I-29 Moo University
A newsletter for dairy producers - August 2017
Using Drought-Stressed Corn as Forage
By Alvaro Garcia, SDSU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Program Director
Drought stress is usually the major limitation to forage yields. When drought has compromised tonnage of corn grain, silage producers may still retain part of its feeding value. Although grazing the plants is an alternative, mechanical harvesting maximizes the tonnage obtained. Preserving drought-stressed corn plants as hay is usually not recommended because plants retain moisture and are difficult to dry. Preserving high moisture corn plants as baleage (50-60 percent moisture) can also offer difficulties as stalks can puncture the plastic wrap with air infiltration of the forage mass. Aeration will lead to heating (and even spontaneous combustion), mold growth and mycotoxin production, and reduced palatability and overall feeding value of the stored forage. Because of these considerations, if producers are going to go through the trouble and expense of harvesting corn plants it is worth doing so as silage by following traditional best management practices. Continue...
Drought stress is usually the major limitation to forage yields. When drought has compromised tonnage of corn grain, silage producers may still retain part of its feeding value. Although grazing the plants is an alternative, mechanical harvesting maximizes the tonnage obtained. Preserving drought-stressed corn plants as hay is usually not recommended because plants retain moisture and are difficult to dry. Preserving high moisture corn plants as baleage (50-60 percent moisture) can also offer difficulties as stalks can puncture the plastic wrap with air infiltration of the forage mass. Aeration will lead to heating (and even spontaneous combustion), mold growth and mycotoxin production, and reduced palatability and overall feeding value of the stored forage. Because of these considerations, if producers are going to go through the trouble and expense of harvesting corn plants it is worth doing so as silage by following traditional best management practices. Continue...
Email: alvaro.garcia@sdstate.edu
Website: iGrow.org
Location: Brookings, SD, United States
Phone: (605) 688-4940
Mycotoxin Considerations for Weather-Damaged Feedstuffs
By Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist
This growing season has been a challenge across the upper Midwest. Whether your crops have been hit with drought or hail the odds are that we are going to see an increase potential for feed contaminants such nitrates or molds which cause mycotoxins. This article focuses on mycotoxins and how to manage them.Continue...
This growing season has been a challenge across the upper Midwest. Whether your crops have been hit with drought or hail the odds are that we are going to see an increase potential for feed contaminants such nitrates or molds which cause mycotoxins. This article focuses on mycotoxins and how to manage them.Continue...
Email: Tracey.Erickson@SDState.edu
Website: iGrow.org
Location: Watertown, SD, United States
Phone: (605) 882-5140
The Temperature to Thaw Colostrum is Just as Important as Colostrum Itself
By Kim Clark, Nebraska Dairy Extension Educator
It is no secret that colostrum provides the antibodies a calf needs to build immunity. The antibodies, specifically called immunoglobulins in colostrum, are absorbed in the calf’s small intestine in the first few hours of life. After the first four hours of life, the absorption of immunoglobulins decreases. Therefore, it is important that newborn calves receive colostrum within four hours of birth. Continue...
It is no secret that colostrum provides the antibodies a calf needs to build immunity. The antibodies, specifically called immunoglobulins in colostrum, are absorbed in the calf’s small intestine in the first few hours of life. After the first four hours of life, the absorption of immunoglobulins decreases. Therefore, it is important that newborn calves receive colostrum within four hours of birth. Continue...
Email: kimclark@unl.edu
Website: dairy.unl.edu
Location: Lincoln, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 472-6065
Facebook: facebook.com/nedairyext
Twitter: @NEDairyExt
Calendar of Events
NOTE: All event times are listed as CST.
2017
August
24: Forage Fiesta Field Day: Alfalfa, Cover Crops, Grass and More! 10:00 am, Beresford, SD. Click here for details and registration.
September
6: Animal Care Wednesday Webinar; 11:00 am. Topic: Dairy cow housing - animal welfare and handling options for high performance. Click here for more information and to join.
October
4: Animal Care Wednesday Webinar; 11:00 am. Topic: Considerations when remodeling barns. Click here for more information and to join.
I-29 Moo University Fall Tour; details to come
November
1: Animal Care Wednesday Webinar; 11:00 am. Topic: On-farm assessments – are you meeting packer & consumer expectations? Click here for more information and to join.
2: Transition Cow: Health, Nutrition, and Well-being, Oh My!; Details to come on Dairy.unl.edu
29-30: Quickbooks 101 and 201; Details to come on Dairy.unl.edu
2017
August
24: Forage Fiesta Field Day: Alfalfa, Cover Crops, Grass and More! 10:00 am, Beresford, SD. Click here for details and registration.
September
6: Animal Care Wednesday Webinar; 11:00 am. Topic: Dairy cow housing - animal welfare and handling options for high performance. Click here for more information and to join.
