How do we make sense of all these options available to dairy producers, when fan manufacturers and sales reps are all sure that they are the only ones with the best possible fan to offer and everything else is inferior to their product? The first thing to understand is that there are two main types of fans – exhaust-style fans and circulation-style fans.

Calf raising is an area where producers may be tempted to cut corners in an effort to save money. Incorporating a least-cost mentality when raising calves often results in calves that are more susceptible to developing health complications.

Designing a natural ventilation system for your dairy involves putting together two necessary elements that create optimum conditions for year-round cow comfort. The basic design involves creating sidewall openings that allow adequate air movement through your barn in spring, fall and summer and creating a ridge opening to facilitate proper minimum air exchange in winter conditions.

Overstocking is a term often used for any time the stocking density over 100%. Across the industry, there are different philosophies and opinions to what is the most profitable stocking density.

When it comes to heat abatement, most dairy farmers are likely to focus on their lactating cows. At the 2023 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, Dr. Geoffrey Dahl from the University of Florida shared why this may not actually be the best method.

When designing a new or retrofit barn for automation, it is essential to give much thought to cow comfort, as well as the flow of cows and people in the barn.

This year marks eight years of progress in pest bird management research in my laboratory. Eight years ago, I asked a group of dairy farmers my typical question, “What keeps you up at night?”

A South Dakota dairy farm that frequently provides farm tours to industry members, farmers and consumers developed a solution to maximize visitor experience while minimizing the disturbance to cows and employees in their maternity barn.