🌡️ Cold calves like company 📈 Pricing data for dairy-beef 🍽️ Gates says dairy is nutrition solution

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Pair-housing hutch-raised calves may improve growth (6 minute read)

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. dairy calves are raised in hutches, many of them in northern climates that subject them to cold stress. A small study looking at pair-housing calves showed consistent, though not statistically significant, improvements in body weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and dry matter intake when two calves are housed together in periods of cold stress.

Red clover may contribute to repro challenges, an alternative exists (4 minute read)

Red clover, a common pasture crop in New England, contains high levels of phytoestrogrens. Intake of these compounds than interact with cows’ estrogen receptors, causing embryonic loss, low progesterone, and reduced estrus. Additionally, when challenged with drought, red clover will increase the production of phytoestrogens, potentially exacerbating its reproductive effects. Kura clover is an alternative to red clover that does not increase phytoestrogen production in response to stress, however, its adoption has been poor as a result of cost, availability, and poor establishment when seeded. Additional research into understanding and limiting the effects of red clover’s phytoestrogrens may be a more viable path forward.

More beef-on-dairy pricing data becoming available (4 minute read)

Although the USDA continues to offer only “beef” or “dairy” cattle pricing data, some auctions are beginning to report “dairy/beef” prices, offering additional insight into the relative pricing of dairy, beef, and dairy-beef steers.

USDA funds project to use drones for cattle management (5 minute read)

The USDA is funding a five-year project exploring the use of drones for cattle management and monitoring. The hope is to create a semi-autonomous system that can collect data about and herd the animals.

Beef breeding may be derailing U.S. dairy (3 minute read)

Beef-on-dairy has been a recent boon to the dairy industry and filled the gap for the smallest beef cow herd in 70 years, but is it costing the dairy industry more than it’s offering? Replacement heifer supplies have declined for 7 years straight, hitting a 20-year low and leading to record high prices. Culling is down, as can be seen in record low slaughter numbers. Dairies keeping cows longer can delay the introduction of better genetics and lead to cull cows in worse condition when they leave, bringing less money and raising the potential for welfare concerns. National milk production is down as low producing cows cannot be replaced; this inability to replace or add to the herd may limit dairies’ ability to capitalize on improving margins.

Milk pricing is a factor in loss of U.S. dairy farms (5 minute read)

The U.S. has seen a 95% reduction in the number of dairy farms since the 1970s, going from over 648,000 in 1970 to 24,470 in 2022. Today more than 60% of the milk supply comes from herds with more than 2,500 cows. Much of this loss/consolidation has been driven by economics. Between 2005 and 2020 milk prices ranged from $11.54 to $29.80, averaging $18.57; feed costs, to produce 100 lbs milk, ranged from $11.27 to $43.88. On average farms lost $1,735 per cow in that period (according to this infographic the average dairy farm turned a profit in only three of the last 20 years). The FMMO were created in 1937 to create a monthly, uniform minimum price for milk. Over the past several decades, dairies have generally received this minimum, as improvements in production and handling increased the available supply and decreased competition for the milk. Larger farms are able to be more efficient, take advantage of new technologies and economies of scale, and turn a profit when the average dairy cannot.

CFIA advises producers not to attend U.S. exhibitions (2 minute read)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is advising Canadian cattle owners not to participate in U.S. exhibitions in light of the HPAI situation. If producers choose to participate in events south of the border, they will be subject to additional travel, quarantine, and testing requirements.

Massachusetts tests all dairies for HPAI (2 minute read)

Massachusetts is now the only state to have tested their entire dairy herd for HPAI. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and Massachusetts Department of Health have tested all licensed dairy herds in the state for HPAI; all 95 of the dairy herds tested negative.

Gates Foundation looks to dairy for nourishment (7 minute read)

Dairy is a uniquely complete source of nutrients and, for children, milk consumption is associated in lower probability of stunted growth. In its quest to reduce malnutrition, the Gates Foundation sees dairy as a way to increase nutrition and meet their goals of 15% stunted growth. The foundation is working with farmers in Africa to improve the productivity of their cows and the safety of the milk they produce. They have seen production gains of 6-10 times more milk, providing a vital source of nutrition for children and a source of income for families. To address climate challenges, the foundation is also working to improve cows’ genetics, creating crossbreeds that are more resistant to harsh climates, in addition to being more productive.

Let us not forget cows can be dangerous (5 minute read)

A woman was attacked and trampled by a herd of cows while walking with her husband and dog. It’s easy to become complacent when working with cows, especially dairy cows, but those that work around cows must remain alert and cognizant of the fact that cows, like any other animal, can be unpredictable. This goes for working with cows in confinement as well as for walking in a field of cows.

Commodity	Price	Change (1 wk.)
Class III Milk	23.32	+ 0.14
Corn	4.05	+ 0.19
Soybeans	10.13	+ 0.22
Live Cattle	1.79	+ 0.01
Feeder Cattle	2.44	+ 0.02