity or efficiency in the data you collect? Very few dairy farms have systems in place to measure more information than milk production. Looking at data once in a while will not lead you in a positive direction.

Top producers have optimized two key parameters to generate significantly more milk revenue despite the long-running down dairy market, as shown in a unique database of milk processor records.

Milk quality matters beyond quality premiums. It can help secure your milk market and bring more money back to your dairy by reducing mastitis treatment costs and labor, along with milk withholding times. A healthier udder can also produce more milk.