The Five Minute Farm Focus series is a collection of videos recorded at local farms in northeast Wisconsin. Dairy farms are a complex network of management decisions that involve multiple people, tools, and practices. The videos focus on one management aspect of a farm that improves the health and well-being of the dairy herd. Each video is approximately five to six minutes long, but they vary in length.
Junion Homestead
Calving is a critical time for both the cow and newborn calf, and the environment in which it occurs can significantly influence health outcomes. Socially stable calving pens—where cows are grouped with familiar herd mates rather than being frequently moved or mixed—offer significant herd health benefits. Stress from social disruption, overcrowding, or unfamiliar environments can negatively affect calving ease, immune function, and postpartum recovery. It may also increase the risk of injury, disease transmission, and calving-related complications. Providing socially stable calving environments supports natural cow behavior, reduces stress, and promotes smoother calving processes, improving maternal health, stronger calf vitality, and better overall well-being. Implementing this practice is a low-cost, management-based strategy contributing to animal welfare and long-term productivity.
Wagner Farms
Paired calf housing can have a positive economic impact on dairy farms by improving calf growth rates, reducing disease incidence, and potentially lowering labor costs, leading to better overall herd health and productivity, although the exact benefits depend on the specific farm setup and management practices; while not as cost-effective as full group housing, it can still provide a good return on investment by promoting social development and improved calf health compared to individual housing. Paired calf housing management practices can improve calf health by highlighting the economic benefits of paired calf housing and the social improvement of calves.
Oconto, WI
High-quality forage is the foundation of a productive and profitable dairy operation. Forage quality directly impacts milk production, cow health, reproductive performance, and feed efficiency. Managing forage—from harvest to storage and feeding—requires attention to detail to preserve nutrient content and minimize spoilage. Challenges such as weather variability, improper harvest timing, inadequate storage, and inconsistent feeding practices can all compromise forage quality. As feed costs remain one of the most significant expenses in dairy farming, optimizing forage management is critical to maintaining herd performance and ensuring economic sustainability. Implementing best practices in forage selection, harvest timing, storage, and ration formulation can help producers maximize the nutritional value of homegrown feeds and reduce reliance on costly supplements.
Algoma, WI
The transition period—defined as the three weeks before and three weeks after calving—is one of the most critical and vulnerable phases in a dairy cow’s life. Proper transition cow management ensures a smooth shift from the dry period to peak lactation. During this time, cows undergo significant metabolic, hormonal, and physiological changes that can increase the risk of health disorders such as ketosis, milk fever, retained placenta, metritis, mastitis, and displaced abomasum. Poor transition management can lead to reduced milk production, impaired reproductive performance, and increased culling rates. Effective management strategies—such as balanced nutrition, stress reduction, monitoring of body condition, and early disease detection—are key to supporting cow health, improving productivity, and ensuring long-term herd profitability. Focusing on this pivotal period helps set the stage for a successful lactation and overall herd performance.
Algoma, WI
Preventive health management is a cornerstone of successful dairy herd management. Rather than reacting to illness, a proactive approach focuses on maintaining animal health and minimizing disease risk before it occurs. Dairy cows face numerous health challenges throughout their lifecycle, including mastitis, lameness, reproductive disorders, metabolic diseases, and respiratory issues. These conditions can lead to decreased milk production, increased veterinary costs, reduced fertility, and higher culling rates. Producers can enhance animal welfare, improve productivity, and reduce long-term costs by implementing routine health protocols such as vaccination, parasite control, regular hoof trimming, nutrition management, and monitoring of cow behavior. A strong preventive health program supports not only individual cow performance but also the overall sustainability and profitability of the dairy operation.
Oconto Falls, WI
De Pere, WI
Automatic milking systems (AMS), or robotic milkers, transform modern dairy management by providing continuous, real-time data on individual cow performance and health. These systems collect valuable information such as milk yield, milking frequency, conductivity, activity levels, rumination time, and body weight. When properly utilized, this data offers powerful insights into cow health, allowing for early detection of issues like mastitis, lameness, metabolic disorders, and reproductive problems. However, the full potential of AMS data is often underutilized due to challenges in data interpretation, system integration, and timely decision-making. By leveraging AMS data effectively, producers can make informed, proactive herd health decisions, improve response times to emerging problems, enhance overall animal welfare, and boost productivity. Integrating this technology into daily herd management practices is key to optimizing health outcomes and operational efficiency in modern dairy systems.
