Does feeding dry corn silage ‘corn-cern’ you?

Posted on November 29, 2023 in Forage Foundations
By Paulina Letelier, Ph.D., Vita plus | Many farms throughout the Midwest reported harvesting drier-than-ideal corn silage this season. Here are some strategies to get the most from these dry corn silages.

Forage particle size recommendations that boost cow comfort

Posted on August 22, 2023 in Forage Foundations
By Rick Grant, William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute | Forage quality is an overlooked component of cow comfort. Forage particle size, NDF degradability, fragility and dietary forage percentage must allow the cow to consume feed within 3 to 5 hours per day. Too much forage fiber, poorly digested and/or coarsely chopped forage will extend eating time beyond 5 hours per day and probably limit dry matter intake (DMI).

Manage feed to reduce risk of milk fat depression

Posted on June 1, 2023 in Forage Foundations
By Stacy Nichols, Vita Plus | As we enter the summer months, we face a higher risk of milk fat depression caused by several factors.  One of those factors can be the increased availability of starch and corn oil in well-fermented corn silage and high moisture corn.

Controlling birds and their mess

Posted on February 22, 2021 in Forage Foundations

By Jarrod Blackburn, Vita Plus dairy specialist
Many different bird species 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. Luckily, you have options to control those bird populations and protect your investment.

Spoiling silages and TMRs

Posted on June 17, 2020 in Forage Foundations

By Dr. Limin Kung, University of Delaware professor of animal and food sciences
Silages start to spoil when exposed to air. Because total mixed rations (TMR) contain silages, they are also prone to further spoilage in the feed bunk, and the consequences of feeding these feeds can vary depending on several factors.

3 ways to cope with high-mycotoxin feeds – Dr. Eric Schwab, Vita Plus

Posted on February 1, 2019 in Forage Foundations

​By Dr. Eric Schwab, Vita Plus dairy technical specialist
Mycotoxins are present in a wide range of livestock feeds. If you determine that a mycotoxin challenge exists, here are 3 mitigation strategies to help alleviate the situation.

Comparing high moisture corn processing equipment – Jon Urness, Vita Plus

Posted on September 25, 2017 in Forage Foundations

By Jon Urness, Vita Plus national forage specialist
If you have adequate corn silage kernel processing, yet a high fecal starch percentage, you may need to look into your grain source and high moisture corn processing equipment for answers.

Two of the most common types of high moisture corn processing equipment available are hammer mills and roller mills.  Either can adequately process corn, but the choice sometimes boils down to availability.

The fungus among us: The buzz behind the fuzz – Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus

Posted on September 23, 2016 in Forage Foundations
By Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical service specialist
A mushroom, a yeast and a mold walk into a bar.  The bartender yells, “I don’t want any trouble here!”  They responded “Calm down, friend… we’re just fun-guys!”

A "good" joke, but it’s not funny when those molds appear in your feed and start causing trouble.

Pest problems have far-reaching effects – Jon Urness, Vita Plus

Posted on May 26, 2016 in Forage Foundations

By Jon Urness, Vita Plus national forage specialist
Wildlife pests found around bunkers, piles and bags are not only an unsightly nuisance, but can also wreak havoc by spreading serious disease threats to livestock and even humans.

Avoid the stink (Dr. Michelle Windle)

Posted on March 18, 2015 in Forage Foundations
By Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical services specialist “Clostridia” is almost a four-lettered word in today’s silage world.  Clostridia bacteria degrade quality and produce butyric acid in silages.  However, clostridia challenges can be managed with the right knowledge, tools and strategy. Clostridia bugs are present everywhere: in the soil, on