“The report, published by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS), was reviewed for nearly two years by a committee of science and nutrition experts. This year marked a historical event, as the 2020-2025 guidelines now include recommendations for children younger than two years of age for the first time.”
Be sure to check out this article by Dairy Herd Management’s Taylor Leach
“Successfully guiding cows through early lactation is key to their long-term health and production performance. While nutrition and health during early lactation greatly impact peak milk yields, preventing health problems and having good feed practices can actually improve peak milk yields.”
If you need help adjusting your herd’s nutrition plan, we offer custom and unbiased consulting and hands-on support, contact us for more information.
“David Wiens, vice president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, said the money will help farms make investments for the future.
“I think particularly for the younger farmers who have really struggled since these agreements have been ratified, they can actually now see opportunities, how they can continue to make those investments on the farm so that they can continue on,” he said.”
Be sure to check out this article by Stephanie Levitz / The Canadian Press
“With Americans staying home more than usual because of the pandemic, and doing lots of baking and cooking to pass the time, this has been a banner year for butter. Land O’Lakes, the Minnesota-based dairy cooperative, expects to sell 275 million to 300 million pounds of the stuff this year — a 20% increase — as rising retail demand more than makes up for lost restaurant business. Nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, butter production is up 6% over the first nine months of the year and is on track to top two billion pounds for the first time since 1943.”
As seasons change again, there are nutrition adjustments that can be made to help your herd.
“It is a well-known fact that freshly calved cows cannot eat enough to meet their energy demands, therefore creating a negative energy balance (NEB). Milk yield rises quickly in the weeks after calving and many high-yielding cows cannot eat enough to fulfill their nutrient requirements due to depressed intakes post-calving. This NEB causes body condition loss, which, in turn, then impacts fertility. Immunity is also reduced, and there is a higher risk of metabolic diseases, with 80% of metabolic issues occurring in the transition period.”
If you need help adjusting your herd’s nutrition plan, we offer custom and unbiased consulting and hands-on support, contact us for more information.
Be sure to check out this article by Farming Life’s Una Culkin
“Since amino acids are the building blocks of protein, it is easy to understand why a deficiency in one amino acid could limit protein formation and milk production. But dairy scientists have known for more than a decade that amino acids are involved in many more biological functions.
To date, they have identified more than 20 such functions, ranging from protein synthesis to reproduction, embryo development, growth, stress response, immunity and health, milk production, and behavior. Amino acids also affect gene expression. For example, methionine has been shown to affect more than 2,600 genes.”
Be sure to check out the recent article by Dairy Herd’s Jim Dickrell.
“Cow comfort is very important to milk production, milk quality, reproductive efficiency, and health of dairy cows.
There are economic consequences to poor cow comfort. “A comfortable cow is a cash cow”.
However, one reason that should make cow comfort a priority is that it is the right thing to do. We domesticated cows about 10,000 years ago so that we could harvest a wholesome food for humans. Cows should be treated with care and respect, be provided with adequate shelter, feed and water, and have an overall good and comfortable life.”
Do you need help with your herd? We offer custom and unbiased consulting and hands-on support, contact us for more information.
Be sure to check out the recent article by University of Minnesota Extension
“The DMC is a voluntary risk management program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. More than 23,000 dairy farming operations enrolled in DMC in 2019, and more than 13,000 enrolled in 2020.
To determine the appropriate level of coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the recently updated online decision tool, which helps farmers calculate premium costs and administrative fees.”
Be sure to check out the recent article by Independent Messenger
“Milk pricing in federal marketing orders is complicated under normal circumstances, but many dairy farmers have been bewildered by milk checks that didn’t reflect the soaring Class III prices they expected in their pool’s blend price.
Negative PPDs — producer price differentials — have consumed the industry’s collective psyche for months, but they don’t necessarily mean producers are losing money.
Over the past few years, the price of Class I milk for fluid consumption has stayed well above those of manufacturing milk. The COVID-19 pandemic initially brought big decreases in demand and prices for Class III and Class IV, followed by a big recovery in Class III — primarily due to the second round of government purchases of cheese, he said.”
Be sure to check out the recent article by Capital Press’s Carol Ryan Dumas
“From dumping milk to higher prices, it has been a wild year for the dairy industry. But can those higher prices continue into the new year? Farm Journal’s Tyne Morgan dives into the markets in today’s analysis with Scott Brown from the University of Missouri.
Dairy markets have experienced a rollercoaster ride throughout the year. As we close out 2020, producers are eager to hear what the markets will look like for the remainder of the year and going into 2021.”
Be sure to check out the recent article by Dairy Herd Management, AgDay TV
