Heat stress is one of the leading causes of decreased production and fertility in Nebraska dairy cattle during summer months. These losses are apparent in the decreased amount of milk shipped, increased days open and decreased breedings per conception. Some heat stress is unavoidable, but effects can be minimized if certain management practices are followed.
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Corn silage is a mainstay in the cow diets of most dairies. A bit more attention to management considerations specific to corn silage could pay large dividends.
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Since the early 1900s, the rumen and its resident microbes have been investigated for its role in nutrient digestion and health to increase animal performance and efficiency. Recent findings from the human microbiome suggest that our gut microbes play a far more important role than we thought earlier.
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Water is considered the single most important nutrient for dairy cattle; yet it is one that frequently gets the least attention. I would even suggest that when we look at agriculture as a whole, there is no more important resource than water. This statement is supported by the fact that The World Economic Forum lists water crisis among the top 10 likely and impactful global risks. We, in Nebraska, are fortunate as we sit above portions of the High Plains Aquifer.
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We, in Nebraska, are fortunate for the ample and locally produced feed supplies. Last year, Nebraska produced 288 million bushels of soybeans, placing among the nations top five producing states.
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