See All Dairy
Find educational material about dairy cattle, including nutrition and feed management, health and care, reproduction, facilities and technology, and business management from Penn State Extension.
-
ArticlesTunnel Ventilation for Tie Stall Dairy Barns
Tunnel ventilation is a special summer system that provides a combination of high air exchange rates and high-speed air flow over cows to help remove body heat during hot weather. -
ArticlesDesigning and Building Dairy Cattle Freestalls
Freestalls (cubicles) provide dairy cows a clean, dry, comfortable resting space. Well-designed and properly maintained freestalls are a key component in a freestall housing system. -
ArticlesOn Farm Biosecurity and Mortality Management
Reviewing your on-farm mortality management system and biosecurity practices ensure your farm is ready for emergencies. -
ArticlesDecoding Dairy Cattle Behavior for Safe Handling
By understanding dairy cattle behavior, farmers can create a safer and more productive working environment for both the animals and the animal handler. -
ArticlesIndividual vs. Pair Calf Housing
Weigh the pros and cons of calf housing systems in deciding which system is best for your farm. -
ArticlesFood Safety Modernization Act - Preventive Controls for Animal Feed Rule
Learn the details and find educational resources on the FSMA Animal Feed Rule, including videos and training opportunities that address requirements, exemptions, and deadlines of the rule. -
ArticlesCyclicity in Dairy Cows: Postpartum Blues
Ovulation is the critical event that must function correctly and be responded to in a timely manner in order to establish a new pregnancy. -
ArticlesWinning the Battle of Subclinical Mastitis Detection
Lost milk yield and reduced milk quality (high somatic cell count) make undetected subclinical mastitis very costly. Early detection pays dividends. -
ArticlesOvermilking? Test Yourself!
Overmilking can damage teat ends and compromise udder health. A simple test can help you determine if you are over- or under-milking. -
VideosLivestock Transportation
Length 3:26How to safely move livestock between facilities, to another farm, or to a livestock market. -
ArticlesLivestock and Poultry Mortality Disposal in Pennsylvania
Properly managing and disposing of dead farm animals is important. Every livestock and poultry operation should have a proper dead stock disposal strategy. -
ArticlesBest Milking Practices Checklist
This checklist will help you to pinpoint areas in your milking routine that need improvement. -
ArticlesAssembling a Team to Explore a Value-Added Dairy Enterprise
If you are considering a value-added dairy foods business, a useful approach for gathering information and making an informed decision may be to consider forming a profit team. -
ArticlesHandwashing on Dairy Farms Is Not Just During a Pandemic
Whether we are facing a pandemic from an emerging virus or carrying out the day-to-day operations on a farm, handwashing is a simple, but invaluable protective measure for everyone. -
ArticlesWhat is Mastitis Costing You?
Mastitis costs dairy farms more than any other disease. Control clinical and subclinical infections to improve milk quality and boost profitability. -
ArticlesUsing the Calf Milk Pasteurization Evaluator Spreadsheet
Instructions for using the Calf Milk Pasteurization Evaluator spreadsheet, interpreting its output, and estimating waste milk supply and demand. -
ArticlesTools to Assess Colostrum Management
We can measure how well a colostrum program is working by estimating the IgG in calves' blood. -
VideosUsing a Brix Refractometer
Length 4:11Learn how to use optical and digital Brix refractometers to determine how much IgG colostrum contains. -
ArticlesTransitioning to a New Robotic Milker
Transition from conventional milking parlor to a single robot. -
ArticlesSystematic Breeding Programs
This article explains the value of systematic breeding programs for dairy cattle, how hormones are used, and factors important to achieving success. -
ArticlesRumen Development, Don't Wean Calves Without It!
Regardless of how much milk you are feeding calves or what age they are at weaning, if the rumen is not ready, calves are in for a rough transition. -
ArticlesPhotos of Rumen Development
This series of photos illustrates the process of rumen development in dairy calves. -
ArticlesPenn State Particle Separator
The Forage and TMR Particle Separator was designed to help in determining the correct forage particle length needed to improve ruminant nutrition. -
VideosPenn State Particle Separator
Length 4:55In this video Dr. Jud Heinrichs demonstrates the Penn State Particle Separator, a popular method for on-farm particle size determination. -
VideosMinimizing Interservice Intervals
Length 9:45This video defines interservice intervals and provides suggestions for how to improve them to maximize reproductive efficiency and dairy herd profitability.
