This publication contains estimates of production costs for common livestock enterprises in Iowa. Estimates are intended to reflect average or above-average levels of management using common types of technology. Input prices reflect expected average price levels during the year.

In 2020, the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology–Survey Research Services (CSSMSRS) at Iowa State University was contracted to conduct an online/mail survey with dairy farmers in Iowa to learn about their current operations, needs, and expectations for the future. This survey was part of a research effort coordinated by Jennifer Bentley, Fred Hall, and Larry Tranel, dairy specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, who served as principal investigators on this project.

Results provide insight on the current state of the dairy industry in Iowa and will be summarized through reports for educators, industry collaborators, elected officials, and the public. This information will help educators and industry collaborators determine educational programming areas in the short and long term. Additionally, results will help all audiences better understand the demographic of dairy farms, management practices used, and the future of the industry.

Completely updated and revised, this guide provides a general pasture management reference for livestock producers, agriculture advisers, teachers and students. The color publication covers practices to increase production and returns by improving management of grassland.

Updates and replaces PM 1713 PM1713

Part I of the Beginning Dairy Farmer Video series features the Gibbs dairy and the Confinement Freestall System they have chosen. Beginning farmers have various dairy system options as they begin their careers and the Gibbs picked their system because they felt they could best control the cow’s diets and environment and best profit from dairying this way.

In this 8-minute video, Chris Gibbs shares his thoughts on their conventional dairy system.

Part II of the Beginning Dairy Farmer Video series features the Peake dairy. In this 8-minute video, learn about the organic, grass-fed system they have chosen. Beginning farmers have various dairy system options as they begin their careers and the Peake's picked their system because they loved working with grass pastures and not using chemicals and with the low costs, could best profit from dairy this way.

Part III of the Beginning Dairy Farmer Video series features the Grassway Farm and their grazing dairy with one of the best Low Cost TRANS Iowa Parlors in Iowa. Beginning farmers have various dairy system options as they begin their careers. In this 7-minute video, Scott shares his thoughts about the system they chose because of reduced costs and labor efficiency with nice facilities and feels they can best profit from dairy this way.

Part IV of the Beginning Dairy Farmer Video series features the Lynch dairy. In this 7-minute video we focus on the organic dairy system they have chosen. Beginning farmers have various dairy system options as they begin their careers and the Lynch’s picked their system because of the increased milk prices, soil and animal health, and felt they could best profit from dairy this way while maximizing labor efficiency in their milking system.

Part V of the Beginning Dairy Farmer Video series features the Gaul dairy and the grazing dairy system they have chosen. Beginning farmers have various dairy system options as they begin their careers and the Gaul’s picked their system because they loved working with grazing as a means of lowering costs and felt they could best profit from dairy this way.
In this 5-minute video you will learn the Gaul’s have followed ISU Extension and Outreach’s Millionaire Model Dairy Farm Project and have done well in doing so.

In part VI of the Beginning Dairy Farmer Video series features the Schanbacher dairy. In this 10-minute video you will learn about the Confinement Freestall System and the Low Cost TRANS Iowa Parlor they have chosen. Beginning farmers have various dairy system options as they begin their careers and the Schanbachers picked their system because they felt they could best control the cow’s diets and their environment, have great milking efficiency and best profit from dairy this way.

The learning objectives are as follows: Recognize how the beef cattle industry is divided and name key personnel in each division. Differentiate between management strategies at each stage of beef cattle production. Explain different feeding practices for each life stage within the beef cattle industry. List major diet components used for beef cattle for each life stage. This grain module is brought to you by the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, and was produced by the former Crop Adviser Institute.

Click here to access the Beef Industry Module

Learning objective: Recognize how the beef industry is organized and explain different feeding practices for each life stage. Learn common diet components used for beef.

Introduction: Typically, beef cattle start on a cow-calf operation. After weaning they may be sent to a backgrounder operation, then to a feedlot.

Cow-calf operations: The goal of a cow-calf operation is to maintain a herd of healthy cows that will produce healthy calves each year. Calves are separated into replacement heifers and breeding bulls to be retained within the herd, with the bulk of calves sent to backgrounders or feedlots.

Backgrounder: Calves may be sent to a specialized backgrounding facility to acclimate them to the feedlot lifestyle. Not all producers choose to utilize this stage.

Feedlot: Feedlot operations add muscle and fat to the cattle through an energy dense diet until they are ready for harvest.

Harvesting and packing: The final phase is harvesting and packing. This is where the animal is processed into products desired by consumers.

Supporting information:

• An Introduction to Animal Husbandry and Nutrition

The learning objectives discussed: Recognize how the dairy cattle industry is divided. Sequentially list the stages of dairy cattle production and how various dairy cattle production animals are managed at each production stage. Explain different feeding practices for each life stage within the dairy cattle industry. Describe major diet components used for dairy cattle for each life stage. This grain module is brought to you by the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, and was produced by the former Crop Adviser Institute.

Click here to access the Dairy Industry Module

Learning objective: Recognize how the dairy industry is organized. Describe the different stages of production, management practices, types of housing, and feeding practices.

Introduction: The dairy industry not only provides dairy products, but also accounts for 20 percent of the beef industry. Large-scale operations house over 2,000 head of dairy cattle and make up 30 percent of the dairy industry. Small-scale operations make up 2 percent of the dairy industry.

Housing: There are a variety of housing options for dairy producers depending on the size of the herd and the amount of land available. Options may include tie stalls for very small herds, grazing and dry lots for large herds, or covered barns for herds of various sizes

Nutrition: Newborn calves will be fed colostrum and then milk. Within several days, they will be offered small amounts of concentrate to teach them how to eat solid food. After weaning, calves are introduced to a diet that includes forages and protein supplements to support growth. Bred heifers and lactating cows require the most nutrients and energy compared to others in the herd. Dry cows are in a period of maintenance and require a lower quality diet.

