Success begins with an end in mind. Think trajectory. Think reverse engineering. If you want age at first calving (AFC) to be 21 or 22 months old, you better have an “end” weight and frame modeled into your growth system.

During stressful times, it’s easy to let emotions overtake rational thinking – which can lead to poor decision-making. Throughout my nearly 25-year career, I’ve seen U.S. dairy producers feel the stress of volatile markets, increasing regulation and consumer demands.

Butter is a new superfood, which means butterfat contributes more to your milk check than usual. In September, milkfat price went ahead of milk protein price for the first time since we’ve been tracking components.

During the postpartum period, dairy cows enter a period of tissue catabolism called negative energy balance (NEB). Simply put, the amount of energy consumed is less than what’s required; this imbalance causes a cascade of metabolic failures that can be minimized by using a holistic approach.