Sometimes it is amazing to think about how much hinges on the four teats of the dairy cow. If a teat is damaged or destroyed, we potentially lose the milk from that quarter or, worse yet, with a severe infection we lose the whole cow.

It’s no news the organic industry is growing. With organic milk sales increasing each year, a new wave of dairy producers are seeking safe, sustainable and organic-approved solutions. With this growth also comes great responsibility for both organic dairies and their suppliers.

Representatives from across the dairy industry spectrum discussed the impacts of Idaho’s 400,000 cells per milliliter somatic cell count (SCC) limit at the 2017 National Mastitis Council Regional Meeting held in Boise.

Six months. 182 days. Seasons change. Holidays happen. You might exchange shorts for insulated coveralls and endure daylight saving time. A lot happens in six months.

Since I sell milking robots as well as parlors, I often have the opportunity to discuss the differences with dairies considering a change. The motivation to upgrade milking equipment or facilities can be to milk more cows, add beneficial technologies, reduce labor, improve quality of life or enhance the owners’ quality of work (freeing up their time to do more valuable activities).

More and more farms are transitioning to the world of robotic milking. During the preparation for this transition, farm visits will be made, drawings will be looked at and questions will be asked regarding numerous aspects of the project.

Meeting the nutrient requirements of a high-producing dairy cow without disrupting the rumen environment can be challenging. Starch is a key energy source but can also lead to acidosis if it is overfed.

It is widely acknowledged dairy cattle must be fed nutritionally balanced rations to deliver absorbable protein with appropriate balances of specific amino acids (AAs) to the small intestine. However, the required levels of these AAs remain unclear.

Get ready: corn silage in 2017 is not going to be typical corn silage. Illinois growing and harvesting conditions may reflect your situation and corn silage quality. Test, test and retest will be a common theme.

One of the most frequent questions I hear regarding drought-stressed forages is in reference to harvest time. When should I harvest? This is good because it’s probably the most important question you should be asking.