This 6-page document reviews advantages, disadvantages, and cost of four dry-off methods and gives recommendations for practical dry-off management. Written by Pornpamol Pattamanont, Marcos Marcondes, and Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, June 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an360
In the Southeast, milk is priced based on fat and skim milk value, with additional bonuses for somatic cell and bacterial counts. In recent years, butterfat has become more valuable. This 7-page document discusses some of the history behind the changes in milk fat consumption, management factors that influence milk fat content and yield by dairy cattle, and economic implications of changing fat content through the diet in two case scenarios. Written by José E. P. Santos and Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, January 2019.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an350
What is the optimal number of dairy cows in a pen after their transition period? This 4-page document discusses the economically optimal stocking density for lactating dairy cows, measured as maximum profit per stall. It also introduces a spreadsheet that can be used to calculate the effects of various inputs on the economically optimal stocking density. Written by Albert De Vries, Haile Dechassa, and Henk Hogeveen, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, August 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an346
The negative effects of heat stress in lactating cows are well known, but only recent studies have explored those effects along with the full benefits of cooling dry cows. Recent work at the University of Florida has demonstrated the benefits of dry cow cooling on calf performance and cow health in the next lactation. This 5-page fact sheet discusses the economic losses from milk production due to heat stress, investment, utilities, maintenance, and feasibility analysis. Written by Fernanda Ferreira, Geoffrey Dahl, and Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, March 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an342
Attempts to calculate the economic value of semen have been made since at least the 1970s. The basic calculations have since become available (Dechow 2016). This new 3-page fact sheet reviews these calculations, adds a few other considerations, and offers estimates of the worth of the genetics of dairy semen. Written by Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an338
AN213, a 19-page illustrated report by A. De Vries, R. Giesy, M. Sowerby, and L. Ely, summarizes the financial performance of 21 dairy farms that participated in a 2007 survey. It is intended for general use by dairy farmers, the allied industry, government, and educational professionals. Published by the UF Department of Animal Science, March 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AN213
AN196, a 13-page illustrated report by A. De Vries, R. Giesy, L. Ely, M. Sowerby, B. Broaddus, and C. Vann, summarizes the financial performance of 22 dairy farms that participated in a 2006 survey. It is intended for general use by dairy farmers, the allied industry, government, and educational professionals. Published by the UF Department of Animal Science, March 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AN196