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If you already do a good job with feeding management and monitoring pre-fresh cows, then implementing a moderate negative DCAD diet is just adding some minerals. Cows on a moderate DCAD diet are mildly metabolically acidified with a urine pH of 6 to 7, which gives you a little safety measure if DCAD drift occurs.

Have you chosen to put your breeding strategy in high gear? If so, that means beef semen may be a part of your genetic planning process.

It is well understood that the basis of any relationship is good communication. This applies to any relationship, friendship, business acquaintance, etc., in your life. As a dairy owner or manager, communicating with your employees is a key aspect of keeping things running smoothly.

Moisture management is critical to putting up high-quality hay. If baling is done when the hay is too wet, producers risk the possibility of mold, fungi and yeast growth, leading to excessive heating as well as the development of harmful mycotoxins. Conversely, as hay dries out, leaf loss increases, which reduces tonnage, nutrient levels and profits.

Advances in genetics, nutrition and management have led to larger increases in milk production per cow over the past 40 years. These production increases have also led to growing heat stress problems for lactating and close-up cows in warm weather.

In his fifth edition of Dairy Cattle and Milk Production published in 1939, Dr. Clarence Eckles reported that the “ratio between the human population and the number of cows in the United States had remained essentially the same since 1850.” At that time, there were 36 million dairy cows in the U.S. producing an average of 8,700 pounds of milk per lactation.