Minerals

Where does your magnesium come from?

benjamin.wenner@feedworksusa.com — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Low magnesium-containing mineral sources with high availability can still make a meaningful contribution to the magnesium status of your herd, and differences in solubility should be priced accordingly. Paying attention to solubility and payload ensures that every gram of mineral in the diet delivers value to the cow.

Through the decades: The evolution of hypocalcemia mitigation strategies

rma@protekta.com — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Managing and achieving a successful fresh-cow transition is a critical component of a profitable and sustainable dairy business. Despite significant achievements through research and improved management strategies, there are still numerous on-farm and individual cow risk factors that come into play, resulting in a fine line between achieving a successful transition and one that always seems to be a work in progress.

Five things to keep in mind when evaluating premixes

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Simplifying the feeding program: Steps toward improved efficiency

sblez@verizon.net — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Butterfat 101: There’s more to it than nutrition

rkrammes@standardnutrition.com — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

All we have to do is balance the ration to maximize fat, right? Regarding the number of variables involved in ration formulation, few diets are ever truly balanced. Consider the word “optimized” instead. Let’s look at several key nutrients that must be optimized for maximum butterfat production.

Are all your bases covered? Delivering key ingredient options

gzimmerman@pdscows.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

[Podcast] Importance of mineral supplementation for dairy heifers

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Feeding practices to cool hot cows

rrodrigues@provimi-na.com — Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Managing nutrient absorption: Dealing with poor absorption, antagonisms

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:46:36 -0500

Millions of cows around the world consume diets that have been formulated as optimally as possible.

Key components of a mineral program revamp

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:01:08 -0400

Livestock minerals in both their macro and micro forms have been around for decades. While their existence has remained constant, their importance, delivery and management has adapted through the years.

Optimum vitamin nutrition in dairy cows

erin.schwandt@biomin.net — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 11:58:32 -0400

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.

Calcium and magnesium are important to the success of the transition period

gdumas@dcl.ag — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 13:00:01 -0400

The transition period is the most critical period for a successful lactation. Many factors play a crucial role in the success of this period, such as comfort and ventilation, the overall health of the animals, the quality of the feed served, as well as the feeding strategy used.

Removing ration minerals gives false impressions

hutjensm@illinois.edu — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:00:01 -0400

With current low milk prices and negative profit margins, dairy farmers and bankers are asking nutritionists to reduce feed costs. On some farms, all feed additives have been removed, which may save 30 to 40 cents a day, but leads to reduced fertility, lower milk yield and components, and poorer health status.