On a daily basis, dairy farm managers make decisions that impact the profitability of their farm. These decisions have both short-term and long-term impacts. Controlling cost is critically important. Cutting excess cost can drive efficiency and improve overall profitability. However, cutting inputs that are generating a positive return on investment will reduce profits. For this reason, careful evaluation should be made before cutting input costs.

Much has been said about the importance of maintaining adequate levels of effective fibre in lactating dairy rations in order to support normal chewing behaviour and rumen function and maximize dry matter intake and milk production.

Oxygen: Humans can’t live without it while optimal silage fermentation can’t proceed with it. In fact, oxygen is so detrimental to anyone looking to put up quality silage that years of study and scores of management protocols have given rise to an industry that has a sole purpose of preventing oxygen from degrading silage.

Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series. Silage’s drive from point A to point B: This probably sounds like a bad agriculture cartoon, as silage clearly does not sit down in a car and drive; however, forage preservation can be compared to a situation we have all encountered when driving to a new destination.