What Most Affects Fiber Digestibility?

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Ever wondered what influences the digestibility of fiber in dairy diets? Gonzalo Ferreira from Virginia Tech dives into the factors that play a pivotal role in determining fiber quality and its digestibility.

“The concentration of neutral detergent fiber, hereafter referred to as fiber or NDF, is the major determinant of the digestibility and energy concentration of a feed. According to the Lucas test of digestibility, all non-fibrous constituents are completely and uniformly digested, whereas fiber is incompletely and variably digested. In simpler terms, the digestibility of non-fiber components leans toward 100% in most circumstances, but the digestibility of the fiber depends on multiple factors. Because of this, the digestibility of fiber, also known as NDF digestibility or NDFD, is the second major determinant of energy concentration of a feed.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Gonzalo Ferreira with Hoard’s Dairyman

Springers Strong Amidst Mixed Bag for Dairy

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Amidst a fluctuating dairy landscape, Springers appear to be holding their ground! Maureen Hanson from Dairy Herd gives us a look into how these key players are shaping the industry’s future.

“Dairy cow culling is at near-record levels and scorching August heat has docked milk production throughout most of the country. USDA estimates indicate about 21,000 head of dairy cows were culled from May to June 2023, and that pace has continued through much of the summer.

Except for data generated during the dairy buyout program in 1986, dairy slaughter rates hit record highs in four separate weeks during June and July. But the news isn’t all grim. Healthy beef slaughter prices have made those cull cows quite valuable, and feed costs have tempered a bit through the summer. Milk prices also are gaining ground since the abysmal lows of July, and springer values were stronger in most reported markets over the past month, climbing an especially impressive $200-400/head in California.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Maureen Hanson with Dairy Herd Management

Increase Early Lactation Milk Production with Short-day Lighting During the Dry Period

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Did you know that adjusting light exposure can affect early lactation milk yield? Mike Wolf from AgProud shines a light on how short-day lighting during the dry period could enhance milk production. 🐄💡

“Utilizing short-day lighting in barns housing dry cows for the entire 60-day dry period may positively impact milk production during the upcoming lactation.

Short-day lighting may be the next low-hanging fruit to address on your dairy. There have been many studies in the last 20-plus years that have found a positive correlation between utilizing a long-day photoperiod in barns housing lactating dairy cattle and increased marginal milk and overall milk production.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Mike Wolf with Progressive Dairy

Cows Will Tell You Whether They’re Happy With How They’re Milked

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Did you know cows can tell us if they’re happy with how they’re milked? A recent article from DairyHerd.com gives insight into our bovine buddies and their milking preferences. Just goes to show, when it comes to their well-being, every detail matters!

Rhonda Brooks writes, “Teat end scoring provides Paul Virkler with some valuable insights into a dairy cow’s milking experience.

“In the immediate term, it tells us whether that cow is happy with the way she was milked,” says Virkler, DVM, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Services, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

“Make sure you score a haphazard sample of the cows being milked. You want first-lactation animals, older cows, mid-lactation, etc., a good representation of the herd,” he says.

Factors such as hardness, color changes, swelling and abrasions figure into the assessment, which should be done immediately after the milking unit is removed from the animal.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Rhonda Brooks with Dairy Herd Management

Three Ways To Tackle Inaccurate Dairy Data

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Accurate and precise information is paramount in modern herd management. Whether it’s choosing the right tools, monitoring electrical interference, or regularly assessing identification accuracy, every detail matters:

“Does it matter if a data point is off here and there? Or a couple of cows are in the wrong pen? Or you miss a milk weight or two?

It definitely matters because everything about how you manage your cows circles back to accurate data. Herd management systems gather information from the animal and give you an active solution based on that intelligence. But, if input data are inaccurate, the action item will be too.

Here are three things you can do to increase animal identification (ID) accuracy and data precision on your dairy.

