Vitamins

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.

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.

Calf health and performance starts in the womb: Epigenetics and methylation

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Supplemental choline during transition period increases milk production

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 13:03:27 -0400

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.

[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.

The unseen shrink in your dairy ration

ken.griswold@selko.com — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Nutrition’s role in udder and systemic health

sblez@verizon.net — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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.

The vitamin that’s more than a vitamin

woody@woodylane.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:00:01 -0400

We hardly even think about vitamin D anymore. It’s one of those vitamins we routinely add to feeds, an inscrutable listing of international units (IUs) on the feed tag. And as for our children, we simply irradiate the milk.

Vitamin D and calcium management in transition cows

mark.engstrom@dsm.com — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:00:01 -0500

The National Research Council (NRC) lists requirements for vitamins A, D and E in their seventh revision of “Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle,” published in 2001.

The importance of fat-soluble vitamins

louisa.koch@agriking.com — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:00:01 -0500

It requires more than just energy to achieve peak performance and overall health of your milking herd. Vitamins are organic compounds required in small quantities and essential for the maintenance of life.

Protected B vitamins can help boost the immune response during the transition period

hleclerc@jefo.ca — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 13:00:01 -0400

The transition period is challenging for the dairy cow since the cow needs to adapt very quickly to the calving process, the sudden change from a non-lactating to a lactating stage and to the preparation for the next breeding period.