Over the course of 2024, the dairy industry experienced some firsts and all-time highs. We continue to see dairy producers adopt new technologies and methods while also focusing on the basics of good nutrition and animal care. Here, Progressive Dairy looks back at the top-viewed 25 articles from October 2023 to October 2024. We reached out to several of the subjects and authors to ask a follow-up question. Here are the responses we received.

1. Replacement cow prices reach all-time high

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows reached an all-time high in July, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. U.S. replacement dairy cow prices averaged $2,360 per head in July 2024, up about 11% from the last peak of $2,120 per head in October 2014.

Tightening cow and heifer numbers are driving up the prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows. Based on the USDA’s semiannual Cattle report, the U.S. dairy herd started 2024 at about 9.357 million head, down about 40,700 head from a year earlier. It’s the smallest number of milk cows to start a year since 2020. The same report estimated the number of dairy heifers (over 500 pounds) in the U.S. at about 4.06 million head, down about 14,400 from a year ago. That puts the number of heifers over 500 pounds at about 43.4 head per 100 milk cows. Of that total, about 2.59 million head are expected to calve in 2024, or 27.7 per 100 milk cows. Both are the lowest in decades.

U.S. average prices received for cull cows (beef and dairy, combined) are also at a record high. The average price in June was $138 per hundredweight (cwt), easily surpassing the previous record-high average prices last seen in the second half of 2014.

Q: What does the latest report show?

A: Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows continued to climb entering the fourth quarter of 2024, hitting a new record-breaking high in October, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. U.S. replacement dairy cow prices averaged $2,600 per head in October 2024, up $240 (9%) from July 2024 and up $750 (41%) from October 2023.

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—Audrey Schmitz, Progressive Dairy

2. Everything you never wanted to know about cow manure

Manure can provide critical clues to the efficient digestion of the dairy ration from the consistency to contents within the manure, such as fecal starch. In reviewing manure condition scoring and proper screening for nutrients, dairy producers can inform upstream nutrition and management decisions to drive efficiency on the farm.

Q: If you were to rank manure scoring and information retained from it to other methods of evaluating a herd’s nutrition management, where does it fall?

A: As manure scoring is simply another tool in the nutritionist’s toolbox, it is difficult to assign it a specific rank – no more than I would rank a hammer over a screwdriver. That said, it is more so in the “hammer and screwdriver” category than in the “taper reamer” category. I use it all the time. Manure scoring provides a first glimpse at the nutritionist’s report card, in addition to the precision of feeding and bunk management. While not a particularly clean endeavor, manure scoring over time can provide invaluable insight, no bull crap.

Chad Jenkins, Standard Dairy Consultants 

3. Feeding show heifers during different stages of growth

Show season may be over for 2024, but 2025 will be here in no time. Authors Josh Hushon and Chase Cashell share their insights on maximizing a heifer’s genetic potential and preparing them for their time in the show ring. Calves should be on a feeding plan that emphasizes rumen development, post-weaning heifers should be fed for lean growth and yearling heifers’ weight should be managed with diet and exercise.

Q: What advice do you have for young dairy enthusiasts just starting out in the show ring?

A: If you’re buying a heifer, make sure it’s from a good cow family. The day-to-day and showing costs are the same, so investing in good genetics from the start helps create a great foundation. Those pretty ones with no pedigree are tempting, but she can only become as good as her genetics will allow. When we’re buying heifers, we always start with high-scored cows with show winnings behind them and/or in their daughters. Find a cow family that matches the kind of heifer you want. Some cow families throw more strength and power, while others are high style. Selecting from a cow family that you admire will make the work you do in feeding and developing the heifer more impactful. With this mentality, you will either end up with a great pedigree calf that will fit any sale or the new foundation for your herd. Good luck!

—Josh Hushon and Chase Cashell, Cargill

4. HPAI (H5N1) detected for first time in dairy cows

In late winter, dairy farms in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico reported symptoms of an illness affecting older midlactation cows. The symptoms included: fever, abnormal feces, thick and discolored milk, decreased feed consumption and rumination, and reduced milk production.

