Since growing replacement heifers don’t generate any income until they enter the lactation barn, it’s important to set up a well-balanced feeding program that matches their nutrient requirements.
Supply a proper feeding program for replacement heifers
It takes proper management and feed investment to raise calves to the milking age
Preventing frothy bloat on early spring pasture
A couple of treatments are available, but management practices can avoid the problem
As a beef nutritionist, I haven’t heard about many fatal cow bloat cases over the last 10 years, but of the few I’m aware of, it seems it takes only a few things to come together to make bloat deadly. From talking to experienced beef producers, I am also aware that the risk of annual […] Read more
Include high-quality alfalfa in a balanced dairy ration
Dairy Corner: Test for nitrates if the crop was produced under high-moisture conditions
High-quality alfalfa has not escaped the high cost of other dairy feeds, and thus significantly contributes to the record-setting cost of producing milk. And last year’s foul growing season, with wet conditions in some areas across the Prairies, was not kind to some alfalfa crops, resulting in some sprouting. This resulted in a few cases […] Read more
Dairy cattle can be picky eaters
Dairy Corner: Keep a properly mixed ration ‘pushed up’ in front of the cows throughout the day
As a dairy nutritionist, I often bag a TMR sample from the feed bunk and then later Koster-test its moisture, which should be about 50 per cent. I also do a shaker box test with a three-screen Penn State Particle Separator. I like to see 15-20 per cent long-stem particles in the top-screen, 35-40 per […] Read more
A balanced mineral-vitamin program is a good investment
The key is to be raising healthy animals in good condition and ready for breeding
Spring is a good time to review your cow herd’s mineral-vitamin program, as nursing cows (and bulls) should be in good mineral and vitamin status that drive a solid return to active reproduction by the breeding season. In order to do so, beef producers often collect and review several commercial feed labels. Most list the […] Read more
Getting bulls prepped for breeding season
Bulls in optimum body condition have high sperm count and sex drive at breeding
Beef bulls are prepared in different ways before the upcoming breeding season. Some are ignored, maybe left on some distant stubble field or in a drylot pen, and inadequately fed. Other bulls are fed too well, so they waddle with fat. The rest are properly prepared for the breeding season, putting them in the best […] Read more
First-calf heifers need to be prepared for rebreeding
They need to calve in good condition and then be kept in good condition as they also continue to grow and nurse a calf
It’s easy to envision beef heifers that give birth to their first calf only as a younger version of mature brood cows. However, they do have extra challenges after calving that must be addressed to get rebred in the next few months. As young animals, giving birth for the first time and nursing a newborn […] Read more
Feed enough potassium in dairy lactation diets
Dairy Corner: There’s a balancing act between there being too much or not enough K
It’s widely accepted that excessive potassium (K) fed to a pre-fresh dairy cow may lead to a high incidence of milk fever at calving. However, many don’t realize that once they calve, high-milk-producing cows require lots of dietary potassium. Plenty of research since the 1960s has proven that high dietary levels of potassium promote good […] Read more
Dairy cows need effective forage fibre
The Dairy Corner: Cud-chewing, or lack thereof, could be an indicator of several problems due to a low fibre diet
High-producing dairy cows always need a good level of effective forage fibre in a well-balanced lactation diet that not only supports good milk and milk fat production, but promotes good cow health and digestion. Anytime I walk into a dairy barn, I take a minute to watch the cows resting in their stalls. If most […] Read more
Consider a two-stage dry cow feeding program
Dairy Corner with Peter Vitti: Meeting all of the dry cow’s nutritional needs goes a long way toward success
Whether dairy producers provide a single or two-stage dry cow feeding program, it is important that it maintains or puts the right amount of body condition to prepare cows for a successful lactation. A closer review of any of these dry cow feeding programs (with proper management) will find certain similarities. Plus, they should dovetail […] Read more
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