Latest News From Dairy Nutrition

Over time, the anaerobic environment created in a well-packed, well-sealed, inoculated silage crop allows the beauty of fermentation to flourish.

The statistics are alarming—according to Feeding America, 1 in 7 Americans struggle with hunger. It's estimated 42 million people, including 13 million children, face food insecurity.

Switching to autofeeders and group housing is a significant change that has been met on dairies with both success and failure.

Travel to Laurens, South Carolina and you likely meet Glen and Marilyn Easter of Eastglen Jerseys, who can share not only their passion and wisdom of dairy farming, but their secrets to leading a happy life.

Looking for a reliable cottonseed supplier near you?

The rumen may be taking center stage in digesting another global challenge: plastics

When it comes to forage and cover crops, winter rye offers rock-star versatility that makes it easy to love.

“The more we understand about how specific nutrition components influence health and performance responses, the more we can support cows in their production cycles.”

The incidence of transition-cow diseases has budged little, and these maladies – mastitis, metritis, retained placenta, and poor fertility – continue to make up about 75% of all mature dairy cow diseases.

The busyness of the summer season is finally over, but it has some producers staring out into their fields wondering what they need to do to help stretch their feed inventories throughout the fall and winter.

Herrington Farms, Inc. of Troy, NY was named the overall winner of the 2021 World Forage Analysis Superbowl at the 2021 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.

Harvesting and storing high-moisture corn can help producers get a jump on harvest; avoid drying costs; and put up a highly palatable, digestible, nutritious feedstuff.

Drought in the Midwest and crop damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ida had created dampened optimism this summer about the size of this year’s U.S. corn crop.

With the U.S. dairy industry playing a leading role thanks to its 2050 Net Zero goals, two dairy farmers, Charles Krause and Deb Vander Kooi, took the stage at the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) last month.

Crafting effective lactating rations when the “ideal” ingredients are in short supply is challenging, but possible.

Growing the ideal heifer is an ever-changing goal. A research team from Penn State University and the University of Florida recently explored the impact of bodyweight at first calving on milk yield and herd longevity.

A team of Brazilian researchers studied the thermoregulation capacity of calves fed various levels of colostrum, then determined which of the animals were best able to keep themselves warm.

DMI announced that Tom Gallagher will retire from his three-decade tenure as chief executive officer. A delivered mission of increased sales and trust is the legacy that the longtime CEO says he hopes he leaves behind.

The onset of fall marks the return of nuisance birds to dairy farms and feedlots in cooler climates.

Anticipated tight supply and higher prices for vitamin E may require dairy managers and their nutritionists to dial back vitamin E inclusion rates in rations, or seek alternative options.

Round-the-clock TMR availability may not be necessary to keep lactating cows on an even plane of digestion.

Ask these questions to see if BMR is a good fit for your farm.

Through curriculum and digital learning, teachers are looking for ways to engage with students, emphasizing on wellness for minds and bodies. The farmer-founded Fuel Up to Play 60 program has a new fresh look.

While using medically important antimicrobials in food-animal production has been curtailed and more highly regulated in the U.S. and much of Europe, not all countries globally have modified their policies or practices.

Only about 5% of U.S. dairy herd managers regularly assess body condition scores (BCS) in their herds, even though the value of routine body condition scoring has been well-documented.

It is advised to evaluate heifer inventory when managing rising feed costs and calculating feed inventories. Managing heifer inventory can save money on feed, as well as help market females at the right time.

What does feed hygiene mean to you and your dairy? How often is it looked at or discussed with the feed team and barn crew?

Transitioning new corn silage into the diet can impact milk production and cow health. The following are three tips to help make the transition a smooth one.

Farming often takes a team. We know that well. This time of year, as we put up feed for the next year, look to your left, then look to your right, then look to your local football team to offer a helping hand.

The subject of floury corn versus vitreous corn for corn silage has been a controversial one in the past. 

It’s currently a seller’s market for qualified ruminant nutritionists, especially in the dairy industry.

It’s not too late to double-crop a cool-season forage seeding onto available land to capture some more feed tonnage and/or establish a winter cover crop.

Silage-making season is upon us. It’s a harried time of year with all hands – and sometimes even extra hands – on deck.

The 2021 climate of high feed costs and tepid milk prices are creating a tenuous financial scenario for most U.S. dairy farms.

You may be considering what to plant for small grains in your fields following your corn harvest.

They’re a danger to milk cows, to be sure. But mycotoxins in feedstuffs also can be damaging to the health and development of calves and heifers.

Cover crops can benefit dairy producers as a forage source for young stock by saving higher quality forages for lactating cows.

Known for its award-winning cheeses and clear mission, Rogue Creamery was recently named the Outstanding Dairy Processing and Manufacturing Sustainability Award winner presented by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

With more producers growing their own feed this year, it’s important to ensure corn silage is harvested correctly to maximize quality and quantity.

While it’s likely producers will still see a drop in milk production during the summer months, feeding a well-balanced ration with proper amino acid concentrations can be a valuable tool in your heat abatement toolbox.

Water is the cheapest, most vital nutrient in dairy cattle diets. Yet cleanliness and availability are often overlooked.

With much of the country experiencing a forage shortage, there is still a good opportunity to build forage inventories by double cropping this year.

Both milk parlors and feed centers are key focus areas where efficiency has a profound impact on the net income and profitability of a given farm. Yet we often don’t see them managed to the same level of rigor.

A highly fatal intestinal disease of adult cows, Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS), draws concerns from dairy producers, veterinarians and nutritionists, as it is also known as the sudden death disease of dairy cattle.

A slight percentage decrease in shrink can have a big impact on profitability.

New research studies suggest there are health and developmental benefits to feeding calves colostrum or transition milk well beyond the first day of life.

The Indy 500 has a packed weekend, but what happens at the very end is what really gains the most attention. The winning driver’s victory celebration with an ice-cold bottle of milk.

In preparing for National Dairy Month in June, the National Dairy Checkoff organization, is focusing its marketing efforts on the next generation, Generation Z, which includes youths between the ages of 10 and 23.

High feed prices have put a lot of strain on dairy farmers and their herd’s nutritionist as they try to navigate shrinking margins.

Whether your sampling square bales, round bales or baleage, it’s important to keep these eight tips in mind in order to get accurate quality predictions.