With cold weather looming, calves energy requirements will be increasing greatly in the coming weeks. Calf starter consumption plays an important role in providing your calves with the energy they need, when they need it most.
Grazing or feeding green sorghums, sudangrasses and sorghum-sudangrass crosses to cattle can be a bit worrisome because of the threat of prussic acid poisoning, but there are ways to mitigate that risk.
Feeding and management programs for dairy cows the first 2 to 4 weeks after calving have a direct and long-term impact on their health, milk production, and reproductive performance.
Indiana's second hay cutting is lower yielding, but higher in nutritional value than the first. This can help cattle producers decide on a feeding program and supplement strategies.
Many dairy farms across the Midwest are short of alfalfa. Finding an acceptable alternative forage will be a critical factor contributing to the success of dairy operations this next year.
With reports of significant alfalfa stand damage due to winterkill after a year of drought and tight forage inventories, farmers may need to consider alternative crops to provide much needed forage.