Dairy Herd Management

1 day ago | dairyherd.com | Maureen Hanson

It’s history in the making in U.S. dairy animal trade right now, as springer values stay knocking on the door of $4,000 per head, and calf prices continue to soar. Newborn beef-cross calves are bringing north of $1,000 per head nationwide. Ironically, those calves also are at least partially the source of climbing heifer values. In the January 2025 USDA Cattle Report, lactating dairy cows showed an annual tally of about 9.5 million head, up about 3,000 head from the previous year.

2 days ago | dairyherd.com | Maureen Hanson

Investing in training and building an on-dairy culture of community can make all the difference in a dairy’s success, according to Dr. Adrian Barragan, Extension Dairy Veterinarian with Penn State University. Barragan shared his thoughts on dairy workforce management on a recent episode of The Dairy Podcast Show. He shared a current statistic that it costs approximately $150,000 to hire a dairy manager. Perhaps even more shocking, replacing an entry-level dairy worker costs nearly $100,000.

5 days ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

The prospect of a U.S.-United Kingdom (UK) trade agreement has been long overdue, particularly in the dairy sector. This new framework for negotiations marks a crucial turning point as the U.S. seeks a level playing field with global dairy exporters. Current Trade ImbalanceAccording to Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, achieving a robust trade agreement with the UK is a vital step in correcting the current imbalances in the dairy trade.

5 days ago | dairyherd.com | Peggy Coffeen

Do you dread networking events and small talk? Maybe you’ve been told you are hard to talk to or you struggle to get past the “where are you from, what do you do” conversation that ends in an awkward silence. Whether you are a dairy producer or a professional serving the dairy community, if this is you, keep reading.

5 days ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

The U.S. beef industry is experiencing a significant transformation, with dairy producers playing an increasingly crucial role in meeting the nation’s beef demand. This shift is driven by several factors, as explained by Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company on a recent episode of Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) “Dairy Signal.” According to Basse, beef-on-dairy crossbreds have become an indispensable part of the industry.