As milk alternatives continue to fill the shelves, it’s important for dairy producers to pay attention to how their product stacks up.

Today’s conscious producer is concerned with their impact on the environment, animal care, waste, working conditions, human wellness, workforce shifts and business models.

Animal welfare concerns have not disappeared and will continue to be a driving factor for decisions made in local and global markets and on the farm.

Most transition diseases occur during the three weeks after calving, many of which are triggered at birth. Creating a low-stress calving pen can have positive impacts on dairy cow welfare by limiting the amount of time cows spend in labor and allowing cows to perform maternal behaviors.

With the market turmoil of the last few years, dairy producers are once again increasing stocking densities on their farms and enjoying larger milk checks from the increased milk shipped. It’s so easy to add a few extra cows and reap the rewards.

Yes, cows are easily stressed. The issue with stress is the release of adrenaline, cortisol and other hormones. These hormones are needed for the fight-or-flight response but can also cause oxidative damage to cells – meaning they slow down and impair immune system function.

Automated milking systems have been around long enough to no longer be considered “new,” yet adopting these systems still comes with a learning curve and some questions that remain unanswered.