Temperature Humidity Index (THI) calculates the effects of both temperature and humidity. As we say in Wisconsin on those days when it’s miserable to be outside, “it’s not the heat, it’s the gosh darn humidity!” It takes extra energy to get chores done. Clothes are soaked with perspiration and it’s hard to drink enough water […]

Seventy-five percent of dairy cow health disorders such as displaced abomasum (DA), metritis, and retained placenta (RP) happen in the first 30 days of lactation. The onset of lactation puts tremendous metabolic stress on the dairy cow. The transition period, described as 21 days before calving and 21 days after calving, is one of the […]

While beta agonists (ractopamine) aren’t approved for use in cattle sold to all packing facilities, and they aren’t right for all situations (heat stress, too heavy of cattle to start with), they certainly do add additional weight and reduce feed conversion the last 28-40 days on feed. Given excellent returns such as this, with the […]

Anyone who buys milk replacer has certainly noticed the increase in the price over the last year. Compared to March 2021, the price of milk replacers have increased by $15 to $20 per bag! Some products are approaching $100/bag. These price increases cause us to ask, “should I feed whole milk instead?” and “how can […]

Most cattle producers understand the importance of delivering the right amount of quality nutrients to cows.  They balance for energy levels (body condition) and protein, and provide supplemental minerals and vitamins, recognizing that these are important for colostrum quality, delivering a healthy calf, milk production and reproductive performance. However, not all are aware of the […]

Our favorite time of year is here, calving season! The crisp cold air, the early mornings and late nights and coming out to find a healthy calf and caring momma cow makes it all worth it! Making sure you have a healthy cow to begin with gives you a step ahead in this crucial game. […]

  The table below was generated using current pricing for amino acids, fat, and mineral supplements.  DDGs are a good source of energy, protein, and phosphorus in swine diets.  Break-even prices for DDGs given different corn and SBM prices are presented.  For instance, if current corn price is $6.75/bu and SBM is $425/ton, one would […]

Hog futures prices have been hitting over $100/cwt, meaning every pig on your farm is very valuable.  In addition, grain and feed prices are high, so input costs for each pig are also considerable.  Health is always important and key in running a productive and profitable operation, but never has it been more apparent than […]

Working to get your cows to reach their full potential? Feeding digestible enzymes can help you do just that. Enzymes have become a top-rated tool our nutritionists use to improve cows’ nutrition by increasing their diet digestibility, which means more energy will be available for milk production. Plus, enzymes can reduce the need for expensive […]

We often focus on what summer heat stress steals from our feedlot revenue; but we tend to put the blinders on when we try to account for what winter cold stress costs us as an industry. Perhaps living in the Midwest, we are accustomed to the cold stress and have the mentality to ‘just deal […]

One of my favorite phrases that I hear is, “we are drowning in information while starving for wisdom.” I am sure everyone has felt this at some point in their life. Dairy farms are great at recording data and collecting information, however analysis of this information can be challenging. When evaluating data, these three production […]

Gut health challenges can present themselves in a variety of different ways in pigs.  Physical causes of gut disturbances, such as gastric ulcers or intestinal torsion (twisted gut), can flare up in barns or herds, and may be the result of changes in feed intake patterns or diets, most commonly deriving from environmental temperature changes […]