Beef embryos provide options for dairies to diversify, maximize profit

Jeremy Howard for Progressive Dairy

Dairy herds are looking for every advantage they can find these days. Diversifying into the beef market is one such avenue that offers multiple options to choose from:

• Dairy-beef crossbreeds
• Straight-dairy calves raised for beef
• Full-beef calves

When it comes to using beef genetics within a dairy herd, not all options offer the same value. Incorporating full-beef embryos as a strategy in your breeding program delivers full-beef calves, providing herds with flexible management and diversification options and, ultimately, the opportunity for a stronger return on investment from these premium and sought-after animals.

Three ways a full-beef embryo breeding program can benefit your herd

September-October risk management calendar: Livestock tools revised

CFAP 2 sign-up underway; NMPF toolbox created

Progressive Dairy Industry Happenings: September 2020

CFAP 2: Dairy payment is $1.20 per hundredweight

August milk production remains strong

No Time for Lost Time

How to combat common myths about antibiotic use

Dale Bliss for Progressive Dairy

Farmers believe in the effectiveness, and rely on, antibiotics for the care of their animals. However, some consumers believe antibiotics have negative side effects on the meat they consume.

Andy King, assistant professor at Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication for Iowa State University, recently presented a webinar detailing how to improve communication about antibiotics with consumers.

Bust three myths about antibiotic use and farming.

World Forage Analysis Superbowl offers virtual educational seminars

The World Forage Analysis Superbowl will once again provide educational opportunities with its Dairy Forage Seminars, held virtually in 2020 on the newly launched World Forage Analysis Superbowl YouTube channel.

Learn more.

The dairy producer’s role in producing healthy veal calves

Progressive Dairy Editor Emma Ohirko

“The dairy producer plays a critical role in veal production,” said Dr. Jessica Pempek, animal welfare specialist and assistant professor at Ohio State University. “Establishing the foundation for superior calf health and performance really begins on the dairy farm at birth.”

In the “Veal – Farm to Fork Webinar” presented by the Beef Checkoff on Aug. 4, Pempek was joined by Dale Bakke, Chris Landwehr and Janeal Yancey. The four presenters covered an all-encompassing webinar of the veal industry, which focused on the role of dairy farms in the health of veal calves and common veal practices.

Cover three bases to prepare veal calves for the next step.

Join in the spotlight of new dairy technology

The Global Dairy Tech Start-up Spotlight is a new dairy technology forum to be held Oct. 1, 2020. The 90-minute virtual meeting will feature 10 rapid-fire, five-minute pitches from up-and-coming technology companies.

Read more.

Understanding federal milk marketing orders, pooling and mailbox prices

Contributed by Megan L Roberts

Compared to other livestock commodity futures, milk futures rebounded somewhat faster than expected from the COVID-19 price dive in late March and April. Cautious optimism began to creep into the dairy market as milk futures rose through May and June. Of course, mailbox prices do not equal futures prices.

As we continue to move through the uncharted territory of COVID-19, lower-than-expected mailbox price is yet another shock dairy farmers face, even as other parts of the dairy industry recover. To better understand mailbox prices and how they differ from futures prices, let’s dig into dairy’s complex pricing mechanisms: federal milk marketing orders (FMMOs), producer price differentials (PPDs) and pooling, and cooperative pricing.

Manage risk in way that best fits the needs of your dairy farm.