Although 2012 brought many challenges, some herds saw remarkable improvements compared to 2011. Midwestern states endured record temperatures for a prolonged period of time followed by a drought, impacting feed availability, price and quality.

The price a dairy farm receives for milk is determined by a system that tries to calculate the value of the milk components based on products produced from milk. The prices for the end products of cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and dry whey are surveyed and averaged each month.

Low-milk-fat syndrome, commonly known as milk fat depression (MFD), has been studied for approximately 170 years. Many hypotheses have been evaluated in order to explain the biological mechanisms by which nutrition could modulate milk fat percentage.

In order to achieve any goal in life, the first step is to believe it is possible. Perhaps your herd is averaging 26,000 or 28,000 pounds of milk. That’s nothing to shake your head at.

The most profitable cow on your dairy is the fresh cow. She makes more milk more efficiently than at any other time of the lactation. Feeding fresh cows to maximize their peak milk production is some of the best money spent on your dairy.

Historically high cull cow values, along with increased scrutiny for residues in milk and meat, should have already advanced your decision process for mastitis treatment by now. A valid veterinary-client-patient-relationship requires that every dairy owner and manager regularly reviews all of the treatment protocols with their attending veterinarian and includes plans to decide which cases are worth treating.

Dairy farmers work from sunup to sundown to establish a herd of high-producing cows, but no farmer is thrilled with the risks and consequences that linger in the shadows. As farmers, we have to face the facts: High-producing cows are at a significantly greater risk of contracting a mastitis infection.

Just when you think you’ve done everything you can to grow healthy, robust heifers and avoid health challenges such as respiratory disease and scours, there’s more: heifer mastitis. It can appear in your heifer pens earlier than you think. Exposure to mastitis-causing pathogens happens at several points in heifers’ lives, from birth to calving.

Often, we hear things like, “Perhaps you should change your treatment; maybe the ‘bugs’ on your farm are building up a resistance to what you are using.” I’ve heard arguments that this could happen and arguments that this is not a concern for dairy farmers. But has anyone ever suggested this about teat dip disinfectants? I don’t think I’ve heard that discussion too many times, if ever.

Mastitis is a complicated and costly problem for the dairy farmer. No simple solutions are available for its prevention. Some aspects are well understood and documented in scientific literature. Others are controversial and opinions are often presented as facts. However, from the dairy farm perspective, two simple product mandates are required – simplicity in use and cost.