Progressive Dairy - Articles - Page 58

Creating a win-win: Grazing heifers for economic and ecological returns

Grazing heifers in a rotational grazing system not only offers ecological benefits but may also offer cost savings and improve animal health.

March 26, 2024

Sarah Lloyd, Lexi Schank, and Nick Jordan

Dairy heifer grazing increases the amount of well-managed grassland in an area – improving dairy’s climate performance and supporting the regeneration of soil, water and biodiversity resources.

Fraud on the farm: It’s time to protect yourself

Six common types of cyberattacks and payment fraud outlined, along with tips to implement in a fraud prevention protocol.

March 26, 2024

Brad Guse

Agribusinesses may be more susceptible than other businesses to payment fraud because fraudsters perceive them as being both lucrative targets and having less sophisticated fraud protection tools. Read on for tips to help prevent six common types of cyberattacks and payment fraud.

Avian influenza identified as illness affecting dairy cows in the Southwest

USDA confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two dairy cattle herds in Texas and two herds in Kansas.

March 25, 2024

Karen Lee

On March 25, the USDA released that unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Leap day boosts February dairy cow beef marketing slightly

March 25, 2024

Audrey Schmitz

Monthly dairy cull cow marketing is the highest since August 2023.

Maintain your ventilation system to maintain production

A maintenance checklist is provided to prepare fans, curtains and the ventilation system for the warmer weather ahead.

March 25, 2024

Katlyn Langmeier

The early spring season is the ideal time to give your fans the attention they need so that they can run at 100% performance. This should become part of the farm’s routine maintenance plan.

Dairy risk management calendar: April 2024

Progressive Dairy provides monthly online updates of important dates, reports and advice affecting risk management decisions.

March 23, 2024

Jenn Coyne

Here's Progressive Dairy’s look ahead at important dates, reports and advice affecting risk management decisions, as well as other information impacting your milk check in April.

Panel discusses practical solutions for improving employee retention, compliance, culture

Incorporating relevant technology, providing career development options and building a good team culture are three ways to address labor challenges and improve employee retention.

March 22, 2024

Kimmi Devaney

Compliance and building a beneficial team culture are two of the greatest labor challenges observed by Michelle Kohls from Kohls Dairy Farm, Helen Korzec with GPS Nutrition and Evan Platte with Merck Animal Health.

Southwest dairies affected by unidentified dairy cow illness

A contagious illness in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico is under investigation by state and federal animal health officials.

March 21, 2024

Karen Lee

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.

Leap day factors into milk production jump

Milk production and output per cow increase in USDA estimates due to extra “leap year” day in February.

March 21, 2024

Audrey Schmitz

Year-over-year U.S. milk production was up 2.2% in the February USDA report. However, with February 2024 containing an extra day due to “leap year,” the adjusted number is closer to -1.1% on a daily basis.