The dairy industry is diverse, and Aubrey Schlimgen and Max Shenkenberg’s paths into it are no exception. While Schlimgen was raised on a family dairy farm, Shenkenberg embarked on his dairy career during college.

In the financial year 2022-2023, the average lifespan and lifetime production of dairy cows in the Netherlands has continued to rise. Last financial year, the culled cows produced an average of 84,319 pounds (38,327 kilograms) of milk and 6,706 pounds (3,048 kilograms) of fat and protein. That is 2,037 pounds (926 kilograms) of milk and 169 pounds (77 kilograms) of fat and protein more than in the previous financial year. The lifespan of the culled herd book cows rose by almost three weeks, to 2,255 days. 

The integration of beef into the dairy industry has reshaped the market as we know it today and has furthered the potential to foster the development of a sustainable beef industry. Simplot Animal Sciences has elected Luis Davalos, who is a farm manager for Corrales Dairy in Roswell, New Mexico, to speak on this topic as he has extensive knowledge in what it takes to run a successful breeding program.

The alliance keeps a pulse on the animal rights movement so that the agriculture community can stay informed and be proactive, rather than reactive, to the tactics and strategies used.