Hoard's Dairyman

10/21/2026

Although World Dairy Expo was a few of weeks ago, I still want to highlight those of us that stayed back at the farm during the event. Those of us that watched our phones for updates on every class. The ones that stayed back to milk the cows, feed them, clean the barns, harvest the corn, cut the hay, and all the chores of day-to-day life on the farm.

Although World Dairy Expo was a few of weeks ago, I still want to highlight those of us that stayed back at the farm during the event. Those of us that watched our phones for updates on every class. T,HD Notebook

10/21/2026

More standing time raises hoof pressure and contributes to hoof horn lesions, while a previous case of lameness raises the likelihood of another.

Productive life and turnover rate tell only part of the longevity story. An additional metric that has been strongly advocated is healthspan: the portion of a cow’s life spent healthy, comfortable, and productive. Speaking at an educational session

10/20/2026

Van Os maintained that for animals like cattle, that experience is not just physiological — they need opportunities to perform the behaviors that come naturally to their species.

The Hoard’s Dairyman October webinar speaker, Jennifer Van Os of the University of Wisconsin, offered research-supported information on pair and group housing for calves to attendees.

10/20/2026

Free webinar: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves can cause a domino effect of costs that disrupt your dairy's productivity. And BRD caused by Mycoplasma bovis is difficult to detect and treat, making prevention your strongest strategy. Register here: https://on.hoards.com/ZOETIS-261104

Join us for a free webinar to learn what makes pathogens such as M. bovis more difficult to treat, and the strategies you can use now to reduce disease risk and build calf resilience.

10/20/2026

Recent food safety headlines involving lettuce offer a timely reminder of how quickly an issue can affect consumer confidence.

Dairy farmers work every day to produce safe, high-quality milk. But maintaining consumer trust in that milk doesn’t end when the tanker pulls away from the farm. It continues through every step that follows, from processing and packaging to the dai

10/19/2026

The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) is now preparing for the next refinement in the calculation of genetic evaluations. Single-step genomic evaluations will make the best possible use of all available information we have on an animal.

Over the last 100 years, genetic evaluations for U.S. dairy cattle have been calculated using a few different approaches. From comparing daughter production to that of their dams in the 1950s to the advent of genomic evaluations in the 2000s, each system

10/19/2026

Yes, we’re producing far more milkfat and protein; however, the path and techniques we’re using to advance genetics are what struck me.

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel at World Dairy Expo with Corey Geiger, Nate Zwald, and Jordan Seimers. Corey kicked the panel off by explaining how dairy product consumer trends are shifting our dairy farm production goals in real time.

10/18/2026

The Stanislaus County Fair runs for 10 days in the middle of July, listing an average total attendance of roughly 225,000. An inviting slogan of “Life Happens at the Fair” pulls people in to make memories in a festive atmosphere.

The county fair! So much to see, so much to do, so much to indulge in! Special experiences for all ages packed into a brief time span, enjoyed with the local community.

10/17/2026

I am not sure if even one extra acre of sorghum was planted this summer in Wisconsin, but farmers in most states should consider sorghum as an option for at least some corn acres.

Now that the summer of 2026 is in our rearview mirror and most — if not all — of the silage piles are closed, are we more or less interested in sorghum silage versus corn silage compared to previous years?

10/16/2026

Raising dairy replacements from birth to maturity remains a two-year investment, while selling dairy-beef calves is essentially an instant one-time revenue source.

Strong consumer demand for high-quality protein is driving record beef prices and double-digit growth in protein-rich dairy products.