For many dairies, use of premixes is nothing new and they have been used in some fashion since dairying began. In many cases, however, because the practice is so common, we may tend to forget these are tools in our feeding programs that need to be reevaluated from time to time.

A few months ago, I received a call from a dairyman who was having issues with his somatic cell count (SCC). He asked me to look over his feeding program and see if I saw anything that they might be overlooking or that stood out as a problem that might affect somatic cell, mastitis levels, etc.

Some dairies across the country are using larger inclusion mixes due to lack of feed storage options. Still in other cases, some feed companies are proposing larger inclusion grain mixes to their customers.

Some of the most crucial aspects of calf health and performance begin well before birth. One of these is the unique role of the essential nutrient choline and methyl-group donors during both pregnancy and lactation.

During the transition period, a lot goes on “under the hood” so to speak that can be a drag on a cow’s efficiency, such as inflammation and decreased feed intake.

Dairy replacement heifers are an extremely valuable component of a dairy operation. Not only are they the future of the lactating herd, but they determine your long-term profitability. That’s why providing them with adequate and consistent vitamin and trace mineral nutrition is important to help support optimal growth, health, immunity, reproduction and hoof integrity.

Heat stress occurs when an animal generates and absorbs more heat than it can dissipate through respiration, sweating or active cooling. Rumination generates large amounts of heat, so when a cow is hot, her first response is typically to eat less feed.

The economic cost and impact of feed shrink on dairy farms is a real problem. One form of unseen shrink is the degradation of fat-soluble vitamins supplemented in rations.

One area that may not always be linked as directly as it should be to nutrition is animal health. In many cases, we tend to compartmentalize health and nutrition to a degree, handing the health program to the veterinarian and the nutrition program to the nutritionist.

In order for an animal to reach optimal health and performance, we must first understand the nutritional requirements of the animal, depending on their age and stage of production.