Twenty-six Holstein and 18 Jersey multiparous cows in a randomized block design were assigned by calving date and breed to a non-anionic prepartum diet (CTRL) or a treatment diet containing a commercial anionic salt supplement (Animate®). Control and treatment diets were formulated to a dietary anion-cation difference (DCAD) of 21.3...
Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is a devastating disorder affecting high producing dairy cattle. As an important emerging disease (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 2003), HBS is now estimated to account for > 2% of the deaths of dairy cattle (Kirkpatrick et al, 2001). However, little is known about the...
Many studies have shown that dairies consistently overfeed nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). This practice is expensive and potentially damaging to the environment and to animal health. This publication suggests ways to improve feed management and thus avoid overfeeding P and K. Proper ration balancing is good...
Milk production can be increased by managing dairy cows’ exposure to light. Photo period is defined as the duration of light exposure within a 24-hour period. A long-day photo period (LDPP) means exposure to 16–18 hours of continuous light followed by 6–8 hours of continuous darkness. A short-day photoperiod (SDPP)...
Keeping track of nutrient levels in dairy pastures has become an important part of farm management plans. The current recommendation is to fertilize pastures at a level to replace, in equal measure, the nutrients removed through grazing or cutting each year. The Confined Animal Feeding Operations Program (CAFO) run by...
Reprinted November 2005. Reviewed 07/07/14. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
When you want to talk about dairy cattle with someone, you need accurate, meaningful vocabulary words (terminology or terms) in order to understand each other. When you give a set of reasons, an accurate set of terms is just as important as it is in conversation. Also, to compare one...
Our objectives were to determine if dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) and source of anions influence periparturient feed intake and milk production, and to characterize feeding behavior of dairy cattle during the transition period. Diets differed in DCAD (cationic or anionic) and anionic supplement (BioChlor®, Fermenten®, or anionic salts), and were...
Ruminal microorganisms require nitrogen and energy for microbial crude protein
(MCP) synthesis. High-quality grass provides an excess of readily available proteins
relative to available carbohydrates which reduces the conversion efficiency of grass
protein to MCP. Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are the primary source of readily
available energy. Objectives of trial 1...