When the calendar flips to April, I always start thinking about when it will be time to plant corn. But how early is too early? Well, that depends on your definition. Technically speaking, it is never too early to plant corn. As anybody who has dealt with “volunteer” corn knows, corn seeds are perfectly capable of surviving a whole winter out in the field – well enough to cause substantial weed pressure in a soybean crop! Even so, you won’t catch any farmer in his right mind

Feed push-up is a simple management practice, but its impact on cow performance is closely tied to one key factor: keeping feed consistently within reach. As cows eat and sort the ration throughout the day, feed is gradually displaced away from the bunk, creating periods when feed remains present but is no longer accessible.

Protein is one of the most expensive nutrients in a dairy ration, often one of the most overfed. While crude protein (CP) levels of 16 to 18% are still common in many lactating cow diets, research continues to show that a significant portion of that nitrogen isn’t converted into milk protein: Only about 25 to 35% of the nitrogen a cow consumes is captured in milk, with the remainder excreted in manure, particularly in urine

My name is Chloe Otterson-Taylor, and I’m from Elk Grove, California. I recently graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science. Although I grew up around horses and spent much of high school working with and finishing them, it wasn’t until college that I discovered my passion for the dairy industry.

Pheromones are a means of communication within a species, and can be secreted to provide signals between individuals. One example of this is maternal bovine appeasing substance (MBAS), a naturally-excreted pheromone from cows to elicit a calming effect on their offspring by reducing the neuroendocrine response to a threat or stressor.

Leadership and culture are not just buzzwords or skills we hope to develop someday. Instead, they are words that have a different definition to anyone you speak to, based on their own perception. Culture as defined in the Oxford dictionary “is the customs, art, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social groups.” This isn’t the definition of culture as Galen Emanuel, an author and keynote speaker with a background in theater, defined

Direct-fed microbes (DFM) are live microorganisms — most commonly specific strains of bacteria or yeast — intentionally added to ruminant diets to beneficially modulate the rumen microbial ecosystem. In dairy nutrition, Bacillus spp. (e.g., Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) are frequently used because of their ability to produce fibrolytic, amylolytic, and proteolytic enzymes that enhance feed degradation. By influencing microbial populations and fermentation pa

The growing season is just around the corner, although it is hard to believe with the lingering cold weather here in the North Country. Now is an ideal time to review as a team what it takes to produce high-quality silage in the year ahead. Historically, silage discussions have focused on the basics: harvesting at the correct moisture, chopping at the right length, packing tightly, sealing thoroughly, and deciding whether to use an inoculant. These factors still matter, but t

Calf starter plays a critical role in supporting early growth and rumen development in calves, making it an   important component of a successful heifer program. As calves transition to functional ruminants, the rumen needs to develop sufficient physical capacity and absorptive surface area to properly utilize solid feed. Through starter intake, microbial activity and volatile fatty acid production (VFA) are activated, both necessary components in the development of rumen ti

Subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) affects upwards of 50% of multiparous cows due to increased calcium demands around calving. Although SCH is generally viewed as undesirable, we have come to learn that short term reductions in blood calcium concentrations, like when a cow has transient SCH (low blood calcium at 1 DIM but normal at 4 DIM), may activate adaptive mechanisms that improve calcium regulation later.

The Rumen Simulation Technique, known as RUSITEC, is a continuous in vitro system designed to simulate the rumen fermentation processes that occur in ruminants. The system uses fermentation vessels maintained at rumen-like conditions (temperature, anaerobic environment, and continuous buffer infusion).

This past January I had the opportunity to attend the GPS Dairy Consulting Bootcamp in Minneapolis, MN. During this program we were exposed to ration formulation software, consultative selling techniques, reviewed our own personality profiles and explored several topics relevant to a career in dairy nutrition consulting.

On many dairies, fiber adequacy is judged by the NDF percentage on the ration sheet. A diet containing 28-32% NDF may appear to be adequate, but some farms experience milk fat depression, declining rumination, intake variability, and signs of subacute ruminal acidosis even when total NDF appears adequate. Often the issue isn’t how much fiber is in the ration, but whether that fiber is physically effective in the rumen. Physically effective fiber, commonly referred to as peNDF

In June 2024, Dr. Heather Dann shared the Spirit of Heart’s Delight Farm with Farm Report readers. William Miner displayed the core values he expected from employees of his farm in the early 1900’s through a sign that hung outside the Storehouse No.1 building that read: The Spirit of Heart’s Delight Farm Do right because it is the right thing to do. Be courteous: you thereby honor yourself. Be industrious: otherwise you cannot respect yourself. Be efficient thus gaining the r

White line disease (WLD) continues to be one of the more frequent and costly hoof problems on our dairy as well as many other dairies. It involves separation of the hoof wall from the sole, which can lead to a lesion, hemorrhage or abscess often in the outer rear claw. It has traditionally been viewed as a mechanical lesion caused by shearing forces when turning, poor flooring, or excessive wear or trimming. Last year, we placed heavy, grooved rubber belting on our flooring g

Here in Upstate New York the effects of mid-winter are being felt across the farm. With the holiday season behind us, the dairy team is back in full operation and focused on managing the remainder of the winter months. Short days and long nights present ongoing challenges, but we are fortunate to have a committed staff prepared to work through the season.

Subacute ruminal acidosis, often called SARA, is a common herd-level issue on commercial dairies and is most often triggered by ration changes that increase fermentability. In simple terms, SARA occurs when the rumen spends too much time being more acidic than it should be — not enough to cause obvious sickness, but enough to disrupt normal rumen function.

Choosing a milk replacer is one of the earliest and most important nutritional decisions made on a dairy farm. Because pre-weaned calves have an immature digestive system and limited immune defenses, both the type of protein and how that protein functions in the gut can influence calf health, treatment rates, and overall program success.

For three straight years we have run an experiment looking at the effect of dairy manure on a corn silage field here at Miner Institute. The study was done in collaboration with the Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program and has received funding from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. We started by applying 30 tons/acre of composted cow manure in strips slightly wider than our corn chopper head. From there, we split each strip into six different sectio

A cow doesn’t need to be sick to be struggling. Often stress shows up quietly on farms through reduced intakes, reduced lying time, or a fresh cow that just never reaches her full potential. These cows may seem fine as you walk through the pen, but the little things add up quickly. Stressors will limit milk production, weaken their immune system and set the stage for the rest of their lactation.