BASF Plant Science | NutriDense®

2011 Wrap Up – Five Favorites

December 19th, 2011 by Courtney Beck

With the New Year rapidly approaching, all of us here at The Corn Feed are reflecting on what we’ve learned this year in preparation for a successful 2012. We hope you enjoy the look back through our year!

Here are a few of our favorite topics from 2011:

1. Even with bigger cows and a 59 percent increase in milk production, the carbon footprint for each gallon of milk continues to decrease. Read more here.

2. Dr. Fred Below from the University of Illinois presented the seven most influential factors on corn production. Check out the full list here.

3. A lactating dairy cow drinks approximately 30 to 50 gallons of water daily, accounting for over 85 percent of its nutrients. To learn more, check out both Part I and Part II of our Nutrient Management Practices posts.

4. Milk yield loss begins at the Temperature Humidity Index of 68. For more information about the index and heat’s effect on the herd, click here.

5. Locomotion scoring is recommended when trying to reduce lameness throughout a herd. Learn more about what that can mean for herd management practices here.

Tags: 2011, Milk Production, Nutrition, University of Illinois
Posted in BASF Plant Science, Dairy, Milk Production, Nutrition, Silage, Yield | No Comments »

The Conservation Conversation

December 13th, 2011 by Anna Agnew

The world’s population will triple between 1970 and 2050, yet the amount of farmland will remain about the same during that time. BASF took to the streets to ask consumers about the growing demand for food and how they feel current farmland will suffice. Then we visited growers all over the United States so consumers can hear directly from the source how agriculture has evolved to protect farmland and natural resources while meeting the increasing demand for food and fiber production.

Click below to view this new video and begin your conservation conversation.

Tags: agriculture, BASF Plant Science, conservation, farmland
Posted in BASF Plant Science, Biotechnology, General | No Comments »

What We’re Thankful For

November 22nd, 2011 by Anna Agnew

Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and here at The Corn Seed we have a lot to be thankful for.

But what tops our list this year? We’re thankful for the farmers who work hard to provide cost-effective and nutritious food for the planet’s growing population.

Last year we shared a video produced by BASF showcasing this very fact, and we figured Thanksgiving was a great time to show it again.

So here’s to the farmers, and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at NutriDense!

Tags: BASF, farmers, Happy Thanksgiving, NutriDense
Posted in BASF Plant Science, General | No Comments »

“Managing Your Margins” Seminar Video

October 25th, 2011 by Anna Agnew

Dr. Normand St-Pierre, professor of animal sciences at The Ohio State University, headlined a seminar earlier this month at the World Dairy Expo about “Managing Your Margins: Practical Ways to Reduce Feed Costs and Increase Milk Price.”

The folks at the World Dairy Expo were kind enough to post videos of their seminars online, and you can watch Dr. St-Pierre give his tips in this video.

Tags: Dr. Normand St-Pierre, seminar, The Ohio State University, World Dairy Expo
Posted in BASF Plant Science, Dairy, General | No Comments »

World Dairy Expo – Badger Dairy Club

October 4th, 2011 by Anna Agnew

We’re excited to once again be a sponsor of the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s Badger Dairy Club cheese stand here at the World Dairy Expo.

All week long students from the Badger Dairy Club will be serving up delicious cheese sandwiches and milkshakes for Expo attendees, and you can find their tent between the Coliseum and the Arena Building. Plus, this year they’re rolling out their new ham and cheese sandwich!

Stop by our booth, Arena 450, to talk to one of our NutriDense representatives and you might just receive a voucher good for a free cheese sandwich and milkshake from the cheese stand!

We’re big fans of the Badger Dairy Club’s cheese stand, but if you’re on the fence about trying it yourself then watch our very own Courtney Beck as she gives us a video taste test from last year’s World Dairy Expo!

