This article was #24 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2014. It was published in the May 29, 2014 Extra e-newsletter. Michigan State University’s Dr. Richard Pursley promoted an adaptation to Presynch protocols that could increase the chance of pregnancy. By switching from a Presynch-14 to a Presynch-10 or Presynch-11 protocol, improvements can be realized due to enhanced levels of progesterone – the limiting factor in dairy cow fertility.

More than 1,000 junior high school students attended Ag Career Days at Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Casco, Wisconsin, to learn about the breadth of agricultural job opportunities in Kewaunee County. Situated between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, this rural area boasts more cows than people, earning its status as one of the nation’s top 50 dairy-producing counties. In fact, one out of every four jobs is directly related to agriculture in Kewaunee County.

What you don’t know can hurt you, and it could hurt your cows, too. As an associate professor with the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Gary Oetzel is training the next generation of food animal veterinarians.

The critical period prior to calving is often considered a time to reduce stress for the ladies in waiting, but at what point do factors like re-grouping and stocking density negatively impact fresh cow health and performance? University of Minnesota’s Dr. Ricardo Chebel shares the results of his research on these two close-up cow questions.

As things heat up, don’t let your profitability go down. Research shows that cooling cows during their dry period can keep the milk coming for months to come. “By cooling dry cows, we will definitely get more milk in the next lactation,” says Bruno Amaral, dairy nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition.

How many replacement heifers does your dairy really need? Do the math with Calf Math. This free-to-use web tool from Genex Cooperative calculates heifer needs based on a herd’s targeted cull rate and growth rate, with adjustable parameters to fit the individual dairy. Genex’s Kristi Fiedler, associate vice president of U.S. technical services, discusses how and why to use this online estimator.

Dairy producers and allied industry supporters gathered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the Central Plains Dairy Expo March 25-27.