Dr. Bilby discusses Targeted Reproductive Management (TRM), which is based on the idea that when a producer uses monitoring technology, they can take advantage of those cows that show a strong natural heat. He explains how dairy producers can utilize both the advantages of monitoring technology and the great results they can achieve with synchronization.

The conversation also explores how connected technologies, mobile tools like PocketDairy, and collaboration with local DHIA service affiliates help bring herd data together and keep management aligned across the operation.

To learn more about Dart herd management software from DRMS, visit drms.org 

Holstein show fitters, also called clippers, are skilled individuals who groom dairy cattle using specialized clippers, brushes, and adhesives to highlight their best features for competitions like the World Dairy Expo, focusing on creating level toplines, smooth body coats, and well-styled legs and tails, with techniques involving blow-drying against the hair and clipping in precise patterns to enhance breed conformation and overall appearance for judges. 

All three of these fitters are well-known in the industry, but have unique experiences to share. They discuss their many years on the show circuit, what excites them about their jobs, and some of the herds they have worked with around the world. All three share some of the coolest show moments from their past. 

Brittany describes her experience with the program and how it has changed the way she talks about dairy farming with consumers oand on social media. The connections Brittany made in the program continues to heavily influence her work today. She explains how the program skills have helped her engage with the community and consumers. For more information, go to www.midwestdairy.com.

For more information, go to showboxsires.com.

For more information on John Ellsworth, you can go to success-strategies.com.

Their journey illustrates how a small team, rooted in hands-on farming experience, can produce innovations that challenge industry norms and deliver measurable improvements. This is a wonderful product story but also a great example of how dairy families can work together.

For more information on Udderways, go to https://www.udderways.com.

To find out more about Uplevel Wellness, go to https://uplevelwellness.org.

FANWELL RC is now available exclusively through your Select Sires Inc. representative. 

For more information on the Fresh Cow Index, you can go to https://www.drms.org/HerdHQ/What-Is-HerdHQ.

This is one of the more well-known reports each year and not only covers reporting on the largest dairy companies, it dives in to analytical insights. This is a fantastic clear and concise podcast, and gives a lot of information that those in the dairy industry will find very useful.

Donatelo is right out of the alligator 95 point Daze cow at Kings Ransom and people are taking note. In the podcast, Tim, Jeff and Bruce discuss why this bull is so important right now and how it can be used. Donatelo is available  through your Select Sires Rep.

In this episode, host Connie Kuber of Sealpro Silage Barrier Films talks with John, who is a welcome voice to navigate the financial, as well as the day-to-day management, of our dairy farms. He emphasizes that farmers need to not only look at their goals today, but also where they want to be in the next few years. This, along with the impact of past inflation issues, the tariff situation, and current interest rates give us a lot to think about.

Using tools that make a dairy farm’s data easy to act on is key! He suggests that DRMS’ HerdHQ can be an answer for many dairy farmers, as it can spot trends, compare performance and make informed decisions in a clear way. For more information on HerdHQ and DRMS, you can go to https://www.drms.org/HerdHQ/What-Is-HerdHQ or DRMS.org.

Dr. Riboni discusses Keeping cows properly cooled, eating patterns, and the importance of the parlor, among other things. Riboni stressed heat abatement technologies - they need to be looked at every year.

They discuss the bull’s stats, his dam, and what daughters he will work well with. HiJack is available through Semex around the world. Find out more at https://www.showboxsires.com.

The SoyRoaster is controlled by an automated control panel and can be monitored from the dairy farmer’s phone. And, the system can be installed and pre-wired in the shipping container or installed in your feed barn.

They discuss the seasons harvest and silage preparation so far, good practices, and what to watch out for. This is a timely and very informative podcast for every dairy farmer.

Donny Rollin is a well-known former dairy farmer with years of practical experience. Last year, he and his family exited the dairy production business, and Donny and his wife Christina founded Rollin Ag Resources to bring new ideas and products to California’s farmers. They represent Connor Agriscience products.

This discussion explains who and how they target the consumer to promote milk, including gaming and social media programs.

