Transport to market is an integral part of the dairy industry’s supply chain, connecting farms to processors and consumers. Each step in the transport process affects animal welfare, product quality, and farm profitability. Proper management throughout the animal’s life and sound decisions at the time of sale and during transport help ensure that market cows arrive in optimal condition. This supports both economic sustainability and public trust in dairy production.

Picture: A Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is critical for managing cull cows, as it bridges the gap between animal welfare and herd profitability, ensuring that animals leaving the herd do not pose risks to food safety or herd health.

Heat stress is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the modern dairy industry. As global temperatures continue to rise, and extreme weather events become more frequent, dairy producers are seeing the tangible impacts of heat on their bottom lines. High-producing dairy cows are particularly sensitive to heat; their high metabolic rate, necessary for significant milk production, generates substantial internal heat that must be dissipated to the environment. When ambient temperature and humidity rise, this dissipation becomes difficult, leading to a physiological state known as heat stress.

Picture: Farm and utility profile input by the user in the Heat Abatement Investment Scouter tool.

**Wisconsin dairy farmers can request free access to the tool by emailing Victor Cabrera.**

3rd Tuesday of each month from 11 am - 12 pm CT

Nuts and Bolts of Dairy Ventilation Design

In this webinar, we will dive into the nuts and bolts of dairy ventilation design.  We will explore strategies and approaches to optimize ventilation and heat abatement systems by focusing on efficiency, system design, and “hidden costs”.  Additionally, Dr. Akdeniz will introduce an interactive calculator developed to assist farmers in fan selection.  You can check out the calculator at go.wisc.edu/coolfans

A Clearer Picture: Using Ultrasound to Detect Respiratory Issues in Calves

Well‑managed pastures can deliver highly digestible, protein‑rich forage. Pasture alone rarely provides a perfectly balanced diet, especially for high‑producing dairy cows. Hear from Derek Orth, a dairy farmer, who uses virtual fencing on his dairy heifers, Carlos Henrique Paiva on research done on performance of heifers raised on pasture and in confinement operations, and from Matt Lippert, Regional Dairy Educator, on how to get the most out of pastures to raise our dairy animals.

Raising dairy calves and replacement heifers is a major expense for Wisconsin dairies; tracking these costs and benchmarking against peers supports better management decisions. Periodically, Wisconsin Extension Educators have collected farm level data to track these costs. Extension is currently seeking this information and needs your help.  If you are interested in having a dairy educator reach out to you, please provide your contact information by clicking the button below.

Information gathered includes average costs for the last complete month related to:

The NMC: The Global Milk Quality Organization (formerly known as the National Mastitis Council) invites dairy producers and industry professionals to attend the 2026 NMC Regional Meeting, June 16–18, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With the theme “Tackling Milk Quality in Titletown,” this event brings together practical learning, valuable networking, and classic Wisconsin hospitality for an unforgettable experience.

All hay prices quoted are dollars per ton FOB point of origin for alfalfa hay unless otherwise noted. The information presented in this report is compiled from public and private quality tested sales and reports in the Midwest. 

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