In October 2016, the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) introduced its revised Gold Standards, setting a new industry standard producers could use to measure their own operations.

There’s no shortage of sunshine in Buckeye, Arizona, where average highs hit over 100ºF during the summer. Keeping cows cool in this desert climate is no doubt a challenge, but dairyman Nick Vanderwey thinks outside the box to get the job done.

We’ve all seen them, and most of us are probably guilty of ignoring them at one point or another. I’m referring to fans so coated in dust and other organic material you wonder how they still spin and, if they are off, you can only imagine the cloud that will be blown into the air when they do eventually start up.

As we move past tail docking, down cows and the handling of dairy cattle on our farms, there are a number of other welfare concerns emerging for us to address in the near future. These issues are voiced by consumers through social media, open discussion with food marketers and are often amplified by animal activism groups.

The ideal dairy stall is clean, dry and comfortable. Yet when it comes to keeping moisture and pathogens at bay, many stalls fall short. Whether you’re bedding on organic or inorganic material, optimizing stalls for maximum cow health and comfort is critical for producing quality milk.

Pinkeye (infectious keratoconjunctivitis) is the most common ocular disease of cattle, affecting one or both eyes.

The transition period for a dairy cow has traditionally been defined by the dairy industry as the period three weeks pre-calving to three weeks post-calving. An expanded period including the entire dry period, i.e., 60 days pre-calving to 30 days post-calving, more completely encompasses the actual period when physiological and nutritional adjustments result in a successful subsequent lactation.

In mysteries, the culprit sneaks in. There’s no sign that the safe was broken into – until the money is missing.

An investment on a dairy barn floor should set the operation up for the future. However, a faulty floor can lead to costly losses due to down cows and lameness.

A study coordinated by the University of Minnesota, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin – Madison and North Dakota State University, compared the effects of the functional hoof-trimming method to an adapted version of the technique and found benefits for young cows.