Everything in calf nutrition is debated these days. How much milk or milk replacer should be fed? Is pasteurized milk better than milk replacer? When is the best time to wean calves? Should starters be textured or pelleted? What approved drug should be included, if any? Should hay be fed?

A new technology is helping to identify what viruses or bacteria are causing early bovine respiratory disease (BRD) – thanks to a timelier, more accurate and less-invasive diagnostic test. Deep nasal pharyngeal swab collections, combined with updated molecular diagnostics in the form of real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technology, is one of the newest diagnostic advances in dairy animal health.

A postmortem examination is a unique experience because it utilizes the full spectrum of all five senses in order to decipher a case. Upon entering the postmortem room, I hone in on the clues that stimulate my senses.

Over the last decade, we have seen an increase in calf scours caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. There are other species of cryptosporidium that infect calves but are of lesser importance.

Raise your hand if you operate a dairy farm and you are the only person making decisions regarding the business. My guess is that not too many hands went up.

This one is located on Allen Farms, six miles outside of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Anaerobic digesters have been proven to generate methane, which can be used to produce electricity or natural gas, but dairy producers remain skeptical on whether or not this technology has proven to be profitable.

Odor and air emissions are ever-present on dairy farms and continue to hold the attention of local, state and national regulation agencies. Earlier this year, Rick Stowell from University of Nebraska – Lincoln gave two presentations on the topic at the Midwest Manure Summit in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

As I walk through the golden world of fall, I can’t help but marvel at the glory of God. Everything is formed with such intricate precision. Each tree and plant has the God-given power to regenerate in springtime.

Editor’s note: This blog is reprinted with permission from Krista Stauffer, a farmer in Washington. This blog has been viewed more than 30,000 times since she posted it on September 26, 2013.