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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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NutriDense Silage Use in Dairy Replacement Heifer Feeding

December 14th, 2010 by Jerry Weigel

There’s an interesting paradox in the dairy industry — frequently, we put a lot of money into dairy genetics, but then do not feed heifers accurately. As a result, producers lose money on the genetic potential of these heifers.

For the most part in today’s world, close to 55% of the average cow’s life is spent as a heifer. Furthermore, feed costs are the largest cost input, accounting for approximately 60% for heifer production. On a dairy, raising heifers can account for as much as 15% of total farm expenses, so this is a great opportunity for you to work with your clients to optimize diet efficiency.

The BASF Plant Science team recommends that heifers should average between 2.00-2.25 lbs/d for average daily gain (ADG) using accurately formulated rations to ensure they are optimizing body protein deposition but not increasing body fat deposition.

When developing heifer feeding regimes for your clients, the number one concern that should be kept in mind is to avoid over-conditioning. We know that over-conditioning (feeding excess energy) frequently leads to potential post-calving problems. Over-conditioning also reduces feed efficiency due to the deposition of fat, which converts less efficiently than protein. Another factor that can affect feed efficiency is age, as older heifers are sometimes less efficient than younger heifers.

NutriDense Silage has elevated protein and the energy contribution is from improved digestibility of the Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), not corn starch. Added starch will often reduce fiber digestion by creating alterations in the rumen ecological environment. NutriDense offers more flexibility for increasing the use of industrially produced co-products like soybean hulls, corn gluten feed, or distillers grains with solubles. It also allows you to use lower quality forage products like wheat straw, soybean stubble (provided there are not any soybeans in the stubble hay) or grass hay in the heifer feeding program.

NutriDense Silage can be used under many different feeding regimes. And it is our recommendation in heifer programs that controlled intake is the best option. Controlled intake using highly digestible fiber sources and an optimum balance of protein will:

  • Maximize efficient use of available Nitrogen and organic matter
  • Reduce manure output
  • Reduce feed costs
  • Provide for long-term milk production as a lactating cow

Additionally, we recommend the use of ionophores within the dairy replacement heifer program.

In closing, remember one of the important goals of a dairy replacement feeding program is to rear heifers as economically and environmentally responsibly as you can, without compromising future lactation performance. To accomplish this goal, it is very important that you work with your clients to put together heifer replacement feeding regimes using forage sources such as NutriDense Silage as a primary feedstuff.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or any of our NutriDense field nutritionists.

Jerry Weigel is the manager of nutrition and technical services for BASF Plant Science. You can contact him at gerald.weigel@basf.com.

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Silage sampling season

November 24th, 2010 by Karlie Justus

After every harvest, many dairy producers’ thoughts turn to silage sampling. Last year, Courtney talked with Jerry Weigel, manager of nutrition and technical service, about sampling questions he receives year in and year out.

Listen in here to learn how he answers the following questions:

  • Why is it important to sample silage?
  • When is the best time to sample silage?
  • Should you resample throughout the season?
  • Where should you send the samples?

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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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BASF Plant Science Recognizes Dr. Michael Hutjens through $2,000 Donation to University of Illinois Scholarship Fund

October 14th, 2010 by Karlie Justus

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, October 14, 2010 – BASF Plant Science announced a $2,000 donation to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Animal Sciences during the 2010 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. The donation, which recognizes retiring professor Dr. Michael Hutjens for his contributions to the dairy industry, will establish the “Michael F. Hutjens BASF Graduate Student Travel Awards” scholarship fund.

BASF Plant Science manager of nutrition and technical service Jerry Weigel announced the donation while introducing Dr. Hutjens at the “Managing Feed Costs 2010” seminar during the World Dairy Expo.  The seminar was his last prior to retiring, and was delivered to a packed room of dairy producers, nutritionists and other dairy stakeholders.

The “Michael F. Hutjens BASF Graduate Student Travel Awards” fund will grant $500 travel scholarships to exceptional graduate students, two each in 2011 and 2012, whose research and career interests are in dairy cattle nutrition and management. The funds will cover travel and other expenses associated with attendance at the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) meetings.

“We are pleased to support dedicated students in the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences and demonstrate our appreciation of Dr. Hutjens’ service to the dairy industry,” said Weigel. “The scholarships will allow Dr. Hutjens’ contributions to continue to grow even after his retirement.”

Dr. Hutjens, professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008 American Dairy Science Fellow and 2008 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year, has provided significant developments in dairy nutrition and research. In his 2010 World Dairy Expo seminar, Dr. Hutjens discussed strategies for evaluating forage inputs, building rations for optimal performance in high-producing cows, and determining nutrient levels and forms.