Luxemburg, WI
Winter presents unique challenges for raising healthy dairy calves, as cold temperatures, increased energy demands, and environmental stressors can compromise calf health, growth, and survival. Newborn and young calves are especially vulnerable to hypothermia, respiratory illness, and poor weight gain during the winter months. Without proper care, including adequate nutrition, dry and draft-free housing, and effective bedding and ventilation, calf morbidity and mortality rates can rise significantly. Implementing a focused winter calf care program is essential to support immune function, maintain body temperature, and promote optimal development. Prioritizing calf comfort and health during cold weather improves short-term outcomes, productivity, and future herd performance.
Sturgeon Bay, WI
Improving herd health through genetics is a strategic approach that offers long-term benefits for dairy operations. Producers can build a more resilient and productive herd by selecting animals with superior genetic traits related to disease resistance, fertility, longevity, and overall robustness. Advances in genomic testing and evaluation now allow farmers to make more informed breeding decisions, targeting traits such as resistance to mastitis, improved hoof health, and lower somatic cell counts. Despite these opportunities, the full potential of genetic tools is not always fully utilized due to limited understanding or integration into herd management plans. By incorporating health-focused genetic selection into breeding strategies, dairy producers can reduce the incidence of costly diseases, lower veterinary and treatment expenses, and enhance overall herd performance and sustainability.
Luxemburg, WI
Composting manure solids from a dairy farm offers multiple benefits for farm management and environmental sustainability. Properly composted manure transforms a potential waste challenge into a valuable resource, producing a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used on-farm or marketed to others. Composting reduces manure volume, odor, and pathogen levels, making it safer and easier to handle and apply to fields. It also helps stabilize nutrients, reducing the risk of runoff and water contamination. Beyond environmental advantages, composting can improve barn hygiene when composted solids are used as bedding, contributing to better cow comfort and health. By implementing a composting system, dairy producers can enhance nutrient management, reduce environmental impact, and create new cost savings and income generation opportunities.
Luxemburg, WI
Using activity monitors in dairy herds offers a powerful tool for improving animal health, welfare, and management efficiency. These wearable technologies track key behavioral indicators such as movement, rumination, eating patterns, and rest, providing real-time insights into individual cow health and reproductive status. Early changes in activity can signal the onset of illness, lameness, or heat, allowing for prompt intervention before problems escalate. By enabling earlier detection of health issues, activity monitors help reduce treatment costs, minimize production losses, and improve recovery outcomes. Integrating this technology into herd management enhances health monitoring and supports data-driven decision-making, leading to improved performance, cow longevity, and overall herd profitability.
Pulaski, WI
An accelerated calf feeding system, which provides higher volumes of milk or milk replacer with increased nutritional content, is an effective strategy to enhance early calf growth, immune development, and overall health. Traditional feeding programs often fall short of meeting young calves’ energy and protein needs, especially during periods of stress or cold weather. Accelerated feeding supports robust immune responses, reduces the risk of illness, and promotes better growth rates, setting the foundation for stronger, more productive replacement heifers. By improving early-life nutrition, producers can decrease morbidity and mortality, shorten the age at first calving, and ultimately improve the long-term health and performance of the dairy herd. This system reflects a proactive investment in the herd’s future through science-based calf-rearing practices.
Kewaunee, WI
Incorporating Fleckvieh genetics into dairy herds is gaining attention as a strategy to improve overall herd health, resilience, and productivity. Fleckvieh cattle, a dual-purpose breed known for their strong frame, robust health, and good fertility, offer several advantages when crossbred with traditional Holstein herds. Research and on-farm observations indicate that Fleckvieh crosses tend to have lower incidences of lameness, mastitis, and metabolic diseases, along with improved longevity and reproductive performance. These health benefits reduce veterinary costs, minimize culling due to health problems, and support more consistent milk production. As producers seek sustainable solutions to common herd health challenges, Fleckvieh genetics provides a practical, long-term approach to enhancing animal well-being and farm profitability through strategic breeding.
Casco, WI
Calving is a critical time for both the cow and newborn calf, and the environment in which it occurs can significantly influence health outcomes. Socially stable calving pens—where cows are grouped with familiar herd mates rather than being frequently moved or mixed—offer significant herd health benefits. Stress from social disruption, overcrowding, or unfamiliar environments can negatively affect calving ease, immune function, and postpartum recovery. It may also increase the risk of injury, disease transmission, and calving-related complications. Providing socially stable calving environments supports natural cow behavior, reduces stress, and promotes smoother calving processes, improving maternal health, stronger calf vitality, and better overall well-being. Implementing this practice is a low-cost, management-based strategy contributing to animal welfare and long-term productivity.
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STAFF
If you have any questions regarding Agriculture in Kewaunee County, please contact:
Meet the Team
Aerica Bjurstrom
Regional Dairy Educator
Brown, Door, Kewaunee Counties
920-388-7138
Kewaunee County Fairgrounds
625 3rd Street
Luxemburg, WI 54217
