Posted in: Dairy Operation Management
The Work of a Consultant - Feb 22, 2009 - 8:21:41 PM
I've talked with many dairymen over the years about the trials and tribulations of farming. Being raised on a dairy farm myself, I am all too familiar with the up's and down's, and usually I find myself relating to their problems, but often I will offer a word or two of encouragement! Consulting is made up of many of the same challenges as dairying, but there are some differences!

Posted in: Dairy Operation Management
Summer Feeding Challenges--TMR and Non-TMR - Feb 22, 2009 - 8:17:20 PM
What are you willing to do this summer to enhance TMR intake? This is the challenge for the producer and the Dairy Nutritionist or Consultant. Keeping the dry matter intake (DMI) up pays short term dividends in the form of a higher milk check and longer term dividends in the form of breeding efficiency and shorter calving interval.

Posted in: Dairy Operation Management
Strategies for Minimizing Heat Stress - Feb 22, 2009 - 8:15:09 PM
Understanding Heat Stress
Heat stress strikes dairy cattle whenever the heat load placed upon an animal exceeds her ability to lose heat. The consequences are reduced dry matter intake, decreased feed efficiency, lower milk production and quality, and diminished reproductive performance. Sources of heat load include environmental heat, exercise, metabolism (body fat production), and heat of fermentation (rumen). Heat stress is most severe when daily low temperatures exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Posted in: Dairy Operation Management
Separating Costs from Profits - Feb 22, 2009 - 8:12:52 PM
Recently, a prospective customer asked me what mineral costs per head per day would be on our program. He explained that his current cost was about $0.25. My first reaction was to say that this is right in line with the ANC program, but there is a lot more to it than that. His question was a better one than most, as many ask the cost per ton or the cost per month instead. Many major feed competitors falsely try to use cost of mineral or premix as the cost of a program. Wouldn't protein and grain recommendations greatly affect cost? What about the recommendations for certain feed ingredients? How much time do they spend on showing you how to use what you buy?

Posted in: Dairy Operation Management
Saving Pennies Can Cost Dollars - Feb 22, 2009 - 8:10:34 PM
With today's low milk price, many customers have asked their consultants what they can do to save money and fine tune their dairy rations. At ANC, every time we rework a ration, we check to see if there is some way we can make it more cost effective and still continue to meet the producer's goals at the same time! This includes substituting in an ingredient that does the same thing as the current one, only more cost effectively. Each ingredient has a purpose in the diet, or it wouldn't be added. We do our best to keep up with changing prices, and it helps if you work closely with your feed mill and consultant to let us know what ingredients are available, and at what price.