Imagine yourself on the Autobahn. There is no speed limit, so you can drive as fast as you desire. What car would you want to drive? Would you feel comfortable driving your current car at max speed?

Technology has changed how the herd is managed and decisions are made at Reuter Dairy in Peosta, Iowa, where Dan Reuter and his father, Rick, milk 900 cows with a 32,000-pound average and a somatic cell count (SCC) averaging 80,000 over the last 10 years.

That semen tank sitting in the corner of the barn office or vet room generally goes unnoticed except for the times you are pulling out a dose of semen from one of your favorite sires.

Over the last decade, we have seen significant changes in the dairy industry, including the adaptation of new technologies and management of reproduction and genetics:

The world is becoming increasingly atheistic. People think because they can’t see a God, there isn’t one. They reason God was created by man to explain the universe.

My parents instilled a mantra in me I am sure many of you have as well: “Hope for the best, but plan for the worst, and everything in between is gravy.”

The baler greased and put in the shed. The insulated boots dug out from the cellar. The barn battened down and winterized.

Put on your favorite sweatpants or elastic polyester jumpsuit, people. It’s green bean casserole season. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Ah, the memories that will be made. In-laws, politics, tryptophan and an electric carving knife – what could go wrong?

Adverse economic conditions and herd liquidations continue to apply downward pressure on prices paid for dairy replacement cows.

Consistency is one of the most important things calves need. They like their diets and schedules to be the same each day. The first step in achieving consistency is ensuring everyone understands calf care procedures and protocols. They should be clearly written, posted and easy to follow.