Pasture-based dairy

Discover business practices to put to use on your pasture-based dairy farm. We have advice on managing nutrition, the transition period and grazing practices. Find trusted cattle estrus detection options and how to use crossbreeding to improve sustainability. And find ways to improve your biosecurity and cow comfort practices to prevent disease on your farm.

Biosecurity

• Biosecurity for cattle operations
• Why you need a Secure Beef Supply plan

Business

• A2 milk and A2 genetics
• Dairy cost of production calculator
• Grass-fed cows produce healthier milk
• Margin compression affects dairy producers
• Valuing crossbred cull cows

Facilities

• Space requirements for dairy cows
• Ventilating milking centers

Grazing and pastures

• Grazing and pasture management for cattle
• Managing grazing livestock during wet weather
• Plants poisonous to livestock
• Weed management for pasture and fence line systems
• Raising livestock under solar panels

Health and comfort

• Cattle vaccine basics
• Heat stress in dairy cattle
• Managing biting gnats around poultry and livestock
• Preparing your cattle for severe winter weather
• Prevention and treatment of milk fever and subclinical hypocalcemia

Nutrition

• The ruminant digestive system
• Feeding dairy cattle in a drought
• Seeding grasses with alfalfa

Reproduction

• Artificial insemination of cattle
• Cattle heat (estrus) detection options
• Crossbreeding dairy cows to improve sustainability
• Dairy cattle genetics
• When to help a cow or heifer that is calving

Transition

• How to manage subclinical ketosis (SCK) on your dairy
• Improving early lactation performance for higher peak milk yield
• Managing the health of transition dairy cows
• Monitoring calving traits to improve cow and calf health