The past two years have been a challenge in the dairy industry.

Drought conditions have wreaked havoc on feed prices, feed availability and the quality of crops grown, not to mention the nutrient content of available forages.

Like many, you may have already started feeding corn silage that was put up in 2012.

The most profitable cow on your dairy is the fresh cow. She makes more milk more efficiently than at any other time of the lactation. Feeding fresh cows to maximize their peak milk production is some of the best money spent on your dairy.

It is common knowledge that hoof health and lameness in dairy cattle is a significant problem for the producer and the dairy industry in general.

Research from 2009 reported that as many as 52 percent of all dairy cattle in any given herd may experience some degree of lameness in any given year (with an average of 20 to 25 percent of cows per farm).

It’s no secret that transition cows are some of the most vulnerable animals on a dairy. The physiological changes and stresses surrounding calving can disrupt immune function and leave cows susceptible to a variety of disorders.

A recent USDA survey reported that few custom calf raisers feed calves the large amounts of milk or milk replacer common with intensive feeding programs. Most custom calf raisers are feeding approximately one gallon per calf daily. Many want to know: Why?

Commercial milk replacers are often compared and evaluated based on the percentage of protein and fat on the label.

Discussion rarely delves into what makes up the components of fat and its effects on digestion, absorption or growth.