At certain times of the year and in certain climates, environmental bacteria can be a real challenge. Bedding conditioners have been developed to help reduce bacteria levels in the stall.

Poor hoof care is exceptionally detrimental to robotic milking facilities. Due to their unique traffic flow and design, proper planning and thought is needed for incorporating a footbath or wash system.

I pledge:
my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service,
my health to better living,
for my club, my community and my country.

The 4-H pledge was one of the first sayings that I had to commit to memory. As a young member of the South Side Eagles 4-H Club, I could have been called upon at any meeting to lead the club through its recitation.

For its 11th year, the North American Manure Expo will live up to its name and, for the first time, take place outside of the U.S. The 2013 event will be held Aug. 20 and 21 at the University of Guelph Arkell Research Station in Arkell, Ontario.

, June 25-27 in Rochester, Minnesota. This was the second North American conference on the topic, the first of which was held three years ago in Toronto, Ontario.

As more and more technologies are introduced to the dairy industry, researchers, allied industry and producers are learning whether or not they are a good fit. The first-ever U.S. Precision Dairy Conference and Expo served as a meeting place to discuss many of these new technologies. Here are highlights from the conference held recently in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dairy producers have recently expressed interest in feeding corn as shredlage. At the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Randy Shaver has been conducting feeding trials to see what makes it tick inside the cow.