Animal health

By Karen Lee, Progressive Dairyman
From milk prices to mastitis and feed intakes to fresh cows, dairy producers have a lot on their minds at any given time. The changing societal view of antibiotics is just one little piece of all there is to focus on.

Click to download Bewley's presentation

By Judy Brown, contributing writer
Grandpa's 65 cows were easier to manage and monitor than today's larger commercial herds. That's one explanation for the proliferation of precision dairy technology that's coming on the market, said Dr. Jeff Bewley , a University of Kentucky animal scientist.

"We've definitely entered a new era of dairy management," he said.

While an array of products, tools and programs offer potential, Bewley said producers...

Click to download Garry's presentation

By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman
“Being a dairy cow is fairly risky business,” according to Dr. Frank Garry , Colorado State University .

During his presentation at the Vita Plus Dairy Summit, Garry drew attention to the trend for increasing death losses among dairy cows and called producers to take action to on this economic and dairy welfare issue.

How big of a problem is death loss on...

Panelists: (left to right) Dan Smits, Double S Dairy; Dr. Don Niles, Dairy Dreams; and Chad Carlson, Carlson Dairy

Click here to download panel discussion presentation

By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman
Three Midwestern dairy producers discussed the trial-and-error, cost analysis and strategic thinking that influenced their heifer-raising decisions at the recent Vita Plus Dairy Summit.

Attendees heard from Dan Smits, Double S Dairy, Markesan, Wisconsin; Dr....