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Remember “back in the day” how we thought seatbelt use would never catch on? How we never dreamed we could receive $300 fines for non-seatbelt compliance?
Successful calf and heifer raising can be measured in a few ways. Ultimately, the investment put into replacement animals results in a reduced age at first calving (optimum target of 22 to 24 months), leading to lower costs as fewer heifers are raised and higher returns due to greater lifetime profitability.
To successfully implement current scientific findings on metabolic programming in practice, and thus raise healthier calves with a better performance potential and higher milk yield, the more traditional dietary recommendations of feeding calves must be revised.
No matter a producer’s cropping practices or agronomic goals, John Deere continues to expand its offering, including the new 2660VT Variable-Intensity Tillage Tool and 2680H High-Performance Disk for model year 2019.
Editor’s note: Midge Chambers was featured in the print article, “A lesson in dairy leadership from Midge Chambers, a pioneer in the industry.” The following is a compilation of historical information provided to freelance writer Somula Schwoeppe.
In the 1930s, there were more than 50 dairies in northeast Indiana. Cities had their own milk ordinances, so health restrictions were not as severe, and bottling not as complicated. Many farms processed their own milk; there were no cooperative or handler activities in Fort Wayne until the fall of 1934 when farmers banded together and organized Allen Dairy Farms. Each farmer purchased a share of stock for $10 and paid for it a little at a time.
Connecting with employees can be easier if we take some time to understand the human brain. Don’t worry; it is much easier than it sounds. Even though every person is different, all of our brains operate in a similar way.
Many dairy producers point to freezing winter weather as a reason to reduce or eliminate footbath use. Before accepting this as fact, let’s review winter footbath research to see “if” there is a benefit “and” recommended winter footbath practices, and then determine “but” what is the most economical and effective winter hoof treatment.
“First of all, duty to our country and God, and secondly to our traditions and our culture,” says Carlos Chacon, northern New Mexico rancher and Vietnam-era veteran. Chacon, like many ranchers in the industry, had his values instilled in him from the very beginning. These values led him to enlist in the Army and serve our country for four years.
Probiotics aren’t new to the dairy industry. In fact, they’ve been around for a long time. However, with a recent focus on antibiotic use, there’s a renewed interest in feed additives that support calf health. Probiotics are one option.
By now, the potential benefits of robotic milking systems are clear. Less obvious are the financial impacts. That leads to an important question: Should you dive headfirst into a fully automated facility, or is it better to invest incrementally?
