Your heifers are the future of your herd, and getting them to an ideal weight at the proper age is important to the future success of your business. Following simple protocols to get them bred at the ideal time will pay significant future dividends.

Most dairy farms follow a regular herd health schedule with a veterinarian, commonly using ultrasound every two weeks (or weekly, for the largest herds) to diagnose pregnant cows. However, with the introduction of more accessible, affordable and impactful options, it may be time to reconsider some common assumptions.

With the growing trend of using beef semen in dairy herds to produce high-value beef-on-dairy calves, the industry faces unique challenges and opportunities. There is a critical need for internal herd expansion as dairy replacements become scarce.

Regardless of how a producer chooses to breed – either naturally or with synchronization protocols using fertility pharmaceuticals – their goals must involve an approach that maximizes cow health. 

Using automated activity monitoring with genomic data might be an opportunity for the dairy industry to improve reproductive performance, optimize herd management practices and increase profitability. This concept has been described as targeted reproductive management.

What do speedskating and dairy farming have in common besides ice (insert Alberta winters) and hard work? One Holstein breeder: Rolf Van Benthem.

Every cow you create might not be right for your market. To withstand market ebbs and flows, you need to create cows that meet the needs of your operation.

Enrolling heifers in an IVF program is extremely advantageous for genetic advancement in any operation. Even small numbers of viable pregnancies from a prepubertal heifer can give a producer the competitive genetic edge that every dairy farmer is aiming to achieve.