Latest News From Jim Dickrell

Weight at calving not only determines first-lactation performance, it pretty much sets in stone the heifer's lifetime performance and a herd’s overall performance, according to Gavin Staley, DVM. 

Dr. Pedro Melendez, a veterinarian and dairy specialist at Texas Tech University, addresses five sources of shrink that can cause substantial losses in terms of feed used, ration formulation and poor performance.

An industry veterinarian says a higher SCC at first test is as much a disease condition as clinical mastitis.

The combination of overcrowding and feed restriction can have profound negative consequences on rumen pH.

While competition is great on the football field or basketball court, dairy cows forced to compete for feed and water is a no-win proposition.

Dairy farmers and calf raisers have tried to adapt calves to solid calf starter as soon as possible to save money. If this is done poorly, calf raising costs can soar due to increased levels of sickness and even death.

Seasonal changes in day length can have a huge impact in milk production, ranging from 5 lb/cow/day in the northern United States to 8 to 9 lb/day in the south.

While every dairy farmer has a unique affection dairy calves, the next great generation of his or her milking herd, it’s not a good idea to kiss them or allow farm visitors to smooch away.

Since the early 2000s, death losses have topped up to 15%, averaging 6% to 8% on many U.S. dairies.

Re-surging COVID-19 cases across the country could impact dairy markets this winter, with little potential relief until March if a vaccine is approved and becomes widely used.

Dairy calves can transmit any number of diseases to their human handlers or those who pet them.

Here’s what you can do about it.

The genetic base is updated every five years.

The joint program will help address the need for more veterinarians in South Dakota and adjoining states.

Wisconsin, known nationally as the nation’s dairy state, lost 818 dairy farms in 2019, a full 10% of its dairy herds.

'Imrestor' is not an antibiotic, and will not require milk or meat withdrawal times.

Semex adds health trait index as option to its sire rankings.

These low-cost, highly reflective covers that can be placed directly on hutches to reflect heat away.

The tool can also be used to assess changes in management or purchasing technology to assist in heat detection.