“With 60 to 65 percent of the milk check going towards feeding/feed costs, this has a huge impact on farm profitability,” explained Leatherbrook Holsteins’ Adam Graft

Characterizing the potential rumen degradation properties of starch in corn silage and corn grain has been a challenge for those involved in dairy nutrition

Dairy farmers may have found the best of both worlds — with a practice that’s already relatively common

Forage inventories are in rough shape for many. USDA crop reports have suggested stalled corn and bean acres have mostly recovered over the past few weeks, with crop ratings improving

If lower milk prices are the new normal, then it’s time to find ways to evaluate each dollar spent on feed

The concept is simple. If you are one of those farms that harvested less than ideal quality forages this spring because of muddy fields or any number of other factors, you might still be able to feed it...

For much of the Midwest and Northeast, it started raining last fall. Wet harvests gave way to saturated soils during the winter and flooding this spring

Although starch isn’t listed as a required nutrient by any dairy cattle nutrition document, its impact is absolutely felt in the bulk tank

Forage particle length plays a key role in proper rumen function. When particle size is too small, cows spend less time chewing and producing saliva, which can reduce rumen pH

When every dollar counts, milkfat and protein levels in milk are extremely valuable in maximizing income over feed costs (IOFC)

Choosing where dollars are invested is critical, especially considering how tight finances have been the last four years

When you’re looking to fine-tune your feeding, checking on the basics is a good first step

“Don’t let the abnormal become normal. Just because it happened yesterday, today, and tomorrow doesn’t mean it’s right,” opened independent nutritionist David Greene during...

I’m all for a nice sit-down dinner. Shoot, I’m all for most types of dinners. I like casual restaurants, the occasional dive bar, and family meals packed around a too small table and handmade...

Advanced Dairy Nutrition USB drive incorporates the material used in the University of Illinois’ online course, and is team-taught by Dave Fischer, Mike Hutjens, Jim Drackley, Jimmy Clark, Richard...

We are familiar with the concept of more milk equals more income. However, if additional milk comes with higher expenses, it may not be profitable

I quit buying the heavy-duty $300 bale rings because the skirts came off in one year. I started buying the $150 economy feeders without skirts

While not a devastating year for growing crops, it certainly was not ideal. Weather, milk prices, and export bureaucracy have left many feeling a bit underwhelmed

Cows are creatures of habit, and as such, they are prone to skipping meals if food is not available when they visit the bunk

On many farms, one of the least intensively managed groups on the farm is the pregnant heifers