At the World Dairy Expo, BASF Plant Science and NutriDense Silage also gave away four 50-yard line tickets to the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings game as well as free cheese sandwiches and milkshakes from the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s Dairy Badger Club Cheese Stand.

NutriDense Silage is nutritionally enhanced corn silage developed specifically for efficient milk production. University studies show NutriDense Silage provides a four to eight percent improvement in feed efficiency, or converting feed to milk, giving dairy producers an income over feed cost advantage. The result is lower feed costs and greater profitability for dairy producers. NutriDense Silage yields equal to or greater than dual purpose and greater than brown midrib, so producers can achieve high-quality corn silage without sacrificing yields.

To learn more about NutriDense, visit www.nutridense.com, follow on Twitter @NutriDense or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NutriDense.

About BASF Plant Science

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. BASF Plant Science – a BASF group company – is one of the world’s leading companies providing innovative plant biotechnology solutions for agriculture. Today, more than 750 employees are helping farmers meet the growing demand for improved agricultural productivity and healthier nutrition for humans and animals. BASF Plant Science has developed an unparalleled gene discovery platform focusing on yield and quality traits in crops such as corn, soybean and rice. Jointly with leading partners in the seed industry BASF Plant Science is commercializing its products. Current projects include higher yielding row crops, nutritionally-enhanced corn for animal feed or higher content of Omega-3’s in oil crops for preventing cardiovascular diseases. To find out more about BASF Plant Science, please visit www.basf.com/plantscience.

About BASF

BASF – The Chemical Company.
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $13 billion in 2009. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

NutriDense is a registered trademark of BASF Plant Science L.P.

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Considerations for Feeding Higher Levels of Corn Silage to Lactating Dairy Cows

October 14th, 2010 by Jerry Weigel

As all nutritionists know, milk production is highly dependent on the amount of energy a cow consumes. Additionally, effective fiber is required to ensure a properly functioning rumen. High-quality corn silage can meet both of these needs and is readily consumed by the cow, so it is a good idea to consider feeding higher amounts of corn silage. In fact, according to several presentations by University of Illinois Extension Dairy Specialist Dr. Mike Hutjens, it has been proven that up to 60% and quite possibly 70% of her Dry Matter Intake (DMI) could be quality corn silage.

When planning feeding regimes with greater inclusions of corn silage, different varieties should be evaluated carefully. Such factors as Digestible Neutral Detergent Fiber (DNDF), DNDF to starch concentrations, and protein concentrations are very important. Many of the new high-quality corn silages have greater crude protein levels and could reduce the incorporation of soybean meal in the diet. It is important to have enough degradable protein in the ration to maximize rumen fiber and starch utilization. A good guideline to remember is 60 to 65% of the protein to be provided as rumen degraded.

Several important factors should be evaluated when considering incorporation of corn silage into the dairy lactation ration at DMI of greater than 70% of her forage Dry Matter (DM).

  • Silage production costs, as DM yield will have a bearing on production costs. Fixed costs will not vary that much relative to the total costs – if the land yields more tons of DM there will be more tons to spread the total costs across.
  • Nutritive value is very important, as corn silage has to contribute beneficial fiber while still adding usable energy to the feed ration.
  • Projected Income over Feed Costs (IOFC) and feed efficiency (converting the available energy to milk).

There are also things to keep in mind regarding corn silage harvest and storage. It is important to remember that as the plant matures, the level of fiber digestibility and starch decreases. Maximum digestibility occurs at one half to two-thirds the milk line. The fermentation profile should also be taken into consideration with an optimal rumen pH range of 3.8 to 4.2.  For optimal feeding results from quality corn silage, it should be stored in air tight facilities, pits or bunkers for at least 100 days before beginning to feed to allow for adequate fermentation. Proper fermentation becomes critical if corn silage contributes to more than 65% of the forage intake and as silage as a percentage of the DMI increases. With the above said, if the corn silage harvest window was too short and your silage was too mature, you should not consider feeding high levels of corn silage at this time.

Routine corn silage sampling is critical.  And it becomes increasingly important for adequate sampling after opening the storage facility as the percent of corn silage in the diet increases and more analytes are being contributed to the diet from corn silage. The most important factor is moisture, and one must determine the variant in moisture. A movement of only a few points in DM could make for 2 to 4 pounds over or under on DM fed. You would be taking away from the cow her ability to determine her DMI by artificially setting it for her in this DM error. We suggest sampling for moisture every 2 to 3 weeks, especially when you open different storage facilities.

