A rotating milking parlor, weeping-wall manure-settlement basin, cross-ventilated dairy barns that work like huge swamp coolers – all were features at a Southwest Dairy Day held May 8 near Dublin.

The success of colostrum feeding to calves is built on four critical components:

A “downer cow” can be defined as a cow that is unable or unwilling to stand after being recumbent for four or more hours.

Udder scald is a moist, often foul-smelling dermatitis between the udder and upper thigh or between the udder halves of cows.

It’s hard to put a price on the losses of an inefficient reproductive program.

We’re quick to notice the effects of heat stress in our herds when it causes a drop in production as a result of a decrease in the dry matter intake in your herd.

In times when the cost of production is greater than milk income, each input cost is closely inspected for the value it provides to the dairy.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” E. B. Browning, 1857

I spend at least two days a week in travel status, largely in the Red Zone. As some of you may know, Baghdad has the International Zone (IZ), or Green Zone.

I have spent many days at dairies in Minnesota and South Dakota collecting data for an observational study on dairy housing systems (including low profile, cross-ventilated freestall barns) and well-being.