You might never have heard of a cow flexing her muscles before, but it may be more important than you think! When we think of dairy cattle we usually focus on large udders and milk veins, but ther...
Wild Yeasts: The Hidden Feed Spoilers You Can’t Ignore
Wild yeasts are naturally occurring fungi that hitchhike on crops, grains, by‑products, and liquid feeds long before they get to the bunk, trough, or feeder. They are different from the beneficial ...
What Are Mycotoxins and How Mycotoxins Harm Animals
Mycotoxins are poisonous compounds produced by certain molds that commonly grow on grains, forages, and by‑products used in animal feeds. Even when feed looks and smells fine, these invisible toxin...
5 Must-Know Facts About Somatic Cell Count
Somatic cells in milk are one of the most important windows into udder health, milk quality, and dairy profitability, and managing somatic cell count (SCC) is central to making high-quality dairy p...
The True Definition of Stewardship – Interview with Suzanne – Reverence Farms
Raising dairy cows and calves on a small scale looks romantic from the outside, but behind every pretty pasture photo is a stack of hard lessons, and years of trial and error. My recent conversatio...
Mycotoxins: The Unseen Adulterator
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by molds that commonly grow on corn, small grains, cottonseed, byproducts and forages used in dairy rations. They are chemically diverse, heat-stable, and of...
When you sit down with someone who has watched an industry evolve for more than six decades, you don’t just get answers—you get a window into history. That’s exactly what happened when I recently v...
Mobility Matters: Managing Lameness for Health and Performance
Lameness in feedlot cattle is a significant health and economic concern, affecting not only animal welfare but also producer. The costs associated with lameness accumulate from reduced performance,...
Recap of 2025 Dairy West Meeting: Dairy Promotion and Nutrition Programs
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Dairy West meeting in Boise Idaho. It was a great couple of days chatting with dairy producers from Utah and Idaho! This kind of dates myself, but the...
How Many Replacement Heifers Do You Really Need To Keep?
In today's dairy industry, managing heifer inventory strategically is essential for profitability. Overproduction of heifers can strain resources, while too few replacements may risk herd productiv...