Dairy Resources
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This management guide provides producers with specific tactics that may minimize the potential for short- and long-term problems during a drought. These tactics are based on specific characteristics including water loss, forage growth, and rainfall.
Lisa Baxter, Pedro Carvalho, and William Secor
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Toxic weeds may be found in pastures and hayfields throughout Georgia. This resource can help you identify the species on your farm and what symptoms to watch for in grazing livestock. If you suspect that your animal has consumed a toxic plant species, please contact your local veterinarian for an official diagnosis and treatment.
Lisa Baxter, Hailey Partain, and William R. Fleming
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This resource is for university researchers and Extension specialists, county Extension agents, and producers of livestock, forages, and feeds. It highlights the role of selenium in animal nutrition; selenium concentration and distribution in soils and feedstuffs (grains and forages) produced in various parts of the United States and in Georgia; disorders resulting from selenium deficiency or toxicity; various methods of selenium supplementation; and recommendations for selenium management in Georgia.
Uttam K. Saha and Lawton Stewart
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AP 130-4-08
2026 Dairy Outlook
The key points for 2026 are: The outlook faces headwinds on increasing production that appears to be outpacing demand; potential improvements on the supply and demand balance may occur later in the year; and opportunities from new local processing could support Georgia producers this year.
William Secor
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This guide to housing preweaned dairy calves is a resource for both farmers and youth participating in livestock projects. Housing can greatly impact the health and growth of dairy calves. Attention to factors that influence feed intake, comfort, and health are necessary for optimum growth and performance of calves, with long-term implication for their future productivity.
Jillian Bohlen and Sha Tao
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Selecting commercial dairy heifers and monitoring their growth can be difficult for many farmers and youth exhibitors. The way in which farmers are achieving production efficiency is highly variable from farm to farm, so this publication provides guidance on the conformation and growth parameters of commercial heifers found to be most ideal for future production efficiency.
Jillian Bohlen, Stephanie Butcher, and Lucy Ray
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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.
Jillian Bohlen and William Graves
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AP 130-3-06
2025 Georgia Dairy Forecast
1. The Georgia dairy forecast for 2025 is steady to positive.
2. Key uncertainties come from the balance of supply and demand and potential federal order reform.
3. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and export risks may also play a role in the year ahead.William Secor
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Allowing dairy cows the opportunity to graze pasture is a practice frequently used by dairy producers. Some producers use grazing as the primary source of forage while others use it as a supplement to a partial total mixed ration (pTMR). There are several challenges associated with grazing—especially during periods of heat stress—that producers should take into account to maintain intake and production, especially when grazing comprises a significant amount of the feed allotment. This bulletin will provide information on these challenges and changes that can be used to minimize the impact of heat stress.
John K. Bernard and Sha Tao
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