Economics of Alfalfa and Corn Silage Rotations by Ken Barnett1 April 2006 Introduction Alfalfa is a major profit center on most dairy farms. The annual yield for alfalfa has the largest impact on its profitability. As the stand ages, the yield declines due to environmental stresses, wheel traffic, and diseases. Since alfalfa yield declines with advancing […]
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Bloat by Dan Undersander and Dave Combs What is bloat? Bloat is a digestive disorder characterized by an accumulation of gas in the first two compartments of a ruminant’s stomach (the rumen and reticulum). Production of gas (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) is a normal result of fermentation processes. The gas is usually discharged by belching (erutication) but, […]
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September, 2012 Space Late Summer Cutting Management of Alfalfa by Dan Undersander, Forage Agronomist Difficult alfalfa harvesting conditions sometimes result in farmers being off schedule for late summer harvesting alfalfa. This raises the question of best cutting management of alfalfa harvest as the end of summer approaches. If we want good winter survival and rapid greenup for […]
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Red Clover Forages for Lactating Dairy Cows by Patrick C. Hoffman and Glen A. Broderick Introduction Red clover is a legume that is well adapted to poorly drained soils and more tolerant of lower soil pH and fertility than alfalfa. The yield potential of red clover is excellent and red clover varieties can have higher forage […]
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Paying for Unexpected Feed Expenses by Tom Anderson Introduction There are times when crops fail. Drought, winterkill, and flooding are beyond our control. When these conditions combine with low commodity prices, they present a special challenge to the farm checkbook. What follows are some thoughts from agricultural lenders about securing credit to bridge unexpected expenses. How […]
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Understanding NDF Digestibility of Forages by Patrick C. Hoffman, Randy D. Shaver, David K. Combs, Daniel J. Undersander, Lisa M. Bauman, and Tina K. Seeger Introduction Recently forage-testing laboratories have begun to evaluate forages for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Evaluation of forages for NDF digestibility is being conducted to aid prediction of total forage digestibility. There are […]
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The Effect of Maturity on NDF Digestibility by P.C. Hoffman, K.M. Lundberg, L.M. Bauman and Randy D. Shaver Introduction Recently forage testing laboratories have begun to evaluate forages for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Evaluation of forage for NDF digestibility is being conducted to improve laboratory prediction of animal performance. One of the factors that influences […]
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Estimating Alfalfa RFV in the Field Using PEAQ Step 1: Choose a representative 2-square-foot area in the field. Step 2: Determine the most mature stem in the 2-square-foot sampling area using the criteria shown in the table to the right. Step 3: Measure the length of the tallest stem in the 2-square-foot area. Measure if […]
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NDF Digestibility: Reference Values for Forages, Byproducts and Total Mixed Rations by P.C. Hoffman, K.M. Lundberg, L.M. Bauman and Randy D. Shaver Introduction Numerous forage testing laboratories evaluate forages, byproduct feeds and total mixed rations for neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD). Evaluation of forages and other feedstuffs for NDFD is being conducted to aid prediction of feed energy […]
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In vitro NDF Digestibility of Forages: The 30 vs. 48 hour debate by P.C. Hoffman, K.M. Lundberg, L.M. Bauman and Randy D. Shaver Introduction Recently, forage testing laboratories have begun to evaluate forages for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Evaluation of forages for NDF digestibility is being conducted to aid prediction of total forage digestibility. There are several […]
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