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Ketosis in Dairy Cattle

November 30th, 2011 by Anna Agnew

Ketosis – caused by an abnormal response to negative energy balance – is one of the most common metabolic diseases on dairy farms today.

Fred Gingrich, practicing veterinarian and owner of Country Roads Veterinary Services, Inc., in Ashland, Ohio, gave some ketosis prevention tips in a recent Dairy Herd Management article.

Gingrich recommends the following:

  • Maintain adequate dry matter intake (DMI) in a dry/closed-up pen. Aim for 27 pounds of DMI in a mixed-parity pen.
  • Ensure three feet of bunk space in a dry/closed-up pen.
  • Aim for 100 square feet of space per cow in a dry-closed-up pen.
  • Don’t overcrowd the fresh pen.
  • Maintain adequate energy in the fresh-cow ration.
  • Shoot for proper body condition at dry off.
  • Maintain an appropriate dry period length of 50-70 days.

Gingrich says warning signs for ketosis can include decreased milk production, loss of appetite, dehydration, constipation, sunken eyes and decreased rumen fill.

Read the full article here, including information about testing for ketosis.

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Posted in Dairy, Energy, General, Milk Production | No Comments »

Ag News Roundup – 10/28

October 28th, 2011 by Anna Agnew

What’s new in social media? In this blog feature, we’re rounding up the latest social media news that’s impacting the agriculture industry.

#AgChat – 2012 Farm Bill: Tuesday night’s #AgChat  conversation centered on the 2012 Farm Bill – including subsidies, crop insurance rates, dairy policies, food programs and more.

Favoring Facebook: In a recent poll of 131 agri-marketers, Facebook was the social media site of choice. Check out AgriMarketing’s full results to see how other social media sites compared.

Changing the Perception: Dairy Herd Management outlines how the AgChat Foundation’s agvocates are using social media to provide an open dialogue on food production and the ag industry in general.

Drought and The Horn of Africa: Monsanto discusses the famine currently taking place in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Visit their blog to find out what Monsanto and others are doing to help the over 13 million people in desperate need of relief.

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Posted in Ag News Roundup, Dairy, Social Media | No Comments »

Summer Is Here, And So Is The Heat!

June 16th, 2011 by Courtney Beck

With the official arrival of summer on June 21, the temperatures start to climb, and cows can feel the effect quickly.

An updated Temperature Humidity Index (THI) developed by the University of Arizona states that the new THI stress threshold – a number reached after charting both air temperatures and relative humidity on the THI – is 68. This new data came from a study using both controlled trials and large-herd field studies.

At the THI stress threshold of 68, milk yield loss begins to occur as the respiration rate (RR) surpasses 60 breaths per minute (BPM). Mild to moderate stress occurs between THI levels of 72 and 79, and severe stress occurs when THI levels fall between 80 and 89.

To read the full article from Hoard’s Dairyman, click here.

Check out these articles with additional tips on how to care for dairy herds during the summertime months:

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Quantifying the Importance of Silage Management

June 8th, 2011 by Courtney Beck

You know proper corn silage management is important, but can you quantify what that means?

Brian Holmes, University of Wisconsin ag engineer, developed a spreadsheet that puts a dollar figure to silage management profitability.

His spreadsheet addresses dry matter and quality losses that can arise during harvesting, storing and feeding forages.

To access his spreadsheet and learn more, read this recent article from Dairy Herd Management.

Interested in more corn silage numbers? Visit the Dairy page to learn about the financial impact of feed efficiency.

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Posted in Dairy, Silage | No Comments »

Coping with High Corn Prices

April 25th, 2011 by Courtney Beck

With corn prices reaching $8 or higher, feed efficiency is the name of the game. A recent article from Dairy Herd Management included some coping strategies from J.W. Schroeder, dairy specialist for the NDSU Extension Service. He offers several tips, such as replacing corn with high-quality corn silage or using byproduct feeds that are high in digestible fiber.

Read the whole article here.

Here are some additional resources on feed efficiency:

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Posted in BASF Plant Science, Dairy | No Comments »

Winter weather tips for dairies

December 22nd, 2010 by Courtney Beck

It’s official – Tuesday marked the first day of winter, despite the cold temperatures we’ve seen across the country for the last few weeks. Although cows enjoy cooler weather, the cold brings its own concerns for dairy producers.

Here are a few links from dairy publications and university programs to get through the season:

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Dairy Herd Management Article Stresses Importance of Nutritionist, Agronomist Collaboration

December 14th, 2010 by Greg Jones

With a variety of factors involved, producing quality corn silage can be challenging. Farmers can benefit by coordinating their efforts with nutritionists and crop consultants in 2011 to ensure they are planting the right hybrids for their acres and cows.

In an article featured in the October issue of Dairy Herd Management, BASF Plant Science’s own Jerry Weigel, manager of nutrition and technical service, and Mark Schultz, sales agronomist, address the benefits of incorporating nutritionists and agronomists in the development of effective dairy programs.

The article, titled “Three’s Company,” discusses the importance of a producer sitting down with both a nutritionist and an agronomist when planning the upcoming year’s crop, and looks at the benefits of taking a holistic approach to achieving quality corn silage.

If you aren’t currently working with your producers on silage hybrid selections, this is an excellent article to share with them regarding the benefits of collaboration on the dairy operation. The full article can be found here.

Greg Jones is the NutriDense Silage product manager for BASF Plant Science. You can contact him at gregory.jones@basf.com.

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Posted in Dairy, Silage, eNewsletter | No Comments »

Seed selection for 2011

November 8th, 2010 by Karlie Justus

We recently shared an article from the October issue of Dairy Herd Management titled “Three’s Company.” Its timely examination of the many factors that go into seed selection is a good reminder for producers who are already planning for 2011.

While you’re thinking about the year ahead, remember there are a select group of seed partners that offer NutriDense grain and silage. As experts, these partners are able to provide key insights into the NutriDense opportunities offered. Learn more about our seed partners here.

And don’t forget the NutriDense Rewards program: place your NutriDense seed order with a NutriDense seed partner by Feb. 15, 2011, and you’re eligible for a variety of rewards. Want more details? Contact your seed rep, call 1-800-233-8942 or visit www.nutridense.com/rewards for more details on this offer.

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Posted in Dairy, Grain, Silage, Yield | No Comments »

Carry good corn silage practices through to harvest

October 27th, 2010 by Courtney Beck

Dairy Herd Management’s article “Good corn silage harvest practices pay off” examines the importance of following your corn silage best practices through to harvest. As the article points out, quality corn silage is the basis for proper harvest management and increased milk production:

It all starts with harvest timing. Proper harvest management is critical for high-quality corn silage, which increases milk production in cows. Silage that is too wet when harvested may not ferment properly and can lose nutrients through seepage. If silage is too dry, it has lower digestibility because of harder kernels and more lignified stover. In addition, dry silage does not pack as well, increasing the potential for air pockets and mold, say agronomy experts at Minnesota State University.

To learn more about guidelines for moisture testing and cut and crop processing, read the entire article here. In addition, check out these previous blog posts on ways to maximize corn silage and harvest:

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Dairy Herd Management article features Jerry Weigel and Mark Schultz

October 25th, 2010 by Karlie Justus

Our own Jerry Weigel, manager of nutrition and technical service, and Mark Schultz, sales agronomist, are featured in this month’s Dairy Herd Management.

The article, titled “Three’s Company,” discusses the importance of a producer sitting down with both his nutritionist and agronomist when planning the upcoming year’s crop, and looks at the benefits of taking a holistic approach to achieving quality corn silage.

Find the article on pages 30 and 31 of the October 2010 issue.

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