On March 25, the USDA confirmed samples from dairy cows tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1), which appeared to be introduced by wild birds on the farms.

Detections of avian influenza in birds, including chickens, are common in the U.S. However, there had been limited detection in mammals, and this was the second case found in livestock, as the first was detected just five days earlier in a baby goat in Minnesota.

Q. How has this evolved throughout the year?

A: So far this year, 334 cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in dairy herds in 14 states. The most affected states had been Colorado (64), Idaho (34), Michigan (29) and Texas (26). However, as detections were dwindling across most of the country, California reported its first case in late August and now has the highest total of positive cases at 134.

Seventeen dairy workers have also contracted the illness this year, suggesting animal-to-human contact. Most experienced mild symptoms, including eye redness or discharge (conjunctivitis).

The USDA has been providing resources to affected farms including funding for enhanced biosecurity measures, animal testing compensation and reimbursement for lost milk. It is also supporting the development of a vaccine.

The safety of the commercial milk supply was maintained, as milk from sick cows is diverted from the food supply chain and pasteurization was found to be effective at inactivating the H5N1 virus.

—Karen Lee, Progressive Dairy

5. Benchmarks for rotary performance in the first year of operation

When transitioning to a rotary milking system, the first year is critical in measuring parlor performance for long-term success. Key performance indicators (KPIs) including average time to attach unit, slips, kickoffs, blocks, forced retracts and second-lap cows should be measured at three months, six months and 12 months post-start-up.

Q: If you could add one more KPI to the list, what would it be?

A: Tracking milk flow in the first two minutes of milking. This tells us a lot about milking preparatory procedure effectiveness and the appropriateness of milking automation settings. Milking preparatory procedure completeness, stress experienced by the cows in the parlor and milking automation settings are factors that can influence milk letdown in the first two minutes of milking.

Herd management software commonly breaks this two-minute window down into seconds for more exact monitoring. The time intervals shown on the milk flow reports are average flow zero to 15 seconds, 15 to 30 seconds, 30 to 60 seconds and 60 to 120 seconds after unit attachment. Ideally, there is a positive linear progression in milk flow reported starting with the least flow (pounds per minute) at zero to 15 seconds and peak flow at 60 to 120 seconds.

Looking at these time intervals can help indicate whether or not bimodal milking is occurring. Mitigating bimodal milking has the potential to boost rotary efficiency by shortening milking durations and reducing the incidence of slips and kickoffs.

—Courtney Claypool, DeLaval

6. Magic Valley dairy duo vertically integrate with new Burley milk plant

Dairy producers Jesus Hurtado and Dirk Reitsma, who respectively own 30,000 conventional dairy cows and 6,000 organic dairy cows within 20 miles of Burley, Idaho, decided to invest in processing. They opened a new 190,000-square-foot facility, known as Suntado. Utilizing milk from their farms, the plant processes milk, cream and dairy-based beverages into shelf-stable and extended shelf-life packages ranging in size from half-gallon to single-serve 8-ounce containers. The company doesn’t have its own brand. Instead, it works with retailers and national brands to create private-label beverage products.

Q. What benefits have the milk plant provided to your farm and the industry?

A: Suntado has been a five-year dream after seeing many others in our industry vertically integrate. We need many consumer options for dairy, and Suntado can provide a Northwest supply for Class I and Class II products for any market, domestic or foreign.

—Dirk Reitsma, dairy producer

7. Feeding efficiently to feed economically

Seven diet strategies were presented that can be readily incorporated into your feed program to make dramatic changes in feed efficiency, which can lead to significant economic benefits. Key strategies included optimizing rumen function, balancing rumen-available carbohydrates and protein, avoiding overfeeding fats and undigestible fibers, increasing energy density and managing rumen retention time. Improving bypass starch digestion can also contribute to better milk production. By focusing on feed efficiency, dairy operations can increase profitability without necessarily increasing milk production or cutting feed costs, potentially saving millions annually.

