Robb Bender, PhD, PAS is owner of Bender Dairy Innovations, LLC and is a consultant and partner in GPS Dairy Consulting LLC. Robb provides independent nutrition and whole-farm management consulting to dairies in Wisconsin and Michigan. Dr. Bender received his Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He also obtained his Master of Science in Dairy Science Reproductive Physiology in the laboratory of Dr. Milo Wiltbank. His Master’s work was focused on reproduction and nutrition interactions in dairy cattle, with an emphasis on applying varying reproductive protocols on commercial farms. Following his Master’s, Robb continued at Madison and obtained a PhD in Dairy Nutrition with Dr. David Combs, focusing on integration of nutritional data on dairy farms and methods to quantify and improve fiber digestibility in forages. Robb is a member of the American Dairy Science Association and American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and was involved in the National Dairy Challenge as a student and coach throughout graduate school. Robb and his wife, Christine, reside in Watertown, WI where they are partners in her family’s dairy farm.
Align your Team to Achieve Your DreamClick to open Align your Team to Achieve Your Dream
We’ve all heard about the impact that effective communication may have on your dairy. Today’s blog, however, focuses on a particular aspect of effective communication: communicating your goals, vision and dreams to your team around you. Too often owners and leaders at the dairy hold their vision and their goals close to their chest, either afraid to be pushed back against, viewing it as a secret for only a select audience, or viewing it as their priority area and not others on the team. Why might more awareness and alignment among your team help to achieve your goals? Here’s a few thoughts:
How to Fix or Reduce 90% of Your Problems with One Simple TrickClick to open How to Fix or Reduce 90% of Your Problems with One Simple Trick
This one thing is critically important to the operations of dairy farms. Get it right, and the dairy can run like a fine-tuned machine, minimizing problems by maximizing team engagement, staff commitment and problem-solving skills. Get it wrong (or don’t do it) and we are left with a tense environment, unmotivated staff, problems that linger without resolve and ultimately, reduced profitability. What is this one, simple trick? Read more to find out.
High Quality HaylageClick to open High Quality Haylage
In this vlog, Robb talks about forage production and what we can do to make sure our haylage is of highest quality. Forage is a huge component of your rations, and Alfalfa might make up about a third of that ration. It’s critical we put up as good of forage as possible so that cows stay healthy.