Using NDF Digestibility in Ration Formulation by Patrick Hoffman and David Combs Introduction This Focus on Forage article will attempt to address issues of NDF digestibility (NDFD) in forages and total mixed rations (TMRs). The utility of NDFD in dairy cattle nutrition programs will also be discussed. How is NDFD measured? Forage NDFD is expressed as a percentage […]
Read More...
Comparison of Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) to Relative Feed Value (RFV) by Dr. Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin We introduced Relative Forage Quality as an improvement to RFV in 2002. We released the term to better estimate energy and intake and to do it in accordance with NRC Nutrition Requirements for Dairy Animals released in 2001. The […]
Read More...
Ash Content of Forages by Patrick C. Hoffman Introduction Dairy producers and their nutrition consultants seldom discuss nutritional aspects and possible ramifications of feeding high ash content forages and diets to dairy cows. It is a subject that generally falls off the radar screen because there are numerous and more important nutrients to attend to in […]
Read More...
Heat Damaged Forages: Effects on Forage Energy Content by Wayne Coblentz, Patrick Hoffman, and Dan Undersander Introduction Traditionally, the effect of heat damage within forages has focused on reduced bioavailability of crude protein (CP) to ruminant animals as a result of Maillard reactions. The products of these reactions are the result of complex, multi-step pathways. Typically, the initial […]
Read More...
Sampling and Analytical Variation Associated with Evaluating Phosphorus in Forages and Total Mixed Rations by John Peters and Pat Hoffman Introduction Nutrient management has become an integral component of managing a commercial dairy and livestock operation. Specifically, reducing phosphorus content of livestock diets, manure and soil is a common goal of nutrient management programs. As a result, there […]
Read More...
Influence of Ensiling on the Digestibility of Whole-Plant Corn Silage by Luiz Ferraretto1, Randy Shaver1, and Joe Lauer2 1Department of Dairy Science, UW-Madison 2Department of Agronomy, UW-Madison Introduction Increasing starch or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility in whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) may increase lactation performance by dairy cows or reduce purchased feed costs for dairy farmers. The digestibility […]
Read More...
Trends in Feed and Manure Phosphorus by John Peters Introduction In the past, the formulation of the mineral levels in dairy total mixed rations (TMR’s) has often been based on book values or NIR estimates of feed and forage quality parameters. To help get a better measure of what was actually being fed to many of […]
Read More...
Degree of Starch Access (DSA): Starch Digestibility in Forages and Grains fed to Dairy Cattle by R.D. Shaver and P.C. Hoffman Introduction Starch, supplied in Midwest diets primarily from high-moisture and dry corn grain and whole-plant corn silage, is an important source of energy for dairy cattle. However, the digestibility of corn starch can be highly variable. Various […]
Read More...
On-Farm Moisture Testing of Corn Silage by John Peters Introduction Accurately determining corn whole plant moisture is important when harvesting for corn silage. Harvesting corn for silage too early (high moisture content) or too late (low moisture content) can affect forage yield, quality and silage fermentation. Whole plant moisture content typically changes by 0.5 units per […]
Read More...
Sampling and Evaluating Total Mixed Rations by Patrick C. Hoffman Introduction New laboratory tests are now available to evaluate total diet NDF digestibility (NDFD) and provide laboratory energy estimates for total mixed rations (TMRs). Laboratory TMR evaluation can be used to cross check possible errors associated with formulating and mixing TMRs or can be used to […]
Read More...
