“Big data,” a term that can be defined as enormous amounts and various types of data that can be used to analyze patterns, trends and associations, has allowed researchers to better understand how dairy cow health, growth and milk production have changed over time.

From an early age, Libby Hasheider played an active role in her family’s dairy farm in southern Wisconsin by assisting her grandpa in feeding and caring for calves. This experience ignited her desire to merge her two passions together – love of teaching and dairy. 

“No animal is perfect; every animal has multiple genetic defects in it. So do we, all of us have them,” Matt McClure of ABS Global stated during the Undesirable Genetic Factors and Genomics’ Role in Discovery panel discussion, held during the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) annual meeting.

While it may be tempting to raise every heifer calf, especially when replacement rates are high, it is essential to your profitability to identify when and why culling is necessary.

Managing Director Kirk Vander Dussen explains the premise of AHV protocols and how we are doing things a little differently to allow farmers to keep more milk in the tank, address common dairy challenges, and build stronger herds to impact the bottom line.