Education Commons^™

G99-1394 Feeding Program: Quality Control Checklist, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Use this check list to ensure that your feeding program is effective and profitable.

The following guidelines will help assure that your herd's feeding environment is optimal for maximum feed intake, milk production and cow comfort.

Nf97-317 Managing Dairy Cows To Avoid Abomasal Displacement, Rick Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact discusses feeding strategies to reduce the incidence of displaced abomasum in your dairy herd.

G97-1325 What Management Practices Are High Producing Dairy Herds Using?, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide outlines management practices used in high-producing dairy operations.

In 1996, a national dairy survey was undertaken by the National Health Monitoring System. This survey of management practices was sent to 2,500 herds in 20 states representing 83.1 percent of all dairy cows in the United States. The states included in the survey were California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. The survey asked 13 questions ranging from computer use, ration balancing, BST use and veterinarian usage to various calf rearing procedures. The survey …

G96-1306 Feeding Dairy Cows To Reduce Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Excretion Into The Environment, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses feeding strategies to optimize dairy cow performance while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

Reducing N, P and K Excretion--The Challenge

Increasingly, our society demands livestock production systems that not only produce economic, high-quality food products, but also minimize negative environmental impacts. Feeding management has improved continuously and helps explain increases in milk production averages. The future challenge for dairy producers and nutritionists will be to properly formulate rations for high production levels while simultaneously minimizing the environmental impact of excessive N, P and K excretion in the urine and manure. A realistic approach will be to keep formulation …

G1253 Basic Principles Of Mastitis Control, Jeffrey F. Keown, Paul J. Kononoff

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Mastitis is a frustrating, costly, and complex infection. A good, workable, effective preventive control program is presented in this NebGuide.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland usually caused by bacterial infection of udder tissues. Except for rare injuries, infectious bacteria or other pathogens, e.g. yeast, fungi, etc., enter the udder through the teat end. Mastitis in both clinical (obvious abnormality, visible to naked eye) and subclinical stages (unseen signs of abnormality, invisible to naked eye) is a frustrating, costly and complex disease that reduces the quality and quantity of milk.

Mastitis results from a complex interrelationship between the …

G94-1192 Feeding Dairy Cows With Limited High Quality Forage, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

During excessively wet or dry years, there is a wide range of forage quality with most dairy producers forced to feed at least some moderate to poor quality forage. This NebGuide discusses basic alterations in the feeding strategy to help cope with minimal reductions in milk yield.

During excessively wet or dry years, there is a wide range of forage quality with most dairy producers forced to feed at least some moderate to poor quality forage. This NebGuide discusses basic alterations in the feeding strategy to help cope with minimal reductions in milk yield.

G94-1201 Feeding The Dry Cow, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses feeding management of the dry cow for optimum performance during the next lactation.

Dry Cow Management Goals

Every dairy producer's goal for the milking herd should be to maximize feed intake and milk production -- profitably. Proper dry cow management provides the foundation for a successful lactation.

G93-1138 Water Quality And Requirements For Dairy Cattle, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide stresses the importance to the dairy cow of water, an essential but often overlooked nutrient.

Providing insufficient water or water of poor quality to dairy cattle can limit milk production and growth, and can cause health problems. An adequate supply of clean water promotes normal rumen function, high feed intake, digestion and nutrient absorption. Water also maintains blood volume, supplies tissue needs, and makes up about 87 percent of the milk secreted by the cow. The following sections discuss water intake and requirements, water quality and guidelines for proper use of cattle waterers.

G92-1112 Lice Control On Cattle, John B. Campbell

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Identifying and controlling lice on cattle both are covered here.

Cattle lice may be the most underestimated livestock insect in terms of economic losses. The USDA estimates that U.S. livestock producers lose $125 million a year to cattle lice.

Heavy louse populations cause lowered milk production, loss of flesh, stunted growth, general unthriftiness and anemia. "Chronic" or "carrier" cows may abort due to louse-induced anemia. During severe winters, louse-infested animals are more susceptible to respiratory diseases.

G92-1070 Feeding Dairy Cattle For Proper Body Condition Score, Rick Grant, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes feeding and management practices that allow the producer to control body condition throughout lactation and the dry period.

