Dairy News provides timely information about the dairy industry, featured events, farm safety and animal health.
Direct questions or comments to umndairy@umn.edu.
30 Minutes: Robotic milking webinars
Marcia Endres and Jim Salfer interview dairy producers who have robotic milking systems for an overview of their operation followed by audience Q&A. Watch past webinars on our YouTube channel.
![Close up of dairy cows walking toward the camera.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/dairy-cows-in-a-pasture.jpg?h=962b5297&itok=TS3Q9d7c)
There are no magic feeds, pills, shots, or other secrets that top dairy producers have in their management toolboxes. Most producers can implement best practices that do not require a lot of money. Just some skill and consistency.
![Close up of a cow in a pasture with a calf in the background.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/cow-in-pasture.jpg?h=5839935b&itok=Z_6pn_V5)
Covid-19 is teaching us all to learn about science in real time. A great example of this is how recommendations for transition cow diets were developed.
![Dairy milking equipment.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Dairy%20milking%20technology.jpg?h=16e0f5f8&itok=lt-3Dtwx)
Robotic milking systems require excellent management for success.
![Green plant from the top with leaves spreading out in a star-like arrangement.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/palmer-amaranth.jpg?h=b7ddaddc&itok=fUIKGSIY)
Palmer amaranth has been found in Minnesota in contaminated feed ingredients from areas where Palmer amaranth and other problematic weeds are more common.
![Dry cow barn](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Dry-cow-barn.jpg?h=71a16a47&itok=IdPIFdz9)
Some dairy farmers are being asked to reduce milk supply. Here are some strategies to safely dry off cows early.
![Dairy cows in a barn, eating hay.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/dairy-cows-feeding.jpg?h=4005aca6&itok=WWQepfVc)
Dry cow nutrition and management are important to the success of any dairy business.
![Dairy milking parlor](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/LOD_parlor-crpd.jpg?itok=sjBCExMv)
The environment and management of your parlor play critical roles in ensuring it is efficient, productive and profitable.
![Round hay bale wrapped in plastic.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/large-round-hay-bale-wrapping.jpg?h=95b675e3&itok=sWUtN-fG)
Maintaining storage facilities, keeping plastic free of holes and removing only the feed you need can help keep your forage drier and reduce losses over the course of the season.
![beef cow](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/beef-cow.png?h=a4486994&itok=sibAFqyO)
Water is very important to all animals, as it is required for bodily functions like digestion and lactation. It is important that livestock get high quality water.
![Four calves with pink blankets on in a barn full of hay.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Calves-with-blankets.jpg?h=59c49c74&itok=K-IQT3tm)
Winter presents extra challenges for raising calves in cold climates.