1. Know system capabilities and component placement
2. Monitor electrical interference
3. Watch, analyze and adjust

The beauty of data is you can use it to investigate deeper and see what’s happening on your dairy down to the minute. When reviewing animal performance, it’s vital to assess information accuracy and ensure IDs are read correctly at all checkpoints around the farm, from the milking parlor to the sort gate.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Nedap Livestock Management

High Production Costs Could Weigh on the Ag Economy Through 2024, New Survey of Economists Finds

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The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor unveils helpful insights on the state of U.S. agriculture. Economists forecast a downward trend in the financial health of the sector, driven by high production costs, global competition, and more. With wide-ranging views on 2023 crop yields and commodity prices, the survey reveals a mixed outlook on livestock and a watchful eye on potential recession threats:

“Main Takeaways from the June Survey
Highlights from the first Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor include:

  • The perceived financial health of U.S. agriculture is trending lower and is expected to continue to decline over the next 12 months.
  • Production costs, global competition, geopolitical risks, drought and demand headwinds are among the main drivers.
  • The majority of agricultural economists expect farm income to drift lower, with some expecting levels to land closer to the five-year average in 2024.
  • High production expenses are the biggest obstacle in 2023.
  • 2023 crop yield estimates vary widely among the economists surveyed.
  • Economists expect crop prices to drift lower in 2023 and 2024.
  • Beef cow supplies are forecast to continue to decline this year.

A Current and Future Snapshot of the Agriculture Economy

The monitor shows the perceived financial health of U.S. agriculture has moved slightly lower over the past year, and economists expect that trend to continue over the next 12 months.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Tyne Morgan

Poor Air Quality from Wildfire Smoke can put Livestock at Risk

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The wildfire smoke drifting from Canada into the United States has prompted a call to action for those with underlying lung conditions or asthma, including children and the elderly, to minimize outdoor exposure. But this warning extends beyond human health; it’s a risk to our animals, too. Rhonda Brooks writes

“Look for the following signs of possible smoke or dust irritation in animals, including:
•    Coughing or gagging
•    Difficulty breathing, including open mouth breathing and increased noise when breathing
•    Eye irritation and excessive watering
•    Inflammation of throat or mouth
•    Nasal discharge
•    Asthma-like symptoms
•    Increased breathing rate
•    Fatigue or weakness
•    Disorientation or stumbling
•    Reduced appetite and/or thirst

[…]

Unhealthy levels of pollutants from the smoke spread across states in those regions including most of Michigan and Wisconsin and parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, according to tracker AirNow.gov.”

To Learn More, Read the full article by Rhonda Brooks

Tips On How To Increase Dairy Farm Cash Flow

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Navigating the turbulent tides of the dairy farming industry can feel overwhelming, especially as financial pressures mount and the future remains uncertain. The challenges are real, but so are some solutions. Pauly Paul writes in his article in AGProud:

“Borrowing money to pay the bills? If that is you, you are not alone. As a dairy consultant who helps farmers increase income and efficiencies and reduce their expenses, these are the phone calls that have been coming in recently as worries loom over what is to come in 2023.

But even when the dairy farmer can’t see it, I believe there is always a way to uncover opportunities to increase cash flow and cut back on unnecessary expenses. In fact, there is one dairy in particular that our team has successfully turned around from borrowing money to pay the bills to being cash ahead, and they continue to hold this position in spite of the current milk markets, inflation and rising input costs.”

Read the full article by Pauly Paul

What are the 6 freedoms of a cow?

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“Focusing on the six freedoms of a cow proves to be beneficial for increasing your dairy’s return on investment (ROI). The six freedoms of a cow outlined by a dairy farming training organization are space, rest, water, air, light and feed. These freedoms have aligned benchmarking goals to help producers realize higher returns on current and future farm investments.”

“In the U.S., a dairy cow on average stays in the herd for 2.8 lactations. This means many cows are culled before they reach their highest and most productive lactation, typically achieved during the fifth or sixth lactation. Reasons for culling include reproduction, mobility and illness. Also bringing down the average is a longer-term trend for promoting genetic superiority, which involved incorporating younger animals into herds faster. Slowing this trend down are higher rearing costs for replacements and economics.”

Read the full article by Amelie Mainville with Progressive Dairy

All Eyes on the Milk Price

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“Within dairy specifically, all eyes are on the milk price into the coming months, with values falling slowly but steadily recently. This price pressure, coupled with still high cost of production, will mean that some dairy farmers might struggle to achieve profitability this year. Data shows that cows’ numbers began to contract in November and December, and if margins remain tight, Rabobank expects additional declines in the herd size.”

“Even if cow numbers contract, Rabobank still expects stronger milk supplies this year versus 2022, likely climbing around 1% during this calendar year. This additional volume, coupled with a return to stronger production in the EU as well, means that demand will need to keep pace to avoid further milk price declines.” –

Read the full article by Lucas Fuess with Dairy Herd Management

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