FEED & NUTRITION

Total mixed rations (TMRs) as we know them today are an invention of primarily the last 50 years. Prior to TMRs, dairy herds were fed predominantly forages with a limited amount of grain delivered at milking time.

The first Canadian national dairy survey was conducted in 2015. Not surprisingly, producers from every region listed feed costs as a concern for their operation. Yet there is an older technology to improve return over feed (ROF) only used by 50% of Canadian producers.

Optimal forage management, from harvest to feeding, is essential to improve milk production, minimize health problems and increase farm profitability.

If lower-lignin alfalfa seems limp and harder to run through the conditioner, check conditioner adjustments and pay attention to environmental factors that may influence success.

Spring is the time when many farmers and ranchers think about pest management, especially weed and insect management.

Each year I consult with several different producers regarding mineral issues in their feed. Some common things I hear are: “They just aren’t thrifty,” “They aren’t gaining like they should,” or, “We had more open cows than I was expecting.”