John and Joan Maxwell of Donahue, Iowa, operate Cinnamon Ridge Farm. They milk about 220 cows with robotics, operate 4,000 acres, make their own cheese on-site and host thousands of visitors annually.

“What do heat stress in dairy cows and ketosis have in common? Leaky gut syndrome (LGS),” Lance Baumgard, professor of animal science at Iowa State University, says.

Cover crops are often planted to benefit the soil, but they can also have forage value for your herd. Jim Paulson, University of Minnesota extension educator, says there are many functions of cover crops, including erosion control, water infiltration, soil health, building organic matter, nitrogen uptake, nitrogen production and mineral movement in the soil.

Dr. Don Niles, partner on Dairy Dreams in Casco, Wisconsin, said there is no single miracle for a good breeding program and transition of heifers into the dairy herd; rather, there are several very important factors.

How much impact does heifer stocking density have on their conditioning? Many herd managers seek to prevent freshening heifers from being overconditioned by dietary dilution with low-energy forages.

“Feeding cows is part science and part art; the trick is finding the sweet spot,” says Mike Hutjens, extension dairy specialist for the University of Illinois.

“Training employees to properly handle cows and heifers in labor is not only important, it is imperative,” says Jenn Bentley, Iowa State University dairy specialist.

“It is important to sit down with your veterinarian at least twice a year to review vaccination protocol,” said Patrick Gorden, DVM, with Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.