Free Webcast: BMR corn silage webinar

Dairy Herd Management is presenting a FREE one-hour webinar on the impact of BMR corn on dairy profitability. Mike Allen, dairy nutritionist from Michigan State University; John Koepke, of Koepke Farms; and Art Graves, agronomist from Mycogen Seeds, will discuss high forage rations and BMR corn silage. Your questions will be entertained at the end of the presentation. Anyone who manages dairies should attend.

With high corn prices, dairy farmers are looking for ways to increase the forage portion of their rations so there is less reliance on high-priced concentrates. And that helps explain the growing interest in BMR (brown midrib) corn silage. BMR corn silage is higher in total plant digestibility than regular corn silage, which allows cows to get more of their energy from forage. There are improvements in dry matter intake, as well. Some of the agronomic challenges with BMR corn in the 1990s have since been resolved, making it an attractive option.

What you'll learn:
• How to feed high forage rations to lactating cows.
• The importance of highly digestible fiber from forages of lactating cows.
• Use of forages with high fiber digestibility across stages of lactation.
• Different effects of starch and digestible fiber on energy milk yield and body condition.
• BMR corn silage and high forage rations from a producers viewpoint
• Dispelling myths about BMR
• Understanding differences in BMR hybrids
• Update on BMR agronomics

Who should attend:
• Dairy producers
• Dairy nutritionists
• Bovine veterinarians
• Anyone with interest in dairy cow nutritional formulations

PRESENTERS:
Mike Allen Michigan State University, Animal Science, Dairy Science Nutritionist Mike Allen is University Distinguished Professor of Dairy Nutrition at Michigan State University. Prior to joining the faculty in 1987, he was a Research Dairy Scientist at the US Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wis. He completed his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. at Cornell University. His research interests include the effects of diet characteristics on energy intake and partitioning in lactating dairy cows and improving forage utilization. He is author or co-author of more than 550 research and extension publications and he has presented more than 250 invited talks at conferences. He is also co-author of the Spartan Dairy Ration Balancing software.
John Koepke Producer/Owner  John Koepke, who has a degree from Cornell University, operates Koepke Farms Inc., Oconomowoc, in partnership with his dad Jim and his uncles Alan and David. Koepke Farms milks 330 Holstein cows, raises replacement heifers and has 970 acres dedicated to corn, soybeans and hay. John and his wife, Kim have three sons and are active members of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. In 2003, Koepke was named Watertown Area Outstanding Young Farmer and also received a citation from the Wisconsin Assembly for dedication to excellence in dairy management and a commendation from the Office of the Governor for distinguished dairy management. In 2009, the Dairy Farmers of America selected Koepke Farms as an American Dairy of Distinction, one of seven farms nationwide chosen to receive the honor. Since 2004, Koepke Farms continues as an active participant in the Discovery Farms program. Koepke also serves as a town board supervisor for the Town of Oconomowoc. He is also a Waukesha Country Farm Bureau board member and past president of Waukesha County Milk Producers Cooperative.
Art Graves Agronomist, Mycogen Seeds Art Graves, customer agronomist with Mycogen Seeds for the past six years, works closely with dairy producers in the eastern United States with the goal of increasing yields and profits on their farms. He uses his knowledge to help dairies utilize BMR corn silage to feed high-forage rations and save on grain costs. Prior to joining Mycogen Seeds, Graves was a professor of agronomy at The State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. He holds a Master of Science degree in plant pathology from Virginia Tech.
Moderator:
Tom Quaife Editor/Associate Publisher, Dairy Herd Management