Feed & Nutrition

One factor to consider when determining the price dairy farmers should pay for a forage is the ability of the forage to support milk production.

Corn silage is often the main feed source for dairy production systems. However, annual cool-season forages can be a viable option for merging forage production and nutrient management during the “off season”.

When making a several-hundred-thousand-dollar investment with a piece of machinery, we typically do our homework. You can probably share stories of test-driving self-propelled forage harvesters or tractors, prior to investing hundreds of thousands in the machine.

Whether it is maximizing production, maintaining herd health, or controlling cost, a key component is the quality of forage fed.

How to mitigate and prevent spoiled silage for the future

Throughout the summer, many dairy consultants have seen farm teams challenged by aerobically unstable 2019 ensiled forages and high-moisture grains, which were grown under several levels of stress.

Automated feeding is not necessarily a new concept. Tiestall barns utilized automated versions of concentrate feeders as far back as the 1970s and ’80s.