Sudden loss of appetite; decreased milk production; thicker, concentrated, colostrumlike milk; a drop in rumen motility; abnormal tacky or loose feces; and fever are clinical signs reported thus far of an unidentified illness affecting dairy cows in the Southwest. Cases of this contagious illness were first reported several weeks ago in Texas.

In addition to the high input costs and thin margins plaguing dairy producers across the nation, drought, other water issues, low milk prices and labor contribute to the caution expressed by dairy producers and industry leaders in the central and Great Plains region.

Walmart announced it plans to open its third owned-and-operated milk processing facility in central Texas in 2026. The new facility, to be located in Robinson, Texas, between Dallas and Austin, will create nearly 400 new jobs in the community.

As the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle swept past the million-acre mark, becoming the largest wildfire in the state’s history, Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster in 60 counties. As of the morning of March 1, Texas A&M Forest Service reports that the blaze is 15% contained and has now spread into neighboring Oklahoma.

There are many different opinions regarding the U.S. cattle herd and what 2024 will hold for inventory levels. While some believe rapid regrowth is right around the corner and even underway, others are hesitant that regrowth of the herd from historic lows will be a slow and potentially delayed process.