Educational Blog

The transition period from three weeks pre-calving through three weeks post-calving has been researched and discussed greatly. Rightly so, as this...

Reproductive efficiency is a key component of profitability. A well-managed program increases milk production by extending lactations and maximizing...

Every season brings its own challenges, but summer turns up the heat on issues like dehydration, reduced feed intake, heat stress, and reproduction....

With so many genetic indexes out there, it’s no wonder you're asking: Which one should I trust? Which fits my herd best? These are fair questions,...

The dairy heifer replacement inventory continues to drop. In fact, it’s the lowest we’ve seen in the USDA’s 22 years of projection.¹ To help balance...

DHI data fills the gaps, giving you a complete picture of each cow’s performance. With high-risk stakes during transition, accurate, precise data to...

Manure lagoons are not only waste pits, but pits of unharnessed opportunity and value. As the first-of-its-kind powdered manure additive, SOP™...

More than 350 division-one schools are vying for an invitation to the NCAA tournament in March, but only 68 will get one. This sets the stage for...

Mastitis is a costly and persistent issue for dairy producers, with clinical cases in early lactation leading to significant financial losses. While...

Every five years, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) updates the genetic base to reflect the ongoing progress in dairy genetics. This...

You know the number, but it’s worth restating: a case of clinical mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation can cost you up to $444. While...

We’ve all seen the statistic – a case of clinical mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation can result in an economic loss of $444. We talk about...

The last trimester of pregnancy is a critical period for determining the profitability of a cow-calf operation. Approximately 75% of fetal growth...

When we think about “making every calf count,” heifer non-completion rate is a key performance indicator (KPI) that should definitely be on...

Are you only treating cows with visible milk fever symptoms? For every cow that shows signs of milk fever (stumbling, off-feed, or simply looks...

As we look to rebuild the U.S. beef-cow herd and meet the increasing demand for high-quality- beef products, we must strive to enhance the...

Despite the wide-spread adoption of negative-dietary cation-anion differential close-up diets, an estimated 25-50% of newly freshened 2nd lactation and greater cows will experience…

Byline: Emily Middleton-Gyomory, Regional Consulting Manager Recently, there’s been talk in the industry wondering if we’ve gone too far with beef x...

Founded in 2023 as the sustainability division of Select Sires Inc., Low Carbon Technologies (LCT) focuses on helping producers maximize the value...

Emily Middleton-Gyomory, Regional Consulting Manager Efficiency of absorption declines from birth, particularly after 12 hours. Feeding may induce...

Improving heifer reproduction programs is essential to enhance herd health, fertility, and overall productivity. To shed light on this topic, we...

You may do a good job getting heifers bred “in a timely manner” but are 90% of them pregnant within 150 days of your voluntary waiting period (VWP)?...

Author:  Laura Styczynski, CentralStar Records Analysis Consultant Despite the importance of efficient heifer reproduction, many farms still have...

Jordan Siemers, Select Sires Dairy Sire Analyst The better question is why not? Take a look at the Top 100 GTPI Proven Bulls: 7HO15167 GAMEDAY,...

Author: Tom Brown, CentralStar Genetic and Reproductive Consultant Dairy producers often ask if their farms can maintain reproductive success while...

Author: Kelly Sporer, Ph.D., CentralStar Records Analysis Consultant The first day, week, and month of a calf's life are critical in determining...

1. Plan for sample collection at least 28 days post-breeding – either by AI or based on the last date the bull was with the heifers/cows. 2. Gather...

Author: Adam Wood, CentralStar A.I. Specialist When it comes to protecting a newborn calf, every decision matters. That’s why checking the labels of...

Author:  Kevin Haase, CentralStar Cooperative Director of DHI Services We recently discovered some very exciting news about CentralStar Cooperative;...

Author:  Dr. John Cook and Rebekah Mast, World Wide Sires Access to relatively cheap and rapid genomic tests allows herds to individually test cows...

A smaller heifer inventory means reduced culling and turnover rates in the milking herd. This gives you the opportunity to milk more mature cows that produce at higher levels. Unfortunately, high-production mature cows come with a higher risk for mastitis and elevated Somatic Cell Count (SCS). So, how do you ensure you are selecting genetics for the right traits and indexes to facilitate healthier, longer-living cows?

In 2018, Kessenich Farms, LLC, a 600-cow Jersey and Holstein herd in DeForest, Wis. was faced with reproduction issues. Wade Kessenich recalls, "we...

Hang in there! Low inventory of native cattle (driven by drought and high input costs) and high beef demand have calf prices running red-hot right now. Sometimes, local markets can temporarily outcompete supply-chain prices simply based on transport cost. This won’t last forever, so here are some tips for how to sustain prices as long as possible.

The 2023 International All Things BLV Conference was hosted by Michigan State University. The agenda included speakers from six countries on three continents and sought to create community around this issue that would enable future collaboration.

CentralStar can conveniently test dairy cattle milk for A1/A2 status, Bovine Leukosis (BLV), Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), Johne’s Disease, Mastitis,...