Much emphasis has been on the calf period and improving growth and health of the preweaning period. However, the postweaning period is a very dynamic transition as heifers move to solid feed intake. Consumption of starter or grain and forage can be influenced by age, body weight, previous milk or milk replacer consumption, ambient temperature, availability of forage, water intake and others. How much do we expect them to consume and what is motivating intake during this age?

The period around calving is one of the most physiologically challenging phases in a cow’s life. As lactation begins, the cow’s calcium...

The chain of events following colostrogenesis in the cow, to collection, storage, and calf consumption of the colostrum is an important process to manage on the farm. The timing of collecting colostrum, as well as the proper handling and storage, play key roles in the quality of colostrum being delivered to the calf. Furthermore, minimizing bacterial contamination from the cow’s udder, milking equipment, storage vessels, and feeding equipment will help maintain clean colostru

There are 365 sunrises and sunsets each year and the average farmer sees every one of them. Whether they are up before first light to...

Summer has officially arrived, bringing with it the intense heat and challenges that come with seasonal weather changes. Despite the...

Weaning is ubiquitous in the dairy industry and is not exclusive to only heifer calves but also beef crosses and bulls. In that context...

A recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science suggests that it might be time to rethink how we feed minerals to dry cows. For years, nutrition guidelines have assumed that cows only need extra minerals late in pregnancy, but this new research shows that cows start needing more minerals much earlier — sometimes as soon as 30 to 40 days after conception.

“What?” “I can’t hear you.” “Come closer.” These were common phrases during recent on-farm tours and workshops at Miner. With warm, humid...

Happy National Dairy Month! Despite what seems like constant rainy weather, we were able to take advantage of a few dry days to begin our first cutting of the season. During the last week of May our team successfully completed and covered the first haylage bunk after two long days of chopping.

At the end of April I defended my master’s thesis. I spent 18 months collecting data from Northeastern dairy farmers. While my peers at...

The month of May has come and gone, and we still have a good portion of our corn acreage left to plant here at Miner Institute. While we...

Dehorning is a widespread practice on dairy farms, undertaken to remove horns or inhibit their growth. This procedure primarily aims to enhance safety for handlers and prevent injuries among herd animals. Recognizing that dehorning causes pain and discomfort, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) supports the practice yet strongly emphasizes the importance of effective pain management.

Resilience is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.” As a high school...

Colostrum is one of the most important meals for a newborn calf. Its administration is required to be appropriately timed in the right...

Early in June we had the pleasure of hosting the Cornell-Miner Dairy Nutrition and Management Short Course – a 4-day immersive experience...

In early April, Miner Institute hosted Dan Neenan from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (www.necasag.org) for a manure pit and confined space safety training for first responders. This training was organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County and Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County with financial support from DFA, Cargill, Poulin Grain, AgroLiquid, Farm Bureau, Farm Credit East, Foy Agency Insurance, and the Kevin Daniels

Uruguay is a leading country in South America’s dairy industry, with average farms housing 144 cows and producing over 736,000 liters...

The grass is green and growing, buds are on the trees and the temperatures are getting warmer outside! It's time to begin spring fieldwork! Our crops crew has been cleaning and prepping the field equipment for planting.

A recent breakthrough in calf nutrition science is changing how we think about protein supply in pre-weaned ruminants. A study led by researchers from the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil and Miner Institute has delivered the first quantification of microbial crude protein (MCP) synthesis in the immature rumen of pre-weaned animals fed different amounts of milk replacer.

May in the Northeast can be an exciting time for farmers. We are out of the woods of winter, breaking ground, and getting seeds planted....