FEED & NUTRITION

Weather is the most prominent factor influencing moulds and mycotoxins in crops, and the 2019 growing season was variable and challenging across Canada.

It’s every dairy producer’s goal: Get more milk out of homegrown forages and spend less on purchased feeds. It sounds so easy but, in reality, getting more milk out of our homegrown forages is accomplished in many small steps rather than giant technological leaps.

BMR sorghum has been increasing in acres across the region north of the Mason-Dixon line. Most farmers, agronomists and seed sales professionals use harvest and feeding information from years of experience in Texas and across the South.

Paying special attention to transition cows from the close-up or maternity pen to the fresh pen usually pays big dividends for the dairy producer.

Numerous studies confirm the periparturient period (immediately before and after calving) is when dairy cows are at greatest risk of developing diseases and involuntary culling. Cows transitioning from dry to lactating status face physiological, metabolic, endocrine and environmental changes.

Dairy cows need water to turn feed into milk – a product that is already nearly 90 percent water.