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Articles by Maurice Eastridge
U.S. dairy trends: Preparing farms for the journey to 2030
I used to watch the television series “Fantasy Island.” It was on air from 1977 to 1984. At the beginning of each episode, one of the characters would spot the arrival of the seaplane with the guests aboard for what they anticipated as the vacation of their life. This character (named Tattoo) would announce to everyone on the island of its approach with the refrain, “The plane, the plane!” This phrase often still resonates among other memories, reflective of anticipated destinations.
Say ‘cheese!’ — it’s good for you
“Cheese” is a commonly expressed word in households. It may be a family gathering when everyone is gathered for a family photo. The photographer gets everyone set, and just before the snap of the camera, the photographer says, “Say cheese!” in the hopes that everyone will smile and remain in place during the long expression of the word.
‘Hats off’ to the dairy industry this June
Farm and Dairy file photo. Whether you think of “hats off” as an expression of respect or one of congratulations, it fits all sizes for the dairy industry. Recent media attention appears to support the “one size fits all” when it comes to giving credit to the dairy industry, whether a small farm of a few cows that produces artisan cheese or a one 1,000-plus cow herd.
Bringing the cows home to Columbus
From grooved concrete floors to automatic doors, every aspect of the Multispecies Animal Learning Complex (MALC) is designed for animal comfort. (Ohio CFAES photo) I have been around dairy cows all of my life, growing up on a dairy farm in Kentucky where I was taken in an infant carrier to the barn during milking time. We moved when I was in the first grade to a new location, and the cows came with us.
All of us play a role in agriculture workforce development
Throughout agriculture, workforce development is a common area of concern, and this certainly includes animal agriculture. The needs are for unskilled and skilled laborers on and off the farm. All of us are consumers of food and should be concerned about how and where our food is produced and how it is processed and handled until it reaches our homes.
What will you find in your forage grab bag?
Figure 1. Drought update of Ohio as of November 2025 (Drought Information | State Climate Office of Ohio) The fall season is a wonderful time of the year that combines the beauty of nature with family events. Halloween bleeds into Thanksgiving and then Christmas, although in the retail world, it appears to go from Halloween to Christmas. At this point, you might still have some Halloween candy around. Perhaps your kids were even given some bags of goodies, and not all of the items were appealing.
Prepare for corn silage harvest
When I was growing up on the dairy farm, we had three silos, each of them with unloading from the top. Two of them were large concrete-stave silos, but the other one was a small metal silo. Over the years, this small silo developed a small dent in the side. Then, one year, as we were topping off the silo just before covering the surface to prevent spoilage, my father and uncle were up in the silo. I was standing down below and noticed that the silo was starting to gradually fall.
Ripples of changes are a constant in our lives
Twenty-five years ago, I published a short book titled “Ripples of Change” that described the changes in the lives of my grandparents. I grew up helping them milk cows by hand, straining the milk into a five-gallon can and placing the can of milk in a milk cooler of cold water. I harvested ear corn by hand for grinding and feeding to the cattle and hauled bales of hay to the barn with my grandmother driving the truck at two speeds (stopped or fast).
When two things converge
At about a year ago, the excitement was intensifying for the convergence of two major celestial bodies. Plans had been made for months ahead for personal travel, lodging, and eye protection and many infrastructure aspects were planned by communities along the solar eclipse. The magnificence of the event was not a disappointment on April 8, 2024, and it will be remembered for a lifetime for those who were able to witness it.
Now is the perfect time for a feed supply check up
At this time of the year, all forages have been harvested, hopefully, manure has been applied and you’re checking your shopping list for the holiday, hoping you are on your family’s “nice” list. It was a beautiful summer and fall, and many hours of work on the farm occurred. It is a time to rest, enjoy family and reflect on the blessings of the year. Still, the daily care of the herd continues, and as you reflect on the year ahead, have you accurately accounted for your forage supply?
Validation of a Commercial ELISA Kit for Non-Invasive Measurement of Biologically Relevant Changes in Equine Cortisol Concentrations
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Drought Stressed Corn for Corn Silage
University of Minnesota Extension With the limited rain in Ohio recently, corn development has been adversely impacted and physiological maturity accelerated. The extent of the drought varies by area of the State, but much of the southeastern area has been classified as severe to extreme drought (Drought Information | State Climate Office of Ohio (osu.edu)).