8. Where are they now with milking robots?

Dairy producers Kent Hoffman of Hoffman Happy Holsteins and David Berning of Green Waves Dairy installed automated milking systems on their farms during the second half of the 2010 era. Hoffman and Berning share that labor was a driving factor in installing the then-new technology, but also found the consistency of automation contributes to healthier, more productive cows.

Q. How did this article come about?

A. We wanted to revisit topics and people featured in Progressive Dairy some time ago. I chose to pursue follow-ups with Hoffman and Berning as I felt their experiences would be helpful for other producers considering automation. Labor is often a main reason for looking into automation, but there are many unforeseen benefits.

—Jenn Coyne, Progressive Dairy

9. California dairy farmer installs fully automated feed center

Danny Martins, a dairy farmer in Modesto, California, designed a fully automated feed center to ensure consistent, efficient feeding while reducing labor and environmental impact. Inspired by a Washington dairy, he implemented electric feed mixers with a 12-bay system, cutting feed costs and emissions. The automated center feeds 4,500 cows, streamlining operations and improving cow health. Martins' setup minimizes reliance on human error and ensures sustainability for future generations.

Q: Have you made any additions to your automated feed center or farm since last chatting?

A: Since the completion of our feed center, I have been able to expand the relationship I have with one of our businesses, FM Ingredients, to enable us to use very dense, targeted blends of minerals and vitamins to reduce the cost, filler products and wasted room in our diets. Through the relationships that FM Ingredients has with the ingredient suppliers we specify in our minerals and the services they offer, I am able to see the uniformity and performance results in my cows more clearly.

—Danny Martins, dairy producer

10. Hailey Pipher: ‘She likes milk’ and advocating for the dairy industry

With a love for the dairy industry and desire to add creativity back to her corporate life, Hailey Pipher created a blog to share her passion. After growing her social media presence and taking a leap of faith to become a full-time content creator, Pipher has been advocating for the dairy industry by sharing dairy-based recipes.

Q: How has She Likes Milk grown, changed and/or evolved since last December?

A: She Likes Milk has since grown to over 165,000 combined followers of individuals embracing the dairy story through delicious recipes. I have signed with a talent agency that manages my partnerships and connects me with food companies on pitching my creative ideas of dairy storytelling through recipes using their products. I have since partnered with household brands like Heinz and Hellmann's to develop and create dairy-packed recipes to expanded audiences.

The public continues to embrace the dairy cow's story and all she contributes to our kitchens, with daily tagging of followers' social posts calling out to She Likes Milk for influencing them to proudly boast their milk and dairy food choices.

This has been an exciting year of doubling in size, and I can't wait to continue this growth and share the dairy story with so many others.

—Hailey Pipher, She Likes Milk 

11. Using data to unlock cow secrets

Dairy cows are good at masking health and behavior to align with their groups, but actionable data can help you discover what they are saying without words. Using RFID and sensors, farmers can track cows’ eating, resting and reproductive activities, enabling early detection of health issues and estrous cycles. These tools improve decision-making in areas like reproduction, health interventions and productivity, ultimately increasing farm profitability and animal well-being. Accurate data interpretation and integration with farm systems are essential for effective herd management.

Q: Why is monitoring cows on an individual basis more relevant now than ever before?

A: Dairy farms are under more economic and social pressure than ever before, and farms are the largest in average herd size today than they have ever been. This may seem like a conundrum in relativity to enhancing individual animal care in order to reach optimum productivity, but with the aid of activity monitoring technology, farms now have a tool to achieve better results than they ever thought possible. Individual animal sensors create a new realm of possibility regarding many key performance indicators that dairies strive for.

—Evine van Riemsdijk, Nedap

12. Surviving to thriving with a premature calf

Movies, books and songs often love to make people feel good by telling stories of Christmas miracles. Two years ago, Julianne McCormick experienced her own Christmas miracle when her Red & White Holstein delivered a heifer calf almost six weeks early. Surprisingly, the calf named Miracle was alive, and with some extra help was able to hit milestone after milestone until she became a thriving yearling.

Q: How is Miracle doing now, and were there any additional steps you took to ensure her success as a 2-year-old?

