Hot weather can bring a long list of problems for dairy producers. When cows are heat stressed, they eat less, produce less milk, have reduced immune function and higher SCC, and show reduced fertility. A spike in lameness often follows the hot season. In severe heat waves, cows can even die. In addition to the economic burden, the discomfort from heat stress also reduces animal welfare.

Picture: Infrared photograph of a dairy cow following low-pressure soaking from an overhead shower. The cooler colors indicate areas with lower temperatures.
(Photo credit: Jennifer Van Os)

Fat is a common, energy-dense nutrient for dairy cattle.  While many ration ingredients contribute to the fat content of the diet, feeding supplemental sources of fatty acids can positively influence milk yield, milk composition, and reproductive performance of dairy cattle.  As a result, supplemental fat feeding is a common strategy used by dairy farmers and their nutritionists. 

However, not all fats behave the same, and cows do not respond to all fatty acids equally.  Understanding the fatty acid profile of a supplement and how cows respond to those fatty acids can help fine-tune diets.  This article describes why fatty acid profiles matter, summarizes cow responses to different fatty acids, and provides approaches to feeding supplemental fat. 

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

Strategies to Reduce Methane Emissions on Dairy Farms

Anaerobic manure storage is the dominant source of methane emissions in manure management systems. Emissions can be reduced through a combination of technological and management strategies, including anaerobic digestion, solids separation, manure acidification, and more frequent storage emptying during warm periods when methane production is highest. This presentation introduces the main mitigation approaches, with attention to their effectiveness, tradeoffs, and relative costs within whole-farm systems. 

Voices from Across Wisconsin: Workplace Dynamics and Herd Health

Hear firsthand insights from dairy managers, employees, and veterinarians across Wisconsin as they reveal the workplace dynamics shaping today’s dairy farms. Learn how communication, teamwork, and daily management practices influence not only farm efficiency, but also the health and wellbeing of cattle. You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of the shared challenges and differing viewpoints found on Wisconsin farms along with practical, participant‑driven solutions. Whether you’re looking to strengthen team relationships, boost productivity, or improve herd outcomes, this session offers fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways tailored to today’s dairy operations.

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:

Heat stress costs dairy producers significantly in lost milk production and health expenses, while fan energy costs continue to rise. Protect your herd and your bottom line with the new, free Dairy Ventilation App for phones and tablets. Using live local GPS weather, it provides instant THI tracking, heat stress risk levels, tailored ventilation recommendations, and cost analyses. Download it for free today to make smart, data-driven decisions for your operation!

To support those decisions, we have launched a free mobile app called Dairy Ventilation. It is now available on both Google Play and the App Store.

For questions, suggestions, or feedback, please reach out to Nesli Akdeniz at nesli@wisc.edu or (608)262-0613.

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. 

This month: Quiz

Misting systems cool cows by wetting their skin directly.

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This newsletter provides information to help dairy workers learn, understand, and grow in their job skills while improving on-farm safety.

This program is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension with special support from the following Extension Educators: 

Please make requests for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to educational programs as early as possible preceding the scheduled program, service or activity.

For communicative accommodations in languages other than English, please contact oaic@extension.wisc.edu.

For communicative accommodations based on a disability, please contact Heather Lipinski Stelljes at: heather.stelljes@wisc.edu.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.