“Getting nutrition right during a dairy cow’s dry period makes a huge difference to her health, the health of her calf, and the milk yield after calving. Now, new research from the University of Illinois has shown that diets that promote consistent energy levels and contain the rumen-boosting supplement monensin are the ideal approach during […]
If you’re looking to bump up the fat or protein levels in your milk to add a few more cents to the final pay price, check out this article for five suggestions for each level. “Although modifying feed rations to boost components may sound like an easy way to tack on a few cents per […]
This article is packed with great Do’s and Don’ts on finding ways to lower feed costs. DO use a spreadsheet or feed management system DO make a weekly appointment to review your feed costs DO make your own feed DON’T allow your feed to shrink DON’T overfeed your herd DON’T cut an ingredient just because […]
“Herd monitoring technology tracks individual, group and herd activity to give farmers a heads-up on how animals are reacting to nutritional changes,” says Tara Bohnert, business development manager at Nedap Livestock Management. “The data empowers farmers to intervene and implement management changes before significant performance is lost.” Check out this article for a quick overview […]
Since 2003, the U.S. has lost more than half of its licensed dairy operations, now just shy of 32,000 dairy operations. In contrast, milk production per cow has steadily increased approximately 11.5% from 2011. In 2021, USDA predicts that daily output per cow will increase nearly 1.7%, which would be the highest rate of growth […]
Michael Lormore, the current director of cattle technical services at Zoetis, led a 2014 study identifying the drivers of financial success for a dairy, using data from 110 farms between 2007 to 2018. The farms were in the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. Check out this article for one variable worth keeping a close eye […]
“According to the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association’s Gold Standards, 50% of lifetime stature growth and 25% of lifetime weight gain occur in the first 6 months of a dairy calf’s life. That means the weeks after weaning are just as critical as those before.” Check out this article by Maureen Hanson of Bovine Veterinarian […]
“Think of fiber in a dairy or beef diet in the same way. Fiber provides bulk to diets — it’s the most important factor to account for when evaluating forages and developing dairy or beef diets. Despite the many different discussions around fiber digestibility and undigestible fiber, total fiber content is always my starting point […]
“Chief financial officer of Pagel Family Businesses Brian Dolski said during a virtual panel discussion at the Dairy Business Association’s Dairy Strong conference Jan. 20 that farmers could receive a potential of $1,200 per cow per year if they install a digester. He also noted that while much of the compressed natural gas industry is […]
“2020 was a year like no other. Following a year dominated by Covid-19, what can dairy farming expect moving forward? Covid-19 forced U.S. dairy producers to rethink the U.S. milk business, especially its dependency on fresh milk sales and foodservice cheese. It also exposed the vulnerability of dependence on external labor. Longer-term emerging trends include […]
