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Dairy farmers from as far away as Latvia gathered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a two-day presentation focused on the elements of establishing or expanding a dairy operation earlier this year.
Neighbors judged Dan Brick and his dairy for its smell and mud on the roads – until he held his first dairy tour. Now the fifth-generation dairy farmer from Greenleaf, Wisconsin, says he and his employees have seen the attention they receive flip-flop from negative to positive.
Those producers who survive the current economic uncertainty will be the ones that have managed the risk of their businesses. We all recognize the risk of price both in terms of buying commodities and selling products.
Genomics is creating a new buzz in the genetics industry and is getting quite a bit of press, as you may have noticed. I am convinced it is not just “techno-babble,” either. It’s a technology that promises to drive productivity and genetic improvement on progressive dairies.
Providing adequate energy is a fine balancing act in an ever-changing rumen environment. Low levels may not provide the necessary energy to support high production while excessive energy can result in serious health conditions like rumen acidosis, lameness and liver abscesses.
After a brief period of excellent milk prices and reasonable feed prices, the dairy industry is once again slipping back toward a break-even mode of production. Hopefully, that won’t be long-lived.
Since taking the parlor to the cow is impossible in most modern dairy systems, keeping cows healthy and able to walk without pain is paramount to getting milk in the tank. Matt and Karl Hendel changed their focus from maximum milk production to herd health and have found ways to keep lameness rare, veterinarian costs down and still have high milk production.
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