A smaller heifer inventory means reduced culling and turnover rates in the milking herd. This gives you the opportunity to milk more mature cows that produce at higher levels. Unfortunately, high-production mature cows come with a higher risk for mastitis and elevated Somatic Cell Count (SCS). So, how do you ensure you are selecting genetics for the right traits and indexes to facilitate healthier, longer-living cows?

In 2018, Kessenich Farms, LLC, a 600-cow Jersey and Holstein herd in DeForest, Wis. was faced with reproduction issues. Wade Kessenich recalls, "we had a lot of abortions in the third trimester, and we knew it had to be something in the feed. We talked to Steve...

Hang in there! Low inventory of native cattle (driven by drought and high input costs) and high beef demand have calf prices running red-hot right now. Sometimes, local markets can temporarily outcompete supply-chain prices simply based on transport cost. This won’t last forever, so here are some tips for how to sustain prices as long as possible.

The 2023 International All Things BLV Conference was hosted by Michigan State University. The agenda included speakers from six countries on three continents and sought to create community around this issue that would enable future collaboration.

CentralStar can conveniently test dairy cattle milk for A1/A2 status, Bovine Leukosis (BLV), Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), Johne’s Disease, Mastitis, and Pregnancy. Follow these steps to ensure proper sample collection and visit the Lab Services page on our website for...

The world of dairy farming is ever evolving, and more and more – and increasingly smarter – tools are available to add to the on-farm toolbox. For many dairy businesses, it’s no longer a matter of if they’re interested in using innovative technology; it’s become about...