A: Miracle is still thriving! Thankfully, we had no setbacks with her along the way. She was raised with other heifers her age in a small group pen and did just fine. We did decide to wait a couple extra months to breed her, but she was vet-checked last week and confirmed bred. With that, we are excited for the next little miracle when she calves in and look forward to milking her. She truly is one special animal and, besides our family, our veterinary team is always cheering her on!

—Julianne McCormick, dairy producer

13. Calf health and performance starts in the womb: Epigenetics and methylation

Latest research supports how calf health and performance are influenced by fetal development, especially through the role of rumen-protected choline in the dam's diet during pregnancy. Choline, particularly in rumen-protected form, impacts fetal gene expression via epigenetics, influencing growth, immunity and overall productivity. Research shows benefits such as improved milk production, feed efficiency and gut integrity in calves born to choline-supplemented dams. While further studies are needed, choline supplementation presents promising long-term advantages for dairy herds across generations.

14. Practical footbath designs for any farm

Dairy producers should consider a handful of do’s and don’ts when designing a footbath and implementing practical protocols, including having an effective design, a solution for controlling and aiding the recovery of lesions, asking oneself if footbath automation is the next frontier and considering costs and cautions.

Q: What is one of the greatest challenges with footbath designs and management affecting dairy herds in the U.S., and how can producers better address it?

A: Managing footbaths with automation has been a positive on many farms. Although, companies are installing systems on farms with a one-size-fits-all protocol and approach. There is no monitoring of actual infectious lesions as well as making sure solution concentrations are not harming cows. Time and time again, we discover problems because standard protocols are not followed.

—Karl Burgi, Save Cows; and Roger Olson, Zinpro

15. Butterfat 101: There’s more to it than nutrition

Optimizing butterfat production in dairy herds involves both mindset and nutrition. Key factors include balancing fiber, starch, fat and minerals to support rumen health and milkfat yield. Attention is given to the importance of cow comfort, feed management and genetics. Additionally, the article highlights the role of fatty acids like palmitic acid and the significance of preventing imbalances that could affect body condition and reproduction. Ultimately, achieving high butterfat levels requires both practical adjustments and a proactive approach to management.

Q: Why do you think this piece resonated with readers?

A: Butterfat pays $$$. Butterfat is the largest part of the milk check. In this economy, a dairy producer would naturally want to be educated on the component that has the greatest income influence. The title of the article hints of a simple solution. Most of our introductory courses in school were labeled 101, and I was taught that the first sentence on any writing should draw the reader in – a hook if you will. Few herds are at 5% butterfat, but many think it’s attainable. They do believe it’s possible and that most likely drew them in.

—Robert Krammes, Standard Dairy Consultants

16. Some surprising research results from our calf facility

What do milk replacer and eggs have in common? Drew Vermeire has studied both of them at his research facility. More specifically, Vermeire tested the mixing temperature of milk replacer and discovered that mixing it at 150ºF had considerable financial benefits. The other study on egg powders containing IgYs showed that calves fed these additional antibodies had significantly lower mortality rates.

17. Cool things we saw at World Dairy Expo 2023

While attending World Dairy Expo in 2023, Progressive Dairy editors searched the grounds looking for new technologies and products featured at the show. Those cool things included a cloud-based software platform from Nedap, a dry cow testing and feed program from Ajinomoto, a free-flow milk meter from GEA, an artificial intelligence-enhanced lameness detection tool developed by University of Wisconsin professor Dorte Dopfer, eartags from Merck Animal Health, a colostrum collection system from Golden Calf Company, a lifetime monitoring bolus from STgenetics, AI-powered mastitis detection tool by smaxtec and a computer system for monitoring calving cows by Ever.Ag.

Q: What drew reader attention to this article?

A: This is always a favorite piece to develop and one readers enjoy as well. There is so much to see and learn at World Dairy Expo, and this article featuring a handful of the copious cool things sheds a small light on the latest innovations in the industry.

—Jenn Coyne, Progressive Dairy

18. Farms experiment with more robots, fewer stalls

Two Wisconsin dairy farms explore a method to optimize their robot-to-stall ratio. Both JTP Farms and Haas Dairy installed additional box-style robots without changing the freestall barns’ footprint to maximize the facilities, technology and manpower, all while not compromising cow health.

