Latest News From DAIRY

Simple And Sustainable: Feeding Dairy Cows This One Ingredient Could Reduce Methane Emissions By Up To Half
Simple And Sustainable: Feeding Dairy Cows This One Ingredient Could Reduce Methane Emissions By Up To Half

As global dairy companies set a new goal to trace and reduce emissions, U.S. dairy researchers say feeding a small amount of red seaweed may be the secret to cutting methane emissions from dairy cattle by up to half.

Ten Holiday Gift Ideas for the Livestock Lover in Your Life
Ten Holiday Gift Ideas for the Livestock Lover in Your Life

If your Christmas shopping list contains people who work daily with animals, you’ll want to get them something meaningful that speaks to the things they enjoy, and might make their workday a little more pleasant, too.

Chip-less, Battery-free Sensing Technology Could be Next Phase of Animal Monitoring
Chip-less, Battery-free Sensing Technology Could be Next Phase of Animal Monitoring

A team of Irish researchers has developed a breakthrough innovation to monitor activity and health characteristics of dairy cows – and it doesn’t involve and wires, chips, batteries, or electronics of any kind.

It Pays to Prevent Respiratory Disease in Feedlot-Bound Cattle
It Pays to Prevent Respiratory Disease in Feedlot-Bound Cattle

More calves born on dairies than ever before are eventually headed to feedyards these days. Performance and profitability merits sending healthy animals from the calf-rearing stage to the feedlot.

New Discoveries to Head Off Health Setbacks in Transition Cows
New Discoveries to Head Off Health Setbacks in Transition Cows

Five tips to fine-tune your transition cow health protocols.

Waste Milk: Freebie or Foible?
Waste Milk: Freebie or Foible?

Waste milk is not necessarily the “free lunch” it is often perceived to be, and may actually be a quite harzardous and costly liquid ration option.

Athian and Elanco Animal Health Team Up to Transform Food Production through Methane Reduction
Athian and Elanco Animal Health Team Up to Transform Food Production through Methane Reduction

Athian announced the establishment of the first-of-its-kind voluntary livestock carbon insetting marketplace with the first accepted protocol aimed at reducing methane emissions with help from Elanco Animal Health.

9 Spooktacular Dairy Treats to Hand Out this Halloween
9 Spooktacular Dairy Treats to Hand Out this Halloween

While candy is always a go-to option, why not get creative and hand out some delicious dairy-themed goodies this Halloween instead?

Look for Subclinical Stages of Hypocalcemia When Metabolic Alkalosis is Present
Look for Subclinical Stages of Hypocalcemia When Metabolic Alkalosis is Present

The problem occurs in nearly 50% of cows in the first 24 hours after calving, says Jesse Goff, DVM and ISU professor emeritus. He details four nutrition strategies to prevent or treat the problem so cows aren't culled.

Nevil Speer
Speer: Day-Old Calves Cost How Much…?

Prices for day-old beef-X-dairy (BXD) calves are often surprisingly high. But what used to be a highly discounted after-thought (straight dairy calves) is rapidly transforming into a meaningful source of production.

Will the 305-Day Lactation Standard Go the Way of the Dinosaur?
Will the 305-Day Lactation Standard Go the Way of the Dinosaur?

For decades, 305 days of lactation, plus a 60-day dry period, has added up to a dairy cow’s target calving interval of one year. But is this a standard that needs to be broken?

Leading With Kindness and Courage, Annette Ostrom's Dairy Legacy Will Now Live On at World Dairy Expo
Leading With Kindness and Courage, Annette Ostrom's Dairy Legacy Will Now Live On at World Dairy Expo

Annette Ostrom's legacy will continue to live on at World Dairy Expo by celebrating the show's youth, the future leaders of the dairy industry.

 Merck Animal Health Expands Voluntary Recall of Banamine 
Merck Animal Health Expands Voluntary Recall of Banamine 

The company announces it is voluntarily recalling four additional batches of Banamine/Banamine-S (flunixin meglumine injection) 50 mg/mL in the United States. The product is commonly used in cattle, swine and horses.

Veterinarian
Need A Veterinarian In Your Area? Then Support This Legislation Now

Less than 5% of new grads choose rural food animal practice. That needs to change to protect the U.S. food supply and public health. Contacting legislators is one way farmers and ranchers can weigh in and help.

 Is it Time to Rethink Dairy Cow Lifespan?
Is it Time to Rethink Dairy Cow Lifespan?

