🗳️ FMMO referendum voting 🤒 HPAI worse than expected in California 📖 New farming children's book

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Cold-stressed calves could benefit from additional colostrum (2 minute read)

Three groups of ten calves were fed colostrum at 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight across two feedings and assessed for their response to cold stress. Benefits of increased colostrum volume included greater body temperature and reduced shivering during a cold challenge, and increased passive transfer of immunity. There were no measurable performance differences during the 56-day trial period.

Whole-farm feed efficiency essential to profitability (3 minute read)

The most important metric for whole-farm feed efficiency is feed cost per hundredweight of energy-corrected milk sold; dairy herds in the top 10% for profitability spend 60% as much on feed as those in the bottom 10%. Two factors affect whole-farm feed efficiency: feed lost due to shrink and refusals and the efficiency of the cow herself. Cows lose energy in feces, urine, gas (methane and carbon dioxide), and heat. The focus on reduction of methane for environmental reasons should also benefit producers as increased cow efficiency. The CDBC introduced the feed-saved trait to identify sires that produce offspring that make the same amount of milk with less feed and is estimated to be 19% heritable; this trait requires individual animal measurements so is only measured in limited settings. Minimizing stress (heat, cold, health, etc.) also contributes to less energy loss.

Longshoremen’s strike ends after three days (1 minute read)

The strike by East and Gulf Coast port workers was short-lived, ending after a three-day work stoppage. While contract negotiations still need to be finalized, the shipment of $1.7 billion in annual dairy exports that flow through these ports can resume.

Chobani is expanding “High Protein” product line (1 minute read)

Chobani is taking advantage of consumers’ desire for high protein, low sugar snacks by expanding its line of “high protein” yogurt and drinkable yogurt. The offerings are all single serve and range between 15 and 30 grams of protein per serving.

Animal workers have reduced airway function (15 minute read)

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is an indicator of large airway function. A recent study evaluated differences in PEF between animal workers (dairy and poultry), who are exposed to animal allergens and other respiratory irritants, against workers without similar exposure. Both dairy and poultry workers had lower PEF values than non-animal workers, with poultry workers being significantly lower than dairy workers.

Dairy consumption shows positive effects on post-partum energy levels (45 minute read)

Postpartum fatigue is a major issue for many women. A cross-sectional study has shown that higher consumption of yogurt and other dairy products during the postpartum period reduced the odds of experiencing postpartum fatigue when the women engaged in moderate to high levels of physical activity. Because this is a cross-sectional study a causal relationship between dairy intake and postpartum fatigue cannot be established and further research will be required to make this link.

How the FMMO referendum voting process works (5 minute read)

The upcoming FMMO referendum is all-or-nothing; either all amendments are accepted or rejected. Votes are on a per-order basis: some orders may approve and operate under the new rules, while other may reject the proposal and their order will be terminated. Some stakeholders disagree with the USDA’s interpretation that a “no” vote results in terminating the given federal order. Votes may be cast by individual producers or en bloc by cooperatives; this decision is up to the individual cooperatives and will apply to all dairies that belong to the cooperative. At least two-thirds of producers or producers representing two-thirds of the milk volume in an order must vote “yes” to pass the referendum; only votes that are submitted are counted, meaning votes not submitted do not count as a “yes” or a “no.”

Hurricane Helene impacts Florida dairies (2 minute read)

Hurricane Helene’s path included an area of Florida responsible for more than half of the state’s milk. Power restoration has been one of the largest immediate challenges, with downstream effects contributing to an estimated 10-15% drop in milk production. Initial damage estimates exceed $15 million.

“Powered by CDBC” mark coming to genetic evaluations (1 minute read)

The Council on Dairy Breeding (CDBC) has announced a new symbol - “Powered by CDBC” - that will be included on genetic evaluations when the information is provided by the organization..

California dairy processor linked to listeria outbreak ordered to shut down

Rizo López Foods, a Modesto, CA cheesemaker, has been ordered to cease operations following a decade-long listeria outbreak that sickened 26 people across 11 states and caused two deaths. The outbreak was initially identified in June 2014 and the CDC investigated two additional listeria outbreaks in 2017 and 2021 but was unable to trace them to a single brand. The CDC and FDA reopened an investigation in January, eventually linking the outbreak to Rizo López Foods, resulting in the current injunction.

Oregon rewrites CAFO rules to exempt small raw milk dairies (2 minute read)

Four raw milk dairies dropped their lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Agriculture that accused them of “protecting the corporate milk industry.” State officials rewrote the CAFO rules to include dairies with at least 20 cows that are housed indoors for at least 12 hours per day, 120 days per year. This rule change exempted the four raw milk dairies that brought suit and their lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed.

Yes, it’s getting its own section because it’s dominating the news these days.

California farms report HPAI worse than expected (4 minute read)

As the number of California dairies affected by HPAI surpasses Colorado for the most in the U.S. (96 vs 64), dairymen and veterinarians are reporting that the infection is hitting harder than expected. Herds are seeing 50-60% of the herd infected, leading to 10-15% mortality. It isn’t clear if the increased morbidity is due to a change in the virus or a result of different environmental conditions. Scientists would be better able to assess the genetic changes if federal officials would share more genetic information more quickly. The USDA is sharing raw data once per week and withholding details for up to six weeks as they conduct investigations; this is in contrast to other countries, including in Africa with basic equipment, that make such information available within days.

HPAI spread remains mysterious (7 minute read)

Nearly 300 herds have been affected by HPAI across 14 states and researchers still don’t fully understand how it is spreading. The initial introduction was from waterfowl in Texas and the first interstate spread via movement of lactating dairy cows, but once in the other states it’s less clear. Wild birds and milk trucks have been ruled as sources of spread, but shared or cohabiting workers remain a possibility. Milk was thought to be the primary route of transmission, but experts are now less sure and the role of youngstock and non-lactating cows remains unclear. Biosecurity should focus on limiting access, enforcing disinfection, and preventing clothing acting as fomites.

California confirms third case of human HPAI (1 minute read)

The CDC has confirmed the third human case of HPAI in California. As with the previous two cases, the person was exposed to infected dairy cows. None of the three workers were exposed to each other suggesting animal-to-human spread. All three cases have experienced only mild symptoms.

California reports two more potential human HPAI infections (2 minute read)

Two more possible cases of human HPAI have been announced by the California Department of Public Health, which would raise the count to five, if confirmed by the CDC. As with previous cases, animal-to-human spread is suspected in these two dairy workers.

Wisconsin dairy farmer releases second children’s book (1 minute watch)

Chase Pagel, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, has released Big Farms, Little Farms as the second book her children’s series Dairy Diaries.

Plans to bring aurochs-like cattle to Scotland (3 minute read)

The last of the aurochs, predecessor to today’s cattle, died in Poland in 1627. Tauros is a modern crossbreed reincarnation of the aurochs, standing at six feet tall. Fifteen of these animals are planned to be released near Inverness, Scotland in 2026.

Commodity	Price	Change (1 2 wk.)
Class III Milk	22.61	⬇️ 0.69
Corn	4.20	⬆️ 0.07
Soybeans	10.19	⬇️ 0.22
Live Cattle	1.89	⬆️ 0.05
Feeder Cattle	2.50	⬆️ 0.05