On a dairy, we sometimes think it is our life’s work to open and close gates. It can be so routine that we begin to overlook the importance of a good, well-latched gate. We have all seen that telltale sign of gate troubles. You know somewhere a gate was neglected when a fourth-lactation docile high-producing cow dances across the front yard of the barn like a bred heifer.

On a regular basis, we meet with clients to review financial and statistical information. Through these meetings, we have the opportunity to analyze many different dairy operations. Although there are several different operating philosophies, there are also common factors we observe in profitable operations.

Stan and Sue Gausman, along with their son, Grant, are now eight months into welcoming their 102-cow herd under one roof on their dairy farm near Baldwin in northwestern Wisconsin.

Great attention is focused on how to build calf barns to get babies off to the right start, as well as facilities for adult cows to maximize health and production, but let’s not forget that critical phase in between.

After spending many hours on the catwalk at Miner Institute doing cow watch for behavioral research and continually hearing the flapping wings of pigeons, it got me thinking about how much damage birds really cause on a dairy farm.

Just because it is sweatshirt weather doesn’t mean heat stress has passed us by. Holding areas can continue to trap heat and stale air long after the outside temperature begins to drop.

It’s hard to believe rotary parlors have only been with us since the Borden’s Dairy exhibit featured it in the 1939 World’s Fair. The Rotolactor, as it was called, was a truly amazing innovation that took time to catch on.

If you have decided to install a new barn or parlor on your dairy farm, you already know the process involves many choices. You are looking to optimize your space to maximize your production and keep your cows comfortable, but don’t forget to consider options that will save you money over the life of your equipment.

Climbing into a fresh, clean bed is something we all can appreciate. Our calves and cows are no different. Every farm lines stalls and pens with some type of bedding.

It doesn’t matter whether the margins are reasonable, like we saw in 2014, or drawn tight, like they are in 2016 – one thing we can always invest in is cow comfort.