06/10/2026
A dairy farm is a business.
No matter the size of the operation, we have to make difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the farm.
One example is selling cows. People often ask me how I do it. The truth is, it’s one of the hardest parts of my job. But it is a reality of running this type of business.
What gives me peace of mind is knowing that every animal I sell has received the best care and quality of life I could provide. I take pride in that.
Many people don’t realize that dairy cows make up a significant portion of the beef market. When a cow is no longer profitable in a dairy operation, she is often sold and becomes part of the beef supply chain.
I know this may not be popular with everyone, but it’s the reality of farming. After raising a calf into a mature milk cow, you become attached to that animal. That never changes. However, if we don’t make business decisions—even the difficult ones—we won’t be able to keep the farm going.
Farming requires both heart and hard choices.