Don’t underestimate importance of border control for your dairy herd
If you only read the first two words in this article, you would think that I am writing about a current political issue in the U.S. We have heard a lot about border control in recent years, but it is certainly a very political issue during this presidential election year. However, I just used these two words to get your attention about the critical practice of biosecurity on dairy farms.
Prepare for the impact of heat stress in dairy cows
I am writing this article in mid-May when the high temperature is about 60 F. I tend to be somewhat cold-natured and chill easily. Thus, this morning with the dampness and wind stirring, I had to find my jacket. But within the next 2 to 4 weeks, it could be 80 F and 80% humidity, with a temperature humidity index (THI) of 78 as a norm, or it might be similar to mid-May. One just must be prepared before the heat stress period arrives.
Feeding glycerol to transition dairy cows
It’s that time of year when the hands are rather chapped from the cold conditions of the winter. For farmers, that often means hands in frequent contact with water, especially for dairy farmers, so an ample supply of hand cream is important to keep around. Very high on the list of ingredients in hand cream is glycerin — another name for “glycerol.” You also will find it in teat or udder ointment. Glycerol is an odorless, colorless, and sweet tasting viscous liquid.
How to decide when to cull cows
Sometimes in decision-making, we want to sit on it for a while, reflecting on the options or waiting for another event to occur to provide additional insight into the direction of the decision. This often happens relative to deciding on the voluntary culling of cows – which ones and when. Of course, many times involuntary culling is necessary because of injury, disease, unable to get pregnant, etc.
Can the dairy industry breathe a sigh of relief?
Of course, we all have held our breath, even as a youth, in seeing who can hold it the longest. We often use the phrase “Don’t hold your breath on that one,” meaning it’s likely not going to happen, and you could die depriving yourself of oxygen. In respect to a scary situation, one may take a deep breath and hold it or certainly release it slowly during the focus on the immediate crisis.
Anticipated lower income over feed costs ahead
We just recently set our clocks forward by one hour and we are still adjusting to this time change relative to the later time for dawn but the longer daylight in the evening. In actual reality, many of us did not change our timepiece forward by one hour because it occurred automatically for us. However, this automatic adjustment does not occur in our financial management of dairy farms.
Taking a look at the creation of greenhouse gasses
It’s that time of the year during family gatherings and the consumption of a lot of food when everyone in the room is trying to avoid the stench that just overpowered the space. The smell becomes so strong that some individuals try to gently move to other areas of the house in hope of finding more appealing inhalable air.
Researchers study link between genetics and feed efficiency in Holstein cows
Fall has officially and weather-wise arrived, and thus so have crop harvests and manure spreading. It’s that time of the year when meals around the table may be less frequent, so meals may take place while working. Total food consumption may or may not change from the month prior. Then, this period will be followed with families gathering for meals during the holidays. A bounty of food and more time to enjoy it will likely increase consumption by possibly a longer meal event ate at a slower rate.
Strategic farm management: Planning ahead does pay off
With the recent loss of a parent who was a lifelong farmer, there has been a lot of reflection. Some of it being lessons learned from the parent, the treasured memories, and, of course, how valuable the pre-planning was for the loss that has made financial management easier at the present time.
Transitions within the dairy herd
We often hear the phrase that “change is just a part of life,” and indeed change is ever-present. “Transition is just a part of life,” however, may be more acceptable to some, as it seems less intimidating. This is certainly the time of the year when transition is occurring all around us. The transition from winter to spring means it is now planting time. The transition of youth from high school moves students to college or the workforce. We could keep identifying more transitions.
Time and change: As fall arrives, prepare operations for winter
Summer is coming to an end and the feel of the arrival of fall is in the air and in the scenery with the harvest of crops, picking of pumpkins, apple picking and many other activities announcing the arrival of another season. Actually, Sept. 22 is the official arrival of fall. With the ‘time and change’ title, you might have thought this article was going to focus on the famous fall sport of football and a team from central Ohio. Yet, that is not the case.
The cow days of summer
We are in the midst of the period of the year often referred to as the “dog days of summer.” This period is characterized by high heat and humidity, along with the associated thunderstorms. Although this time frame has historically been associated with Hellenistic astrology related to the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius, we just associate it with the hottest and most sultry days of summer, typically experienced in July.
