Dairy Nutrition
Camelina may be unfamiliar to many, but it’s emerging as a low-risk option for smarter crop rotations.
With BMR corn becoming less available, short-stature corn is emerging as a silage option that can still improve fiber digestibility.
The importance of colostrum in raising healthy, productive calves only continues to grow as we learn more about it.
As seed companies phase out brown midrib corn silage hybrids, producers are reevaluating how to maintain forage quality and milk production without the once-popular option.
When it comes to colostrum, more isn’t always better.
With 86% of North American feed ingredient samples testing above the risk threshold for mycotoxins, livestock may face stacked biological stress.
Beef-on-dairy steers need better fiber than conventional cattle to perform their best.
Virtually all calf starter grain formulations in the U.S. currently lean on soybean meal as their main protein source. But researchers at Kansas State University are looking at an interesting alternative – distillers grain.
Updated guidelines from USDA and HHS urge Americans to focus on protein, full-fat dairy, fruit and veggies and avoid processed foods.
By treating data collection as a strategic tool rather than a routine task, feed efficiency can become more than a number.
Knowing the forces that shape feed efficiency is only half the story; the next step is using them to your advantage.
Choosing the right hybrids and learning from last year’s harvest can set up a stronger silage season.
Switching from milk replacer to whole milk can make financial sense, but it requires careful planning and management.
By providing microbial metabolites directly, postbiotics help calves develop stronger gut defenses and support cows as they move through the biologically demanding transition period.
Experts say it’s time to feed colostrum according to quality not habit. When it comes to calf immunity, more volume isn’t always better.
Live microbes are reshaping dairy nutrition, offering new tools to support gut health, rumen stability and production efficiency from calf to cow.
Prebiotic supplementation is beneficial for dairy calf health and development, and may improve milk yield in lactating cows.
Analysis of almost 1,500 liver samples from beef and dairy cattle reveals persistent trace mineral deficiencies affecting herd health.
Understanding and managing ketosis in dairy cows is crucial for maximizing both herd health and productivity, especially during the transition period from precalving to 100 days after calving.
What if you had a crystal ball to help you choose the best nutrition program to achieve the optimal outcomes for your calves? With a new tool called CalfSim, much of that vision is now possible.
The dairy industry faces a seismic shift as Corteva exits the BMR corn business, leaving farmers and nutritionists searching for alternatives.
Driven by a dual need to enhance sustainability and optimize farm profit, understanding feed efficiency is becoming essential for modern dairy farmers. But what exactly is feed efficiency, how can it be influenced, and should it be a measure used on your farm?
For decades, researchers have explored the influence of dam nutrition on offspring performance. Now, the dairy industry is taking a page from that book, exploring the intricacies of how and what we feed to dairy dams to improve the health and productivity of their calves, without sacrificing theirs.
The economic decisions involved in heifer management are not just about immediate costs. They are a long-term investment strategy that can determine the future productivity and profitability of a dairy farm. Choosing which heifers to keep, which to sell, and how to feed and care for them requires a deft balancing act. Factors such as genetics, health and market demand all play a role.
A new line of biofuels may add to the supply of co-products for dairy lactating and heifer diets. More DDGS and similar corn components from the manufacturing of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could fit neatly and sustainably into many dairy nutrition plans.
The Budweiser plant in Columbus, Ohio, has an additional demographic — 600 Holstein cows
The disease is causing turmoil for farmers who have a large crop in the making. In some cases, a Hail Mary fungicide application at R4 up to early dent (R5) might make sense this season, say agronomists.
When it comes to nutrition, we certainly aren’t in Kansas anymore.
Focusing on the fundamentals of feedbunk practices is often all it takes to support healthier, more productive cows.
Silage harvest moves fast, and so do the risks. Clear communication and thoughtful preparation can help keep crews safe and the season on track.