Educational Blog

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,...

The world of dairy farming is ever evolving, and more and more – and increasingly smarter – tools are available to add to the on-farm toolbox. For...

Mycotoxin binders (MTB) work by chemical interactions involving cation exchange capacity with various types of bonds and by their physical structure...

You’ve likely seen the headlines about shrinking heifer numbers around the U.S. Herds right-sizing heifer inventories, dairy expansions, and the...

So, you are interested in knowing the A1/A2 status of your cows but are confused about which test is best. The CentralStar A1/A2 genotype test is...

Conventional thinking is considered tried and true, going unquestioned; but is that always the best approach? Through National Animal Health...

Susie Martin, CentralStar Regional Consulting Manager You inherently know who the best animals in your herd are, and you can back it up with parent...

Beta-casein makes up 30 percent of milk protein and comes in two forms; A1 and A2 beta-casein. The difference between A1 and A2 beta-casein is...

Keys, wallet, cell phone are the essentials you won’t get far without, but with them, accomplish anything. What are the equivalent essentials for managing your herd?

With USDA estimating 94% of all dairy herds in the United States are infected with BLV; chances are your herd has it! BLV is incurable, but not unmanageable.

After 40 years in the industry, Retired CentralStar Consultant, Julie Ainsworth shares a few key lessons that routinely emerge and still exist as opportunities on dairies today.

Supplies Needed: Vacutainer® Vial Double-sided needle Needle holder Be sure to check which type of vial is required for your desired test type....

There has been a long-standing definition of successful transfer of passive immunity, stated as 10 grams of IgG per liter of serum, 24-36 hours post colostrum feeding. The United States Department of Agriculture has raised the standard.

The progress made in reproductive performance on dairies is truly impressive. Today, it’s more commonplace to find herds with pregnancy rates over 30%.