Crossbreeding cattle comes with many considerations
Two curious heifers check out a visitor in their barn. Growing up on a small dairy farm in Kentucky, my father primarily used a herd bull on our dairy farm, but my grandfather had a registered herd, and even though he had a “clean up” bull, he primarily bred with artificial insemination.
Feeding, housing shown to have long-term impact on calves
As we continue to conduct research on improving milk yield and animal health in dairy herds, additional focus in recent years has been on fetal programming aspects in how dry cows are fed and managed on calf survival and performance. In addition, the focus has been on feeding and managing the preweaned calf on its performance, health and milk yield and survival after entering the lactating herd.
Ohio students Zoom to success in virtual livestock events
While 2020 has had no shortage of disappointments, Ohio State University staff and students have been making the best of the situation with a variety of virtual contests to stay involved with their various niches of the livestock industry. “As the powerhouse cow shows of the United States fell like dominoes, so did our opportunities for dairy judging contests. Without contests, some could assume that we would give in to the 2020 trauma.
Dairy farmers should brace for a continuation of challenges in 2021
Dairy cows at Stollers' Organic Dairy. During the past several months, there has been a lot of polling in regards to the presidential race in an attempt to predict who would win the election. After many months of political conjectures, the time finally came to cast our ballots, whether by mail or in person. Then election day came and went, and ballots were counted for days before the winner was announced.
‘Hay’ there, it is now time to plan ahead
Farm and Dairy file photo. As I began to write this article on “Hay There,” it occurred to me there was a song with a similar title and so I searched for it. The song Hey There Delilah was released in 2006 by the group Plain White T’s. It was written by Tom Higgenson after he met Delilah DiCrescenzo, a well-known runner. It is written about all the pitfalls of a long-distance love relationship.
Practicing safety around livestock - Farm and Dairy
Usually, several safety articles are published at this time of the year to alert farmers of the risks for injuries during the harvest season. The use of fast-moving equipment, many moving parts on harvest machines, working long days, traveling roadways with slow-moving vehicles and more warrant the constant reminder to be vigilant about working safely on the farm.
Displaced Abomasum: Avoiding the Need for a Tummy Tuck in Dairy Cows
Iola Kansas Dairy Cows Grazing 2013 ( Wyatt Bechtel ) The majority of the health problems and associated veterinary costs for dairy cattle occur within the first 30 days of lactation. Management and feeding of the dry cow can have major implications on disease risk for dairy cows at calving. Adequate intakes of energy, fiber, protein, and certain minerals, especially calcium and those that affect calcium absorption and metabolism, are important in reducing the risk for metabolic diseases.
Displaced Abomasum: Avoiding the Need for a Tummy Tuck in Dairy Cows
Iola Kansas Dairy Cows Grazing 2013 ( Wyatt Bechtel ) The majority of the health problems and associated veterinary costs for dairy cattle occur within the first 30 days of lactation. Management and feeding of the dry cow can have major implications on disease risk for dairy cows at calving. Adequate intakes of energy, fiber, protein, and certain minerals, especially calcium and those that affect calcium absorption and metabolism, are important in reducing the risk for metabolic diseases.
Tell, and retell, the dairy story - Farm and Dairy
Recently, one of the student organizations at Ohio State University invited a speaker from a major agricultural firm to campus. This individual held a unique position of director of communications for millennials. The presentation was very intriguing of millennials’ own story, how knowledge is gained and how our perception of knowledge level changes, and how we should communicate with others about food production systems.
Milk the best, sell the rest - Farm and Dairy
The old adage of “milk the best, sell the rest” still holds true. With the current economic conditions in the dairy industry, the profitability of the farm, and thus the contribution of each cow toward this profitability, is very important. The dairy farm is in the business to market milk in a profitable manner — and cows need to earn their stay on the farm. If a cow is not being profitable, then she needs to go.
Checking the list at least twice will help during difficult times - Farm and Dairy
The economy for dairy farmers is certainly not very affirming at the moment and hasn’t been for several months. Well, actually this has been the case for the past three years and immediate improvement is not in sight. Thus, several farms in the U.S., including Ohio, have gone out of business, especially a high level of exits in 2018.
