As milk prices continue to squeeze the dairy industry, many producers utilize overcrowding to maximize efficiency of facilities and keep bulk tanks full. Previous work from Albert De Vries and colleagues at the University of Florida has demonstrated economic benefit to this strategy, with optimal return at approximately 120% in lactating pens.

Successful implementation of feeding programs on the dairy hinges on accurate assessment and effective management of forages in the diet. As we wrap up a year notable for the extent of weather challenges experienced throughout the growing and harvesting seasons, this focus on forages becomes even more critical.

The 2019 corn silage season was as challenging as last year, mainly due to excessive precipitation – including flooding in some areas – leading to heavy, saturated soils.

Over the past couple of decades, advances in forage genetics, forage agronomics, forage harvesting and ensiling have enabled dairy farms to feed progressively more forages as a percentage of their total lactation ration. Feeding higher amounts of high-quality forage has resulted in improved rumen health, improved cow health and higher milk components. Another benefit of feeding higher levels of high-quality, homegrown forages is that it often translates to lower purchased feed costs and improved income over feed cost.

The harvest has come and gone, taking much of the opportunity to prevent shrink in your feed storage, but these winter shrink tips from three nutritionists across the U.S. can help your operation save money and protect your herd’s health no matter what kind of weather winter throws your way.

Clostridial diseases can be among the most puzzling problems on a dairy. That’s because C. perfringens and other clostridia species occur naturally in soils, water and throughout the dairy environment.

Researchers are increasingly identifying the implication of microbial growth in dairy feed ingredients and feed. Not only does the growth of mold and wild yeast strains in these rations impact the nutritional composition of the diet, they generate heat, which impacts palatability, and certain mold species generate harmful toxins, which impact animal performance.

Forage particle size is a “hot” topic on dairy farms. Nutritionists, veterinarians and dairy farmers are asking how long forage fiber needs to be. What it the impact of the fiber source?

Mycotoxin contamination, caused by molds and fungi that appear in feed, is an urgent concern in dairy rations across the country this year. A recent mycotoxin report warns contamination levels in the 2018 crop present a medium-to-high risk to livestock.

What’s in the box?

Forrest Gump’s momma always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” In a way, feeding cows is the same. You never really know the true composition of the feeds and diet that make it to the bunk or what makes it into each cow.