They discuss the pedigree of this incredible bull and why they are confident Victory will do well. They talk about how the bull will be used at Kingsway and what females would cross well with it.

They discuss the importance of milk in Infant and baby nutrition and focus on the first 1000 days of life. Sally explains why the first 1000 days are important to brain health and what DMI is doing to promote this to parents and the dairy industry.

They discuss what breeding a cow like Maple has done for their breeding program and what made Maple so special.  A closer look at the profile of the bull, what traits stand out, and what they think the bull will transmit wrap up this discussion.

Horace Backus of Mexico, New York, the “Dean of Holstein Pedigrees”, passed peacefully in his sleep early on October 22, 2024. He spent his long career working with Registered Holsteins as a breeder, auction sale manager, author and organizational leader and is widely recognized by thousands of dairy breeders and industry leaders nationally and internationally. He was truly one of the Greatest Of All Time in the holstein world.

Tim, Dave, and Joel talk about their memories of Horace throughout the years and what they felt he brought to the table. There is a Horace Backus fund with Holstein Foundation, which is discussed in the podcast. If you would like more information on the Horace Backus Fund and how to help, contact the Holstein Foundation here.

They discuss how you would use ASHER-RED and, most importantly, when will semen be available and how do listeners get it? It is available through your Select Sires distributor within next 2 weeks. Contact them now.

Tara talks about upcoming technology that she is excited about and what dairy farmers need to do before stepping in to this new technology.

According to Mike Duckett, Hellion checks almost every box. Mike digs in to what he sees in Hellion’s proof. Everyone is excited about a combination of Doc and Daze. And, the group discusses what sires of today’s cattle would work well with Hellion. 

Mike Duckett digs in to the mix of sires in Lacteur’s pedigree and looks at the numbers on both the Canadian and U.S. side of this fantastic cow.

This podcast is available on all major podcast providers, along with Spotify. 

In their discussion with the Schwartzbeck family about Judge, who’s dam is Peace and Plenty Doc Jubie 16-ET, EX-94 nominated AA 4YO 2023 from the famous Jubilant family that had 6 AA nominations in 2023. They talk with Gus and Austin about what traits of this bull stand out the most. The Schwartzbeck’s also announce the Springtime Jubilee at their farm in Union Bridge, Maryland, which will be on March 15, 2025. The podcast is available on all major podcast providers, including Spotify.

They talk with the Schwartzbeck family about their Peace and Plenty Farms in Union Bridge, Maryland and discuss Jinx in detail, including what traits of this bull stand out the most. Gus and Davis also announce the Springtime Jubilee at their farm on March 15, 2025. The podcast is available on all major podcast providers, including Spotify.

They discuss KINGME’s dam Noble 695-ET and what type of cow she is, what her best traits are and how did she stand out in their herd. KINGME is exclusively available through your Select Sires / Worldwide Sires distributor.

In 2024, National Dairy Shrine is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Mike talks with Joel about special activities this year, scholarships, the Shrine’s history, and the upcoming banquet and annual meeting at World Dairy Expo. A lifetime membership to the National Dairy Shrine is only $50. Donations can be made at https://www.campaign75.org.

To learn more or contact Tim & Mike, go to ShowboxSires.com.

In this episode of DairyVoice, Tim Abbott of Showbox Sires talks with James and Steph about their business, history, and why they have such passion for breeding and marketing great cows. 

James & Steph have an upcoming global sale on June 15 beginning 1-1:30pm UK time, with some impressive pedigrees. For more information about the event, go to Firstlook Genetics Facebook page.

Joe Harner is internationally recognized for his engineering knowledge and innovative ideas in designing dairy and beef facilities. He has been involved with dairy facility projects in 36 states and engaged in facilities design in more than 25 international countries. He was part of the K-State Dairy team conducting field studies evaluating the effectiveness of heat abatement strategies on operational dairies.  Through the efforts of the K-State Dairy team, he has helped co-author articles on heat abatement strategies and been an invited speaker by allied industry to discuss heat abatement strategies.

