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Junior, Iowa State University
Sire Production Intern, Genex Cooperative
Based in Shawano, Wisconsin
Background
Q. In what area are you pursuing a degre?
I'm majoring in animal science.
Q. What is your agricultural background?
I grew up on a beef farm and have worked quite a bit in the hog industry as well. I have worked on the feedlot and production sides of the beef and pork industry. I also have experience with row crop as well.
Internship information
Q. What will your responsibilities be this fall?
I will be gaining work experience in the areas of bovine sire care and semen production. I will feed and observe the health status of sires, clean and bed sire barns, clip and groom sires, assist with health testing and sire transportation, take part in bull picturing activities and help with semen collection.
Add water. Whisk in milk powder. Lift. Carry. Repeat.
This process can carry on and on, and just when a calf feeder thinks they are finished, they are reminded they get to do it all again in a matter of hours.
There is no wonder there has been a movement to automate the calf feeding process – so much so that week-old calves kept in group housing can now literally feed themselves.
Dairymen and dairywomen tend to lead busy lives. Some piece of equipment is always misbehaving; there is another hole in the fence somewhere, or someone left the gate open again.
With this in mind, I have found out what equipment on the dairy is commonly overlooked – the lighting.
Whether you are expanding or simply renovating an existing facility, a detailed feasibility study may save you thousands of dollars and hours of time. However, before getting into the details of the feasibility of a specific project, it is usually quite helpful to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis on the current production system.
This SWOT should evaluate facilities, financial conditions and management concerns. The findings of the SWOT analysis can then be compared with the expected outcomes of competing projects to determine the priority of projects considered.
Producing a bounty of U.S.-grown food to sell and share beyond our borders remains a matter of deep pride to America’s farmers and ranchers. A growing body of evidence suggests, however, that Americans who do not farm or ranch really don’t give a rip that America’s farmers and ranchers are striving to feed the world.
In this age of engagement-based communication, it is vital that each precious minute farmers and ranchers have to connect with other American eaters is appealing and meaningful. Frankly, farmers talking about American agriculture’s ability to feed the world no longer fits that category.
I am sitting in a large conference room in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 75 of us from four agencies and organizations. The State Department, the Defense Department, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and then a collection of non-government organizations, the U.S. Agency for International Development and contractors.
Our task is to examine the current status of water and land resources in Africa and the potential for greater food insecurity – a big job. In this article, I will summarize what we have learned and what we might do in the short term and long term.
Dairy producers fine-tuning their calves’ rations need to keep high-quality starters in the mix to get optimal growth.
That’s according to South Dakota Cooperative Extension Dairy Specialist Alvaro Garcia, who said a report in a recent issue of the Journal of Dairy Science evaluated the effects of milk amounts on dairy heifer calves.
“Khan and collaborators published a review that considered the amount of milk fed and its impact on solid feed intake, weaning and performance,” Garcia said. “This extensive review suggested that limiting milk intake to approximately 1 gallon per day leaves calves hungry and can compromise their growth, health, welfare and future milk production.”
Here are some of the new products or updates to previous products that have been announced as of September 19, 2011. Return to this section of the Progressive Dairyman website periodically to find out what new products will be impacting the dairy industry.
The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) will host a diverse roster of panelists for its breakout session on Food Animal Well-Being during the 6th annual Food System Summit: Food Choices - Challenges - Realities.
Moderated by Lisa Keefe, managing editor of MeatingPlace, the panel will feature four industry representatives, including a farm owner, a third-party animal welfare verifier, a restaurant executive and an animal welfare activist, who will each explore the topic of food animal well-being.
For the fourth year, Toyota will donate a new Tundra to World Ag Expo's FFA Toyota Tundra Giveaway. Toyota and California FFA chapters are working together with World Ag Expo to support FFA programs in schools throughout California. Tickets are available from FFA members, online at www.WorldAgExpo.com or at ticket gates during World Ag Expo for a suggested donation of $5.
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