Keep an eye out for mycotoxin problems. Mycotoxin is a general term for a poison produced by a fungus. Only certain strains of certain fungi produce mycotoxins and only under certain environmental conditions
Why treatment protocols are so important. This article is part of a series being prepared in cooperation with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. Protocols ensure sick animals get relief...
Relentless attention to details sets these National Dairy Quality Award winners apart. They're on top of everything from fastidious stall care to meticulous milking and from frequent use of CMT paddles...
61st Annual Hoard's Dairyman Round Table: How the top herds produce high-quality milk Top-quality milk: what it takes Here's a detailed look at the practices of the five Platinum winners in the National...
They produce the highest quality milk These farms pair preventative practices with effective mastitis treatment. The six Platinum winners in this year's National Dairy Quality Awards competition work closely...
Years of repeated tillage and equipment traffic have left many farm soils compacted. In some cases, this compaction can cause water to pond and also lead to shallow root depths which limit crop yields....
Why feeding strategy is so important There seem to be clear benefits to feeding for fewer refusals. The key is consistent intakes. by Bill Stone, D.V.M. The author is a dairy veterinarian and nutritionist...
When a cow's intake of energy does not meet her energy needs for maintenance and milk production, she begins to burn fat as an energy source. One common form of ketosis (Type I) occurs when a cow is in...
A major goal of corn silage making is to reduce oxygen and raise acidity rapidly so that lactic acid bacteria grow to stabilize and preserve or "pickle" the silage. Often, people believe that corn silage...
Bale silage a great option in wet climates. Mastering the fermentation cycle will lead to the best possible product for your herd. A group of farmers and livestock producers gathered at the historic Hereth...
Little details make all the difference in baleage. Making bale silage is a combination of science and art. Mastering the details will lead to the best possible forage. A good tight bale of hay silage with...
What's a fair price for standing hay? Many factors must be considered including forage quality and yields, stand life, nutrient costs, and who is doing the work. A written contract can tie it all together....
The lower milk prices are generally, the harder it is to justify high-priced alfalfa. Having by-product feeds nearby is a key. Dairy hay prices have climbed in recent years as hay acreages have declined....
Alfalfa has the greatest sensitivity to acid soils of any crop we grow, so managing soil pH is critical. The legume simply will not grow below a soil pH of 6.0, while other field crops are quite happy...
The Koster tester, microwave, and lab have all been good options to determine dry matters. The food dehydrator might top the list when you factor in ease and consistency of test results. We were able to...
Animal welfare is their focus Following you will find additional information that ties to the article "Animal welfare is their focus" which appears on page 7 of the January 10, 2011 issue of Hoard's Dairyman....
Should you plant only one in an effort to feed corn silage of uniform quality each day, or should you plant several hybrids to reduce the impact of a single hybrid performing poorly? Since there's no standard...
Manure is in it for the "long haul". Manure's advantages go far beyond major nutrients as the organic matter in manure acts as a soil conditioner. It also adds secondary and trace minerals. Before you...
Staying ahead of crypto. It's common, tough to treat, and can spread to feeders. That "ounce of prevention" is your best bet. There are products that can be added to milk or replacer that will help control...