After my stories earlier this year about my dad shooting that stray dog and about him losing 10 heifers to lightning, he’s asked me to stop writing about him (or at least write something good.) Unfortunately, I can’t do either. I do know that he took a few days off to go to World Dairy Expo this year. That usually guarantees he’ll start seeing smoke signals for help about the time he gets to his hotel.

Despite a general appreciation that a clean, dry, comfortable place to lie down for dairy cows is associated with improved milk production and health, there is reluctance by farmers to remodel existing facilities to achieve this goal. It is very easy to understand why. Industry recommendations for stall design have not been consistent, with much debate among consultants over appropriate dimensions and size over the last few years. Also, the construction of partial budgets has been hampered by a lack of knowledge of the potential financial benefits that might accrue from stall improvements, when compared with quite substantial costs that have been relatively easy to measure.

High-producing dairy cows are most susceptible to metabolic diseases during the periparturient period. During the first few days of lactation, milk production increases more rapidly than dry matter intake (DMI). Maintaining high DMI is essential to attain optimal milk production. The prepartum diet, body condition score, and environmental and managerial conditions affect DMI. Postpartum disease events have an even greater impact on DMI. Objectives of this study were to determine the effect of adverse health events on DMI, milk production, bodyweight, reproductive indices and mature equivalent (ME) production of dairy cows.

Have you seen the movie The Phoenix? A group of adventurers crashed a big twin-engine airplane in the Sahara Desert. Over a period of weeks they rigged together a single-engine plane out of the pieces and flew off to a happy ending.

One of the predominant themes of many of my columns has been the relationship between art and science. The discussion is a perennial one. And there are as many answers as there are questions.

Who knew manure had so many uses? From energy production to bedding for stalls, there seems to be no limit for the usefulness of byproducts from dairy cow manure. Researchers at Michigan State University are developing yet another use for manure – construction material. Laurent Matuana, associate professor, and M. Charles Gould, extension educator of nutrient management, are working to develop medium density fiberboards (MDF) and wood-plastic composites (WPCs) made from the dried manure fibers from anaerobic digesters.

Columnists, including me, feel a responsibility to keep you, the reader, updated on discoveries or phenomenon that might directly affect you.

There are several different diseases that can cause diarrhea and fever in cows and calves.

Are commodity prices changing your operation?
“Since we produce both crops and run a dairy, commodity prices are really starting to cut into our profits.

Boys will be boys. Boys with energy and imagination who have access to exotic supplies may get a little out of hand from time to time.