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.
When was the last time you and your herd veterinarian spent time together with calves? Even if the calves are healthy, your veterinarian should still be involved in the development of calf management practices. Here are five questions to ask your herd veterinarian to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your calf-rearing program.
By Dr. Jenn Rowntree Recently, a herd of cows in Dane County, Wisconsin recently tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB) and has been quarantined. The herd will continue to be under quarantine while the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WI DATCP) traces all cattle that have entered and exited the herd in the last five years. This event provides a great opportunity to reiterate how important it is to practice proper biosecurity protocols.
By Barry Visser Dairy cattle behavior and appearance often make it easy to detect external parasites like flies, mange and lice. Severe internal parasite infiltrations can result in roughness of hair coat, anemia, edema and diarrhea. However, the subclinical impact of internal parasites is largely hidden, yet costly. According to a recent study at Iowa State University , undetected subclinical disease caused by internal parasites can cost $190 per animal.
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