The area of most confusion related to herd health management on dairies continues to be the vaccine program. It is rare to find just one vaccine protocol for any farm.

A good start in life and lactation are paramount to dairy profitability, and Kathryn Proudfoot, assistant professor at Ohio State University, explored using cow behavior as a management tool for maternity pen design.

Progressive Dairyman invited several prominent companies and organizations to discuss the current state of antimicrobial drug use on dairy farms. Those contacted said most producers do an exceptional job; this roundtable highlights areas to further perfect.

Everyone sees the world through their own prism. The same can be said for your cows. The crux of successful dairy management is to make sure the vision of human and animal intersects for a common perception. That is, observing – and managing – your dairy from a cow’s perspective.

Heat stress is created when livestock cannot expel enough heat to maintain their core body temperature for optimal production and health. The temperature-humidity index (THI) is a number that combines humidity and temperature to correlate with the amount of heat stress an animal experiences.

Each time the dairy industry experiences low milk prices, managers start looking for ways to save money. This is smart and something that all good businesses do. If less money is coming in, how do we cut down on how much money goes out without hurting the business in the long run?

During the 2017 Southeast Quality Milk Initiative Meeting, the milk quality award winners sat down in a producer panel to discuss how they achieve award-worthy quality milk in the southeastern U.S. When asked if they had to choose the one thing that has led to their milk quality success, all agreed that cow comfort was at the top of the list.

Water quality can affect land and cattle productivity. Let’s face it, cattle are naturals at drinking as long as there is a water source and access. What else is there to think about? The importance of water deserves the time and attention of cattle producers. Cattle simply cannot be healthy and gain well without good quality water. What’s more, ensuring pastures have a high-quality, sustainable and uncontaminated water source is a key component to environmental stewardship.

Antibiotic dosages are determined by individual cattle bodyweight.

In difficult economic times, dairy producers look for ways to do more with less. In the case of clean drinking water, however, the rule is to do more with more. Water intake may be the bottleneck preventing more efficient production on your dairy.