Dairy Production Management
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Item Using the optical refractometer to manage calf healthLynch, Robert (PRO-DAIRY, 2019-05)Many research publications and resources are available to help calf raisers use refractometers. This bulletin summarizes current recommendations and references. The Brix refractometer measures sucrose concentrations in liquids like wine and fruit juice. When used to measure non-sucrose containing liquids, the Brix% approximates the total solids percentage. Questions that can be answered with a refractometer include: • What is the colostrum immunoglobulin content? • What is the passive antibody transfer success rate? • What is the total solids content of the whole milk or milk replacer?Item Separated manure solids for freestall beddingLynch, Robert (PRO-DAIRY, 2019)Mastitis is one of the costliest diseases for the U.S. Dairy Industry, and management decisions that may affect mastitis risk are considered carefully. One such decision is the choice of a bedding substrate that helps keep cows clean and comfortable. Maintaining good udder hygene does reduce mastitis risk. Several bedding options are available, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Separated manure solids (SMS) have been used as a dairy cow bedding substrate for many years. Some farms have used SMS successfully, meaning the transition to manure solids bedding did not increase mastitis and/or reduce milk quality. Other herds experienced increased mastitis around the time they switched to manure solids, and attributed this to bedding. Much research has been done to help the industry understand best management practices for use of this organic bedding substrate, but consensus still lacks on if and how SMS should be used.Item Low price margin herd health do’s and don’tsLynch, Robert (PRO-DAIRY, 2018-04)Each time the dairy industry experiences low milk prices, managers start looking for ways to save money. This is smart and something that all good businesses do. If less money is coming in, how do we cut down on how much money goes out without hurting the business in the long run? These decisions can be pretty challenging when it comes to herd health expenses since the consequences of a bad decision in this area might not be seen right away. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to consider as we all turn our attention again to reducing unnecessary expenses on the dairy.Item Using the Digital Refractometer to Manage Calf HealthLynch, Robert (PRO-DAIRY, 2019-02)Many research publications and resources are available to help calf raisers use refractometers. This bulletin summarizes current recommendations and references. The Brix refractometer measures sucrose concentrations in liquids like wine and fruit juice. When used to measure non-sucrose containing liquids, the Brix% approximates the total solids percentage. Questions that can be answered with a refractometer include: • What is the colostrum immunoglobulin content? • What is the passive antibody transfer success rate? • What is the total solids content of the whole milk or milk replacer?Item Changing Farm Profitability Through an Improved Forage Program: A Case StudyLasher, Shawn; Bru-Mar Farms (2017-01-31)This presentation was given at the 2017 PRO-DAIRY Winter Forage Meetings.Item Grass Breeding to Improve Fiber QualityBallerstedt, Peter J. (2017-01-31)This presentation was given at the 2017 PRO-DAIRY Winter Forage Meetings.Item The Financial Impact of High Forage Rations and Modern Crop RotationsLawrence, Joe; Overton, Thomas (2017-01-31)This presentation was given at the 2017 PRO-DAIRY Winter Forage Meetings.Item Linking Crop Rotations and Feeding ProgramsLawrence, Joe (2017-01-31)This presentation was given at the 2017 PRO-DAIRY Winter Forage Meetings.Item Fiber Digestibility: New Ways to Measure and Why It Is ImportantOverton, Thomas (2017-01-31)This presentation was given during the 2017 Winter Forage Meetings, organized by Cornell University PRO-DAIRYItem PRO-DAIRY Lameness scoring guidePRO-DAIRY (2014-07-10)