Have we hit the low point for the average productive lifespan of dairy cows?

New Lidocaine-Infused Band Reduces Castration Pain, Discomfort
New Lidocaine-Infused Band Reduces Castration Pain, Discomfort

Solvet Lidoband is approved for use in calves under 250 pounds and in lambs under 50 pounds. The local, soothing anesthesia works for up to 42 days, helping veterinarians and producers improve animal well-being.

Will the Dairy Economy Rebound by 2025?
Will the Dairy Economy Rebound by 2025?

The dairy economy is in rough shape. This is what Ken Bailey shared at the Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference. He said that higher prices will come when domestic and global demand resurges in 2025.

The 7 Repro Sins You Can't Afford to Make
The 7 Repro Sins You Can't Afford to Make

These commonly overlooked issues are holding your herd back.

Acidification Allows 24/7 Milk Access for These Calves
Acidification Allows 24/7 Milk Access for These Calves

Mercer Vu Dairy wanted to utilize group housing and waste milk to raise their preweaned calves with round-the-clock access to milk. Here's how they came up with their own one-of-a-kind system.

Who Should Be Raising Replacement Heifers?
Who Should Be Raising Replacement Heifers?

A massive question dairy producers often ask themselves is who should be raising replacement heifers. Should they be raised by the producer, contracted out and customed raised, or should they be purchased?

Endovac Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Endovac Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The company, based in Columbia, Mo., manufactures vaccines for livestock to aid in the protection of numerous diseases caused by gram-negative bacteria. 

How Will This Year’s Heat Stress Affect Future Offspring?
How Will This Year’s Heat Stress Affect Future Offspring?

Heat stress undoubtedly causes setbacks for cows. But a growing body of research shows it also impacts the calves they are carrying, and possibly even the generation after that.

Large Herds Share the Big Benefits of Switching to Robotic Milking
Large Herds Share the Big Benefits of Switching to Robotic Milking

Aimed at doing better and gaining efficiency on their operations, producers are determining how they want to milk their cows in the future, and larger herds have leaned into technology and turned to robotic milking.

Rapidly Growing Beef-on-Dairy Segment Holds Promise for All Stakeholders
Rapidly Growing Beef-on-Dairy Segment Holds Promise for All Stakeholders

Beef-on-dairy is arguably the most significant advancement for America’s beef industry in a generation.

Cows Will Tell You Whether They're Happy With How They're Milked
Cows Will Tell You Whether They're Happy With How They're Milked

Paul Virkler, DVM, Cornell University, says teat end scoring is a good way to gather insights on a dairy's milking processes and whether adjustments are needed to improve an individual cow's comfort and care.

What Beef on Dairy Cross Has the Best Value?
What Beef on Dairy Cross Has the Best Value?

The beef market is sizzling hot and dairy producers have not only noticed but have taken action to capitalize on securing an alternative profit source to their bottom line.

BT_Vaccination_Syringe_Needle
What Is the Best Needle Size to Use When Working Cattle?

Depending on the size of the animal, viscosity of the product and administration protocols, a variety of needles might be needed. Here’s some guidelines to help decide.

Seasonal Depression In Colostrum Yield
Seasonal Depression In Colostrum Yield

When a cow freshens during the fall or winter, she tends to produce less colostrum than her herd mates who calved in spring and summer. It's no coincidence. Now research is shedding some "light" on the situation.

Managing Mastitis Through Changing Environments
Managing Mastitis Through Changing Environments

Somatic cell count averages for 2022 were highest in the year's late fall and winter months. Below are some considerations for managing mastitis as the weather changes.

Oat Shortages May Dictate Starter Grain Alternatives
Oat Shortages May Dictate Starter Grain Alternatives

In these tumultuous times of drought, global unrest, and supply chain disruptions, feed grains may not be as plentiful, available, and affordable as we have traditionally enjoyed.

Technology: "Let Cows be Cows"
Technology: "Let Cows be Cows"

The best and most effective technologies in dairy production today are not necessarily the ones with the most bells and whistles. Rather, they’re the ones that simply “let cows be cows.”

Try to Keep Dry to Prevent Crypto
Try to Keep Dry to Prevent Crypto

The Cryptosporidium parasite is endemic to even the tidiest dairy farms, and is especially threatening to calf health. But it can be kept at bay in the calf management system with one simple and consistent approach.

