Michael Lormore, the current director of cattle technical services at Zoetis, led a 2014 study identifying the drivers of financial success for a dairy, using data from 110 farms between 2007 to 2018. The farms were in the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. Check out this article for one variable worth keeping a close eye on.

“The bulk tank somatic cell count, to me, is the most important variable out there,” Lormore said.

Cell counts connect to milk production, cow turnover and longevity, and pregnancy rates, all of which affect net farm income.

“The revenue opportunity should be obvious,” Lormore said. “For every 100,000 increase in bulk tank somatic cell counts, it is a 5.7-pound decrease in milk production per cow per day. There’s a huge opportunity to continue to improve the quality of the milk we produce.”

Read more from Lancaster Farming, here.

“Think of fiber in a dairy or beef diet in the same way. Fiber provides bulk to diets — it’s the most important factor to account for when evaluating forages and developing dairy or beef diets. Despite the many different discussions around fiber digestibility and undigestible fiber, total fiber content is always my starting point in evaluating forage quality.”

If you need help adjusting your herd’s nutrition plan, we offer custom and unbiased consulting and hands-on support, contact us for more information.

Be sure to check out this article by Hay & Forge Grower

“2020 was a year like no other. Following a year dominated by Covid-19, what can dairy farming expect moving forward? Covid-19 forced U.S. dairy producers to rethink the U.S. milk business, especially its dependency on fresh milk sales and foodservice cheese. It also exposed the vulnerability of dependence on external labor. Longer-term emerging trends include the impact of veganism and the climate discussion. Here some of the trends that should shape the industry in 2021.”

1.) Rise of the milk alternatives
2.) China and the global milk market
3.) Covid-19 effect on dairy consumption
4.) The climate debate
5.) Farm technology adoption

If you need help adjusting your herd’s nutrition plan, we offer custom and unbiased consulting and hands-on support, contact us for more information.

Be sure to check out this article by Dairy Herd Management

“Feed and forage costs make up the largest single cost of milk production, therefore, controlling these expenses is essential to the profitability of any Irish dairy farm. In order to minimize feed costs per liter or kg of milk solids produced, optimizing the feed efficiency of the herd is critical.

With many spring-calving herds now starting to calve down, farmers should focus on easing the transition from the dry to the lactating stage. How well cows adapt to the many changes occurring during this crucial period can affect performance for the rest of the lactation, and ensuring that freshly calved cows get enough nutrition from an energy-dense and well-balanced diet is critical in achieving this.”

If you need help adjusting your herd’s nutrition plan, we offer custom and unbiased consulting and hands-on support, contact us for more information.

Be sure to check out this article by AgriLand

“After months of negotiations, Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package with much-needed financial relief for agricultural producers, funding for food assistance programs, enhancements to the Paycheck Protection Program and funding for enhanced broadband access, as well as additional financial resources for agricultural research and farmer stress assistance programs, among others.

The package provides an estimated $13 billion directly to agricultural programs, with $300 million allocated to the Commerce Department for assistance to fisheries. Today’s article highlights many of the direct agricultural provisions in the bill.”

Be sure to check out this article by the Fence Post