Dairy Nutrition
Silage samples with high ammonia (or soluble protein) consistently contain lower amino acid levels. Could subpar silage fermentation be causing this?
Cows that milk the same amount or more, while eating less feed than their counterparts, are both desirable and profitable. So, is there a way to “make” such cows?
Non-salable milk from antibiotic-treated cows – sometimes accompanied by pasteurization – has been a calf dietary staple on dairy farms for decades. But how do those traces of antibiotics influence the digestive microflora of the calves that consume them?
Modern Holstein cows have an average gestation length of around 276 days, several days shorter than current references typically suggest.
Rumen-protected choline has been shown to produce a host of benefits for transition cows, from improved liver function to better immunity and higher milk production. New research shows it can help build better calves, too.
With feed inputs representing the #1 expense for most dairy operations, and little relief in sight in terms of feed prices, efficient utilization of feedstuffs is a dairy sustainability imperative.
The FDA has given its stamp of approval to Elanco’s Bovaer®, a first-in-class methane-reducing feed ingredient.
If you want healthier cows that eat more and produce more milk, there’s a fairly simple trick to help – make sure they have access to clean water.
What happens to the rumen during the dry period? It takes a rest, too. But what happens to it when an animal calves?
The goal of formulating milk replacer is to as closely as possible duplicate – and even improve upon – whole milk. A team of researchers is exploring how to do that based on fat source choices and fatty acids.
Liver abscesses remain a singular, dark cloud over the otherwise sunny segment of dairy-beef-cross cattle. Several entities are performing research to try to solve this frustrating industry obstacle.
The best-quality colostrum is thick, creamy, and has a beautiful golden color, right? Not necessarily, according to Danish veterinarian and researcher Hanne Skovsgaard Pedersen.
Numerous studies have now shown that feeding colostrum replacer to mimic transition milk has beneficial effects for preweaned calves.
As beef-on-dairy animals within the feedlot system continue to rise, feedlots are craving two key pieces of information to help ensure these crossbred cattle thrive.
For the past 13 years, Cornell researchers have been developing the latest, highly anticipated CNCPS version 7.
While it’s easy to immediately place blame on your nutritionist for diet related problems, these three problem solving steps need to be taken before you jump to conclusions.
Inulin is a type of soluble fiber found in plants that is not digestible by humans. However, this not-so-talked-about substance is showing considerable promise in enhancing lactating-cow nutrition.
Routinely monitoring transfer of passive immunity is an effective way to evaluate colostrum management and identify calves with failure of passive transfer.
Is the blanket approach of giving calcium boluses to every fresh cow really the best route to prevent milk fever?
A popular combination of enhancements in calf starter rations has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for replacement heifers.
In both human and veterinary medicine, we’re hearing more about the benefits of gut supplements to support health, performance, and well-being.
Incidence rates for displaced abomasum (DA) range from 1% to 6%, and up to 90% of DA’s happen within the first 30 days in milk.
Waste milk is not necessarily the “free lunch” it is often perceived to be, and may actually be a quite harzardous and costly liquid ration option.
The problem occurs in nearly 50% of cows in the first 24 hours after calving, says Jesse Goff, DVM and ISU professor emeritus. He details four nutrition strategies to prevent or treat the problem so cows aren’t culled.
Mercer Vu Dairy wanted to utilize group housing and waste milk to raise their preweaned calves with round-the-clock access to milk. Here’s how they came up with their own one-of-a-kind system.
In these tumultuous times of drought, global unrest, and supply chain disruptions, feed grains may not be as plentiful, available, and affordable as we have traditionally enjoyed.
It may not be a fancy cocktail, but accurate mixology is important for calf milk replacer, too.
With no end to the higher feed cost trend in sight, farmers are looking at ways to get the most out of their rations while minimizing wasted feed.
What’s the perfect close-up ration to optimize calf health -- something that’s not too much of this or too little of that, but “just right?”
The heat is on, and calves feel it, too. Here are five strategies to help calves cope as summer sizzles on.