Articles
▶️ Watch: The Role of Employee Training on Dairy Farms
Learn about the opportunities and challenges associated with training workers on dairy farms, with an emphasis on milk quality.
▶️ Watch: Fiber: Different types and their effect on milk production
Learn what fiber is, the different types that exist, how it is measured, and what happens in the cow’s body when she consumes it.
Best Practices for Roasting Soybeans on Farm for Dairy Diets
Roasted soybeans have increased protein digestibility, higher rumen undegradable protein (RUP) content, and reduced presence of anti-nutrients like trypsin-inhibitors.
Drying Off Cows in Automatic Milking Systems
This article explores the primary strategies for drying cows off in automatic milking systems (AMS). Broadly, dry-off strategies fall into two categories: abrupt or gradual.
▶️ Watch: Overview of Specialized Bovine Hoof Care
Learn how implementing intensive feeding programs for replacement heifers during the first weeks of life improves their growth, how it affects their ruminal development and their future production potential.
Understanding Liver Flukes in Wisconsin cattle: Lifecycle, Risks, and Control Strategies
Cattle herds in Wisconsin face ongoing challenges from two species of liver flukes—Fasciola hepatica (the common liver fluke) and Fascioloides magna (the deer liver fluke). These parasitic flatworms can cause significant liver damage, reduce animal productivity, and increase the risk of secondary infections, such as Redwater Disease.
Fresh Cow Management in Automatic Milking Systems
While many core strategies for fresh cow management apply across both conventional and Automatic Milking Systems (AMS), AMS facilities introduce some unique considerations. Understanding these can help farmers optimize cow health, production, and farm workflow.
▶️ Watch: Boosting Fertility of Dairy Cows Through Better Semen Handling
In this video Ryan Sterry and Heather Schlesser discuss proper semen handling to enhance breeding success in dairy cows.
▶️ Watch: Intensive Feeding Programs: How to Transform a Calf Into a High-Production Cow
Learn about implementing intensive feeding programs for replacement heifers during the first weeks of life improves their growth, how it affects their ruminal development and their future production potential.
Introduction to the Dairy Feed Inventory Calculator
he Extension Dairy team created a spreadsheet to help approximate harvested forage inventory and the forage needs for a dairy operation.
Udderly Essential AMS Maintenance Tips
Maintaining an Automatic Milking System (AMS) is like maintaining a car or a tractor. Many maintenance tasks are simple, routine, require minimal time, and can be performed by farm staff.
Thanks for Your Deworming Management
“On behalf of intestinal helminth parasites everywhere, I would like to thank dairy and beef producers for hosting us in their cattle and on their pastures this summer. Despite your management efforts, we reproduced inside your cattle.”