Q: How did you learn about this new concept in automated milking?

A: Managing Editor Karen Lee first knew of JTP Farms’ and Haas Dairy’s method of milking cows after attending a tour promoting the management concept. Following the tour, we wanted to dive further into the reasons for choosing this approach to dairying, the logistics for how it works on each farm and further quantify the benefits both dairy producers are seeing. Since printing the article, it’s become a topic of conversation with many when I mention robotic milking.

—Jenn Coyne, Progressive Dairy

19. Protect lying time by reducing how long cows wait to be milked

Dr. Nigel Cook and Courtney Halbach provided a comparison between the time cows wait to be milked in herds milked in parlors and herds milked with automated milking systems and how it affects lying time.

In 16 commercial Wisconsin freestall-housed dairy herds, average time spent milking was 2.7 hours per day with a range from half-an-hour to six hours per day for individual cows. Extending the time waiting to be milked is a significant factor reducing lying times each day and increasing the risk for diseases, such as lameness. Cook and Halbach recommend sizing pen groups relative to a parlor throughput of no more than four turns per hour in 3X milking herds. Although efficient parlors can exceed that throughput, transfer time to and from the parlor must be accounted for to avoid exceeding three-and-a-half hours per day out of the pen for the last cows at the back of the group.

In the free-flow herd milked with an automated milking system, cows that exceeded two hours per day waiting to be milked spent 1.7 hours per day less lying down compared to cows with short waiting times. In guided-flow herds, gate alerts can let the caregiver know if there is a cow trapped in the commitment pen that has not been milked within 30 to 45 minutes.

Q: What are the most common questions you hear from dairy producers regarding lying time?

A: Many producers ask: How can I improve cow lying time for better health and productivity of my herd? Rest can be optimized by providing cows with a soft, comfortable place to lie down free of obstructions, assuming that there is enough space for all the cows to rest when they want to for as long as they need to. In addition, installing fans or baffles over the resting space to ensure air speeds of 200 to 400 feet per minute in the cow’s microenvironment protects lying time during periods of heat stress.

Another area to look at when wanting to increase lying times is to examine your herd’s lameness records. Lame cows modify stall behavior, especially in stalls with hard surfaces, by either lying down for extended periods of time because they have a hard time getting up or by staying standing up because it’s too difficult to lie down. Implementing routine hoof trimming and footbaths, in addition to designing facilities with hoof health in mind, can help normalize resting behavior for lame and non-lame cows.

—Dr. Nigel Cook, University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine; and Courtney Halbach, Dairyland Initiative

20. The devil is in the details: Proper semen handling

Improving conception rates starts at the semen tank. In this article, Rick Ellerbrock lists critical details to a successful service, including semen tank organization and maintenance, proper thaw bath treatment, sheath placement and more.

Q: If you had to pick one, which is the most crucial detail when it comes to semen handling?

A: It is difficult to say one detail is more important than another. I would say the most important thing is to establish a routine that will follow the key semen-handling rules for each unit of semen.

—Rick Ellerbrock, Select Sires Inc.

21. Coat color: Does it really matter?

The desire for black-hided cattle stems from the Angus breed’s reputation for excelling in sought-after characteristics like productivity, marbling and growth traits. It is a breed known for its potential to produce high-quality beef. Premiums can be awarded by packing plants for black-hided cattle that excel in quality grade. However, it is not the color of the animal's hide that makes it valuable, but the genetics under the hide that matter. Using ABS Global’s data comparing solid black cattle to black cattle with white markings, it was shown that cattle with white markings were just as valuable as solid-colored from a carcass standpoint.

Q: Have packers shifted their mindset when it comes to the coat color of beef-on-dairy animals? 

A: While packers have become more accepting of white on the head, switch and belly, beef-cross animals must still be predominantly black with no white above the flank. Calf buyers and cattle feeders still prefer primarily black animals, as they use coat color as a tool to distinguish between beef crosses from straightbred dairy. Thus, it is critical to differentiate yourself in the marketplace with record-keeping and identification that verifies the beef genetics you are using and validates the quality of beef crosses you are creating.

