Dry matter intake (dmi) - Articles - Page 3

Smart feeding can lead to increased milk in robotic herds

Feeding a robotic milking herd may seem like a balancing act between what is fed at the bunk and in the box. Industry observations indicate consistency between both is the true driver of increased energy-corrected milk and components.

July 1, 2023

Jenn Coyne

The year is 2015, and the philosophy for feeding a robotic milking herd is to feed limited energy at the bunks so the cows go to the robots for the remainder of their nutrient requirements; more energy available in the robot means more visits and ultimately more milk.

Strategies for managing heat stress in ruminants

Feed quality can aid in heat stress management during times of lower feed intake due to heat stress.

April 11, 2023

Sydney Moore

Close monitoring of dietary protein, shade, cooling systems and ventilation will all keep cows cooler during the heat of summer.

Feeding for rebreeding: The grass isn’t always greener

Seeing lush, green grass in the spring is always exciting, but producers should get their forage tested to make sure it’s providing the proper nutrition to enhance their cows’ reproductive efficiency.

March 9, 2023

Chris Cassady

Spring turnout is right around the corner, and after a year of drought, it’s no surprise producers are hopeful for a better outlook in 2023.

Why the change in nutrition plans after calving?

It can be difficult to keep track of different cattle’s nutritional needs at different times. But making sure your cows and heifers are properly fed will result in more efficient mothers and healthier calves.

February 13, 2023

Sawyer Fonnesbeck

At this point in the year, beef producers have eliminated a good portion of those winter haystacks and are hoping green spring grass is in the future.

Efficiency in growing and finishing beef cattle

Every producer is looking for the next edge in efficiency. But are the formulas the industry has relied on for so long the best math for every operation?

December 29, 2022

Heidi Rossow and Carl A. Old

Efficiency can be defined as achieving the greatest output with the least input; a commonly used measure is pounds of gain per pounds of feed, abbreviated as G/F.

Tested and true: Five strategies that improved herd performance in 2022

October 27, 2022

Amelie Mainville

Five dairy farms across Ontario decided to try something new in 2022 and came out the other side with new strategies for success on their dairies. From new feed mills to new reproductive strategies, each new practice held the key to more milk production.

The new dairy NRC: New thoughts on dairy nutrition

A review of the more significant changes to dry matter intake, amino acids, protein, energy, minerals and vitamins in the new dairy NRC.

September 27, 2022

Stephen B. Blezinger

Since 1944, the National Research Council has established basic nutritional guidelines and recommendations for dairy cows. Over the subsequent 75-plus years, this organization has generated eight sets of these reports, the last one being in 2001, so 20 years ago. Needless to say, a lot has changed in those 20 years.

The importance of amino acid balance in early lactation

June 13, 2022

Brittany Wood and Essi Evans

The dairy feeding industry strives to optimize protein efficiency by formulating diets to meet amino acid requirements.

[Podcast] Dry Matter Intake: The most important metric for herd performance

February 22, 2022

There are many metrics that help shine light on a dairy herd’s performance, but one metric that is often overlooked can speak volumes – Dry Matter Intake. In this podcast, we’ll explore the sometimes unseen impact of how much the cows eat can affect health and performance.