Shift Alfalfa Goals with High Corn Silage Diets

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As dairy and beef diets evolve towards higher corn silage content, it’s time for forage growers to rethink alfalfa management strategies. With cattle showing a clear preference for diet consistency, the shift towards more corn silage has influenced alfalfa’s role in nutrition, leading to a reevaluation of alfalfa harvest intervals and heights.

John Goeser highlights the need for flexibility in alfalfa harvest strategies, suggesting that longer intervals could yield more while providing the structural fiber needed in corn silage-heavy diets. This approach not only meets current dietary trends but also promises longer stand life and greater yield.

As the dairy industry leans more on corn silage, understanding the balance between quality and quantity in alfalfa becomes crucial. Let’s navigate these changes together, optimizing forage production to support efficient and sustainable dairy operations. 

Considering how to adjust your forage growing strategies? Contact us for insights and support in making informed decisions.

To learn more, read the full article by John Goeser in Hay and Forage.

How individual cow personalities affect milking performance in dairy cows

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Researchers, led by Dr. Trevor DeVries, are diving into how the unique personalities of dairy cows – from curiosity to shyness – impact their behavior and production in automated milking systems. Through innovative studies, the team assesses how cows interact with new environments, objects, and humans to understand the link between temperament and milking efficiency.

This groundbreaking research not only highlights the diversity among dairy cows but also paves the way for tailored management strategies that could enhance milking performance based on individual cow personalities. It’s a step forward in recognizing the complex needs of dairy herds and optimizing production through a deeper understanding of animal behavior.

To learn more, read the full article by Guilherme Madureira in Farmtario. 

Looking for tailored solutions to enhance your dairy operation? Our experts are here to help – get in touch today!

 

The Most Overlooked Nutrient

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We’re highlighting the often-overlooked importance of water for dairy cattle, a crucial nutrient that tends to be forgotten in daily farm management due to its widespread availability. This insight comes from a reflection on dairy quiz bowl experiences and a recent Virginia Dairy Pipeline article by dairy extension agent Jeremy Daubert.

Daubert emphasizes the vital role water plays in the biological functions of cows, noting that cows lose water through various means, including respiration, perspiration, and milk production, which is about 87% water. He also refers to the Nutrient Requirements for Dairy Cattle (NRC) for guidelines on estimating the drinking water needs of dairy cattle, which vary based on factors like age, climate, and lactation status.

A key aspect of water management on farms is ensuring the quality of the water provided. Daubert recommends periodic testing of water sources for pH, total dissolved solids, bacteria, and coliforms, as many quality issues are not visible and require lab analysis. He challenges farmers to consider if the water they provide to their cattle is clean enough for human consumption, stressing that troughs should be cleaned regularly, with frequency depending on factors like animal numbers, trough size, and season.

To learn more: Read the full article by Maggie Gilles on Hoard’s Dairyman

Labor Productivity or Efficiency. Is there a Difference?

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There is a crucial distinction between labor efficiency and productivity in dairy operations, and it is vital to understand how this difference can impact labor costs, which account for 10-15% of milk production expenses. Labor efficiency, often pursued to reduce costs, does not always equate to labor productivity. This distinction becomes clear in roles like feed center operations.

Efficiency focuses on reducing the time spent on tasks, such as through larger loader buckets or automation. However, productivity aims to increase output in a fixed time frame. A feeder, for instance, may complete feeding in five hours but will still occupy their full eight-to-twelve-hour shift. Thus, improving productivity might involve adding responsibilities to an employee’s role, such as cross-training the feeder to also collect weighbacks or uncover forage piles.

Increasing productivity operation-wide can also be achieved by maximizing “up-time” – the time employees spend on productive work. This involves creating efficient workflows to minimize downtime between tasks. For feeders, this could mean ensuring functional garage doors and scheduling feed deliveries efficiently.

Specialization is another strategy, where tasks are divided among specialized roles, effective in larger operations. For example, in a feed center, this could look like having separate roles for a loader driver and a feed delivery driver.

To effectively reduce labor costs, dairies of all sizes should focus on shifting from efficiency to productivity, tailoring strategies to their operation size and structure.

To learn more: Read the full article by Trent Dado with Dairy Herd Management

Keeping 2023’s Drought in Perspective

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Widmar said the drought of 2012 remains unique in the crushing effects delivered by continued, extreme heat and lack of rainfall as summer marched on. In contrast, 2023 netted out to be considerably less severe than 2012. “While drought conditions were widespread and persistent this year, they didn’t get worse as the corn and soybean crops entered their reproductive stages,” the economist stated.

And while conditions were definitely spotty, he said as a whole, 2023’s drought indicators did not approach the extremes of 2012, noting it’s a good reminder that “the worst since 2012” can still be a long way from 2012-like conditions.

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

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

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