The goal of silage face management is to minimize exposure to oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, yeast can metabolize lactic acid (a strong acid that keeps the silage pH low). When pH rises, undesirable...
Some good news came at year's end as Capitol Hill allowed two key ethanol subsidies to expire. That decision could have eased corn and soybean prices were it not for the 15.2-billion-gallon Renewable Fuel...
You can explain risk management and its potential benefits to milk producers all day long, but if they go away thinking it's too expensive or too complicated, then they probably won't try it. The dairy...
Management of the fresh cow during the first 21 days of lactation is a critical control point for maximizing health and productivity on all dairy farms. Identifying an off-feed fresh cow was a breeze when...
We drove through central and southern Illinois on the way to and from the joint American Association of Bovine Practitioners and National Mastitis Council meeting in St. Louis, Mo
Here's a quick dairy farming quiz: What three things do all dairies have a constant supply of? Some easy answers are cows, milk . . . and manure. All day and every day, manure never stops coming. The hard...
Imagine a world where spreading manure on a field doesn't also spread odor. Think about retaining 90 percent of the nutrient value of the manure once it is on the field. Is it possible? The staff at USDA's...
Hoard's Dairyman Webinar Archives May 9, 2011: Managing cow behavior for profit and performance presented by Rick Grant, Miner Institute Brought to you by Merial and their www.bestinclassdairies.com
Connie Tipton and Jerry Kozak shared the stage at Dairy Forum as they discussed and at times debated dairy policy. Future dairy policy was a prevailing theme during presentations and in hallway dialogue...
Imagine a world where the manure check equals the milk check. No one is saying it is possible, but there is hope on the horizon for profiting from the waste end of the cow, and some are doing it already....
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...
One way that we at Hoard's Dairyman stay up to date on the newest research and tools is to subscribe to extension, research, and producer group newsletters. We gladly pass these newsletters around our...
The time is now to test your manure for nitrogen; the fertilizer savings could surprise you. The author is a nutrient management educator for Michigan State University Extension. For more information,...
The author works with Oak Point Agronomics, Hammond, N.Y, and is formerly with the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, Chazy, N.Y. Miner Institute's dairy operation includes a slurry manure...
Let's Improve Bunker Management Many farms still miss the mark when it comes to managing bunkers. Are you packing properly? A dozen years ago I was involved with a field study in eastern Wisconsin with...
Claw disorders generally are related to a combination of rumen acidosis issues and problems that result in too much weight being handled by parts of the hoof. Infections, such as warts, foot rot, heal...
Features anatomy; claw trimming techniques; causes of lameness; footbaths; monitoring lameness; trimming-facility planning and more. This book can be purchased as a PDF format file. The PDF file is Bookmarked...
Learning from history: Manure's value is ageless Let's continue the synergism of crops and livestock. By Natalie Rector The author is the senior nutrient management educator for Michigan State University...
