Learning Resources: Research Updates
Rethink Transition Ketosis
October 27, 2023
Why? Because changes in circulating NEFA, ketones, and calcium actually support high milk yield in healthy, high-producing cows. "Don't mess with high production," says Dr. Lance Baumgard of Iowa State University.
Changes for Calf Diets
June 30, 2023
Take a closer look at dietary energy for young calves, says Dr. Jim Drackley of the University of Illinois. New dairy nutrition modeling (NASEM 2021) enables more accurate prediction of growth in calves fed milk and milk replacer across a wider range of management systems. Think "energy-allowable growth."
Summer DCAD: The K Source Option
May 19, 2023
Potassium (K) plays a key role maintaining the dairy cow's blood acid-base balance while supporting many other vital functions. We especially want to avoid negative K balance during lactation. Dr. Tom Jenkins, Emeritus Professor at Clemson, zeroes in on K in DCAD to support summer milk fat.
Milk Fat: Keep Up with Genetic Potential
February 23, 2023
Milk fat yield continues to rise year on year thanks first to better genetics, which results in ongoing diet design challenges.
Penn State's Dr. Kevin Harvatine highlights nutrition factors to keep up with the current and future dairy cows.
Targeted Fatty Acid Supplementation
January 30, 2023
Get Results with Targeted Fatty Acids
"A bag of fat is not just a bag of fat," says Michigan State's Dr. Adam Lock.
"You cannot know what to expect from feeding it without -- at minimum -- knowing its fatty acid profile."
Recent research shows positive results in the transition period and carry-over into peak lactation with targeted feeding of palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1) acid blends.
Careful with Copper: More for Maintenance, Avoid Too Much in Lactation
December 15, 2022
Careful with Copper: More for Maintenance, Avoid Too Much in Lactation. Dr. Weiss says that copper (Cu) supplementation warrants special attention. The main concern is the risk of liver toxicity resulting from over-supplementation in lactation diets.
Colostrum Challenge: Choline vs. Seasonal Drop
November 21, 2022
By late October, many dairy operations experience a decline in colostrum supply, which is critical to the health of newborn calves as their primary source of passive immunity. This seasonal decline varies greatly by farm, by cow, and by other factors, but correlates with lessening daylight. Shorter days, less colostrum.
Cow Data That Keeps Coming
October 12, 2022
Cows themselves can inform diet formulation on an ongoing basis. One result is rethinking crude protein as a metric for diet formulation, says Cornell's Dr. Mike Van Amburgh.
CNCPS v7: Attention to AA & protozoa
October 11, 2022
The current commercially licensed versions of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS v6.5.5 ), refined over more than 30 years, are key to optimal diets used by dairy nutritionists and ration formulators worldwide for millions of cows worldwide.