Body condition score is a critical measure of a dairy feeding system's effectiveness. Adequate body fat reserves promote milk production, reproductive efficiency, and herd longevity. Excessively fat cows or overly thin cows run much greater risks of metabolic problems, lower milk yield, poor conception rates, and dystocia (difficult calving). Failure to attain proper body condition or rapid changes in body condition score during early lactation may indicate problems in herd health or feeding management.

G91-1047 Acidosis, Rick Stock, Robert Britton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses why acidosis occurs, its economic considerations, and methods to prevent and treat acidosis.

Acidosis is the most important nutritional disorder in feedlots today. Caused by a rapid production and absorption of acids from the rumen when cattle consume too much starch (primarily grain) or sugar in a short period of time, acidosis causes cattle to be stressed. As long as cattle are finished on grain, cows are grazed on cornstalk fields (grain consumption) or high energy (grain) diets are fed to dairy cows, acidosis will be an important problem.

Cattle evolved digesting roughages that ferment slowly in …

G91-1034 Evaluating The Feeding Value Of Fibrous Feeds For Dairy Cattle, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes what makes fiber unique as a nutrient, how it's measured, and the impact different dietary fiber levels have on milk production and feed intake.

Fiber content of feed or forage affects its feeding value. Understanding fiber and how it is used is necessary to properly feed dairy cows. Each of the following topics will be addressed to better understand fiber nutrition in the dairy cow:

1. What is fiber?

2. How will too little or too much fiber in the diet affect the cow's metabolism and subsequent production?

3. What are optimal levels of fiber in the …

G90-998 How To Interpret And Use The ProstaphTm Test, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The ProStaph 1^TMMastitis costs U.S. dairy producers almost two billion dollars per year in lost milk production and treatment costs.

Mastitis is the major health problem of dairy cattle. The actual lost income for each mastitis infection is more than $400. Over 70 percent of the economic loss in mastitis is due to lost milk production from subclinically infected cows (those without apparent symptoms).

Subclinical forms of mastitis may not be observed by the milkers or other individuals in the dairy operation. Since there may be little or no visible change in the udder or milk, a laboratory …

Ec87-726 Mastitis Control Guidelines, Gerald R. Bodman, Duane N. Rice, Don J. Kubik

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

These mastitis control guidelines were prepared by UNL personnel based on current literature and experience with the Nebraska mastitis control program, the demonstration herds, and many on-site dairy farm evaluations. This information will help producers and others in the dairy industry to understand, establish and maintain a comprehensive mastitis control program. Recommendations and procedures presented in the guidelines will allow the producer to develop an effective mastitis control program. When the recommendations are coupled with a conscientious and dedicated attitude, the result will be less mastitis and more better-quality milk at a lower production cost.

G86-783 Complete Rations -- Should You Feed Them?, Foster G. Owen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the advantages and disadvantages of feeding complete rations to dairy herds.

Using the complete ration system for feeding dairy cows has become increasingly popular. Nutritionists generally consider it the ideal method of feeding dairy cattle. Milk production per cow can be maximized, and feed and labor costs minimized, with this system. However, the necessary equipment is expensive and may be excessive for loose-housed herds of less than 100 cows.

G86-778 Do You Practice Good Milking Procedures?, Gerald R. Bodman

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide outlines good milking procedures to follow to assure high quality milk production while minimizing mastitis and other health problems.

Milking, or harvesting the milk crop, is a critical step between planting crops, building facilities, and paying bills on a dairy farm. While highly productive cows and a properly functioning milking system are essential, how the cows are handled and the milking system is used are equally important. Proper milking procedures are necessary to assure a bountiful harvest of high quality milk.

The nature of milk-secreting tissue and the anatomy of the udder make harvesting the milk crop impossible …

G86-820 How To Maximize Income By Managing Days Dry, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This guide discusses the benefits of maintaining the optimum calving interval and offers suggestions for accomplishing this reproductive management technique.

Most dairy producers are aware that an optimum calving interval is 365 days. This is a normal lactation length of 305 days with a dry period of 60 days. This interval is often looked at as a goal to strive toward rather than a goal that must be reached to maximize income from the sale of milk.

G86-799 Health Management And Recommended Vaccinations For Dairy Replacements, Duane Rice, R. Gene White

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the importance of having a good vaccination schedule, and provides recommendations on which vaccinations to give, depending on variables. Correct management decisions are necessary to realize maximum returns on investments in any dairy operation. Dairymen sometimes assume there is a quick remedy for health problems, but the prevention of disease is by far less expensive. Preventing health problems in the dairy herd goes much further than using a veterinarian to treat individual animals with emergency problems. A veterinarian with experience and a genuine interest in dairy cattle is essential to assist the dairyman with herd health problems. …

G86-819 At What Weight Should Holstein Heifers Freshen?, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This guide offers research findings on the appro-priate weights for Holstein heifer freshening and sug-gests producers be aware of economic considerations involved in heifer freshening.

