Due to record highs for butterfat pricing, the buzz in the industry has been about how to maximize butterfat production in the bulk tank. But at the end of the day, it’s the individual cows that are being milked into the bulk tank and eating the rations.

The milking parlor is where you harvest your crop. All your effort in breeding, feeding and herd management shows up in the parlor. I often encourage employees by reminding them that they work in the "most important place on the dairy."