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During the past decade, the dairy industry has widely adopted higher-fiber, lower-energy pre-calving diets.
With these diets, cows are fed closer to their energy requirements, and an improvement in postpartum metabolic health has been demonstrated in a number of research studies and in numerous field experiences.
Dairy feeding programs have become so sophisticated that sometimes the basic goals of feeding ruminants are forgotten. Many feeding issues can be resolved by tending to the basics of rumen physiology.
The goal in feeding a TMR is to minimize the number of hours during the day when rumen pH is below 5.8. Low rumen pH inhibits rumen microbial growth and causes subacute rumen acidosis (SARA).
The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit that belongs to the Punicaceae family. A University of Georgia extension publication indicates that its Latin name means “seeded apple.”
Pomegranate consumption by humans has increased in recent years because of its purported health benefits.
With feed prices escalating rapidly in recent years, many dairy producers have cut back on certain ingredients in order to minimize their ingredient costs.
Of course, a cheaper and, more importantly, less energy-dense ration is often associated with reduced milk production.
Peter Van Warmerdam of Van Warmerdam Dairy farms 800 acres in central California with his brothers, Leo and Benny. This operation puts up more than 12,000 tons of corn silage each year to feed its 1,100 cows.
Approximately four to five years ago, we saw a steep change in the ingredient markets. Feed prices, particularly corn, skyrocketed.
The whole cost structure of operating a dairy jumped without a corresponding increase in milk prices. The impact of these changes continues to play out today.
Dairy producers have recently expressed interest in feeding corn as shredlage.
At the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Randy Shaver has been conducting feeding trials to see what makes it tick inside the cow.
This article was #14 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2013. It was published in the July 21, 2013 print issue. Click here for the full list of the Top 25.
This article explored a sampling of mobile-friendly feed rationing software. Several nutritionists and company representatives shared how the software has changed how they do business.
We asked those interviewed, Q. If you could snap your fingers and make it happen, what is a feature you would add to feed rationing software?
High-quality forages in dairy cow diets provide energy and nutrients that support milk yield. However, forages are typically variable in chemical composition.
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