By Dr. James C. Coomer, Ph.D., PAS Mycotoxins seem to be discussed everywhere in livestock nutrition press these days and it appears mycotoxins are an inevitable part of nutrition now and into the foreseeable future. DSM recently released their December mycotoxin survey, including their corn mycotoxin survey results for 2023. The survey of 123 corn […]
By Dr. Adrian Baker, Ph.D. Managing new cattle is challenging and the receiving period can have long-term implications on future health and growth during the finishing phase (Wilson et al., 2017). High-risk calves may have been exposed to stressors like commingling at auctions and transportation stress, including extended periods without feed and water (Arthington et […]
By Dr. David F. Jones, Ph.D., P.A.S. Methane production from ruminant animals has received a lot of attention in recent years and is still a primary focus today. Since methane is a waste product from rumen fermentation, it is possible to minimize the process of methane production with nutrition and products that promote greater efficiency […]
By Dr. Louisa E. Koch, Ph.D., P.A.S. Cereal grains represent a major source of energy for the high-producing dairy cow and can greatly impact feed efficiency. Transforming every pound of nutrients into saleable product is the cornerstone of achieving optimal feed efficiency. In most dairy production systems, corn is the predominant cereal grain. The largest […]
By Dr. James C. Coomer, Ph.D., P.A.S. The word mycotoxin appears to have been first used in a publication by Forgacs and Carll (1955) where they are describing diseases of animals caused by toxins produced by fungi (microbial toxins = mycotoxin). The word usually refers to a structurally diverse family of naturally occurring, fungal-elaborated toxins. […]
By Dr. Gene P. Gengelbach, Ph.D., P.A.S. Fall is the time of year many people associate with colorful foliage and football. For the livestock producer, this is the time of year they must evaluate their forages and devise a feeding strategy for the upcoming winter months. Many parts of the country experienced drought conditions for […]
By Dr. David Jones, Ph.D., P.A.S. Along with amino acids and peptides, ammonia is part of the soluble protein (or ‘A’ fraction) of routine protein analysis. It is generated by the deamination (removal of nitrogen-containing amino groups) of proteins, which reduces the overall quality of the protein. Ammonia is a source of nitrogen for rumen […]
By: Dr. Aimee N. Hafla, Ph.D., P.A.S The winter months are a good time to consider feedstuff production and management plans for the upcoming year to ensure your livestock have proper diets. Cattle feeders with integrated crop-livestock systems have the flexibility to produce the feeds that best fit their operation. Questions to ask yourself during […]
By: Dr. Gene P. Gengelbach, Ph.D., P.A.S Commodity prices have been on a wild ride so far in 2021. Besides all of the chaos that COVID-19 has thrown at us, other factors such as record grain exports, uncertain ethanol markets, and serious weather events (both drought and flooding) have led to dramatic increases in grain […]
By Dr. Dave Jones, Ph.D., P.A.S There are two sides to transition cows, the pre-fresh and post-fresh periods. Leading up to, and during, the pre-fresh period many things need to be accomplished by those who manage the cows and the cows themselves. This would include: Period Before Calving Crucial As cows approach their calving date, […]