It’s Cool to Protect Vaccine Integrity
It’s Cool to Protect Vaccine Integrity

The most precious cargo in a barn fridge is most likely the biologics you purchase to vaccinate your herd to prevent diseases. How are you protecting them?

Managing Pain at All Life Stages is Key to Cow Welfare, Productivity
Managing Pain at All Life Stages is Key to Cow Welfare, Productivity

Pain can impact cow health and productivity at all stages of life. Management practices to avoid or minimize painful experiences can deliver benefits to animal welfare, productivity and consumers’ perceptions.

John Phipps: Why Water is the New Oil for Landowners
John Phipps: Why Water is the New Oil for Landowners

John Phipps says there are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S. He thinks it's a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.

YouTube Michigan Dairy Farm Star Showcases His Farm Messages to Thousands
YouTube Michigan Dairy Farm Star Showcases His Farm Messages to Thousands

There is a reason why dairy farmer Kip Siegler’s YouTube channel is growing. His upbeat personality and his ability to show viewers firsthand what it is like to farm in fast-paced videos resonates well with his audience.

Select Sires Announces Merger, Four Cooperatives Will Now Become One
Select Sires Announces Merger, Four Cooperatives Will Now Become One

Recently, the board of directors from Select Sires four individual cooperatives voted unanimously to merge together as one full-service A.I. cooperative.

Milk Protein Infused Bandages Shown to Improve Wound Healing
Milk Protein Infused Bandages Shown to Improve Wound Healing

We all know real dairy plays a significant role in a healthy lifestyle. But a new study has found that the power of milk can also speed up wound healing.

How to Handle and Dispose of Sharps and Unused Vaccine Products
How to Handle and Dispose of Sharps and Unused Vaccine Products

Kansas State University beef cattle veterinarians share tips on disposing products, needles and syringes that are a risk to humans.

5 Ways to Help Minimize Feed Refusals
5 Ways to Help Minimize Feed Refusals

With no end to the higher feed cost trend in sight, farmers are looking at ways to get the most out of their rations while minimizing wasted feed.

Animal Ag Organizations Team Up to Combat Misinformation and Share Science
Animal Ag Organizations Team Up to Combat Misinformation and Share Science

Everyone knows communication is key to animal agriculture's future success. That's why the Animal Agriculture Alliance and National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) are teaming up.

China’s Weakening Economy Spells Trouble for Dairy
China’s Weakening Economy Spells Trouble for Dairy

Changing demographics could eventually diminish China’s Importance in global dairy markets.

Dairy Genetic Diversity Concerns Highlighted
Dairy Genetic Diversity Concerns Highlighted

One Holstein sire born in 1962, Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief, sired 16,000 daughters, 500,000 great-granddaughters, and more than 2 million great-granddaughters.

In Search of the Maternal “Goldilocks” Diet
In Search of the Maternal “Goldilocks” Diet

What’s the perfect close-up ration to optimize calf health -- something that’s not too much of this or too little of that, but “just right?”

Understand Yourself Better and Be Better on the Job
Understand Yourself Better and Be Better on the Job

Are you interested in being more effective in business and personal interactions? Are you tired of butting heads with that annoying person on your team? JD Fiechtner, DVM, shares tips to “Be Better Than Before.”

What’s Your State’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?
What’s Your State’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

Can you guess your state's top five favorite ice cream flavors?

The Evolution of Dairy Calf Nutrition
The Evolution of Dairy Calf Nutrition

We don’t feed dairy calves the way we used to, and that’s a very good thing, according to calf industry consultant Dave Kuehnel.

Seven Tips to Help Calves Beat the Heat
Seven Tips to Help Calves Beat the Heat

The heat is on, and calves feel it, too. Here are five strategies to help calves cope as summer sizzles on.

America's Largest Cattle Emissions Research Facility Unveiled at Colorado State University
America's Largest Cattle Emissions Research Facility Unveiled at Colorado State University

Nestled in a beautiful secluded mountain valley at Colorado State University beef feedlot in Ft. Collins served as the location for AgNext’s climate-smart research facility ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this month.

Minnesota Dairy Plant Announces Big Expansion Plans
Minnesota Dairy Plant Announces Big Expansion Plans

Bongards Creameries, a leading national cheese and whey manufacture recently announced a $125 million expansion project. The project will increase the plant’s capacity to take in 5.5 million lbs. of milk per day.