Camila Lage, Cornell Cooperative Extension - SWNY team & Victor Malacco, Michigan State University Extension - September 15, 2023

Calves rely heavily on colostrum for immunity. Successful transfer of passive immunity is crucial. Evaluating and improving immune transfer can reduce deaths and the number of days calves are sick, enhancing overall herd performance and profitability.

Daniela Roland, Dairy Educator, Penn State Extension Jun 28, 2023 (To access the original article, click here)

Many factors can influence SCC, from housing to lactation phase and milking protocols. With tighter margins and lower projected milk prices through the summer, focusing on management practices that can be controlled can help maintain or improve milk quality.

Warm weather provides the perfect environment for pathogen activity and hoof damage. Address the dairy's management now to prevent hoof health issues when temperatures drop.

The grazing stick is a valuable tool for farmers to measure pasture dry matter and estimate the available forage for their livestock. Its importance lies in providing a quick, practical, and calibrated measurement system to assess the grazing potential of a pasture. While using the grazing stick, it's essential to take multiple samples from various areas to ensure a representative value of the pasture's dry matter. This helps account for variations in the pasture's growth and grazing potential.

MUN is a breakdown product of protein and it can be used to monitor protein status of cows.

The advancement of automated milking systems presents an opportunity to optimize cow nutrition through tailored separate concentrate feeding.

Dairy Advancement Program receives continued funding

To learn more about the program and apply, click here  

Shielding grazing dairy cows from heat stress: effective strategies for farm management and cow welfare

Victor Malacco, Michigan State University and Camila Lage, Cornell Cooperative Extension - SWNY - June 22, 2023

Prioritizing shade, ample water access, and thoughtful management practices are crucial for protecting grazing dairy cows from heat stress, promoting their well-being and productivity during hot summer periods.

To access original article, click here

by Dr. Melissa Cantor and Hayley R. Springer, MS, DVM

Wildfire smoke from ongoing Canadian fires is drifting into NYS. As livestock caretakers, we can make small adjustments to our animal care, handling, and housing to reduce the effects of exposure to fine particulates and poor air quality.

It is still spring, but you are probably already observing some signs of discomfort in your cows since we see days in the high 80s. I always believed the Northeast weather wouldn't be so bad on cows, but that's not true. Since it takes weeks for cows to acclimate to the heat, episodic heat stress is tough for cows to handle. Investing in heat abatement is a cost-benefit, even in our "moderate climate" area.

June is an exciting time as it marks the arrival of summer, but it is also Dairy Month! Nothing better than finding a noble excuse to indulge in delicious food! This annual celebration started in 1937 and continues to date as a way to pay homage to the remarkable contributions of the dairy industry to our economy, culinary delights, and the community.