Select Sires Sexed Semen Lab Up and Running

Andy VanceDairy Business, Genetics, Industry News, Production

The concept of improving your heifer ratio during calving season is extremely exciting – imagine if all your first-calf heifers dropped heifers… the profitability of that string would be much more enticing. Furthering that goal, Select Sires has joined with Sexing Technologies of Navasota, Texas to begin operations of a semen sexing lab at Select’s headquarters in Plain City, Ohio. The fruit of this partnership will be increased offerings of proven sires in the gender SELECTed lineup.

Total Milk Output Up in 2005

Andy VanceDairy Business, Milk, Production

Final figures are in for 2005 and it was a whopper.  Total milk production jumped 3.5% last year to 177 billion pounds.  That translates into 19,576 pounds per cow, a gain of 609 pounds per cow on a total herd of 9.04 million head.  Those cow numbers were 29,000 above 2004 as well. Here’s the kicker – total cash receipts … Read More

Zapping the Stink out of Manure

Andy VanceDairy Business, Production

A Vermont businessman has engineered a device that will deodorize your cows’ slurry before you spread it. Two units are already in use, one by the local electric co-op and the other by the University of Vermont. ElectroCell Technologies is marketing a portable device that processes manure through a large tube charged with electrical current. The current explodes the cell … Read More

The Organic Cow Cares

Andy VanceDairy Business, Industry News, Milk, Promotion

The Organic Cow, a New England certified organic milk brand, is recognizing individuals who make “earth awareness a top priority in their lives” and who do “things to protect the environment and prmote a healthier New England.”