As they say, “spring has sprung!” That means the birds are out chirping, summer is on its way, baby calves are on the ground and lush, green pastures ready for grazing. While this does paint a picturesque image, cattlemen know there’s a danger in those beautiful, green spring grasslands: a nutritional disorder known as Grass […]
Here at Ward Laboratories Inc., we often encourage producers to be creative and try newapproaches to agricultural production. A couple of weeks ago at the American Society of Animal Science Midwest meeting in Omaha, I listened to a talk about getting more creative with corn silage: “Production of High-Quality Forage through Unique Forage Blends” presented […]
Intermittently, I receive a phone call asking me about the interpretation of a feed analysis for wild animals as opposed to domesticated livestock whose nutrient requirements I am more familiar with. These phone calls usually make me do a little more research and I learn something new about animal nutrition with each inquiry. The first […]
The highlights of this year’s KSU Cattlemen’s Day were the tour of the Feed Intake Measurement Facility given by Dr. Bob Weaber and the necropsy demonstration given by DVM A.J. Tarpoff. The take away I want to reiterate to any livestock producers is that a post-mortem exam is crucial in determining the cause of death […]
The two most common issues that occur when feeding ruminant animals are bloat and acidosis. Bloat is the result of gases not being able to escape from the rumen. It can occur on a forage-based diet due to rapid fermentation of soluble protein and readily available carbohydrates resulting in a frothy entrapment of rumen gases. […]
Soil microbes are all the buzz these days, but what about rumen microbes? Currently, it is very common to go to a ruminant nutrition meeting and hear about feeding the microbes first. This is especially the case with the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Beef using the microbial protein and bypass protein system. There are four […]
Phewy! Smell that? From an early age, we are often told the old phrase “That’s the smell of money!” Although this phrase is often used to indicate cattle profits, the manure in those pens also holds a wealth of resources that can help enrich and strengthen your soil. Once used routinely in integrated farming systems, […]
The state of Nebraska is in the center of the High Plains Region of the United States. The states that make up this region are Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. I checked the current drought monitor and found that southern Nebraska and southern Wyoming are abnormally dry, and Kansas, Colorado and the Dakotas […]
When it comes to hay testing, producers commonly grumble about the variation in Relative Feed Value (RFV) and protein content, based on their observations and what the lab reported. Producers often have these concerns, because the RFV determines the price of a forage and how much customers are willing to pay. An underestimated RFV can […]
Intensive, specialized crop production has several widely agreed upon downfalls. These specialized systems tend to have stationary yields with expensive pesticide and herbicide inputs all while profitability is widely dependent on a global market over which we have little control. Dependence on these practices leads to higher resistance among insects and weeds, reliance on fertilizers […]
The other day I received a phone call from a dairyman who said he was attempting to “Feed from the waste stream” and he sent in two samples. The first sample was mixed juice pressings, which consisted of a random assortment of spinach, cucumbers, ginger, carrots, apples and more, and the second sample was citrus […]
Circulating Video Against “Kibble” The link above is to a video that has been circulating the internet. It captured my attention as it uses scare tactics to keep pet owners from feeding a balanced pet food (aka kibble) as the main source of nutrition. I feed my fur baby (Angel pictured above) dry dog food […]
Typically, livestock water access and quality are considered during the summer months when heat stress is a concern. I am choosing to address this topic during the cold winter months because as the temperature drops, below the thermal neutral zone animals consume more feed to increase metabolic heat production and water intake requirements increase with […]
How many of us producers have a shovel in our pickup? When was the last time we used that shovel to thoroughly examine our soil? Are we able to determine what a truly healthy soil looks like? Grab a shovel and take a look at your soil. Check out your soil profile. Does the shovel […]
A couple of weeks ago I attended Swine Day for the second year in a row. This event is a great way to remain informed on the latest in swine nutrition research. I would recommend attending for anyone involved in the swine industry. It is also very interesting to see what the researchers are doing […]
Here in Nebraska, down corn has been an issue for cattle producers who want to graze corn stalks. Due to a late harvest and weather patterns creating high winds, many corn fields have ears of corn just lying on the ground. Cattle are selective grazers and will pick the high energy, high starch grain over […]
Grazing cover crops can be a cost-effective way to achieve multiple productions goals. Cover crops can provide ground cover to prevent erosion, improve soil health over time, and provide nutrition to beef cattle. However, cover crops are not a fool proof feed. Turning cattle out onto cover crops to graze without proper feed tests can […]
Over the past year, when I receive phone calls from equine enthusiasts, they all seem to have the same question. What do I need to analyze my hay for a horse that has been diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushing’s Disease, Equine Diabetes or is prone to Laminitis? While the pathology and causes of each […]
Here in Central Nebraska we have experienced several mid-summer thunderstorms. These hail producing storms have wreaked havoc on crops and forage productivity, particularly in the Broken Bow and Ansley areas. As producers move forward with crop insurance, they will also be scrambling to utilize what is left of their standing row crops and forages. There […]
