Feed is the single-largest expense in milk production. Many other livestock industries use feed efficiency as a benchmark for performance; however, dairy producers have only recently started to evaluate feed efficiency. Differences in production systems prevent a straightforward comparison of feed efficiencies. The following [article] discusses how to measure and use these values.

Dairy farmers with milking parlors built in the 1970s and 1980s need new facilities to improve milking efficiency. However, a new milk barn can cost from $125,000 to $300,000.

Extensive research in a number of livestock industries around the world has identified the impact of the interactions between stockpeople (animal handlers) and farm animals on farm animal behavior, welfare and productivity. Specifically, relationships between the animal’s fear of humans and productivity of animals have been found in the dairy industry and also in the egg, meat chicken and pig industries.

As dairies strive to increase the number of high-quality replacement animals, there are many factors to address. This article starts with the very stump of the production tree – ways to increase survivability of the calf immediately before, during and after the calving process. Actions we take during these few hours will determine whether we have a potential replacement or a dead calf needing disposal.

The role of trace minerals in animal production is an area of strong interest for producers, feed manufactures, veterinarians and scientists. Adequate trace mineral intake and absorption is required for a variety of metabolic functions including immune response to pathogenic challenge, reproduction and growth. Mineral supplementation strategies quickly become complex because differences in trace mineral status of all livestock species is critical in order to obtain optimum production in modern animal production systems.

Producers need to be aware of the impacts manure can have on water and air quality. However, manure and other byproducts of livestock production have important impacts on farm profitability, neighbor relations and protecting soil and water quality.

Combine E. coli 0157:H7, ‘naturally’ produced spinach, food poisoning, an organic foods purveyor and author, cows and the New York Times and you get, guess what? That’s right, evil factory farming! No surprise.

Reporting from Bagram, Afghanistan …

• I like chicken. I only wish it tasted more like chicken. • Hungry people don’t protest genetically modified foods. • What is the difference between the people who worked for F.E.M.A. in the wake of Hurricane Katrina vs. the reporters, politicians and movie stars who jostled each other for sound bites?

“This is wonderful, no?”