For years, dairy educators and researchers have emphasized the importance of getting colostrum into newborn calves. “What’s changed in the last 15 years is that we’re finally seeing dairy producers making colostrum a priority,” says Dr. Jonathan Hess of Hess Vet Service West, based in Hagerman, Idaho. “People understand that if you feed good colostrum to calves, it can have a direct effect on reducing death loss.”

While perennial forage species are the backbone of most forage-based livestock systems, annual forages can supplement and complement the perennials to increase production of your operation.

Sometimes non-traditional crops for livestock can augment forage supplies or stretch the production on a piece of land.

Most cropland in the northeastern U.S. is better suited to perennial grass production than to legumes or row crop production.

This article is the first of a two-part discussion intended to explain the mechanics and organization of privatized forage discussion groups. Watch for part two in a later issue. Click here to read part-two.