by cmonson | Apr 6, 2021 | Uncategorized
For the best health possible for dry cows, does it pay to have two groups? A transition and an early group? or is it better just to have one group? Well, like everything else with dairy operations, it depends. Weird hearing that from a nutritionist, right? But...
by cmonson | Mar 30, 2021 | Uncategorized
This little calf is lucky. She was born healthy, drank her colostrum and stood right away on her own. Other calves aren’t so lucky. They are born after a traumatic birth or C-section and are weak, clumsy, and won’t drink. They are difficult to raise, and...
by cmonson | Mar 23, 2021 | Uncategorized
I may be fooled yet, but it looks like spring is going to arrive a little early this year. Before you know it, spring work will start, followed by cutting first crop. It can be a crazy time of year. In the rush to get the equipment ready for field work, some details...
by cmonson | Mar 16, 2021 | Uncategorized
I don’t really need to tell you how important colostrum is-you’ve probably heard it before. But did you know how important? Colostrum delivers, along with Igs ( immunoglobulins), important steroids such as insulin, prolactin and leptin. These steroids...
by cmonson | Mar 9, 2021 | Uncategorized
It’s getting warmer-which is great! But the feed is heating up too…more than it should. This is the time of year wild yeast waits for. Wild yeast that was in the feed when it was put up, can suddenly explode in warmer weather. Unfortunately, this...
by cmonson | Mar 2, 2021 | Uncategorized
Cows need a lot of rest to ruminate-there’s a lot going on there. In fact, they need 12-14 hours of rest a day even though they actually only sleep-at least what we consider sleep-for about 30 minutes. If a cow doesn’t get her proper rest, she her...
by cmonson | Feb 23, 2021 | Uncategorized
Everyone was complaining about the cold last week. Sub zero temperatures for nearly two weeks isn’t just a polar vortex- it’s just plain miserable. No matter how we try and make sure the cows are kept warm and dry-there are consequences to prolonged cold...
by cmonson | Feb 16, 2021 | Uncategorized
Cold temperatures, or should I say frigid temperatures create a lot of challenges out on dairies. A lot of times you just go into survival mode. On top of everything else, sometimes the cows get loose for seemingly no good reason. Although the loose manure could be...
by cmonson | Feb 9, 2021 | Uncategorized
When the price of soy skyrockets, as it has been doing right now, it usually pulls the other protein prices up with it-including hay. After reducing the cost of your existing protein sources, a lot of folks start to pick and chose who gets the expensive feed-and who...
by cmonson | Mar 26, 2020 | Uncategorized
After last year, you’d think we’d all be experts at spotting damage in the alfalfa crop-at least what it looks like to have it totally killed out. But damage that can reduce yields (not a total kill) are more subtle to spot. Here are some signs: 1. Late...