Milking systems: Tie-stall and parlor milking systems are commonly used throughout the dairy industry. Tie stall systems are used in smaller operations, are portable, and can be brought to the cattle. Parlor systems are housed in a separate area of the barn that is reserved for milking.

Supporting information:

• An Introduction to Animal Husbandry and Nutrition

As a component of its educational program, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team conducted a risk management survey in 2015 of producers managing a transition cow program. While transition cow management encompasses only 20-30 percent of the herd, it can ultimately influence the milk production and health of 100 percent of the cows.

The process of designing a transition cow facility focuses on design principles critical to achieving and implementing a management plan and following the protocols developed by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team in order to fully express the genetic potential of a herd.

Management and housing play a significant role in the dam’s ability to express her maternal behavior before and after calving, allowing the dam to successfully transition to the milking string. The calving pen becomes one of the most strategically placed areas on the farm.

Calving brings new life to a dairy farm, a new calf is born, and a new lactation begins for the cow. These great beginnings start with managing the calving process successfully.

Using glucose or gluconeogenic precursors to assist fresh cows with ketosis provides the energy they need, while experiencing higher than normal levels of ketone bodies in the blood associated with increased or abnormal fat metabolism.

Infectious diseases threaten dairy cattle health and welfare and can decrease productivity and profitability. Vaccination is an important component of control and prevention of diseases. A vaccination program, however, is not a substitute for good nutrition, adequate ventilation, effective sanitation, and other health management procedures.

Infectious diseases threaten beef and dairy cattle health and welfare and can decrease productivity and profitability. Vaccination is an important component of control and prevention of these diseases. A vaccination program, however, is not a substitute for good nutrition, adequate ventilation, effective sanitation and other health management procedures.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 will bring changes including a new program for dairy producers. The Agricultural Act has multiple programs that can benefit dairy producers, but the highlight is the Margin Protection Program (MPP).

This educational document is a collaborative project between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH), Iowa State University to provide a brief introduction of basic animal husbandry and nutrition. This material is intended for readers with little background in livestock production. The information will focus on some customary management and husbandry practices in commercial production facilities for swine, cattle and poultry. In addition, information is included on horses, sheep and goats.

Proper planning enhances performance when considering an automatic calf feeding system. Learn more with this publication.

Know how to recognize the ergot fungus that grows on many seed heads of cereal grains and grasses. Prevent economic loss caused by poisoning of cattle with this fungus.

Includes clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Dairy Freestall Housing and Equipment, is a complete guide for planning and developing a total dairy facility. Includes cow comfort and manure safety.

This editions' expansive updates include increased freestall dimensions; freestall housing; heifer facilities; milking parlors and equipment; ventilation systems; feed storage and distribution. Safety guidelines for liquid manure storage are also included.

A must have reference for anyone planning a dairy facility, including builders, engineers, veterinarians, extension educators, technical school instructors, equipment suppliers, dairy producers, nutritionists, and other farm advisors.

Find ways to better manage dairy feedlot manure and runoff and assess environmental impact. Includes practices that help you manage manure nutrients while protecting water quality. Explains how state and federal regulations apply to open feedlots and gives sources for technical assistance.

Dairy farms often use more energy for day-to-day operations than other farmsteads, especially electricity. Scroll compressors, milk precoolers, refrigeration heat recovery, and variable frequency drives can improve energy efficiency during the daily milking routine.

Cattle Feeding in Monoslope and Gable Roof Buildings discusses large beef feeding barns as an alternative to outside cattle feedlots.

This publication presents unbiased comparisons between monoslope vs. gable roof buildings and bedded vs concrete slats are discussed. Typical cattle feeding layouts are included, along with information on ventilation, wind and snow control, manure handling, water, feeding options and feeding rations and economic and Investment analysis.

Cattle Feeding in Monoslope and Gable Roof Buildings can be used as an educational tool for extension educators, a classroom resource for beef production classes, or as a reference for producers interested in learning more before making decisions.

Options in grass may be the most profitable for CRP land when the long term cost of erosion is considered. Get the details on six income options: CRP, two rotational grazing options, two crop options (rotational corn/soybean), and alfalfa/orchard grass hay.

Compare the initial and annual costs of remodeling or building new facilities. Producers need to ask whether constraints or compromises will cause higher annual costs even though initial remodeling costs might be lower. Get details on design considerations.

Find out what might work for you regarding stabilized stream and pond access sites. Consider characteristics of the site, purposes of the structure, desired length of use, level of investment and availability of labor, and governmental regulations.

Another way to manage pasture water for positive water quality is to modify animal behavior. Find out about providing off-stream water, shade, and nutritional supplementation.

A change in management or buffer establishment will alter dramatically the look and functioning of a riparian zone in just a few years. Find out how.

With relatively low-cost remodeling and retrofitting, old stall barns and parlors can be cost effectively transformed into modern milking parlors when properly designed, installed, and operated.

Raising Dairy Replacements is a complete and valuable resource for the dairy field. It was written by experts at four major agricultural universities, and edited by Patrick Hoffman and Rhonda Plourd, University of Wisconsin

Includes

• Fetal calf development and birth, including delivery
• Calf health, feeding, housing, and general management
• Heifer development, health, nutrition, reproduction, environment, housing, and general management
• Prevention and treatment of mastitis

This colorful, educational resource contains lots of photos, drawings, and tables that help illustrate and clarify technical concepts.

The download version includes supplemental figures and tables that were available on the original CD.