Ration Formulation

Measure It to Manage It: Rumination data improves feed transitions and ingredient decisions

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In 2021, Hornstead Dairy took a step toward smarter data-driven care by implementing smaXtec, a health monitoring system initially aimed to improve their reproduction program. What started as a tool for reproduction soon uncovered a hidden culprit.

Automated feeding benefits transition cows

dschreiner@lely.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Automated feeding systems support herd health and performance by delivering consistent, precise rations around the clock on dairies. It can also benefit more targeted feed groups like dry cows and transition heifers so that cows receive the right nutrients at the right time, supporting a stronger start to lactation.

Global collaboration: Unlocking innovation for dairy producers

gabriela.acetoze@adm.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Rumen-protected capsicum helps cows optimize energy partitioning during early lactation. This is a subtle but powerful intervention that translates into measurable performance gains.

Prepartum DCAD: How low is too low?

ken.zanzalari@pahc.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The decision to feed an acidogenic ration to late-pregnant dairy cows is a very easy one, as there is no better strategy to initiate the mechanisms of calcium metabolism to meet the sudden high demand for this critical mineral surrounding the time of calving.

What we’ve learned from 15 years of TMR audits

msattler@diamondv.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

TMR audits started from a single question: Why did dairies that just bought a new mixer see a bump in milk production? Today, it is a fundamental tool that helps us use our equipment and data more effectively and better support our people and cows. Curiosity and a willingness to feed cows better will continue to influence what comes next.

Putting data in the driver's seat

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Although it has become commonplace in our standard daily routines, we don’t think about all the ways AI tools are and can be utilized on dairy operations. These powerful tools can not only simplify day-to-day tasks, but they can also help drive decision-making and profitability.

What do WWII combat analytics and dairy nutrition have in common?

cjenkins@standardnutrition.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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."

Rethinking chromium: From transition tool to full-lactation asset for dairy cows

rbrown@chemlocknutrition.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Chromium has become a useful addition to transition diets. Supplementing with 6 to 8 milligrams per cow daily has been shown to significantly boost dry matter intake, energy efficiency and cow resilience. New data shows that these benefits go beyond fresh cows, supporting chromium supplementation throughout the entire lactation.

Linking early-lactation systems to peak milk performance

cesar_matamoros@cargill.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How a dairy achieves their next increase in peak milk production is unique to their operation. We have many keys in our proverbial keychains that might unlock the door to greater peak milk, but it’s not always easy to know which key to use.

Grouping cows, cutting methane: The next step in precision feeding

cl.huang@wisc.edu — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What goes into the bunk doesn’t just affect milk production, it also impacts the farm’s bottom line and its environmental footprint. Our team explored a simple but powerful strategy to address this challenge: nutritional grouping. The results showed promise.

The ‘right’ alfalfa-to-corn-silage ratio

jblackburn@vitaplus.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As dairy producers evaluate the economic, agronomic and nutritional demands on their farms, they ask, “How can I make best use of my acreage for the greatest return on investment?” That question challenges farm consultants to rethink traditional approaches.

The transition game

louderdvm@gmail.com — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We often don’t realize that like the football team, the microbes in the rumen have their own “positions” and responsibilities. The success of the ruminant digestive system is dependent on each microbial team member performing its function.

The benefits of urine pH testing go beyond monitoring DCAD

kristen.devine@pahc.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Urine pH testing is an easy way to take advantage of a proven technology to make sure the cows are consuming the diet specifically formulated to meet their requirements. In addition, urine pH testing can be used to help dial in the diet.

Negative DCAD diet still holds key to health and performance

ruby.wu@churchdwight.com — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Even though millions of cows and hundreds of research trials have demonstrated the positive benefits of feeding a negative DCAD diet, there are always those who look for new and better ways to accomplish the goal of reducing incidence of clinical and subclinical milk fever. While those interventions do exist, it is hard to beat the proven efficacy of feeding a negative DCAD diet.

The data TMR: From silos to mixed rations

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Just as feed handling and management has evolved greatly over the last 50 years, the same will be true about data management as we move into the future. Identifying all of the data silos on farms and working to integrate them into a singular dataset will empower dairies to make more informed decisions that yield more substantial results quicker.

A new ‘no-feed' strategy for robotic dairies

jason.french@delaval.com — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Milking technologies have changed over many decades, so have feeding strategies incorporated on the dairy farm. For those using automation to milk cows, providing feed at the robot was thought to be paramount to the system’s success. Recently, some automated milking producers have started to rethink this approach.

Challenges, opportunities and the future of AI in dairy nutrition

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0400

At the intersection of tradition and innovation lies the future of dairy farming, which is increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. AI has emerged as a transformative force as the industry responds to marketplace pressures and technological advancements. While integrating AI in dairy practices presents challenges, it also offers significant opportunities.

The role of phytochemicals during the transition period

animalnutrition@adm.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

If we consider how plants can help our heifers and cows conquer that daunting transition period, there may be more than simply forages, in terms of plants, to consider. Let us dig into the world of phytochemicals.

Getting the Full Picture: How to Start Building Your Best Feed Ration

Fri, 31 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

There isn’t much need to turn on the TV and listen to talk about athletes; farmers don’t have to look far for creatures that fall into that category. The dairy cow is a prime athlete found on farms across the United States. Every day, she works to produce milk and manure that farms use in numerous ways. To keep her powered up, her diet or ration is a vital daily deliverable for herd managers.

Rumen upsets: Do they have to be upsetting?

louderdvm@gmail.com — Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

If cows could just tell us when they get an upset tummy, maybe we could help them get through the episode without a hitch. Before we can discuss rumen dysfunction, we need to understand what normal rumen function looks like.

What do the new Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle tell us?

rjv10@psu.edu — Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Feed costs account for more than 45% of production costs and approach nearly 60% with high feed costs. Obviously, dairy income is directly proportional to milk volume, composition and quality produced on the farm.

What happens in the dry cow group impacts the whole dairy

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Calving is not a disease; it is a stage that needs to be managed and how that is done will impact a cow for her entire lactation. Best practices for transitioning a cow from far-off fresh to her lactation group has a host of areas that need focused attention by the entire management team on the dairy.

Building out rations to optimize feed costs

jweyers@zinpro.com — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Focusing on fine-tuning for feed efficiency and partnering with an expert who can help analyze your herd’s needs will be an important strategy as cost pressures continue to rise. With some simple adjustments, you can protect your operation’s bottom line.

More to milkfat than meets the eye

william.seymour@novusint.com — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Milkfat is a valuable commodity and is a reflection of overall rumen health and production efficiency. Take a proactive approach with your nutritionist to find ways to better optimize factors affecting milkfat yield, including taking a closer look at what lies behind the average bulk tank fat test.

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.

Identifying profit leaks on a dairy

brian.lammers@adm.com — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

There are a few areas on a farm that don’t receive as much attention by publications, consultants and even the dairy producers themselves that can have a dramatic impact on farm profitability.

Uncovering ration opportunities on the flip side

nmichael@pdscows.com — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

I recently got a phone call from a nearby dairyman, “Joe,” inquiring if I would give him a second opinion on his rations.

Evaluating feed additive pertinence in dairy rations

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The use of feed additives in livestock diets is part of many nutritional strategies to help optimize performance, health and the well-being of animals.

Have you for-cotton something in your ration?

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Last fall, when cottonseed prices kept shooting higher, dairy producers were pulling the ingredient out of their rations or reducing their inclusion rates. However, prices have since come back down to the same price as seen last spring in 2022.

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.