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Last Updated: Aug 26, 2009 - 1:22:44 PM |
Posted in:
Dairy Operation Management
What is the Value of Your Forages? -
Feb 22, 2009 - 8:48:03 PM
What is the most important profitability factor on most dairy farms? There could be hundreds of answers, and the most general one would probably be good management! Assuming this is a necessity to stay in business in the 90's (or should we say "the 00's"), what part of management has long been known to pay the biggest dividend? The answer might very well be the harvesting and storage of high quality forages!
Posted in:
Dairy Operation Management
WHAT IS COST? -
Feb 22, 2009 - 8:29:56 PM
Some individuals use price per ton, price per bag, or cost of mineral as their basis to evaluate expenses. Many companies attempt to justify their costs claiming 'higher quality" or even implying "secret ingredients". Competitive con-sultants that sell these products may not know that vitamins come from a few major companies with outstanding quality control, or even the fact that there are no secrets, much less "magic ingredients"!
Posted in:
Dairy Operation Management
TMR Sorting -
Feb 22, 2009 - 8:27:14 PM
Feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) to dairy cows allows the cow to consume the appropriate amounts of all ration ingredients consistently and uniformly throughout the day. Care is taken to select appropriate ration ingredients. The ration is formulated and fine-tuned. Feed ingredients are carefully weighed and blended in the TMR mixer. The ration looks fine on paper. All nutrient parameters are where they should be yet the cows are not performing as they should. Dry matter intakes might be inconsistent. Manure consistency within groups vary. Butterfat test may be dropping. What’s happening?
