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Will Facial and Video Recognition Manage Tomorrow’s Cows? 
Will Facial and Video Recognition Manage Tomorrow’s Cows? 

Will Facial and Video Recognition Manage Tomorrow’s Cows?  Technology continues to revolutionize dairying as we know it, offering valuable tools to address labor shortages and improve overall herd management. Most dairy producers are familiar with robotic milkers and herd management systems that use radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, collars or leg monitors to track individual animal data. These tools have become essential for streamlining workflows and monitoring herd health.  But the next evolution in dairy technology is here, and it’s looking your cows right in the face. Thanks to advances in computing power and artificial intelligence, facial recognition is emerging as […]

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Total Mixed Rations (TMR) for Dairy Cattle 
Total Mixed Rations (TMR) for Dairy Cattle 

Total Mixed Rations (TMR) for Dairy Cattle A Total Mixed Ration (TMR) is a feeding method in which all feed ingredients, including forages, grains, protein sources, minerals, and vitamins, are combined into a single, uniform mix.  This type of feeding program is often used in feedlots and dairies—especially dairies.  It helps ensure that each bite a cow takes provides balanced nutrition for optimal milk production and health. TMRs are particularly beneficial for high-producing dairy cows, to minimize feed sorting and to ensure consistent nutrient intake.  A separate TMR can be developed for different groups of cattle.  Rations are often formulated […]

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Upgrading Dairy Parlors 
Upgrading Dairy Parlors 

Upgrading Dairy Parlors  Traditional dairy parlors are the roots of the dairy industry. These systems were the backbone of dairy farms for generations, and they were characterized by their simplicity, labor-intensive nature, and a strong connection between the farming family and their animals.   A traditional parlor system consists of a long barn with a central alleyway. On either side of this alley, individual stalls are arranged in a row, each equipped with a stanchion, a locking mechanism that holds the cow’s head in place while she is being milked. This design is fundamentally non-mechanized, and for the most part, in […]

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Check Out Our Current Issue!

Cattle Lameness

Lameness, Its Costing You

By Emily Fread, Dairy Extension Educator. Lameness can have negative implications beyond cow comfort. Lameness contributes to reduced milk production, reduced reproduction and increased costs related to treatment and prevention. Lameness is one of the top three diseases that affect dairy herds, along with mastitis and infertility (Robcis et al., 2023). Lameness is a costly […]

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Dairy goats eating

Navigating Milk Composition & Quality in Dairy Goats

By Dr. Gail Carpenter, State Dairy Extension Specialist, Iowa State University. Dairy goat producers understand the delicate balance required to maintain optimal milk quality in their herds. Achieving the right fat and protein content levels is essential for product quality and reflects the goats’ overall health and performance. As producers aspire to produce high-quality milk, […]

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Cows eating in a barn

I-29 Moo University webinar to review research on heat stress in dairy calves on Feb. 21

 Article courtesy of I-29 Moo University. The I-29 Moo University 2024 Dairy Webinar Series continues Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The webinar will feature a review of research on heat stress in dairy calves with Dr. Jimena Laporta from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Laporta is originally from Uruguay, where […]

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Cows eating in a barn

Making Headway In Animal Nutrition & Health

Article and photos courtesy of Profile Products®. For more than 60 years, Profile Products® has made a name for itself within the agricultural and animal management industries. Specifically, the Buffalo Grove, IL-based company has worked diligently to develop and manufacture highly engineered specialty agriscience materials that affect a myriad of industries and efforts including animal health, erosion […]

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Featured Story

Regenerative Agriculture on a Dairy Farm

Paul and Erin Kernaleguen are dairy farmers and soil consultants near Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, committed to regenerative practices in growing forage for their cattle. They farm with Paul’s Parents, Jos and Brenda.

“We were a very conventional dairy operation until 2012 when we started looking at doing some things differently because our weather was super-wet for a couple years.  Our average annual precipitation is about 12 inches of moisture, but we’d had two years in a row with about 40 to 50 inches, which made farming extremely difficult!” says Paul.

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Twin Rivers Media

Publisher of American Cattlemen and American Dairymen magazines. Founded over 30 years ago, Twin Rivers Media serves the information and marketing needs of America’s beef and dairy producers.