Pat Kahle Dairy Enterprise Account Manager Adrian, Michigan Arm & Hammer

As summer temperatures creep up over 90°F (32°C), heat stress can negatively impact calf health and performance. Heat stress causes increased respiration and body temperature, rapid dehydration and reduced immune system function. In addition, the calf’s maintenance energy requirement is elevated – similar to the effects of cold stress. According to Dr. Dave Cook, technical service manager at Milk Products, LLC, “In cold weather, calves burn more energy to keep themselves warm, while in hot weather they burn more energy keeping themselves cool. Both calf growth and health can be negatively affected if heat stress is not managed.”

Although the methods used to feed cows and raise calves have moved into the 21st century, Dr. Jud Heinrichs, professor of dairy science at Penn State, said many farms are raising heifers like it is still the 1970s. Heinrichs presented “Precision Feeding Dairy Heifers” at the Four State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference held June 12 and 13 in Dubuque, Iowa.

In a 24-hour period, consumers in the U.S. see approximately 13,000 marketing messages, and they associate any product on the market with a specific brand. So, what do they think about when the dairy industry comes to mind? Read ideas to positively influence their perception from Center Communications Intern Sara Kitchen. PD Click here for the column. Learn more about Sara Kitchen and her internship with the Center.

Growing up in Wisconsin, one of my favorite summer activities was hitting up the Wisconsin State Fair when it came to Milwaukee. Long before the craze of “fried things on a stick” took hold, my parents and I would wander through the livestock barns, admiring the beautiful animals, take a visit to the milking parlor, watch a parade featuring majestic Clydesdales and snack on a Wisconsin State Fair tradition – the cream puff.

The All-American Dairy Foundation (AADF) has launched the Cull Cow Campaign to raise $50,000 by the end of 2013 from All-American Dairy Show enthusiasts.

Alltech, a global animal health and nutrition company, has appointed Dr. Tugrul Durali as Asia-Pacific technical manager for the company’s Mycotoxin Management Team. Based in Sydney, Australia, Durali will provide technical support to the company’s local and regional accounts, focusing on the company’s On-Farm program.

Iwig Family Dairy, which has been in the business since 1910, has opened a second retail store in Lawrence, Kansas. The first Lawrence location opened about a year ago. This new store brings their total number of Kansas stores to four, including one in Topeka and another in Tecumseh.

Happy days are here again. As I write this, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is in record territory, trading above 15,000. The hit song on the kids’ iPods is “Get Lucky.” Optimism for a good 2013 crop has brought feed buying opportunities. And dairy producers seem optimistic that milk prices will go up.