The production of high-quality proteins, either meat or milk, has never been under greater scrutiny. Social media has virtually unbounded people’s ability to share their voice with the world.

Whether moving weaned calves into a new group or bringing springing heifers into the transition barn, many dairy producers have come to accept that a pen move will likely result in temporarily decreased feed intake, reduced gains or production, and the potential for a few sick or “off” animals.

Whether expanding, starting up a robotic dairy using first-lactation animals, or transitioning parlor or tiestall cows to a robot, many dairy farmers run into the same problem: There are some cows that struggle to adapt to the new system. 

“I wonder if my supervisor thinks I’m doing a good job.” Understanding what your employer thinks of your job performance is a key to improving and meeting your goals. Employees who are unsure of how they are doing are likely to continue at the same level of performance, assuming that “no news is good news.” However, any employer knows this is not always the case.