He is an Emeritus Professor of Kansas State University and currently owns JP Harner Consulting focusing on “Data Driven Dairy Design”. Dr. Harner was elected ASABE Fellow in 2016 and inducted into the Rural Builders Hall of Fame in 2018. He is currently serving on the planning committees of the Western Dairy Management and High Plains Dairy Conferences.

A wonderful podcast to inspire our dairy farm youth!

In this special episode of DairyVoice, Connie Kuber of Connor Agriscience and Sealpro silage Barrier Films speaks with Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer for the National Milk Producers Federation. They discuss specifically what has been found so far, how it was diagnosed, signs, symptoms and prevention.

Jamie also explains that this does not affect the safety of milk to the consumer, with stringent protocols already in place for U.S. dairy farms. This podcast has everything you need to know on this situation.

Connie and John cover the impact of inflation, feed costs, labor and supplier issues and diversification of the dairy farm. You can contact John Ellsworth at john@success-strategies.com with any questions you might have or go to success-strategies.com to learn more.

They discuss their goals in handling mastitis management and what tools they use to get ahead of this problem. Lightland Farms recently received an award from the National Mastitis Council and they share tips for other dairies on mastitis management.

Eastablished in 1921, the New England States Holstein Association is a non-profit membership organization of Holstein breeders & enthusiasts in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Vermont working together to promote the breed. You can contact New England Holstein Association at neholstein@nesholsteins.com. 

As a technical service specialist for Diamond V, Dr. Dodd is responsible for providing technical support for customers in the United States, specifically in the Midwest. He earned his DVM from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. Throughout his career Dr. Dodd has focused on dairy production medicine, heifer development, and record and data analysis. 

This is a truly one-of-a-kind collection of Holstein sale catalogs and historical memorabilia from the personal collection of Holstein legend Horace Backus and it will be offered in an online auction on November 28 – 29 and 30 via cowbuyer.com. 

During his career of more than 65 years as a leading sale manager and unrivaled pedigree expert, Horace Backus may have done more than any other single individual to add value to Registered Holsteins, to instill confidence in the auction sale market and to inspire Holstein breeders everywhere.

The proceeds from the sale will be used to support Horace who is recovering from a stroke suffered earlier this summer.

The Horace Backus Online Memorabilia Auction is being organized by David Rama of The Cattle Exchange, Delhi, N.Y.

Their insight and views of the event and the history behind them is a must-listen for breeders everywhere. This podcast is a continuation of the DairyVoice podcast series, ‘The evolution of the Great Cow’ by Showbox Sires.

They focus on milk income, feed costs, bank relationships, and the highs and lows of manure management programs. As is pointed out in this podcast, “Nothing breeds wisdom like experience!”

More information is available from the panelist at:

Gallagher: https://am.gallagher.com/

MADCAP/Contec: https://hubs.ly/Q01PPQfr0   

Mastaplex: https://www.mastatest.com/mastatest-labor-efficiency-usa

Waikato: https://waikatomilking.com/labor-efficiency-usanzte

Joel Hastings stated, “We’re not aware that this has ever been done before and expect our audience will be intrigued.”

The conversation will include Brad Sayles, Vice President, Global Marketing Semex and Jeff Ziegler, Vice President of Dairy Cattle Breeding Select Sires.

Women in dairy are encouraged to listen to this podcast to find out what they offer. To join, or to secure a sponsorship of this year’s national conference, go to: dairygirlnetwork.com.

To contact Monica directly, you can call 218-280-7785. Also, Dairy Girl Network features an excellent support page at https://dairygirlnetwork.com/strongertogether-resources/.

In this episode, Juan Piñeiro of Texas A&M, speaks to the success of the recent High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas with Dr. Hagevoort. With attendance up 20%, a lot of interest was shown with their presentations related to implanting beef embryos to dairy and how to monetize carbon credits.

www.robbinsfamilygrain.com

Luke Hopkins oversees a 1300 milking cow and heifer-raising program, using the latest technologies, as well as his lifetime of experience caring for dairy cattle. Dr. Richard Wallace, dairy technical service team manager for Zoetis, has assisted here, applying his background in private practice as well as his academic training. Together, they insure a healthy, high producing herd.

Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News describes Amanda Freund of the Freund’s Family Farm an activist, in the best sense of the word. Amanda is active on her family's dairy farm with feeding and helping with calf care. And, she is involved in two of the farm's related businesses - a farm market and a very unique manufacturing operation. Amanda is a pro at social media, supporting not only her businesses and the farming practice but also the benefits of dairy foods, as a whole. A Cornell graduate, she served two years in the Peace Corps.
Make sure to also listen to the podcast Clarity At Work: Building A Herd For Tomorrow. The link to that podcast: 

https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/452515

In this DairyVoice podcast, Michael talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about how he ties his registered holstein business with the consumer milk buyer. He explains that this is the secret to his strategy. Turley says that they connect with consumers as animal lovers. He feels that understanding the lens through which the consumer is interpreting the dairy industry is of vital importance to the dairy producer, especially the smaller dairy farm. And, that it is vital that dairy professionals understand that most consumers are viewing dairy cows through the experience of their companion animal experience.

He explains that what the pandemic has done is take any flaws in a company’s business model and accelerated the reality of whatever that vulnerability might be. Schonenberg suggests that organizations take a hard look at in the mirror and say, “Here are things that we have to address.  Let’s address them now before they become an issue.” Spoiler alert... the rate of change in the food and ag industry, including dairy, won't slow down!

Dr. Mike Lormore, a longtime dairy vet, says first define the goal and then identify the strategies, ranging from reduced milking frequency to feeding more milk to calves. In Dr. Lormore’s discussion with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News, he explains that just culling more cows isn't usually the answer. Listen to his recommendations in episode 17 of DairyVoice. Dr. Lormore is the Director of U.S. Dairy Cattle Technical Services for Zoetis.

Dr. Richard Stup, PhD, who heads the Agricultural Workforce Development program at Cornell University, is widely known for his personnel management expertise. In this episode, he tells us about a variety of issues to consider and plan for in keeping farm families and farm employees safe, and keeping the farm business running.

What should the first steps be for a dairy manager? What about managing isolation, tracking, and communication with health authorities? Dr. Stup says to begin to plan right now.

More information is also available at his website: 

http://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/.

Dairy is under the gun and in California the industry is doing something about it. The second California Dairy Sustainability Summit is set for Mar. 25 - 26, 2020 in Sacramento, California. It attracts a national audience from across the industry - producers, processors, government officials, university researchers and technology providers. In this episode of DairyVoice podcast, Michael Boccadoro, executive director, explains how this event helps tell dairy's story. More info can be found at www.cadairysummit.com. 

Their conversation did zero in on the growing dairy aspect of beef and the dairy industry and farmers going into a period of managed heifer inventory focus. Laine did point out the ever-present concern of a potential economic recession sometime in the future. 

Connolly’s firm, Cainthus, featuring computer video and artificial intelligence technology to identify health, reproduction and environmental changes early on, will be exhibiting at World Ag Expo and other shows in 2020.

Featured this episode is dairy producer Heidi Fischer, partner and calf manager in the Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm in Hatley, Wisconsin. She’s the grand prize winner in the Producers for Progress program sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, the international animal health firm, focusing on the judicious use of antibiotics.  She discusses management priorities at her family’s high producing 900-cow herd.  

Talking with her is Dr. Linda Tikofsky, the senior associate director of dairy professional veterinary services at Boehringer Ingelheim with an extensive background in mastitis management and judicious antibiotic use. 

For more details about the Fischer-Clark herd, see the article in the Dec. 2 edition of DairyBusiness Digital magazine here. For details about Producers for Progress go to https://www.bi-vetmedica.com/producers-progress. 

In this edition of DairyVoice, Gallagher talks about plant-based beverages, which he does not see as a huge concern, and lab-created dairy proteins - a real cloud on the horizon for the dairy industry. But with his "2030 Plan", he wants to leap-frog dairy into the future with consumers and their food choices.

Gallagher begins the segment explaining new tactics being undertaken by animal rights activist groups toward the dairy industry, which he sees as especially worrisome.