Pam
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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flooring

Proper Dairy Flooring and Mats Improve Cow Comfort and Health

Dairy cows are fine-tuned highly specialized animals that are healthiest and most profitable if they are comfortable. The flooring in dairy barns and stalls is very important so that cows can lie down comfortably, and also have adequate (but not abrasive) traction when walking to and from the milking parlor. You don’t want them slipping […]

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Goat Supplements: Everything You Need to Improve Herd Health Goat Supplements

How do you know when you need to add goat supplements into the diet of your herd? Goats will eat just about anything, right? It’s a common misconception that goats will devour anything that’s not nailed down, including tin cans, paper, and articles of clothing. While it’s true that goats will nibble on almost everything […]

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Pik Rite

Looking for Spreader Options? Take Your PIK (RITE)

Manure Handling Equipment for Versatile Applications Pik Rite has a proud 40-year tradition of pursuing agricultural innovation. Had the company’s origin story been related to manure handling, it might have been named “Spread Rite.” But it started with tomatoes, not manure. In the mid-1980s, farmer Elvin Stoltzfus and welder Joe Yoder set out to create […]

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health

Maintaining Udder Health with Teat Dips and Sealants

While parlor routines often focus on lactating cows, overall teat health, whether we are dealing with lactating or dry cows, should always be a top priority. Lactating cows rely on proper pre- and post-dipping for hygiene, while dry cows benefit from internal sealants and continued cleanliness. Framing udder care as a continuous process, not just […]

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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.