Dairy Cattle

A total of 268 dairy farms produce 1.34 billion pounds of milk in Georgia. Dairy ranks 8th as an agricultural commodity in Georgia. Over 148 herds in Georgia are on DHI. They average over 21,000 pounds of milk and 300 cows each. Our goal is to extend lifelong learning about dairy production and management through research based information.

Dairy resources from UGA Extension


Cows
Valerie E Ryman Assistant Professor
Animal & Dairy Science
Jillian Bohlen Associate Professor
Animal & Dairy Science
Sha Tao Associate Professor
Animal & Dairy Science
Recent Dairy Publications from UGA Extension
Cutting Costs, Not Corners: Managing Cattle in Tough Times
(B 1373)
Cutting costs allows producers to survive during trying times and also teaches valuable lessons that may actually increase profits in future years. Cutting corners, on the other hand, may save some money in the short-run but ultimately will have very detrimental effects.
Developing a Storm Preparedness and Response Plan for Dairies
(B 1525)
The Southeast U.S. is susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms every year. Hurricane season occurs from June 1 through November 30, and these storms are normally forecast several days in advance. Tornadoes, ice storms, thunderstorms, or straight-line winds—potentially damaging winds produced by thunderstorms—are rarely forecast with enough notice to prepare other than to hopefully warn employees. Storms disrupt operations and have the potential to cause injury to people and livestock and devastate facilities and the landscape. While there is nothing that can be done to prevent the impact of a storm, producers should have an emergency plan that safeguards family, employees, livestock, and equipment. The emergency plan should also address how to safely manage the damage after a storm. Emergency plans should include one-day, three-day, and seven-day or longer responses during which power outages, access to vendors, and normal operations may be very limited. Hurricanes that occurred in 2017 and 2018 caused devastating damage in some areas that took weeks to restore power because of the extensive damage to distribution lines. This bulletin will provide information producers can use to develop an emergency preparedness plan in advance of a storm and suggestions for their potential responses following a storm. No plan will be 100% effective in all situations, but preparing will hopefully minimize damage and help speed the recovery.
Is Your Heifer Fit to Show? A Guide to Fitting and Showing Dairy Animals
(B 1427)
Every animal emerging from the pasture or barn needs time and attention to get her show-ring ready. The showman on the other end of the halter needs to be prepared as well. Faults in either fitting or showing could lead to a less successful show experience than one might have hoped for. This publication offers advice on fitting and showing dairy animals, including the updated PDCA scorecard, maximizing your animal's potential, behavior and grooming preparation, and show time.
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