—Adrianne Trennepohl, ABS Global 

22. The blooming onion of milkfat: Understanding the layers

The article explains the complexity of milkfat production, likening it to the layers of a blooming onion. While palmitic acid is well known for boosting milkfat, acetate is the true foundation, produced by rumen fermentation and driving milkfat synthesis. Maintaining a healthy rumen increases acetate and propionate, enhancing both milkfat and volume. The balance of fatty acids in the diet, including palmitic, oleic and others, is key to optimizing milkfat production. The article highlights that a balanced approach, not reliance on a single fatty acid, is crucial for dairy profitability.

Q: In your opinion, what makes understanding milkfat challenging?

A: The amount of milkfat a dairy makes is influenced by a whole web of interacting factors such as nutrition, management and genetics. It is important to remember that the base of milkfat is acetate production from a healthy rumen. Everything else (i.e., palmitic) is just icing on the cake.

—Renee Smith, Virtus Nutrition 

23. Automated feeding systems: A way to improve feeding and save labor?

Advanced feeding systems such as mixing and feeding robots have been developed to deliver the entire ration to cow groups multiple times a day with accuracy and consistency. These systems ensure multiple feedings daily, maintaining feed freshness and supporting optimal rumen health. Though costly, the systems reduce labor needs, enhance feeding accuracy and improve consistency, making them a valuable investment for dairy operations. They are increasingly integrated into both new and existing farms, offering solutions to modern labor and operational challenges.

Q: What do you think is the single most important concept when managing feed in robotic milking systems? 

A: The most important concept is use of consistent, quality ingredients. Aside from addressing labor issues, another important factor for the use of automation/robotics is increased consistency of the final feed consumed by the cows. This might require a more extensive sampling and ingredient analysis protocol so programming changes can be made if necessary. One other related component to this is a consistent supply. To my knowledge, even with the advanced models, no one has built in an algorithm that deals with running short of a given ingredient midway through loading, mixing, feeding and making a change on the fly to compensate for that shortage.

—Steve Blezinger, Reveille Livestock Concepts

24. Incorporate these design considerations for rotary parlor facilities

Several design aspects should be considered when planning a new rotary milking facility. The author points out each critical part of the facility, and encourages collaboration with a rotary facility designer, doing ample research and planning before breaking ground. This unique article was featured as an infographic to easily depict each part of the milking facility.

Q: Who should dairy producers have on their planning team when crafting up a design?

A: The ideal planning team for a rotary facility must demonstrate skill and experience in the areas of cow behavior, farm labor input and building cost control. Often, the people who understand cow behavior also understand labor input on a rotary farm. This pillar of the design team should consist of the producer and their herd manager, naturally. In addition, industry influentials and/or rotary manufacturer experts can offer valuable insights toward attaining the ideal facility. The other pillar consists of an experienced builder in the region of the project – even better if you can recruit a design/build company so they can keep an eye on the cost while contributing to the design effort. It may seem like a lot of action before any dirt is moved; however, if you are serious about investing in a new rotary milking facility, the most impact for the lowest cost is achieved during the early stages.

—Jeffrey Prashaw, on behalf of Robert Pol, DeLaval

25. Look for 2024 DMC program enrollment details early next year

In November 2023, a federal bill signed into law effectively extended the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through the end of 2024. Implementing the DMC program for 2024 required a rule change amendment that USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff had to craft, and as of mid-December when the article was published, that amendment was not approved and enrollment for the program was not yet available.

Q: When did DMC enrollment open for dairy producers?

A: On Feb. 23, the FSA announced enrollment for the 2024 DMC program would begin Feb. 28. Producers then had until April 29 to enroll in the voluntary safety net program. At the time of this writing, the program has reported DMC margins for January through August with all but two not triggering indemnity payments. As of Oct. 7, nearly 73% of all dairy operations with established production history are enrolled in the program.

—Jenn Coyne, Progressive Dairy