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.
- Articles
Trouble Shooting Colostrum Management: Colostrum Calculator
Use the Colostrum Calculator spreadsheet to investigate factors related to IgG absorption in calves. - Articles
Table: Comparison of Commercial Electrolyte Products
Summary of selected nutrients in commercial oral rehydration products. Table assumes products are mixed with water according the manufacturer's directions. - Videos
RFID: How to Apply the Tag
Length 4:12This video explains tagging requirements for livestock and demonstrates how to apply the RFID tag properly. - Articles
Precision is Key to Consistency in Calf Feeding
Consistent feeding temperature, total solids, and nutrient level helps calves perform at their best. - Articles
Pasteurization of Non-Saleable Milk
Considerations of implementing on-farm pasteurization, discussion of waste milk quality, and evaluation of heat and UV methods. - Articles
New Thoughts, Old Question: Should We Feed Calves Forage?
Feeding forage to calves has been debated for years. Fermentation of grain is essential for rumen development, but sometimes calves perform better with hay. - Articles
Customized Dairy Heifer Growth Chart
Generates a growth chart from mature size and age at first calving. Compares heifer performance to growth required to meet herd goals, not to a breed standard. - Articles
Monitoring Dairy Heifer Growth
Success of a heifer-rearing program can be evaluated by monitoring height and weight of heifers and comparing the results against the herd's growth goals. - Articles
Milking Management: Consistency is the Key!
The secrets of producing high quality milk is to consistently use a well-defined milking technique and to maintain a clean and dry environment for all animals. - Articles
Milk Replacer Costs and Your Options
Discussion of whey protein prices, alternative proteins, cost comparisons, and considerations for feeding waste milk. - Articles
Inlets Essential to Tunnel Ventilation Success
Properly sized inlets – located to supply uniform distribution throughout the animal space – are essential to provide a more comfortable space for cows and poultry. - Articles
Heat Stress in Dairy Calves
Calves can suffer from heat stress too. Strategies for reducing its impact are explored in this article. - Articles
Growth Monitor: Compare Heifers to Breed Standards
Spreadsheet tools for tracking dairy heifer growth in comparison to breed standards. - Articles
Growth Charts for Dairy Heifers
Comparing to a breed standard can indicate if heifer growth is progressing normally. - Articles
Feeding Acidified Milk to Calves
This article describes reasons for acidifying milk or milk replacer and examines research on acidified milk feeding systems. - Articles
Enhancing Milk Components with Pasture-Based Systems
In pasture-based systems the amount and type of concentrate fed, processing of ingredients, and feeding method influence milk yield and components. - Articles
Economics and Effects of Accelerated Calf Growth Programs
Increasing heifer growth rates, regardless of the feeding strategy, improves the odds of earlier age at calving, which can dramatically lower heifer costs. - Articles
Effects of Calf Feeding Program on First Lactation Performance
A review of the effects of increased milk or milk replacer feeding on milk production. - Articles
Dairy Heifer Cost Variation
Dairy heifer replacement costs represent a large investment for all dairy operations. - Articles
Dehorning: What Are Your Options?
Timing and best practices for caustic paste and hot iron dehorning, common methods of removing horns on young calves. - Articles
Body Condition Scoring as a Tool for Dairy Herd Management
Body condition scoring evaluates fatness or thinness according to a five-point scale and scores are used to fine-tune dairy nutrition and health. - Articles
Safety First with Livestock
Every year, hundreds of accidents occur on the farm whether it's caused by livestock, tractors, machinery, or mistakes. - Articles
Job Descriptions: The Building Blocks of Organizations
The primary objective of a job description is to help employees and supervisors reach a mutual understanding about important details of a job in order to avoid future problems. - Tools and Apps
Job Description Generator for the Dairy Industry
The Job Description Generator is an online tool that automates the process so preparing a job description is quick and easy. - Articles
Standard Operating Procedures: Developing and Implementing
The seven steps that you can take to develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
