Factors to Consider When Marketing Hay by Dan Undersander Introduction Many hay growers simply sell hay. They are selling a commodity to low bidders rather than developing a market for a product. Bringing factors other than price into the market such as forage quality, consideration of customer needs, prompt delivery, steady supply, and appreciation of business […]
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Making a Feed Inventory by Brian Holmes What is a feed inventory? Doing a feed inventory establishes your current stock of various feed ingredients. Generally, the process involves determining the volume of each feed stored and then multiplying by the stored density to yield a weight of feed. For example, silage in a bunker silo has […]
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Value of Short Rotations for Alfalfa Profitability by Dan Undersander1 and Ken Barnett2 1Extension Forage Specialist, Madison, WI 2Extension Educator, Center for Dairy Profitability, Madison, WI Shorter rotations mean greater profit per acre for the entire farm because of higher alfalfa yield, higher forage quality, reduced pesticide use, greater nitrogen credits, and increased corn yields. Alfalfa is a […]
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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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Agronomic Considerations for Molds and Mycotoxins in Corn Silage by Mike Rankin and Craig Grau Introduction Mycotoxins have long been a concern to livestock producers when environmental conditions during the growing season were conducive to mold growth on the field crop. Mycotoxins are now more frequently being associated with crops like corn silage that include not just grain […]
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Improving Forage and TMR Bunk Life by Jim Leverich and Randy Shaver Introduction Forages and total mix rations (TMRs) that begin heating after they are fed can lower dry matter intake and animal performance. Proper management during ensiling and feeding can minimize heating in the feed bunk and improve palatability. What causes feed to heat in a bunk? […]
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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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