The Christmas Calf by George Woodard captures the essence of a true holiday miracle through the perspective of a 9-year-old farm boy. On a cold Christmas Eve, this young boy's curiosity and care lead him to the barn, where a cow is expected to give birth. In the quiet, snowy night, he experiences the wonder and mystery of new life, illuminated by the magic of the season. Woodard’s storytelling transports readers to this heartwarming moment, making The Christmas Calf a memorable tale for all ages.

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.

Progressive Dairy Editor Jenn Coyne spoke with Jamie Leifker, president of Truterra, to learn more about industry efforts to support sustainable dairy farming practices and reach goals within the dairy supply chain. 

Driven, hard-working and passionate about the dairy industry. These attributes describe many involved with dairy cattle, and siblings Logan and Lauren Silveira are no exception. The duo have made their splash in the dairy world and are here to stay.

Identifying consumer trends and generating new, innovative dairy products to meet these demands provides opportunities for increased dairy consumption. Read all about these three new dairy products and how the ideas for them came about.

Consumers may have another reason to head to the yogurt aisle to reach for a protein-rich cup of yogurt to fill them up and fuel them throughout their day. Yogurts can now make limited claim to lower Type 2 diabetes risk. 

Yogurt is a delicious and nutritious way to kick-start your morning and fuel up for the day ahead. One of my go-to breakfast foods is a strawberry, blueberry yogurt smoothie. However, for June Dairy Month this year, I wanted to change up my morning routine a bit and learn a few new quick and easy breakfast treats that include yogurt.

The number one goal of a feeding program is to promote healthy development from birth to freshening. Additionally, we want to maximize each heifer’s growth and genetic potential to its fullest – while also promoting healthy hair coats, good muscle tone and ideal body condition – when it matters most, show days.