Dairy Nutrition
Growing an array of cereal grains to augment the traditional corn-alfalfa cropping cycle has become the new normal for dairy farmer Josh Tranel and his family of Cuba City, Wis.
Incorporating small grains as a partial or full alternative to alfalfa is gaining popularity among dairy producers.
If silage is not properly preserved it can easily spoil, causing palatability to plummet and your feed bill to skyrocket.
This year, 27% of dairy producers are likely to dedicate between 15%-50% to silage production.
Digestibility of corn silage can be impacted by many factors including genetics, fertility, growing conditions and spacing.
The agronomic benefits of alfalfa are many and in some areas of the country it is still my preferred legume. However, let us look at what modern improved varieties of red clover bring to the table.
Vitamin E is particularly desirable in both human and animal nutrition because of its antioxidant properties.
When and how preweaned calves are moved from individual feedings to group pens can have a big impact on how well they do on autofeeder systems.
While producers aren’t able to control what they receive for their milk, they are able make slight adjustments to the protein and fat levels in their bulk tank.
If you had the chance to update your feed equipment, what would you invest in first?
Just knowing that calves are being fed three quarts of milk replacer twice a day is not enough information.
The benefits of diverse plant species are well documented — yet sometimes diverse mixes can be difficult to manage due to differences in palatability and maturity dates.
It’s frustrating, it’s costly, and it happens a lot. The post-weaning slump can set back calves that were well-grown and healthy at weaning -- with illness, stunted growth and social maladjustment
An esophageal tube feeder can be a lifeline for young calves, delivering colostrum, milk or electrolytes when they are unable to suckle a bottle. But incorrect use of these feeders can be dangerous or even deadly.
When it is cold, cows can divert their energy into maintaining body temperature instead of producing milk. What can you do to avoid that?
Researchers at the Ohio State recently completed a study evaluating how dietary protein and amino acid supplementation influenced milk production during the first three to four weeks of lactation.
The world of warm season annuals is a new one for many farmers and so is the terminology associated with them.
Whether or not to feed hay to preweaned dairy calves is a longstanding debate, without an absolute answer.
Here is a bit of information for those producers that are considering planting alfalfa this year.
With milk prices predicted to remain extremely volatile during the first few months of 2021, producers are anxious to know what to expect when the feed bill hits the mailbox.
If you were not able to forward contract protein commodities early this fall, there are still a few affordable protein options.
Does increasing the volume of the liquid diet change other feeding behaviors in young calves? Canadian researchers recently examined whether feeding higher volumes of milk or milk replacer would suppress intake of start
The frequency of feed delivery influences a dairy cow’s eating behavior.
Helping older heifers grow, while at the same time not becoming too fat, is a delicate dance that challenges nutritionists and producers alike.
The next frontier will be an increased focus on feed efficiency and will also be centered on expanding the digestible fiber pool.
The Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act (FEEDD Act) would allow producers who are utilizing prevent plant to at least graze, hay or chop a cover crop to feed livestock.
Corn and soybean producers aren’t the only ones feeling the squeeze of wet weather. Cattle and dairy producers are left wondering what this means for their access to feed, and how soon they should lock in inventory.
Hay produced on irrigated grass and subirrigated meadows can be a potential supplementation source throughout Nebraska.
Producers can learn about growing corn for silage and feeding corn silage to cattle.