Lely opened its North American manufacturing facility in Pella, Iowa, in 2012. It is one of three manufacturing facilities in the world.

Is it time to replace our parlor? That’s what Rick and Marleen Adams were wondering two years ago as they struggled to reduce a stubbornly high somatic cell count (SCC). Their double-12 herringbone parlor at Sugar Creek Dairy in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was more than 20 years old.

Is a new milking system in your future? Whether you’re thinking about a new parlor or robots, you expect your new system to meet your goals and provide return on investment (ROI).

Teat liners are the link between your cows and the robot. Choosing the right type of teat liner helps ensure all milk is quickly and carefully removed from the udder. The teat liner is designed to provide two things: removal of milk and reduction in congestion that can occur in the removal process.

Just like any substantial project for your dairy operation, a robotic milking facility will represent a significant capital investment. Considering that you will utilize what you buy and build every day for the next 20 to 30 years, the payback for the time you spend researching is substantial.

A well-established routine doesn’t always mean doing the same thing, at the same time, every day. In fact, routines in a robotic barn are often anything but “routine.” The size of the farm, the number of employees and layout of the barn are just a few of the factors that go into protocol development.

Look, listen and feel – critical words and concepts you learn in first aid and CPR that are imperative to assess a person’s well-being who’s been traumatized.

Water is the most important nutrient we can give our cattle, yet it is often overlooked. Dairy cows drink on average 30-50 gallons of water a day and produce 1 pound of milk for every 4.5 pounds of water consumed.

One of the top storylines for the 2019 crop season is the weather-related delays that have impacted much of the country.

Having the peace of mind that your dairy facility is properly designed and engineered should be a priority to anyone in the industry. After the April 2018 snowstorm the Midwest endured, engineering of dairy housing structures has been a hot topic.