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David B. Fischer
Cow comfort plays a major role in obtaining optimum herd health and milk production for dairy producers throughout Illinois.
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Michael F. Hutjens
Corn silage is increasing in popularity for dairy cows in Illinois because of its higher dry matter yields per acre, one harvest, and a wider harvest window (normally 1 to 3 weeks). Corn can utilize large amount of manure effectively. Alfalfa has the added risks of winter kill and insect damage.
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Roger D. Shanks
How can we produce the perfect cow? Yes, luck is involved in breeding the perfect cow. Although a resemblance is expected between parent and offspring, only one-half of the genes in the offspring came from a parent.
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James A. Morrison
An on-farm corn silage demonstration plot, initiated in 1995, was continued in 1996 at a different location. The host cooperator was Forrest Floto of Ogle County. Eleven seed companies each provided one hybrid ranging from 108 to 114 day maturity (4 of these hybrids were in the 1995 plot).
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Michael R. Murphy, Arjen W.P. Geijsel, Erikka C. Hall, and Roger D. Shanks
Offering a choice of feeds (often described as a cafeteria regimen) can increase feed intake, although the response may depend on the degree of similarity of the feeds and whether the feeds are provided simultaneously or successively.
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Lee H. Kilmer
The Mid-States Dairy Records Processing Center, located at Iowa State University (ISU), and DRPC-Raleigh, located at North Carolina State University, have decided to merge functions and operations effective October 1, 1996.
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Arjen W.P. Geijsel, Michael R. Murphy, Dawn E. Morin and Peter D. Constable
Ketalaars and Tolkamp hypothesized that optimal intake is where the ratio between benefits (net energy) and costs (total oxygen consumption) is maximal. It has also been suggested that this theory may be more useful in describing the point of maximal intake for good to medium quality forage rather than describe the fill limitation of intake for poor quality forages.
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Darin R. Bremmer, Lance D. Ruppert, Jimmy H. Clark, and James K. Drackley
Previous research at the University of Illinois suggested that the profile of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) that reaches the intestine might affect responses of lactating dairy cows to supplemental fat. Abomasal infusion of LCFA with an increasing degree of unsaturation and chain length decreased dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production by dairy cows.
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Stanley T. Smith, James A. Barmore, Martha J. Baker, and Michael F. Hutjens
Three commercial IL herds in Stephenson County were split (cows paired based on days in milk, lactation number, and milk yield). All herds received TMR rations (crude protein ranged from 15.7 to 20%, ADF ranged from 18.2 to 19.2%), hay/haylage were the main forages, and high moisture corn was the primary grain.
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Eeman E. At-Taras and Sidney L. Spahr
Sound reproductive management is the foundation of a successful dairy operation, and detection of estrus is essential in an effective dairy reproductive management program using artificial insemination.
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David B. Fischer
A major concern or need for a manure nutrient management plan is to get the most possible plant nutrient value from the manure applied on cropland. As we see an increasing concentration of dairy animals per farm, an added concern dairy producers must deal with is the impact of excess nutrients on environmental quality.
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Michael F. Hutjens
Most dairy managers will remember 1996 as a year of high feed costs, especially corn and hay prices. Feed costs per hundred weight (cwt) of milk produced increase from $4.50 to over $6.00.
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Richard L. Wallace
Johne's disease (pronounced "yo-knees") was first identified by two veterinary scientists (H.A. Johne and L. Frothingham) over 100 years ago in Germany. The first reported cases in the United States were described in 1908 by Leonard Pearson, VMD.
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James A. Morrison and David B. Fischer
Alfalfa is a critical component of dairy rations and can be grown as a cash crop. Being able to predict the first spring harvest date is essential to producers desiring a high quality forage for feed or sale.
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Richard L. Wallace
Quality can be defined as "conformance to requirements." Someone sets the standards; the product or service then meets those specifications.
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Michael S. Piepenbrink, Thomas R. Overton, and Jimmy H. Clark
The most limiting amino acids for synthesis of milk and milk protein have been reported to be Met and Lys. Feeding these amino acids in an unprotected form to dairy cows results in their degradation by microbes in the rumen before they pass to the absorption sites in the small intestine.
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James K. Drackley, Teresa M. Cicela, and David W. LaCount
Implementation of multiple component pricing may impact the economics of certain feeding practices that alter production of milk components. Supplemental fat often results in small increases in milk fat yield and decreased content, but not yield, of milk protein.
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James K. Drackley, David W. LaCount, Jeffrey P. Elliott, Tim H. Klusmeyer, Thomas R. Overton, Jimmy H. Clark, and Stephen A. Blum
Use of dietary fat during early lactation has become a common practice to improve the energy status of high producing dairy cows. Many producers utilize a single-group TMR that contains supplemental fat for cows throughout lactation.
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Roger D. Shanks
What is technology? What are new and novel ideas that will be implemented in the dairy industry. I will mention three: computers, internet, and DNA based testing.
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Robert A. Easter
The past 12 months have been busy and productive for the faculty associated with the dairy program in our department.
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James K. Drackley, David W. LaCount, Laurel S. Emmert, Thomas R. Overton, and Jimmy H. Clark
Several experiments have been conducted at the University of Illinois to determine the feeding value of high oil corn as silage or grain. In general, these studies have shown little benefit from the high oil corn silage compared to similar control varieties.
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Michael F. Hutjens
A recent Hoard's Dairyman survey indicated over 40 percent of U.S. dairy producers had access to the WWW (World Wide Web).
