Organic dairy farmers will soon have additional resources for improving management strategies from the University of Minnesota (U of MN) certified organic dairy program located at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), Morris, MN. Dr. Bradley Heins, Associate Professor of Dairy Science at the WCROC, was recently awarded three grants totaling $2.1 million through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to further research in the areas of disbudding alternatives for organic dairy calves, pre-weaned calf rearing options, and the effect of high-legume diets on milk quality.

About 250 crossbred dairy cows graze on grasses and cover crops at the WCROC. But the cows don't eat everything, and the weeds left behind will spread unless cut. That's when the cowbot goes to work.

Tail biting is a behavioral problem that involves both biters and victimized pigs. The biters are triggered by things such as genetics, physiology, or insufficient housing, nutrition or environmental enrichment needs. Yuzhi Li, Associate Professor of Swine Behavior, offers 3 tips for preventing tail biting.

Feed, water and air are the three most essential components required to achieve optimal pig performance and health, yet water has received the least amount of research attention throughout the years. Researchers from the U of MN set out to determine if the quality of water supplied to nursery pigs impacts health and performance.