Using DHI to improve profitability
Arren Rusch knew his dairy had reached a size that worked for the family, he didn’t want to grow bigger or get caught up managing more people. Instead, he asked a different question: How could they maximize profitability out of the cows they already had? The answer...
Smarter calf care with CowManager
Technology is helping Hanke Farms take calf care to the next level. At the sixth-generation dairy in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., CowManager® is proving just as valuable for the youngstock as it has been for the cows. Now in its sixth generation, the Hanke and Taylor family...
The price is right … but will it always be?
It’s no secret why beef on dairy calf prices soared higher in 2025. The beef-cow herd, reduced by mass liquidations over the past few years due to drought, input costs, and interest rates, was at its smallest in decades at just 27 million (Figure 1). This decline has...
Breeding for the future
Located in Waunakee, Wis., Maier Farms is a multi-generational dairy committed to cow longevity and team-driven success. Honored as one of CentralStar’s ReproStar Award winners in 2025, the farm has achieved impressive statistics, including a 42% pregnancy rate, 73%...
Your milk check tells a story
Your milk check isn’t just a number, it reflects cow health, herd management, and genetics. Producers often point to above-average components, low SCC, and residue-free milk as hallmarks of quality.¹ These traits are more than “nice to have,” they drive milk quality...
Keeping rations on point
Your DHI records are more than just numbers, they’re a roadmap for ration and herd management. Butterfat, protein, and the fat-to-protein ratio give early warnings when things aren’t balanced, letting you act before production or cow health suffers. By regularly...
Postpartum research: FerAppease reduces pain, improves health, and production
In a recent University of Florida postpartum study by Santos et al. (2025)*, researchers evaluated the effects of applying a single dose of FerAppease® – a unique analogue of the naturally occurring Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (mBAS) – on health, pain and milk...