By Blake Jackson
Healthy cows are rooted in biology, but healthy farms rely on strong economics and dairy producers need to manage both. On Friday, March 20, from 12-1 p.m., the Center for Dairy Excellence will host a free “Protecting Your Profits” webinar titled The Missing Metric: How to Calculate Your Dairy’s Biological and Economic Health.
Dr. Joe Bender, Associate Professor of Clinical Dairy Production Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania - New Bolton Center, will lead the session, showing farmers how to assess and balance both biological and economic health at the cow and business level.
“Biological health refers to the physical health of your cows, including freedom from disease, longevity, and comfort. Economic health centers around the cow’s financial viability, productivity, and cost efficiency of your herd. It’s easy to pick out a biologically unhealthy cow – you’ll often see physical signs like lameness, sickness or thinness," said Valerie Mason-Faith, Risk Education Manager at the Center.
"Economically unhealthy cows, on the other hand, are harder to find. That’s the inspiration behind this month’s webinar, and Dr. Bender plans to share expert insight and practical ways to balance strong milk production with strong economic health. We hope you’ll join us.”
The webinar will cover key metrics for evaluating economic health, including cost of production and profit margins, while also highlighting strategies to optimize biological health for a productive herd.
Attendees will learn how to move items from liabilities to assets, use ratios to measure economic performance, and apply practical approaches to balance strong milk production with financial efficiency.
Participants can register for the free webinar at www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/pyp-webinar. Connection details will be emailed after registration, and a recording will be made available following the live session.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education, Livestock, Dairy Cattle