“Invited review: Advances and challenges in application of feedomics to improve dairy cow production and health.”Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 102 No. 7, 2019. This article caught my attention because of the title. I didn’t know the term “feedomics,” so I was curious to find out.

Physiological changes in early lactation can affect subsequent fertility of lactating dairy cows, and it is common for dairy cows to lose body condition after calving. Multiple studies demonstrated low body condition or loss of body condition creates fewer pregnancies per A.I. at first service.

This column brings you information regarding some of the research being done around the world and published in the Journal of Dairy Science. The objective is to bring to light areas of research that may have an immediate practical application on a dairy farm as well as research that, even though it may not have a practical impact now, could be interesting for its future potential application.

“Effect of the amount of concentrate offered in an automated milking system on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, ruminal digestion and behaviour of primiparous Holstein cows fed isocaloric diets.”

This column brings you information regarding some of the research being done around the world and published in the Journal of Dairy Science (JDS). The objective is to bring to light areas of research that may have an immediate practical application on a dairy farm, as well as research that, even though may not have a practical impact now, could be interesting for its future potential application. The idea is to give a brief overview of select research studies but not go into detail on each topic. Those interested in further in-depth reading can use the citations to find each study.

This is the first of a regular column to bring you information regarding some of the research being done around the world and published in the Journal of Dairy Science (JDS). The objective is to bring to light areas of research that may have an immediate practical application on a dairy farm as well as research that, even though it may not have a practical impact now, could be interesting for its future potential application.

Heifers are a fundamental part of the dairy operation. They are the future of the herd, and an important aspect of their development is to get them pregnant on time, calve in good condition and make a positive return.

The effects of heat stress on dry cows are profound and have an impact on the herd year-round, despite what the outside thermometer might read. The production and physiological effects on cows and the effects on the calf from heat stress during the dry period are significant contributors to lower overall milk potential, productivity and profitability.

This is the second article in a two-part series on converting calves to ruminants. Convert calves into full-functioning ruminants  is the first article in this series. 
There are very valuable reasons to pursue increased performance in dairy calves. Several studies indicate significant positive relationships between average daily gain (ADG) during the first 65 days (with ADG ranging from 0.37 to 1.12 kilograms per day) and future milk yield.

The effects of heat stress on dry cows are profound. There are significant carryover effects into lactation with substantial economic implications. The deleterious effects of heat stress in the dry period cannot be corrected by improving the environment (cooling) for cows once they start milking. By any measure, the production and physiological effects on cows and the effects on the calf from heat stress on dry cows are significant contributors to lower overall milk potential, productivity and profitability.