Latest News From Dairy - General

Cows Will Tell You When They’re Feeling “Off”
Cows Will Tell You When They’re Feeling “Off”

While dairy cattle can’t verbally tell us when they’re not feeling their best, they can give us physical cues.

What We Now Know About What Caused the Large Fire at a Texas Dairy Farm
What We Now Know About What Caused the Large Fire at a Texas Dairy Farm

According to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, officials believe a honey vac machine, which sucks the manure out of cow lanes, may have been the initial source of the fire. Questions remain on why it spread so quickly.

Large Explosion and Fire Breaks Out at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas Monday Night
Large Explosion and Fire Breaks Out at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas Monday Night

The explosion occurred at South Fork dairy, which is located just southeast of Dimmitt. According to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, the explosion occurred around 7:20 p.m. on Monday. The cause is still unknown.

Surplus Calves Need More Support
Surplus Calves Need More Support

Surplus dairy calves – those not intended for breeding – are their own, unique subset of the dairy industry.

How Can I Make Money with Beef-on-Dairy?
How Can I Make Money with Beef-on-Dairy?

With drought and production costs pushing the native beef population to a record low, beef-on-dairy has a huge opportunity to keep the feedlots and processors at full capacity.

Idaho Dairy Demo Center Planned
Idaho Dairy Demo Center Planned

The University of Idaho is building a massive dairy research center focused on the industry’s sustainability.

Facility Focus: Don’t Slip Up on Floor Resurfacing
Facility Focus: Don’t Slip Up on Floor Resurfacing

Dairy farms can often be a slippery place for both farmers and cows to work.

Cows Will Tell You What is Wrong with a Facility Design
Cows Will Tell You What is Wrong with a Facility Design

As we transition the cows into a new facility, take time to watch the cows' usage of the facility. Cow behavior in the facility will indicate what may need to be adjusted.

New Antibiotic Rules Start in June
New Antibiotic Rules Start in June

Beginning June 11, 2023, most livestock antibiotics will no longer be available over-the-counter. Ohio State University dairy veterinarian Kevin Jacque shares his thoughts on adapting to the new rules.

Does Acidification Improve Colostrum?
Does Acidification Improve Colostrum?

Acidification of milk or milk replacer is a common practice for some calf raisers, with some studies showing it improves weight gain and fecal scores in calves.

Living a PFAS Nightmare
Living a PFAS Nightmare

Imagine receiving a phone call from the government telling you to euthanize your entire herd. That’s the nightmare Art Schapp, owner of Highland Dairy in Clovis, New Mexico, wished had never come true.

Culling Rates Higher than a Year Ago
Culling Rates Higher than a Year Ago

High slaughter rates could curtail milk production growth in 2023.

Understanding Diseases Associated with Histophilus Somni
Understanding Diseases Associated with Histophilus Somni

Veterinarians and researchers have hypothesized why H. somni is becoming more widespread and increasingly prevalent, but there is not a clear culprit.

Could Feeding Bile Acids Provide a Better Pathway for Transition Success?
Could Feeding Bile Acids Provide a Better Pathway for Transition Success?

Supplementing early lactation dairy cow diets with bile acids could provide a pathway to suppressing fatty liver and ketosis, and ultimately boosting milk production and profitability.

Kansas Dairy Farmer's Manure Mural Born Out of a Labor of Love for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs
Kansas Dairy Farmer's Manure Mural Born Out of a Labor of Love for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs

With no GPS equipment, Kansas dairy farmer Rob Leach freehanded the number 15, the jersey number of Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The result? A 100% organic manure mural to celebrate the Super Bowl.

How One Farm Nearly Doubled Their Pregnancy Rate
How One Farm Nearly Doubled Their Pregnancy Rate

Getting cows pregnant is vital to keeping the pipeline full. According to Jeremey Natzke of Wayside Dairy, a 35% plus pregnancy rate equates to an outstanding repro program and a number his dairy worked hard to achieve.

How a Jersey Cow Helped Make the Perfect Proposal
How a Jersey Cow Helped Make the Perfect Proposal

A high school dance proposal used to simply consist of asking your date to the dance, but now there is a lot of hype about when and how you ask. Recently my daughter's proposal included a trip to the cow barn.