October
4: Animal Care Wednesday Webinar; 11:00 am. Topic: Considerations when remodeling barns. Click here for more information and to join.
I-29 Moo University Fall Tour; details to come
November
1: Animal Care Wednesday Webinar; 11:00 am. Topic: On-farm assessments – are you meeting packer & consumer expectations? Click here for more information and to join.
2: Transition Cow: Health, Nutrition, and Well-being, Oh My!; Details to come on Dairy.unl.edu
29-30: Quickbooks 101 and 201; Details to come on Dairy.unl.edu
About Us
The I-29 Moo University is represented by dairy extension educators and allied partners from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Location: I29 Corridor
Facebook: Facebook.com/I29DairyOutreachConsortium
University of Minnesota Extenstion
Website: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/dairy/
Contacts:
Jim Salfer (Extension): salfe001@umn.edu; phone: (320) 203-6093
Betty Berning (Extension): bberning@umn.edu; phone: (320) 203-6104
Keela Fick (Minnesota Dairy Initiative-SW Region): Keela.Fick@co.pipestone.mn.us; phone: (507) 290-0576
Lucas Sjostrom (Minnesota Milk): lucas@mnmilk.org; phone: (320) 249-8701
Contacts:
Jim Salfer (Extension): salfe001@umn.edu; phone: (320) 203-6093
Betty Berning (Extension): bberning@umn.edu; phone: (320) 203-6104
Keela Fick (Minnesota Dairy Initiative-SW Region): Keela.Fick@co.pipestone.mn.us; phone: (507) 290-0576
Lucas Sjostrom (Minnesota Milk): lucas@mnmilk.org; phone: (320) 249-8701
South Dakota State University Extension
Website: iGrow.org/Livestock/Dairy
Contacts:
Tracey Erickson (Extension): Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu phone: (605) 882-5140
Maristela Rovai (Extension): Maristela.Rovai@sdstate.edu; phone: (605)688-5488
Heidi Carroll (Extension): Heidi.Carroll@sdstate.edu; phone: (605) 688-6623
Roger Scheibe (SDDP): SDDairyProducers@gmail.com;
phone: (605) 692-1775
Contacts:
Tracey Erickson (Extension): Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu phone: (605) 882-5140
Maristela Rovai (Extension): Maristela.Rovai@sdstate.edu; phone: (605)688-5488
Heidi Carroll (Extension): Heidi.Carroll@sdstate.edu; phone: (605) 688-6623
Roger Scheibe (SDDP): SDDairyProducers@gmail.com;
phone: (605) 692-1775
Nebraska Extension
Website: Dairy.unl.edu
Contacts:
Kim Clark (Extension): KimClark@unl.edu; phone: (402) 472-6065
Robert Tigner (Extension): Robert.Tigner@unl.edu; phone: (308) 345-3390
Paul Kononoff (Extension): PKononoff2@unl.edu;
phone: (402) 472-6442
Rod Johnson (NSDA): Rod@NebraskaMilk.org;
phone: (402) 853-2028
Contacts:
Kim Clark (Extension): KimClark@unl.edu; phone: (402) 472-6065
Robert Tigner (Extension): Robert.Tigner@unl.edu; phone: (308) 345-3390
Paul Kononoff (Extension): PKononoff2@unl.edu;
phone: (402) 472-6442
Rod Johnson (NSDA): Rod@NebraskaMilk.org;
phone: (402) 853-2028
North Dakota State University Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Amber Boeshans (ND Department of Agriculture): aboeshans@nd.gov; phone: (701) 328-1495
Amber Boeshans (ND Department of Agriculture): aboeshans@nd.gov; phone: (701) 328-1495
Iowa State University Dairy Extension
Website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/
Contacts:
Leo Timms (Extension): ltimms@iastate.edu;
phone: (515) 294-4522
Hugo Ramirez-Ramirez; hramirez@iastate.edu;
phone: (515) 294-2160
Contacts:
Leo Timms (Extension): ltimms@iastate.edu;
phone: (515) 294-4522
Hugo Ramirez-Ramirez; hramirez@iastate.edu;
phone: (515) 294-2160
Allied Partners
Iowa State Dairy Association: IowaDairy.org
Midwest Dairy Association: MidwestDairy.com
Minnesota Milk Producers Association: MNMilk.org
Nebraska State Dairy Association: NebraskaMilk.org
North Dakota Department of Agriculture: https://www.nd.gov/ndda/
South Dakota Dairy Producers: SDDairyProducers.org
Minnesota Dairy Initiative-SW Region
Midwest Dairy Association: MidwestDairy.com
Minnesota Milk Producers Association: MNMilk.org
Nebraska State Dairy Association: NebraskaMilk.org
North Dakota Department of Agriculture: https://www.nd.gov/ndda/
South Dakota Dairy Producers: SDDairyProducers.org
Minnesota Dairy Initiative-SW Region