Peanuts

Manure Release from Dairy Under Investigation by Iowa Officials

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 20:58:45 GMT

State environmental officials in Iowa are investigating a complaint of a manure overflow from a storage facility on a dairy farm.

On April 24, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was notified and began an investigation at D&D Dairy near Charlotte, where there was evidence of manure overflowing from a concrete storage pit. Darryl Banowetz, owner of the dairy, says the overflow began on April 22 and he had built an earthen berm to retain it.

According to a press release from DNR , the manure ran overland to a small tributary of Bear Creek. Test by DNR officials have not shown any fish deaths as a result of the spill, but ammonia levels in the creek are currently elevated.

The case is being monitored by DNR during the cleanup efforts. Appropriate enforcement actions are under consideration by DNR.

Should a manure spill occur on an Iowa farm, DNR encourages the public to report any spills or fish kills the 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694. Farmers who encounter a spill on their farms must report the spill within six hours of discovery or occurrence to DNR officials under Section 304, Emergency Release Notification .

For more on manure management and similar spill cases read the following articles:

The Happiest Doorstep on Earth!

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

In case you missed it you can now share the -8-25-20 evening of absurdity with nationally-syndicated cartoonists Leigh Rubin, creator of the comic strip “Rubes,” and Wisconsin State Journal editorial cartoonist Phil Hands. This odd couple riffed off each other’s cartoons, demonstrated how the twisted minds of two different cartoonists work. If you’ve ever wanted to learn from a professional smart-aleck or full-time doodler, now’s your chance!

Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/DMKXBYXOkHQ

Wheat Working its Way into Rations

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:20:44 GMT

Recent wheat prices are competitive with or lower than corn. If you do consider feeding wheat, there are advantages and limitations.

By Rick Lundquist, Ph.D.

The Wall Street Journal (Aug., 9, 2011) reported that there is now an anomaly in the price of wheat versus corn. Historically, wheat has always traded higher than corn, but with surging corn prices and a bumper wheat crop in many countries, recent wheat prices are competitive with or lower than corn. This has prompted Tyson Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride to start feeding some wheat in chicken rations, according to the Journal.

I’ve already had questions from clients about replacing corn with wheat in our dairy rations. Chicago wheat and corn each closed at about $7.00 per bu. on Aug. 11. With corn at 56 lb. per bu. and wheat at 60 lb. per bu., wheat was $16/ton less than corn.

If you do consider feeding wheat, there are advantages and limitations. Wheat is about 14% protein, so it will also reduce supplemental protein costs compared to corn. But wheat should replace no more than 30% of the corn grain in the ration. Cows should be adapted slowly. This is due to the highly degradable starch in wheat, which may cause digestive problems and acidosis if overfed. It has a “weird starch protein matrix that makes the starch sticky” according to Pat Hoffman at the University of Wisconsin . It is low in prolamin.

Ground wheat feeds similar to well fermented high moisture corn, so I wouldn’t recommend feeding it with high moisture corn. But it can complement dry ground corn. A diversity of starch sources in the ration can be an advantage. With corn as the primary starch source in most rations, adding other cereal grains such as wheat, barley, rye, oats or sorghum can optimize the rate of starch digestion, which may enhance milk production and fat test.

As we have discussed before, cows don’t like change. Rumen bugs take at least two weeks to completely adapt to ration changes. So I wouldn’t recommend feeding wheat to save a few bucks on the corn bill for short time. I’d advise that if you do include it in your ration, you take a position in wheat so it can be fed for an extended period of time.

Rick Lundquist is an independent nutrition and management consultant based in Duluth, Minn. Contact him at siestadog@aol.com .