As it always is, the 2025 edition of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium – hosted June 9-12 in Amarillo, Texas, by West Texas A&M University – delivered boatloads of cutting-edge research results and practical applications of genetic tools.

Artificial insemination as a regular practice may seem out of reach on your operation, but this floor- and ceiling-raising technology is more affordable and easier to access than ever before.

Like the speedometer, the dry-off list may include cows that are milking more than expected, and it might be necessary to pump the brakes hard to dry them off successfully. Or, like the blind spot, life happens, holidays and time off intervene, and suddenly, there are more cows on the dry-off list than expected. Automated milking systems and milking system software have some options for managing cows going into the dry period.

We’ve made it through another breeding season, and the constant hot temperatures are in full swing. The “dog days of summer” not only take a toll on your mood, but also become a consistent stressor to the cow herd.

Your dairy’s culture can be the engine that drives success — or leads to its failure. So what is “culture”? Culture is a shared set of values, goals, attitudes and practices that characterize a business. A strong and healthy team culture can create a sense of unity and shared purpose among employees. It ensures that your employees feel valued and motivated, and it also helps them feel connected to the greater good.

If you have ever tried to recall where you wrote down a cow’s tag number or decipher pen marks on the back of your hand after a long day of processing cattle, you know the frustrations of recordkeeping. Recordkeeping isn’t always the easiest task, but it plays an important role in informing management decisions.

Two employees are having a conversation about work, and one mentions that they heard that a co-worker of theirs is having marriage problems. A lengthy conversation, based mostly on unfounded information, ensues. One of those employees then tells the rest of the employees about all the personal struggles their co-worker is experiencing.

Nestled just north and east of some of Alberta’s most stunning scenery is Soderglen Ranch, where cattle act like they’ve belonged on the terrain for thousands of years.