U.S. Dairy Cows Continue to Push Inland
U.S. Dairy Cows Continue to Push Inland

The latest USDA Milk Production report saw a mere 0.8% increase in December’s milk production over the prior year. While states, like Texas and South Dakota continue to lead the way in year-over-year cow number growth.

Global Feed Production Estimates Released in 2023 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook
Global Feed Production Estimates Released in 2023 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook

Combining data from 142 countries and over 28,000 feed mills, Alltech recently shared its 2023 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook with global feed production survey data.

‘Dairy-Based’ Alternative Meats Could Become a Reality
‘Dairy-Based’ Alternative Meats Could Become a Reality

There's now an 'alternative' to alternative plant-based meats. And the first ingredient just might shock you.

Best, Four-Legged Farm Hands Announced in Farm Bureau’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest
Best, Four-Legged Farm Hands Announced in Farm Bureau’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest

Providing purpose both on and off the farm, farm and ranch dogs earn top honors, selected from over 100 contestants across the nation, in the annual Farm Bureau contest.

Micotil® Gets New Safety Packaging
Micotil® Gets New Safety Packaging

The label change accommodates a change in packaging for the injectable cattle drug, which was designed to prevent accidental injection by human handlers, and promote human safety.

Are We Over-vaccinating Beef-on-Dairy Calves?
Are We Over-vaccinating Beef-on-Dairy Calves?

Just because we have easy access to the thousands of beef-on-dairy cross calves eventually headed for feedyards doesn't mean we should be vaccinating them every week, according to Dan Thomson.

Tips to Boost Mental Health Ahead of the Holidays
Tips to Boost Mental Health Ahead of the Holidays

The statistics surrounding mental health are alarming. The reasons varied, but while the holidays can be a time of happiness, it also can be challenging. Follow these tips if you notice your mental health worsening.

Producers Beware: A Look Inside the Animal Activists' Playbook
Producers Beware: A Look Inside the Animal Activists' Playbook

Here’s three key claims and takeaways from this year’s animal rights extremist conferences and how they plan to turn consumers away from meat, poultry and dairy products.

American Ninja Warrior Alex Weber to Address the 20th Anniversary Milk Business Conference
American Ninja Warrior Alex Weber to Address the 20th Anniversary Milk Business Conference

The 2022 Milk Business Conference keynote speaker Alex Weber will grace the stage on Wed., Dec. 14th at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

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A New Kind of “A.I.” for Dairies

Move over, artificial insemination. There’s a new “A.I.” in town, and it’s more intelligent than you.

Sen. Booker Proposes Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act
Sen. Booker Proposes Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday announced proposed legislation aimed at ending line-speed increases and “meatpacker self-inspection programs.”

Six Straw Alternatives to Get You Through a Bedding Shortage
Six Straw Alternatives to Get You Through a Bedding Shortage

If you are experiencing a shortage in your straw supply, here are six bedding alternatives to consider.

Anti-Animal Ag Media Criticizes UC Davis Researchers, Dr. Mitloehner Tells All
Anti-Animal Ag Media Criticizes UC Davis Researchers, Dr. Mitloehner Tells All

After two recent articles from New York Times and Unearthed criticize Dr. Frank Mitloehner and his team at UC Davis, the "GHGGuru" joins Agritalk to share the facts and his perspective on the media's antics.

Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Going Away: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Farm
Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Going Away: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Farm

On June 11, 2023, over-the-counter antibiotics will no longer be available through traditional retail channels. Instead, these antibiotics will now require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

Combat Labor Headaches Head On
Combat Labor Headaches Head On

Labor shortages are no longer a stark headline, but instead a continued headache dairy farms are faced with. Recently on an Ag Future podcast, Dr. Luke Miller with Alltech spoke about training and retaining labor.

Time to Break Out the Calf Jackets
Time to Break Out the Calf Jackets

Because newborn calves have very little body fat to help them stay warm, calf jackets can help them preserve energy, protect immunity and improve daily gain.

Join the Animal Agriculture Alliance as “Partners in Progress” at 2023 Stakeholders Summit
Join the Animal Agriculture Alliance as “Partners in Progress” at 2023 Stakeholders Summit

How can we create a sustainable future for animal agriculture? By building it together, says AAA. The 2023 Stakeholders Summit theme has been set, and speaker proposals and applications are open.

Land O’Lakes CEO Praises U.S. Farmers for Their Role in Food Security
Land O’Lakes CEO Praises U.S. Farmers for Their Role in Food Security

The leader of one of America’s largest food and agriculture companies said the country’s farmers should be celebrated for their crucial role in providing food security, even if their work is sometimes overlooked.