Back to the future: Like it or not, strange foods are here to stay - Farm and Dairy
Things certainly do change over time, but some changes can be quite mind-boggling. About 33 years ago (1985), the Back to The Future film was released and the technological aspects portrayed seemed comical. Today, we have driver-less automobiles on the market and prototypes apparently will be released soon of remotes for television that do not require you to touch the buttons — it acts on your brain activity to change stations, increase volume, etc.
Transitioning of Herds to Automatic Milking Systems
Interest in the use of automatic milking systems (AMS) continues to be high, even in a stressed dairy economy. Some of the primary reasons reported for this change in milking technology include: 1) reduction in labor, especially hired labor, 2) more flexible life-style, and 3) potential improvement in cow heath and milk yield. At present (September 2018), we have about 2140 dairy farms in Ohio and 52 farms with AMS, with about 143 AMS on Ohio farms.
Transitioning of Herds to Automatic Milking Systems
Interest in the use of automatic milking systems (AMS) continues to be high, even in a stressed dairy economy. Some of the primary reasons reported for this change in milking technology include: 1) reduction in labor, especially hired labor, 2) more flexible life-style, and 3) potential improvement in cow heath and milk yield. At present (September 2018), we have about 2140 dairy farms in Ohio and 52 farms with AMS, with about 143 AMS on Ohio farms.
Use your five senses to work with cows - Farm and Dairy
The five traditional senses of taste, smell, hearing, sight, and touch are vital for our survival and normal function in life. In addition, they are critical in our working with dairy cattle. You might at first ask ‘what does taste have to do with working with dairy cattle’? If you taste manure, then you either need to close your mouth when working in close proximity of the cows or need to avoid compromising situations that you have just found yourself experiencing.
Review feed rations in summer - Farm and Dairy
Although it seemed that we went directly from winter to summer this year, the intensity of the summer heat and humidity just kicked into gear. And, the toll on the cows is certainly being noticed. Feed intake at calving is typically rather low and cows calving in the summer experience lower feed intake after parturition, which increases their risk for metabolic diseases.
Getting Dairy Calves Off to a Good Start - The SIP Principle with Colostrum
Getting Dairy Calves Off to a Good Start — The SIP Principle with Colostrum By Maurice L. Eastridge - Department of Animal Sciences - The Ohio State University As soon as the dairy calf exits the uterus of the cow, the maternal nutrition and protection from disease by blood transfer of nutrients and immune cells directly to the fetus ceases.
As I sit down to write this article on rumination in dairy cows, I am reminded of all the times my mother told me to spit my gum out. Gum is no fun if you can’t chew it, but then chewing outside of having food in your mouth reveals that you most likely have gum in your mouth, even if you’re not supposed to, given the occasion.
Managing Dairy Calves and Heifers during the Winter Months
Managing Dairy Calves and Heifers during the Winter Months By Maurice L. Eastridge - Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist, The Ohio State University Attention to dairy calf and heifer management is important for maintaining growth rates, minimizing health problems, and optimizing current and future profitability of the dairy farm.
The state of affairs for the dairy industry is constantly under different influences. The environmental pressures for maintaining soil fertility while minimizing the risk for contamination of waters of the state with the use of manure remain in the lens. The future for a stable market for ones milk at a price that makes dairy farming a viable business for providing for ones’ family has been under recent threat.
Twenty Ohio State students from Animal Sciences; Agricultural Education; Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Agricultural Communications; Zoology; and the Agricultural Technical Institute and two faculty, Maurice Eastridge, Animal Sciences, and Katy Proudfoot, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, toured the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium to study the dairy industry. The trip was May 7 to 21.
Milk Production Numbers for Ohio Dairy Herds
It is always important to monitor the yield of milk and the composition of milk, especially for the individual farmer, because the income of the dairy farm depends on this source of revenue. The yields of protein and fat are the primary determinants of the price received by farmers. The proportions of fat and protein are useful in monitoring cow health and feeding practices within a farm.
What to expect with the Ohio corn silage crop
The weather conditions have been variable in Ohio this summer. Some areas have been extremely dry and other areas have been very wet during the past two to three months. Thus, corn silage yields will likely be quite variable across Ohio this year. For those areas that have been very dry, yields will be adversely affected, but generally the concentrations of protein and energy will be better than average.
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