Automated activity monitoring systems have become a common management tool on many herds and are often used to detect estrus and ovulation of cows more easily. These tools can help identify groups of cows that may act and respond differently to common reproductive practices and potentially be managed under a more individualized or targeted approach.

The transition period is a crucial time for dairy cows, as they experience many concurrent changes during a time that already has the highest occurrence of metabolic disorders and infectious disease. With changes in hormones, metabolic stress, and nutritional challenges, most cows decrease their dry matter intake (DMI), thus entering a negative energy and protein balance.

Our wonderful team here at Miner Institute has achieved something pretty incredible! According to our last DHI test, our herd has a Rolling Herd Average of a little over 33,000! That's over 55,000 pounds of fluid milk produced by our herd each day! We also recently received an award for the high quality of our milk, presented to us by Agri-Mark, our milk cooperative.

The preweaning period is a pivotal stage that can have lasting consequences, influencing growth and future milk production. It has been found that calves experiencing illness within the first four months of life have negative effects on first lactation 305-d mature equivalent milk, actual milk, protein and fat production (Heinrichs and Heinrichs, 2011). Antibiotics are a common way of preventing or treating illness during this timeframe, and they can significantly decrease mi

In my September Farm Report article, I discussed why taking feed samples correctly is one of the most critical steps in building accurate rations and preventing unexpected dips in cow performance. I emphasized that feed values can fluctuate significantly from one day to the next, and while some of this variation reflects true changes in the feed — especially depending on storage method, face management, or where material is removed —sampling errors can add additional variabil

Corn grain is a major source of starch in dairy cow diets, and the way this grain is processed can directly affect digestibility and animal performance. Traditionally, finely ground dry corn is the most commonly used form on farms. However, other options, such as high-moisture corn and reconstituted corn, have been used as strategies to improve starch availability in the rumen.

“Kanpai”, the Japanese word for “cheers”, was a word I found myself saying often during a recent trip to Japan. This visit was more than a cultural experience but marked a significant milestone for Miner Institute: 30 years of research collaboration with ZEN-NOH, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations. This partnership is the longest-running research collaboration in Miner Institute’s history and has delivered practical benefits to dairy farmers in b

When the corn is in the bunk and field work wraps up for the season, some forage producers already start thinking ahead about what they are planting next year. A few operations may even choose to purchase seed before the end of the year to take full advantage of early-purchase discounts. While these discounts may not look like a lot, they can amount to tens of thousands of dollars for large operations.

Dairy is the heart of so many dishes that make the holidays special. From creamy mashed potatoes to festive desserts, dairy brings comfort, richness, and warmth to every celebration. I am sharing a recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies- a treat that highlights the classic dairy flavors in a sweet, cozy way that is perfect for November.

Our cows have maintained strong production levels, averaging approximately 102 pounds of milk per cow per day. Milk composition remains consistent, with 4.3% fat and 3.2% protein, which aligns with our typical herd performance.

A group of us from Miner Institute recently attended the Cornell Nutrition Conference in Syracuse. It had a great lineup of speakers this year and the program was very good. One of the speakers was Dr. Barry Bradford from Michigan State University. He has a dual appointment for research and extension and was able to share some of his recent work in collaboration with Martin Carrasquillo Mangual on evaluating feeding programs on Michigan dairy farms.

Once dairy calves are weaned, how we balance metabolizable protein (MP) and metabolizable energy (ME) in the diet becomes a key factor in shaping the kind of growth they achieve. It’s not just about how fast they grow — it’s about what kind of tissue they’re putting on.

Water, known as the “universal solvent” is a crucial nutrient for life and it makes up about 60% of the human body. In dairy cattle, water is the most consumed nutrient, and it makes up about 65% of a mature cow’s body composition, and about 80% of an unborn calf. Water serves very essential purposes in the metabolism of dairy cows, including digestion, transport of nutrients, regulation of body temperature, waste removal, and importantly, milk production (85% of milk is made

Although it is hard to write this without including a pun, silo gases should not be taken lightly. Even brief exposure to silo gases can be fatal, making them one of the greatest health risks on-farm. There are two main silo gases to be aware of: carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The considerable drought conditions across the northeastern US and Canada have increased the risk for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) production from ensiling, and it has already been observed

Cover cropping is something we would like to do more of at Miner Institute. There are excellent incentive programs available for this practice, and the long-term benefits to yield, soil health, and edge of field losses have been well documented. The challenge is often just getting the seed out there at a time when bunks need to be covered, manure needs to be spread, and 5th cut is ready to come off.

Traditionally we have promoted, myself included, a set volume and quality of first feeding colostrum to calves. Often we recommend 4 L or one gallon of high quality colostrum within the first two hours after birth to our large breed calves. However, this blanket approach might not be what’s best for each individual calf and maybe we should be incorporating a precision feeding mindset when implementing our colostrum feeding recommendations.

Have you noticed your milk fat numbers creeping up over the years? You’re not alone. Data from the Federal Milk Market Orders, including Order 1 (see figure) show a steady rise in both milk fat and true protein concentrations. While we still see seasonal ups and downs (peaking in winter and dipping in summer), the overall trend is clear: milk components are increasing.

This past summer was a busy one for all of us. With students on the farm there was a lot of activity and learning taking place each day. Now that the season has ended and our students have returned to school, we’re taking the opportunity to step back and look for areas of improvement. It’s important to identify areas where small changes can make a big impact.

Knowing what’s really in your feed is the first step to making good rations that meet the cows’ needs. That’s why taking and testing feed samples regularly is such an important tool — it helps to avoid nutrient shortages or waste. But the more tests we run, the more we see that feed values can vary a lot, especially in forages and by-products.

Methionine is more than just another nutrient in a dairy cow’s ration. As one of the key building blocks of protein, it influences not only how much milk a cow produces but also how efficiently she uses the nutrients in her diet. Over the years, advances in feed technology have made it possible to deliver methionine in a form that bypasses the rumen and reaches the small intestine, where it can be fully absorbed.