As with any ration formulation, it is very important when feeding high-quality corn silage diets to consult with a knowledgeable nutritionist to help balance the feed. Please feel free to call on me or my team of nutritionists if you have any additional questions.

Jerry Weigel is the manager of nutrition and technical services for BASF Plant Science. You can contact him at gerald.weigel@basf.com.

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Podcast: Jerry Weigel discusses best practices for incorporating co-products

September 17th, 2010 by Courtney Beck

Recently, I posted a podcast providing an overview of co-products and their role in a dairy cow’s diet. Listen to this podcast to hear the rest of the conversation as Jerry Weigel, manager of nutrition and technical service, discusses best practices for incorporating co-products.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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Podcast: Jerry Weigel on co-products

September 9th, 2010 by Courtney Beck

At NutriDense, when we talk about dairy cow nutrition we generally focus on corn silage. While we recommend that corn silage comprise the majority of the total mixed ration, we respect the necessity of other ingredients such as co-products.

Listen in to this podcast to hear Jerry Weigel, manager of nutrition and technical service, discuss co-products and their role in a dairy cow’s diet.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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Jerry Weigel featured in Feed Management

September 2nd, 2010 by Courtney Beck

Our own Jerry Weigel, manager of nutrition and technical service, was recently interviewed by Feed Management. In the article, Jerry talks about the future of GMOs and ethanol. To read the full article, turn to pages 12 and 13 in the magazine’s July/August issue, which you can view online on the Feed Management website.

Note – In the article’s third question about specialized strains, the correct version of Jerry’s answer should be: It takes approximately 15 years from obtaining germplasm to commercialization. It is also estimated that it costs over $20 million for the development of a genetically modified strain, again from gene discovery to marketing.

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Use Co-Products for Efficient, Cost-Effective Rations

August 11th, 2010 by Jerry Weigel

At BASF Plant Science, we tend to focus our ration discussions around corn silage, which in our opinion should comprise the majority of the total mixed ration (TMR). However, we should spend some time discussing the co-products that can be used to make up the rest of the TMR. Industrially produced co-products, such as corn distillers grains, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal and soybean hulls, are very important for a dairy cow’s diet.

Here are some of the most commonly used co-products:

  • Distillers grains are popular because they can replace both corn and soybean meal (the standard protein we have in our dairy rations) to a certain percentage. We’ve proven over and over again that corn distiller products are a viable replacement for corn, up to 20-25% of the ration dry matter intake. It won’t fully replace it because of the energy. We know that corn fiber is a very effective energy source and a very safe and effective fiber source. It allows us to displace corn, and sometimes even other forages, and lets us maximize other corn forages such as corn silage as well as then allowing us to bring the inclusion of soybean meal down.
  • Corn gluten feed can be used on a dry matter basis in 15-20% of the total ration.  Corn gluten meal is the protein fraction of the corn that is over 60% protein, and we know it’s a very good source of bypass protein.
  • Soybean hulls are another very important co-product. Soybean hulls are the remaining 8-10% that is left once you pop off the meats (soybean meal). As we know from work we did at Missouri years ago that’s been duplicated several times, you can easily go to 25-30% of the DMI with soybean hulls.

Some producers may view co-products as an added financial expense, but if used correctly, they can actually help save producers money. We urge producers to work with their nutritionists, extension agents or veterinarians to do linear programming to determine how they can displace corn, soy or other potential forage sources like alfalfa in the ration and ultimately bring down costs without any negative effects on feed efficiency. Additionally, we have seen some early work on young growing animals indicating that co-products may improve feed efficiency because it’s allowing the animals to be more efficient at converting this carbohydrate source over to energy. If you are buying wet co-products be sure you know the moisture content of the product and understand that their “shelf life” is shorter than dry products.

One question when determining the use of co-products is, how high can we go with corn silage in the ration? At BASF Plant Science, we have looked at that question quite a bit in our research. In our recent study with Cornell University, we included 5.5% of the ration dry matter soybean hulls with excellent results. If one is looking at corn gluten feed, corn distillers products or soybean hulls, NutriDense fits very well into those programs and allows producers to further drop the amount of corn grain in TMRs. Additionally, we know the effective fiber of NutriDense will give us that safety margin or the rumen ecological advantage that fits very well with corn or soybean co-products.

There are certainly a lot of negatives on co-products out there, but they’re usually driven by a lack of information. Producers who use co-products need to work with their suppliers to make certain they know the correct nutritional specifications, which in turn will allow for proper balancing. If fed and managed properly, co-products will be very profitable to a producer’s operation.

Jerry Weigel is the manager of nutrition and technical services for BASF Plant Science. You can contact him at gerald.weigel@basf.com.

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