Study examines step-down milk feeding

A South Korean study reported in the February Journal of Dairy Science shows that a step-wise reduction in the amount of milk fed to calves on a higher plane of nutrition yields a three-fold benefit.

During the study, calves fed whole milk at the rate of 20 percent of bodyweight, and later at 10 percent of bodyweight, gained more weight, were heavier and had better feed efficiency than conventionally fed calves.

For instance, the step-fed calves gained 111 percent more bodyweight between birth and 30 days of age and 41 percent more weight between 31 and 50 days of age than conventionally fed calves. The step-fed calves also were 32 pounds heavier at weaning at 50 days
of age.

1. Ag markets posted a general advance mid-day Wednesday
2. Can you guess your cow's NEFAs?
3. Vance Publishing's 40 under 40
4. Dairy’s commitment to food security advances through partnerships
5. ERS ag research counts
6. Minn. raw milk cheese outbreak swells to 25

1. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
2. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
3. Chocolate milk a top post-workout food
4. What do dairy exports mean for Minnesota?
5. D.C. Watch: Farm bill progressing
6. April milk production up 0.3 percent

1. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
2. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
3. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
4. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop
5. N.M. rancher charged with 43 counts of animal cruelty
6. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?