For producers in the Federal Milk Marketing Order 30 or surrounding markets, a vast majority of the milk check is dictated by volume and value of milk fat and protein. While the pay price for milk …
This winter was one of the warmest we’ve experienced in the past several years. While the nice weather has advantages, these conditions also can be stressful for calves and heifers. Increased …
With today’s dairy economics, capturing every pound of marginal milk is essential to profitability. Marginal milk can be defined as the few pounds of increased production that can be gained by …
High oleic soybeans have been around for more than 10 years, mostly in the eastern United States. More recently, they have worked their way into the Midwest market, catching the attention of the …
Grouping cows on a dairy can have many benefits, including maximizing efficiencies, increasing income over feed costs and minimizing stress. Grouping strategies generally fall into two …
As dairy farm profit margins tighten, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutrition strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairy’s cash flow. Feed efficiency is an …
External parasites, like flies, mites and lice, are often easy to detect when observing dairy cattle behavior and appearance. Severe infiltrations of internal parasites can result in roughness of …
For most, the 2023 corn silage harvest is in the rearview mirror. Corn silage harvest came early for some as the summer heat provided plenty of growing degree days, and many areas experienced a perfect storm for drying conditions.
Corn silage harvest is at the doorstep for many dairy farms across the Midwest.
For some across the Midwest, recent rain has brought much-needed moisture.
In an era of higher feed prices and lower milk prices, it is hard to argue the value of high-quality forages.
A few unseasonably warm days in late April not only melted most of the snow but also reminded us to turn our attention to heat abatement.
The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association held its annual conference April 11-13 in Prior Lake, Minnesota, bringing together youngstock producers and industry experts from around the country.
Feed expenditures are the single largest operating expense in a dairy business. Given the current and projected economic environment, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutritional strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairy’s cash flow.
Lice is a common external parasite in dairy cattle, most notably detected by visible loss of hair.
This winter has presented us with nearly every weather scenario possible: fluctuating barometric pressures, bitter cold temperatures and wind chills around Christmas, and more recent mild temperatures with rain, ice and fog.
The goal of most heifer replacement programs is to raise high-quality, healthy heifers in an efficient and economical manner.
The 2022 corn silage harvest is in the rearview mirror. The dry fall provided an ideal harvest window for many growers and allowed them to achieve dry matter targets.
As fall harvest progresses and the days get shorter, we know cold stress is just around the corner. Special attention should be given to the most delicate group of animals on the dairy: newborn calves.
As we welcome the official start of fall this week, alfalfa decision-making is in the rearview mirror for some.