Ring of Glory: Pennsylvania Teen Chases Dairy Dreams After Surviving House Fire
Ring of Glory: Pennsylvania Teen Chases Dairy Dreams After Surviving House Fire

Pennsylvania teenager Reese Burdette continues her medical recovery from a 2014 housefire and returns to the showring at a Harrisburg dairy competition.

Colostrum May Have Yet Another Virtue: Scours Treatment
Colostrum May Have Yet Another Virtue: Scours Treatment

Effectively treating calves for scours could be as easy as feeding them something that virtually every dairy farm has on hand: colostrum.

Merck Opens Animal Health Intelligence Manufacturing Facility
Merck Opens Animal Health Intelligence Manufacturing Facility

Merck Animal Health announces the opening of a manufacturing facility in Louisiana to establish printing, production and distribution of Allflex Livestock Intelligence ear tags.

Want To End Hunger? Animal Protein May Be the Answer
Want To End Hunger? Animal Protein May Be the Answer

The White House announced several steps to increase access of fruits and vegetables as a food source, but some say animal protein is also an answer to the need for healthy and nutritious food for all Americans.  

Merck Animal Health Awards $90,000 in Scholarships
Merck Animal Health Awards $90,000 in Scholarships

Merck Animal Health has awarded $90,000 in scholarships to 18 bovine veterinary students based on their academic achievements, career goals, work experience and interest in veterinary medicine.

Thermodynamics of Rumen VFA Studied
Thermodynamics of Rumen VFA Studied

Researchers at Virginia Tech University have investigated what effects infusing extra acetate or propionate, or lowering the pH, would have on thermodynamics of VFA in the rumen.

A Look Inside the Late Queen Elizabeth’s Dairy Farm
A Look Inside the Late Queen Elizabeth’s Dairy Farm

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, recently passed away at the age of 96. The late queen, who was well-known for her soft spot for animals, had a herd of 200 registered Jersey cows.

Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) is Highly Prevalent on European Dairy Farms
Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) is Highly Prevalent on European Dairy Farms

Preliminary results of a field study found 73% of farms tested positive for BCoV in the respiratory pathway, and BCoV is associated with increased risk for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).

Do you have a Calf Herd Program?
Do you have a Calf Herd Program?

While Lung Ultrasound is the cornerstone of any good Calf Herd Health Program, there are many other benefits to getting your herd vet in your calf barn on a regular basis.

Is Technology the Answer to Dairy’s Sustainability Triple Threats?
Is Technology the Answer to Dairy’s Sustainability Triple Threats?

There are three main threats to dairy sustainability: lowering the carbon footprint, assuring continued availability of affordable water and a qualified labor force.

Plant-Based Food Isn't Healthier: New Book Sets Out to Debunk Myths
Plant-Based Food Isn't Healthier: New Book Sets Out to Debunk Myths

A book about why eating a plants-only diet won't improve your health or save the planet is turning heads. A British-based investigative journalist digs into the concept that plant-based food is better for your health.

Liver Biopsies Could Replace “Bugs and Drugs” Approach
Liver Biopsies Could Replace “Bugs and Drugs” Approach

What was once a relatively invasive and tedious procedure has become a potentially standard method of monitoring the health and nutritional status of dairy cows.

Premium Alfalfa Hay Delivered by Amazon Prime
Premium Alfalfa Hay Delivered by Amazon Prime

California dairy farmer, Steve Maddox found a newfound love for Amazon Prime, who hauled premium alfalfa dairy hay from his Logan, Utah hay ranch to his Riverdale, Calif. dairy farm.

A Dairy Farm Summer Camp: Fun for All Ages
A Dairy Farm Summer Camp: Fun for All Ages

Dairy farms are a hustling and bustling place. Last year, the Berning family in Illinois opened their dairy farm barn doors and offer Farm Camp for kids of all ages. Camp includes farm chores, scavenger hunts and more.

Targeted Approach Reduces Bovine Leukemia Virus in the Dairy Herd
Targeted Approach Reduces Bovine Leukemia Virus in the Dairy Herd

Curtail transmission levels by stopping the so-called super shedders, says Ron Erskine, DVM and professor emeritus at Michigan State University, by identifying and culling them. He explains the process here.