Profit Tips
Clean those water tanks
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has been found to survive longer in water and mucus, compared to other materials like soil and metal. If a persistently infected animal is present in your herd, mucus harboring the virus could transmit BVDV to other animals that share the same waterer.
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Tips for chopping BMR corn silage
With harvest season approaching, here is some advice on chopping brown midrib corn silage.
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Cool cows to improve reproduction
Limiting inseminations to the cooler part of the day is not enough to solve the effects of heat stress. By the time of insemination, the follicle has already been damaged, and if conception does occur, the resulting embryo is sensitive to heat stress for the first two to three days of gestation.
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What is the cost of homegrown forages?
Dairy farm managers should periodically review their feed procurement strategies.
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Use caution with moldy feeds
Undesirable growing or storage conditions can lead to mold growth and development of mycotoxins, such as zearalenone in wet distillers grains, sugar beet pulp and other by-products.
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Control fly hot spots
Most dairies have “hot spots” of fly breeding around calves, cattle feeding areas, feed storage areas and manure storage areas. According to Mary Sowerby, University of Florida dairy extension agent, and Jerry Hogsette, research entomologist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, sanitation is the No. 1 key to controlling flies
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3 steps for better results with employees
Managing employees can be a real challenge, but there’s a way to make it easier. According to Tom Wall, president of Dairy Interactive LLC and Language Links LLC, it can be boiled down to three steps.
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Guidelines for whole-herd BVD testing
Surveillance data indicates that more than 70 percent of U.S. dairy cows have been exposed to the bovine viral diarrhea virus.
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Get a good pack
Good packing procedures help minimize costly surface-spoiled silage in bunker silos and drive-over piles.
According to Keith Bolsen, a retired Kansas State University professor, who now operates a silage-management consulting business with his wife, Ruthie, a packing density of 13 to 15 pounds of dry matter per cubic foot in the top 3 feet of silage is ideal for minimizing surface spoilage.
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Advice on resuscitating newborn calves
There are several different methods you can use to resuscitate an unresponsive newborn calf.
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Water: The most important nutrient
An abundant, high-quality water supply is the most important nutrient for lactating cows, says Dave Beede, professor of dairy nutrition at Michigan State University.
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