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For dairy producers wishing to improve their profitability, the first feed investment that needs to be made in improving milk production is dry matter intake (DMI) conversions, says Marvin Hoekema, president of Dairy Decisions Consulting, LLC, in Visalia,...
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To understand the ethanol industry is to understand the world. Once described as one of the “glasses that changed the world” due to its ability to be a transportable, yet safe source of energy, ethanol is once again front and center of our industry. D...
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Goodbye government, hello CWT
You know that a project has come of age when university economists begin to study it. The Cooperatives Working Together program can now claim such a study, and the results are encouraging. According to Dr. Scott Brown of the...
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Cenzone allowed to file suit against Alltech
In a recent development in the litigation between Alltech Inc. and Cenzone Tech Inc., a federal judge allowed Cenzone to file claims for antitrust violations against Alltech in November 2006, rejecting Alltech...
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New water additive available
A new oxidizer that includes a blend of antibiotic herbs and minerals is available from Essential Water Solutions Inc.
The company says the new product, Oxy Blast Plus, cleans up bad water including sulfur, manganese, calciu...
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With the holidays behind me and the hope of a new year before me, I sit in the clutter of the old year’s passing and look forward to a brighter year. Not that last year was a bad year. In fact, last year was a wonderful year full of blessings and miracl...
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Rainfall or runoff from melting snow can impact a feeder’s ability to correctly feed dairy cattle. Added water from precipitation or runoff decreases silage dry matter (DM) content. In these situations, more silage must be fed to meet an animal’s nutr...
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A farm or homestead map is a valuable tool for managing and protecting the natural resources on or near your farm property. Understanding where creeks, wetlands, ponds and wells are in relation to livestock pens, barns, manure storage or septic systems is...
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The current trend in animal agricultural food production is to look at “process control” rather than “product control.” Process control can be defined as how the food is produced, whereas product control means how the product turns out. Consumers,...
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In light of a recent warehouse fire at KeyAg Distributors on December 13, many in the southwestern Idaho ag industry have wondered if the company is still in business. Grant Laudert, an area representative for the company, says that answer is an emphatic ...
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Editor’s note: The following are excerpts from the booklet “Prevention: Keeping Animals Safe and Healthy.”
External biosecurity – avoid bringing pathogens to your animals
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Milk fat depression (MFD) syndrome is a prevalent problem in many dairy herds feeding high-yielding dairy cows. A significant increase in understanding of MFD syndrome occurred in the last several years, and, clearly, different factors may be acting indiv...
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Selenium (Se), like the other trace minerals, is necessary to sustain life and is essential for basic physiological functions in both animals and humans. While the daily requirement for these minerals is obviously small, their importance to and impact on ...
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With drought and heat-stressed corn [...], mycotoxin levels could be elevated leading to animal health risks. Corn grain may exhibit signs of fungi growth and kernel damage.
Mycotoxins are toxic byproducts produced by fungi that infect feed crops due to ...
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Sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA) is a prevalent problem for dairy herds as characterized by having more than 25 percent of cows sampled via rumenocentesis four to eight hours after a total mixed ration (TMR) meal with ruminal pH less than 5.5. Ruminal pH i...
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Maintaining dairy cows in the herd is costly. The price of heifers is three to six times as much as the price of cull cows. Cows stay in a herd on average about three years. If a heifer costs $1,900 and the cull revenue is $400, then the loss in value is ...
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There are many tools a nutritionist may use to evaluate and monitor the nutritional status of high-producing dairy cows. Evaluating the feces or manure can provide information about general health, rumen fermentation and digestive function of cows.
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Many minerals have been proven in research studies to be essential for optimal growth, physiologic function and productivity in ruminants. Historically, testing for these minerals has been performed on diets or dietary components to ensure adequate concen...
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The Chinese communist government instituted a one-child-per-family policy several years ago to control overpopulation in its country. Now the capital city of Beijing has decreed a one-dog-per-household policy. “Violators will be punished.”
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A good housing system for calves and heifers will provide for the well-being of animals of various ages, promote safe and efficient working conditions for the caretaker, protect the environment and be cost-effective to build and maintain. The system will ...
Re: Two dairymen are making profits with sprout fodder systems
Posted on Saturday, 23 March 2013 by Allan Spicer.I was involved in a similar protect in Ontario about 15 yeara ago. Tbe...
Re: Idaho and New York Senators introduce dairy savings account legislation
Posted on Friday, 22 March 2013 by Rob Hull.It might not be a perfect idea but it would be a good tool to give...
Re: Idaho and New York Senators introduce dairy savings account legislation
Posted on Friday, 22 March 2013 by David Callister.I like the idea.