peter vitti Archives - Page 2 of 3

Energy needs of cows for reproduction are low, but milk production and body maintenance create need for more feed.

Reproduction planning necessary for this herd’s breeding success

By Peter Vitti February 23, 2024

Last year, I asked a friend who operates a 400-Simmental x Angus beef cow operation about his No. 1 goal, after all his cows dropped their calves by the end of April. He replied that all his mature and young cows should show a couple of strong heats before they are let out with the […] Read more

Feed particle size does make a difference. The ration should include longer stem forages that encourage cud chewing.

Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

There’s a reason if cows aren’t chewing their cud

It's important to look at the structure of fibre in the ration

By Peter Vitti December 19, 2023

This fall I visited three similar dairies milking between 100 and 150 cows. It was about 10 a.m. in two barns (different days) and midafternoon in the third. In each case I noticed less than 10 per cent of resting cows (three-quarters were lying down) were not chewing their cud. I reviewed the TMR in […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Cow-Calf

Providing proper mineral mix the first step to meet cattle nutrient needs

It's one thing to put it out there, but another to make sure they eat it

By Peter Vitti December 15, 2023

Many commercial cattle minerals can be fed on a free-choice basis to gestating beef cows until calving. But even the best of these products fail if cows don’t eat enough, or engorge themselves. Mineral intake problems must be corrected quickly so cows can either maintain or build a mineral (and vitamin) status which contributes to […] Read more

It is important to crunch the numbers to determine if backgrounding pays. This may not be the year.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Economics of backgrounding didn’t pencil out

With high feed costs, this example of adding 300 pounds over winter was a losing proposition

By Peter Vitti September 29, 2023

Years ago, I took one of my first beef marketing courses from a professor who wore a clean white lab coat to class. There was nothing wrong with that, but his previous class was a red meat-cutting class. One of the first thing he taught us is how to determine background-feeding profit. If its expenses […] Read more

Columns, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Forage fibre the big driver in milk fat production

Put your TMR to the test to determine if it's the proper particle size 

By Peter Vitti May 3, 2021

Maintaining good milk production with adequate milk fat is always the main source of good revenue on most dairy farms. Regardless of the actual feed ingredient formulation, it must work in tandem with the natural body functions of healthy cows. This is something we should keep in mind when reformulating current rations if restrictions are […] Read more

It doesn’t have to be a fancy ration, but proper nutrition for cows and heifers after they calve will have multiple benefits down the road.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Invest in a good feeding program after calving

It benefits in rebreeding and also fall-calf weaning weights

By Peter Vitti March 10, 2021

I give nursing beef cow diets a passing grade when they support beef cows to produce lots of milk for their newborn calves and promote growth in postpartum replacement heifers. These diets must also retain their precious body condition (BCS of 2.5 -3.0, on a 5-point scale) so females can get rebred and conceive within […] Read more

Feeding milk replacer can be part of a well-balanced calf-feeding program.

Dairy Cattle, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Prevent abomasal bloat in young dairy calves

Several factors related to feeding may cause the disorder

By Peter Vitti November 24, 2020

Once the dairy calf hits the straw of the maternal pen, it is removed from its mother and shuttled away to an individual pen or hutch where abomasal bloat is often waiting. Although not fully understood by dairy veterinarians and specialists, the relatively high incidence of abomasal bloat in young dairy calves can be significantly […] Read more

Proper rations can help prevent (and correct) deficiencies which can lead to milk fever.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Key tips to reduce milk fever cases

Incidence of the calcium deficiency can be sporadic, but hurt when they hit 

By Peter Vitti January 22, 2018

Clinical milk fever is a particular insidious metabolic disease in freshened dairy cows. I have witnessed on some dairies, it’s not a significant problem, while next-door neighbours are plagued with downer cows one calving after another. In other dairies, milk fever doesn’t show up for months and then it shows up with a vengeance. From […] Read more

This is an actual picture of hairy heel warts taken by a dairy producer.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle

Controlling hairy heel warts in dairy cattle

A clean barn is part of preventative measures

By Peter Vitti March 27, 2017

Since the new year, I have travelled to many dairy farms across Western Canada and conducted a personal survey about lameness in dairy cattle. At each visit, I asked producers “What was their biggest cause of hoof problems?” Almost unanimously, their answer was “hairy heel warts!” This is no surprise, since multiple surveys conducted over […] Read more

More whole milk is needed to meet the basic water requirement of pre-weaned calves.

Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Pre-weaned calves need extra water

Dairy Corner: Satisfying thirst also promotes good dry calf starter intake

By Peter Vitti January 19, 2017

Feeding milk replacer or whole milk does not provide enough water for growing pre-weaned dairy calves. Young calves have a natural requirement for water which is often higher and separate than what is provided by most milk-based feeding programs. By providing all the water needed, calves adapt to dry calf starter quicker, grow faster and […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle mixed on technicals, profit taking after tight supply rally

U.S. grains: Corn gains on firm cash markets, big crush supports soybeans

CBOT Weekly: Grain, oilseed futures under pressure

Tag Archives peter vitti