Tags: cheese stand, Dairy Badger Club, NutriDense, University of Wisconsin-Madison, World Dairy Expo
Posted in BASF Plant Science, Dairy, General | No Comments »

Heads Up: September Dairy Industry Events

September 6th, 2011 by Anna Agnew

If you are a dairy producer, industry professional or just interested in agriculture, you may want to check out these top industry events taking place in September.

Click on the link for more information about each event.

Academy of Dairy Veterinary Consultants Fall Meeting
When: Sept. 9-10
Where: Hampton Inn & Suites in Boise, Idaho

Cow Management Workshop
When: Sept. 13-14
Where: Marshfield Agricultural Research Station in Marshfield, Wis. and Arlington Agricultural Research Station in Arlington, Wis.

International Dairy Show
When: Sept. 19-21
Where: Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.

72^nd Minnesota Nutrition Conference
When: Sept. 20-21
Where: Holiday Inn in Owatonna, Minn.

49^th Annual Farm Science Review
When: Sept. 20-22
Where: Molly Caren Agriculture Center in London, Ohio

44^th Annual Conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and 3^rd International Symposium on Mastitis and Milk Quality
When: Sept. 22-24
Where: America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Tags: cow management, Dairy, dairy industry, Dairy Producers, dairy veterinarian, events, International Dairy Show, mastitis, milk quality, Nutrition
Posted in BASF Plant Science, Dairy, General, Upcoming Events | No Comments »

Nutrient Management Practices: Water – Part Two

August 30th, 2011 by Courtney Beck

Last week we talked about the importance of water quality for dairy cows. This week we’ll learn more about effective water delivery that ensures cows are getting the amount of water they need.

Effective water delivery can often be overlooked, but it is one of the most important dairy herd management practices because it directly relates to the entire herd’s productivity. This includes the amount, size, temperature, location and cleanliness of water sources.

Donna Amaral-Phillips, dairy nutritionist at the University of Kentucky, says providing a steady flow of clean, fresh water in close proximity to milking stations is important, as cows are likely to drink up to 50 to 60 percent of their daily intake immediately after milking.

Here are some additional tips on setting up water stations:

Parlor area – Approximately two linear feet of watering space per cow is recommended.

Housing area – Approximately four inches of linear watering space per cow is recommended. A minimum of two water sources per group, located within 50 feet of the cows, is best.

To learn even more about water delivery, consult the following articles:

“Drinking Water for Dairy Cattle: Part 3” in Dairy Herd Management
“Water Intake Determines a Dairy Cow’s Feed Intake and Milk Production” in Progressive Dairyman

Tags: Dairy, nutrient management practices, University of Kentucky, water delivery, water quality
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Nutrient Management Practices: Water – Part One

August 24th, 2011 by Courtney Beck

Water is the most important nutrient in a milking cow’s rations, making up more than 85 percent of a cow’s total nutrient consumption. On a daily basis, a lactating dairy cow drinks approximately 30 to 50 gallons of water each day, which is much greater than their protein, carbohydrate, fat and mineral intake.

The amount of water a dairy cow consumes can be influenced by dry matter intake, milk production, sodium intake and air temperature. The amount of milk a cow produces is directly related to the amount of water they consume, making it vital to provide dairy cows with plenty of clean water.

But it’s not just the quantity of water that’s key; the quality of water made available to cows is of equal concern. It’s important to have a laboratory analyze cattle’s drinking water, and nutritionists from Michigan State University suggest evaluating the total dissolved solids, sulfate, chloride, iron and nitrate-nitrogen. Excess amounts of these constituents could mean higher services per conception, lower first service conception rates, longer calving intervals and dehydration among other problems for herds.

Learn more about how to take action on water quality here.

Interested in learning more? Check back with us next week to learn about water delivery methods in Nutrient Management Practices: Water – Part Two!

Tags: Michigan State University, Milk Production, nutrient management practices, ration, water quality, water quantity
Posted in BASF Plant Science | No Comments »