Posted on December 31st, 2020 in Dairy Performance
Many different species of birds make a dairy farm “home” in the cooler months, posing a risk to the health of livestock and people as well as the farm’s bottom line. Birds are drawn to farms because of the continuous supply of fresh feed and seek the energy-dense components of the feedstuffs or ration. This loss of nutrients consumed by birds can greatly impact the nutrients that cattle are able to eat, thus directly impacting a producer’s bottom line. In addition, birds are associated with the spread and amplification of microbiological hazards, including E. coli , Salmonella , and many others that can have lasting impacts in dairy herds.
Posted on November 13th, 2020 in Dairy Performance
By Ann Hoskins Maternal colostrum is a high-value asset on your farm. Unfortunately, that asset often runs short this time of year as many farms see a slump in colostrum production between November and February. Farms need to have a “plan B” in place as they don’t want to short calves on this vital nutrition.
Refrigerating or freezing excess high-quality colostrum (greater than 22% Brix reading) is a great way to ensure each newborn calf receives this vital nutrition at birth. Because high temperatures can destroy immunoglobulins (IgGs) and other nutrients, colostrum should be carefully thawed and warmed before feeding it to the calf. Producers can easily build their own colostrum thawing and heating unit to accomplish this task by following these simple steps.
Posted on September 24th, 2020 in Dairy Performance
The owners of Hilltop Dairy LLC in Markesan, Wisconsin, have had a passion for registered Holstein cattle and “good-looking, good-producing cows” for decades. That tradition continues to be front-and-center on the 1,400-cow dairy today.
Posted on September 10th, 2020 in Dairy Performance
By Dr. Eric Schwab The classically discussed benefits of amino acid balancing are typically increases in milk component yield, reduced metabolizable protein (MP) required, and increased efficiency of protein use. This focus is understandable as these benefits are the easiest to quantify economically. However, recent research shows that these most tangible benefits are not the only reasons why amino acid nutrition should be adopted.
By Dr. Andy Kniesly After just a few hot days, it is not uncommon to see milk production losses of 5 to 15 pounds of milk per cow day. That might be just the tip of the iceberg as heat stress can lead to a long list of other animal health and performance consequences. A lot of factors go into designing heat abatement systems for dairies, which require a solid understanding of your facilities and environment. Here are some very common areas that we can focus on to help us prioritize where to start.
In the most recent edition of Starting Strong Calf Chat, Dr. Noah Litherland reminds calf raisers of three goals of ventilation: (1) provide adequate amounts of clean air to the calf, (2) prevent drafts on the calf, and (3) manage the temperature and humidity in the barn.
Watch the video for tips to optimize the calf environment during spring's fluctuating temperatures and damp weather.
By Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian We often associate nitrate concerns with drought-stressed plants, but very wet conditions can also stress plants and cause them to accumulate nitrates. Furthermore, high nitrate levels aren’t just a concern during the harvest season. We are hearing reports of silages with higher-than-normal nitrate levels this spring. Last year’s tough harvest season resulted in some crops going into the silo frozen, which means they did not ferment. As the weather warms, they begin to “thaw” and undergo a fermentation, which also means there is risk for silo gas formation. Please, be careful!
Posted on February 24th, 2020 in Dairy Performance
By Jon Rasmussen As computer herd management programs have improved, we have new opportunities to define what needs to be recorded and how this can help us not only treat calves, but also identify higher-level strategies for improvement.
During Vita Plus Dairy Summit in December, attendees explored many “waves of change” in the dairy industry. If you did not attend the event – or did attend and are looking for a refresher – browse the topics in this post to access the full event e-news.
By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist Both pre- and probiotics have shown the ability to resist invasion of harmful pathogens by preventing them from binding to cells in the GIT or binding directly to (and subsequently destroying) these invading pathogens. They can help improve the gastrointestinal tract environment for ingestion and digestion, thus increasing feed efficiency, and improve the overall immune system by regulating gut barrier function. Most companies involved in animal health, reproduction, and nutrition have added a variety of prebiotic and/or probiotic products to their portfolios in recent years. Let’s explore some common questions about these feed additives.
By Barry Visser Enhancing milk fat is beneficial to animal performance and farm profitability. Today, butterfat accounts for more than half of your milk check. Production goals are often based on combined milk fat and protein yields. Although the dog days of summer may not be an ideal time to improve milk fat, several factors may help you minimize your decline.
By Ann Hoskins If you haven't already, now is the time for routine maintenance on your calf facility ventilation system. Good air quality goes a long way in promoting calf health. Plus, an efficiently working ventilation system saves dollars on your bottom line.
By Dr. Noah Litherland While we enjoy spring's warmer weather, this is usually a stressful season for calves and heifers. Increased ambient temperature during the day, increased humidity, and cooler nights have clear impacts on heifer intakes and health. Coccidiosis and respiratory challenges are common due to fluctuating temperatures and environmental stress.
By Dr. Eric Schwab Mycotoxins are present in a wide range of livestock feeds. While the focus has been primarily on cereal grains, haylage and hay can also contain mycotoxins. Grain byproducts, such as distiller’s grains and corn gluten feed, can have mycotoxin concentrations two to three times greater than the parent material as little mycotoxin destruction occurs during processing and concentration occurs in the byproduct stream. Testing for mycotoxins should be considered when symptoms of toxicity exist among a large population of animals on your farm and cannot be readily explained.
By Dr. Jenn Rowntree We're likely to see more bitter cold temperatures yet this winter. Unless frostbite is caught and treated early, the results are often permanent and detrimental. With limited treatment options, prevention of frostbite is the best strategy.
Contact Us
Today's
Find Your