The alliance keeps a pulse on the animal rights movement so that the agriculture community can stay informed and be proactive, rather than reactive, to the tactics and strategies used.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Jason Anderson and Pam Selz-Pralle regarding the recently updated Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Gold Standards.

Though the HPAI outbreak of 2022-23 was devastating, an outbreak of FMD in the U.S. could be far worse, particularly for the dairy industry.

I now view the common risk factors for disease – such as failure of passive transfer, dirty facilities and feeding equipment, cold stress and poor nutrition – as symptoms of a lack of proactive, structured monitoring programs designed to track protocol compliance as well as calf performance.

I think most people would agree that farmers are some of the most passionate people out there. Those working in agriculture have great pride in what they do and want to share their story.

Dairy farming can be unpredictable, and even with the best management, accidents can happen. For example, a cow may slip exiting the parlor and go down. This could happen even on the best employee’s watch and while following all correct protocols.

The spread of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) could seriously impede the sustainability of cattle industries and encourage the growth of alternative methods of producing dietary protein other than milk and meat.