FEED & NUTRITION

As an industry, we’ve made significant strides in improving feed efficiency. However, when we dig deeper, we have some work to do. Protein is one of the most expensive parts of the ration and there remain vast opportunities to improve protein efficiency.

Starch digestibility has been a popular subject among nutritionists and dairy producers fueled by some companies claiming higher digestibility from softer-textured kernels compared to harder kernels from higher test-weight hybrids.

Crops in the field have naturally occurring microorganisms growing on them, which can affect the ensiling process. These common questions can help you prepare for a more successful harvest.

A significant challenge for dairy producers is how to maintain a consistent delivery of TMR to the lactating herd.

Although some dairy herds do have excellent reproductive performance, the average Canadian herd is still showing unsatisfactory performance with an insemination rate of 44.1 percent, pregnancy rate of 17.6 percent and conception rate of 40.5 percent; those performances were shown to be similar in other countries.

Kernel milkline (starch deposition) should drive the time to start harvesting corn silage, not plant dry matter. For some, this statement may be puzzling, as in the past using plant dry matter was a key tool for harvest timing.