A digital twin is a continuously updated virtual version of a real system. In dairy, that system might be an individual cow, a milking robot or the entire barn. The twin mirrors the real-time state of the animal or equipment it represents. When a cow walks to the feedbunk, her virtual counterpart records it. 

Proper planning and sound implementation are critical to making beef-on-dairy programs work, and the results can improve overall farm income and can complement the dairy operation as a whole.

Given a set of nutrient requirements and a list of ingredients with known nutrient profiles and value, nutritionists may leverage linear programming to derive the most cost-effective combination of ingredients to supply these desired nutrients. This practice is often referred to as "least-cost formulation."

It’s typical for newly weaned or sale barn-acquired calves to experience multiple stressors simultaneously when brought onto the farm. This might be the first time those animals are introduced to new feeds. In addition to the new diet, there is a new home along with new penmates and a social hierarchy. These changes then can compound on top of the stress of removing the calf from their dam.

Calf prices look to be strong for the next few years as the national cow herd continues to bounce back from liquidations related to drought. These market conditions pose a great opportunity to increase profit potential through value-added programs.

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.

In the ever-evolving world of sustainable agriculture, one crop stands tall for its exceptional benefits to both ruminant animals and your farm’s bottom line: alfalfa. 

As many parts of the US continue to face drought, farms and their nutritionists must make difficult decisions to help optimize performance under less-than-ideal circumstances.

The research behind food security suggests that only a handful of nations are protein insecure. But are the data overlooking the importance of protein quality?