It’s not too late! Make plans to attend the third Dairy Strong conference, January 18-19, in Madison, Wisconsin. Find more information at Dairy Strong.

Reproduction is a fascinating story. The story begins with the supply of oocytes that are present from before birth on both ovaries.

Over the past five years, genomics has received a lot of publicity as a tool to help manage your herd’s genetics. Whether it is determining an overall breeding strategy for your herd or trying to find that high-end outlier that brings tens of thousands of dollars at a cattle sale, there is no doubt genomics has revolutionized the way producers look at dairy genetics.

Nearly 300 dairy cattle reproduction enthusiasts gathered Nov. 10-11, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, for the 11th Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) annual meeting.

The onset of estrus in dairy cattle is accompanied by changes in physiological activity, rumination and feeding behavior. These alterations can be monitored via direct observation or through the use of automatic sensors to identify deviations associated with estrus, subclinical illness or lameness.

It’s easy to focus on heat stress and its impact on herd health during the dog days of summer, but one often-overlooked area is cold stress and how it compromises herd productivity and performance.

’Twas the night before New Year, and all through the farm Not a milker was stirring, as they were all home. I rose in the morning,

Animal measuring is one of the most important tasks in farm management. If you are a farmer, you should appreciate the importance of staying up-to-date with all facts about individual animals. A livestock scale is a critical tool if you are looking to optimize the performance of your animals.

Optimum dairy cow health and performance happens when the cow is given an optimal physical, nutritional and managerial environment in which to live and produce. These can be achieved through proper facility design.

Just a short drive from downtown Chicago and nestled between Lake Michigan and the vineyards that consume the southwest corner of the state is a five-star hotel for cows that is Shuler Farms in Baroda, Michigan.