A fungus that causes “vomitoxin” has been found in some U.S. corn harvested last year, forcing poultry and pork farmers to test their grain, and giving headaches to grain growers already wrestling with mass
Calves- they're not easy to raise and we don't get any payback for at least two years. They get sick easily and take abundant resources, especially time and money, to rear into productive contributors to the
Fiber in the diet for cattle is a necessary component for rumen health and has been measured using methods such as crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF).
Changes in life events and environment, such as parturition, milk production, and heat stress, substantially increase demands on the cow including her oxygen requirements.
The use of deep straw bedding and calf jackets, as well as providing extra calories during cold temperatures, will result in healthier calves and improved gains.
The best approach to reducing the incidence of subclinical milk fever is through prepartum feeding of a negative Dietary Cation-Anion Difference (DCAD) diet. Most industry people agree on that point, but differ on the p
New research continues to reinforce the importance of delivering high-quality colostrum to newborn calves to set them up for lifelong success. In his latest issue of Calf Notes, Dr. Jim Quigley discusses a study in Chin
Minerals make up a small portion of an animal's diet, but they play an important role in health, productivity, and reproduction. Understanding the mineral levels entering the diet via the forage source is importan
Dairy farmers across the Midwest are struggling with corn harvest, battling rainy days and muddy fields as corn silage continues to dry down. Rainfall totals have exceeded 2" or more beyond normal amounts.
Liquid rations have changed considerably for many U.S. dairy calves in approximately the past decade. New York calf and heifer specialist Sam Leadley looks more closely at what "intensive feeding" really mea
The Penn State Dairy Heifer Diet Formulator (PSU-HDF) program encourages an approach to heifer feeding that is driven by the desire to precisely meet metabolizable energy and nitrogen needs of growing dairy heifers whil
Does drinking a glass of milk make you feel guilty? (We don't either, btw.) A startup hopes their claims of guilt-free will help spur demand for their replica milk.
The transition period is the most challenging time during the production cycle of a dairy cow. One of the major determinants of whether a cow transitions properly is her ability to maintain normal blood calcium concentr
We've received a grant to look at the viability of sorghum silage in California dairy systems. This summer, we are looking to work with dairies that are growing sorghum for silage.
You have heard it said many times before, "the results are only as good as the sample that was taken". This is a reality for all feedstuffs especially where forage sampling is concerned.
The headline of a recent business blog "The REAL shocking costs of dead inventory" by Eric Jensen may cause you to stop and think about how this issue could be related to dairy farms. In Jensen's blog,
Here at Miner Institute our silage packer Henry takes multiple hand grab samples of each field that goes into the bunker. This is for all cuttings, hay crop and corn silage. We've found value in tracking forage qu
Well-managed and properly implemented feeding programs are one of the cornerstones associated with profitable dairy operations. With feed costs representing approximately half of the cost for producing milk, profitabili
Feeding forage to calves has been the subject of much debate over the years, in part because even though we know that fermentation of grain is essential for rumen development, sometimes in research and on farms calves f
Since feed represents such a significant expense to the dairy, evaluation of the ration and the cost effectiveness of each ingredient are critical to maintain optimal milk production, health and reproductive performance
In many climates, it's hard work keeping calves protected and alive through the brutal winter months. But summer poses its own management challenges. One of the biggest: keeping fresh, clean water available to you
Dairy producers, veterinarians and dairy nutritionists understand the impact that heat stress can have in decreasing milk production and dry matter intake, the most common symptoms for cows experiencing moderate heat st
Applying a forage inoculant to a crop at harvest requires a leap of faith, as the producer will not see the resulting silage until it is opened weeks, or even months, later.
Recent research results from the SDSU Dairy Science Department indicated that carinata meal (CRM) is highly degradable in the rumen and is a comparable protein source to soybean meal and linseed meal in total digestibil