Most producers realize that the weight of a heifer at freshening affects the amount of milk produced during the first lactation. Heifers not fed balanced nutritional diets before freshening will not produce at an optimum level since they do not have the body reserves to maintain peak produc-tion. Likewise, a heifer that freshens very heavy will not pro-duce as much as she should because she is too heavy. There must be a break-even point at …

G86-822 How To Estimate A Dairy Herd's Reproductive Losses, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Remedies for herd losses caused by calving interval, dry periods, A.I. performance, and age at first freshening.

One of the major areas of lost income to the dairy producer is in the reproductive performance of the dairy herd. These losses are often overlooked because they are indirect costs. If producers could be given a monthly bill indicating the amount of money that improper reproductive management has cost them, then drastic changes would occur.

The majority of reproductive losses occur in the following areas:

1. Calving interval too long or too short.

2. Dry period too long or too short.

3. …

G85-755 How To Set Goals For Your Breeding Program, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes how to determine which trait(s) to select for, and how multiple trait selection affects genetic progress.

Dairy producers are often concerned with placing emphasis on different production traits in their breeding program. Selecting on only economically important traits should be the objective of every producer. The use of artificial insemination (A.I.) sires is the most economical and productive way to increase the genetic potential of the herd.

A cow's record is a measure of her genetic potential, which is modified by the environment in which she is kept. Environmental factors that directly influence a cow's record include …

G83-678 Producing Milk With A Low Bacteria Count, Stanely E. Wallen, Don J. Kubik, Stephen L. James, Daniel J. Borer, Gerald R. Bodman, E. Denis Erickson, Duane N. Rice, Philip H. Cole, Foster G. Owen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides cleaning, sanitizing, mechanical, environmental and other procedures to follow to assure a low bacterial count in milk. Bacteria are tiny, rapidly reproducing microorganisms that are too small to be seen without a high power microscope. Their very tiny size makes it very difficult to eliminate them from dairy equipment. Because bacterial growth in milk may cause spoilage and possibly human illnesses, a low bacterial count is one of the best indicators of top quality milk. Milk will almost always be of top quality if properly harvested from healthy, clean cows with clean equipment, cooled quickly and kept …

G83-655 Management Of Early Weaned Calves, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the benefits and disadvantages of weaning beef calves early, including rations and methods for both drylot and pasture-grain feeding programs.

Early weaning of beef calves is a management practice that should be considered under situations such as fall calving, drylot cow-calf production and drought. In areas where forage quality is very poor in late summer and early fall, early weaning might also be considered as a regular practice. Early weaning can enhance the efficiency of drylot cow-calf operations by allowing greater use of poor quality roughages by the cow herd.

G81-556 Using The California Mastitis Test (Cmt) To Detect Subclinical Mastitis, Duane N. Rice

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Apparently healthy cows can harbor subclinical mastitis, which creates tremendous loss in milk production. This NebGuide offers a method for detecting this disease.

The dairyman is generally aware of clinical mastitis because it can be seen as changes in the milk, swollen udder and other signs exhibited by the cow. Compared with subclinical mastitis, clinical mastitis is much less costly, is of short duration, tends to be an individual cow problem, and is detected without special tests.

Unfortunately, the apparently healthy cow can harbor subclinical mastitis, which creates tremendous loss in milk production. A cow with subclinical mastitis does not …

G80-489 Feeding The Beef Cow Herd--Part I Factors Affecting The Cow Nutrition Program, Richard J. Rasby, Ivan G. Rush

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Considerations for getting the most from your beef cow herd are covered in this NebGuide, including calving season, factors affecting nutrient requirements, cow rations and more.

Feed costs are the greatest expense in keeping a cow herd, and the nutrition program dictates reproductive performance. The ultimate goal for a cow/calf manager is to keep feed costs low, but still meet the nutrient requirements of the cow herd so reproductive performance is not impaired. Once these two factors are balanced, producers, through new genetics of added growth or milk production, can match increased weaning weight with the most economical feed resources …