GLOBAL FARMING DIGEST

Do Fish Thrive or Simply Survive?

For decades, the success of animal agriculture has been measured by productivity. Animals that remained healthy, converted feed efficiently, reached market weight quickly, and generated an economic return were considered to have acceptable welfare. Those measures remain essential, but they no longer tell the whole story.

“Hiding Her Milk”?

For more than a century, one management practice has remained virtually unchanged in modern dairy farming: separating the cow and calf shortly after birth. This approach allows producers to control colostrum intake, monitor calf health, reduce disease transmission, and maximize the amount of milk available for sale.

Improving Carcass Value of Beef x Dairy Crosses

The integration of beef genetics into dairy production systems has become one of the most significant developments in modern cattle production. Beef-on-dairy programs provide dairy producers with an opportunity to increase the value of surplus calves while maintaining a primary focus on milk production. However, the success of these systems depends on producing animals that meet the requirements of the wider beef industry, including consistent growth performance, efficient feed conversion, and desirable carcass characteristics.

Beyond the Commodity

As global markets become more complex, buyers increasingly evaluate more than the quality and price of agricultural commodities. Distillers dried grains with solubles illustrate how integrated production systems are becoming an important source of long-term competitive advantage.