In 2019, age at first calving is on course to be added to the Net Merit Index, and residual feed intake may not be far behind.

Do you feel prepared to raise calves during the winter season? The lower critical temperature of a young dairy calf is 50ºF, which means that the calf’s energy requirement begins to increase in order to maintain core body temperature in conditions below 50ºF.

In an ongoing video series for Progressive Dairyman, comedian Tim the Dairy Farmer answers questions from fans. View below to watch Tim answer a question from “Kyle” about finding an endangered species of bird on his farm. Does Tim think it will increase his property value?

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately. I guess, in all honesty, it’s my attempt to begin to get a grasp on so many of the complexities life has to offer. While I wish I could say that I have made a vow to reduce time on social media, often this reading occurs at the end of a long day when I find myself on my phone searching for … something.

It’s 7:45 a.m., and I am sitting on my couch uncomfortable and wondering how difficult it’s going to be to get back up off the couch when I am done. Although I am only 36 weeks into my pregnancy, I only made it 35 weeks with my last, so this is like my 40 weeks.

Robot milking systems have allowed some farms to reduce labor costs and introduce new technologies. However, understanding the cost structure and how it will impact the business has been a challenge for many lenders. That challenge has kept farms in Pennsylvania and other regions from adopting the technology and benefiting from the innovation.

The farmer is the central cog in a system wherein all ancillary cogs profit because the central cog keeps turning. Seed and agrochemical companies, animal breeders, equipment dealers, crop insurance salesmen and bankers on the front end, and food processors and manufacturers on the tail end – they all need the farmers' wheels to keep spinning in order to make money.

Citing declining milk cow numbers – which will be partially offset by stronger milk output per cow – the USDA’s November World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report cut milk production forecasts for both 2018 and 2019. However, the outlook for less milk didn’t translate into improved milk price projections for either year.

You add it to bread to make the dough rise, and you use it to ferment beer and wine. But why feed yeasts to your herd?

If you’ve experienced a severe burn, you’ll know all too well that the pain doesn’t disappear overnight. In fact, it can get worse before it gets better. When it comes to hot-iron disbudding, calves may be in a similar boat.