The impact of heat stress is cumulative. One event may be easy for a cow to bounce back from, but over time, repeated bouts take longer recovery and hinder profitability. Nutrition is a valuable tool to help mitigate the effects of heat stress and maintain herd productivity.

Last fall, when cottonseed prices kept shooting higher, dairy producers were pulling the ingredient out of their rations or reducing their inclusion rates. However, prices have since come back down to the same price as seen last spring in 2022.

A close examination of the feed ration reveals that the garden salad-looking bovine meal may contain corn silage, hay and flaked corn. There may be byproducts from local plants such as beet pulp, cottonseeds or even bakery waste. When feeding cows, it is important to note that cows don’t have a requirement for hay or grain but for the nutrients that these feeds contain.

Every dairy includes some level of fat in the cow’s diet, whether specifically formulated in or not. While we are well acquainted with the various sources both natural and commercial, the roles that various fat sources, fat components (fatty acids) and fat combinations play in the animal, in terms of production, health and reproduction, still need a great deal of work.

What many dairy farmers do not know is the many other factors that affect NDF digestibility outside of the hybrids they choose to plant and harvest. There are both dietary and non-dietary factors that can either negatively or positively impact fiber digestion. For the sake of space and time in this article, we will only discuss some of the diet-related factors.

Progressive Dairy hosted these technologies along with PDPW on the Nexus Innovation stage – a live-format presentation that is a cross between a TED Talk and a Shark Tank pitch.

The imminent summer season brings a new set of challenges, and heat stress tops the list. It's more than just a buzzword; heat stress can negatively impact every animal on your farm – regardless of age – along with you and your team. Learn what strategies you can implement to mitigate heat stress.