Healthy culture drives business success

Posted on April 11, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Jon Wilcox A family with energetic boys raised cattle on a hobby farm. A well-intentioned neighbor, with decades of experience in cattle production, was critical of the “results” he saw and often shared his wisdom. One evening, as the neighbor was chastising the father, the mother finally stepped in and said, “You don’t seem

Safety is a part of your business too

Posted on March 29, 2013 in Dairy Performance

By Scott Hall 
Farm safety has always been a concern to protect workers and family members. In the past, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has placed most of its energy on construction and general industry. 

Harvesting fall-seeded rye as silage

Posted on March 13, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Jon Urness Spring harvesting of fall-seeded small grain grasses such as rye, triticale, and wheat as haylage has been popular in some areas of the country. Interest in this practice has spread in the Midwest as a source of forage for replacements and the opportunity to maximum forage yield by double-cropping in combination with

Whole forage team not on the same page? Now’s the time to get there.

Posted on March 1, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Chris Wacek-Driver As March begins and we’re optimistic that the snow will soon melt, we’re looking forward to spring and summer and being back in the fields.  That includes putting together our forage plans.  But is everyone on the same page?  If we aren’t now, we surely won’t be come harvest season. Let’s fast-forward

Colostrum for one and all

Posted on February 15, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Dr. Laurie Winkelman Calves are born into this world without immunity or the ability to fight off pathogens and infections.  Unlike humans, the cow’s placenta does not allow antibodies to transfer from cow to calf.  High quality colostrum is the only way to prepare these newborns for the rest of their lives. The benefits

Because they can’t wear ski jackets and snow pants

Posted on February 1, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Ann Hoskins It’s cold out there.  No doubt about it.  Your calves are noticing it too. Just like you put on multiple layers of clothing before you head outside in the winter, your calves need to “bundle up” when it gets cold. What’s more, their “winter outfits” need to be dry and clean to

Now’s the time to focus on employee management

Posted on January 18, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Peter Coyne 2013 may be a challenge as surging feed prices have driven the cost of production to new highs.  Do your employees understand your expectations or have they been receiving mixed messages during these stressful times? Labor plays a key role as you search for ways to manage expenses and maximize profitability.  An

Don’t lose money with too many replacements

Posted on January 4, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Randy Greenfield Is your heifer-raising operation a profitable one?  How many heifers do you need to support your dairy herd’s turnover rate?  Should you consider culling some of your youngstock? If you are a Midwestern dairy producer, you’ve probably asked these questions recently. Historically, dairy producers have striven to maximize the number of heifer

Silage additives: Can they cut the mustard in the EU?

Posted on December 21, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Jon Urness In America, we’re proud to say we live in the land of the free.  And, most often, that’s a good thing.  But when it comes to silage additives and how they’re scrutinized and marketed, maybe we’d have to say not-so-much. Here in the land of wide open spaces and free markets, it’s

Strength in numbers

Posted on December 12, 2012 in Dairy Performance
Approximately 350 dairy producers, Vita Plus staff and industry partners recently gathered in Merrillville, Indiana for Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2012.  This year's event centered on the theme of "Strength in numbers." Attendees learned about cutting-edge research and tools from top-notch speakers and networked with fellow progressive producers from across the Midwest. One of the

Limit infections in challenging environments

Posted on November 28, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Dr. Owen Mickley This season’s temperature swings aren’t easy for calves.  We've been hearing about an increase in navel infections, ear tag infections and joint swelling. Remember, any increase in infection or treatment rate is cause for concern.  These problems may seem minor, but could indicate an opportunity to enhance the current system.  If

Where do you invest your dairy dollars?

Posted on November 6, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski With today’s markets, dairy producers are wearing their business hats around the clock.  Every dollar counts when looking at the long-term financial success of your business.  So when you make a profit, where’s the best place to invest your money and increase your potential for future success? The first step:  Know your

Give Your Heifer Barns Some Attention Too

Posted on October 19, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Ann Hoskins Transitioning a calf from its individual pen to a group pen can be very stressful.  We always say three strikes and you’re out.  That can really hit home for your transition calves. Stressors that affect these animals include new location, socializing, feed change, locating feed and water, vaccinations, dehorning, etc.  Expose them

Alkaline treatment of corn stover: Can it work on my dairy?

Posted on October 10, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By John Brantsen and Jon Urness As we’re looking to make the most out of our crops this year, alkaline treatment of corn stover is gaining attention as a potential strategy to improve the feed value of this byproduct. Research shows that treating feedstuffs with calcium oxide increases cellulose digestibility, which improves the feed value

Decrease dairy cattle feed losses and earn the A on your forage harvesting report card

Posted on October 2, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Jon Urness With today’s dairy cattle feed costs, we need to get the most out of our homegrown forages. That means it’s not just back to school for our kids, but also back the basics when it comes to forage harvesting and storing nutritional food for your cows. Let’s see if our efforts will

Aflatoxin: No room for error in dairy

Posted on September 20, 2012 in Dairy Performance

By Dr. Al Schultz and Rod Martin

Almost every year at harvest, we have a few conversations about common molds and mycotoxins.  However, this year’s weather events have pushed us to look closer at a mycotoxin that isn’t as common in the upper Midwest:  aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is produced by the Aspergillus mold.  It thrives in periods of excessive heat and drought conditions, which is why it’s of particular concern to producers this harvest season.  Spores travel by the wind and infect silks or kernels, usually through insect wounds.