Articles
Aflatoxin in Corn
What a weather anomaly this year has been! It started this spring with the bomb cyclone in March in the western part of Nebraska and the flooding on the central and eastern portion of the state from the rapid melting and rains. Since then, much of the state has been wet or flooded. As silage harvest continues and corn harvest begins, mycotoxin challenges and issues may arise. Mold produce mycotoxins. It is not the molds themselves that impact animal health, it is the mycotoxins that negatively impact animal health.
Managing Seeding Year Alfalfa
Alfalfa seeded this spring is ready, or soon will be ready, to cut. Use the following harvest guidelines to get the most from your first-year alfalfa. Seeding year alfalfa is different from established stands. Stems are spindly, roots are small and shorter, and growth is a little slower.
What You Should be Thinking About When Beginning to Chop Corn Silage
Back to school, state fair and corn silage harvest. This is a busy time of year and there are many things consuming our thoughts; however, there are a few key items that we should be thinking about to make sure the corn silage we harvest today will yield high quality feed for the year to come.
How Much is Standing Hay Worth?
Very soon this question will pop up and will ask about selling a full year of production or a specific cutting. Getting a handle on how much either is worth is often just guess work. There is a better way.
Reminders for producing high quality corn silage
Many dairy diets contain 40% or more corn silage. Most other components of the ration are determined by the quality of this silage so starting with high-quality silage can greatly affect eventual ration cost and milk production. Harvest at the optimal stage of maturity will maximize yield of digestible nutrients and provide the correct moisture content for proper ensiling.
Byproducts…. Is there ever a catch?
One thing that always amazes me during my travels to dairy farms both in the state of Nebraska as well as other parts of the world is the sheer diversity of byproducts fed to dairy cattle. The byproducts originate for the food, beverage, bioenergy industries. I personally have seen such unusual feeds as carrots, bread waste, cookie waste, cannery waste, and potato chips successfully used to feed dairy cattle. In general, byproducts are used in because through rumen fermentation, cattle are able to utilize both protein and energy out of a wide range of feed sources and convert them into a high value food product, namely milk.
How to Reduce Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle
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.
Rumen Microbes are More Important than Originally Thought
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.
Rapid Checklist for Water Quality: The 1% that Cows Care About
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.
Nebraska: A Great Place to Find Protein for your Dairy Cows!
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.
NebGuides
Feeding to Maximize Milk Protein and Fat Yields
Instructs the dairy manager on proper feeding management and feed intake percentages of dairy herds to improve production economy and cow health.
NebGuide (G1358)Dairy Cow Health and Metabolic Disease Relative to Nutritional Factors
This NebGuide discusses common dairy cow diseases related to nutrition including ketosis, retained placenta, liver absesses, displaced abomasum, bloat, hypocalcemia, and more.
How to Forumulate Lactating Dairy Rations to Include Corn Milling Co-Products
Corn milling co-products have a high nutritional value for dairy cows. Following the guidelines here will allow you to formulate more accurate, precise, and cheaper rations.
NebGuide (G1999)How to Reduce Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle
Four ways to reduce heat stress and maintain production and fertility in dairy cattle.
Sampling Feed for Analyses
Sampling is the key to accurate feed analyses and properly balancing livestock rations. Here’s how to do it.
Water Quality and Requirements for Dairy Cattle
This NebGuide stresses the importance to the dairy cow of water, an essential but often overlooked nutrient.
Providing insufficient water or water of poor quality to dairy cattle can limit milk production and growth, and can cause health problems.
NebGuide (G2292)