Over the last 20 years the Brown Swiss breed has been stable in registration numbers and overall national herd size.

Recent years have shown tremendous signs of growth for the breed, such as increased prices for Ayrshires at public and private sales; increased production, making her competitive with other breeds; added value for high-solids milk; and growing potential for niche markets.

Within hours of media reports on mistreatment of “downer” dairy cows at a California packing plant, schools in 36 states had temporarily pulled ground beef from lunch menus.

Over time, I have become more appreciative of the influence of those great teachers from whom we have learned professional skills and correct principles.

Professional publications, consumer magazines, newspapers and Internet sites discussing the merits of organic food for human consumption are abundant.

I visited with my daughter’s English teacher today.It was one of those parent-teacher conversations where you find out what’s missing in the grade book. “There’s only one assignment missing. She needs to write an essay about how she feels about liberty and turn it in by Monday. That will bring up her grade.”

Mud in your pastures or corrals can depress feed intake, reduce feed efficiency, lead to acidosis, increase the incidence of clinical mastitis and cause injuries.

Reporting to you from Ft. Bragg Army Base, North Carolina …

Feeding the cows is one of the most important jobs on the dairy.

Managing dairy farm workers involves three principles.