Corn silage has become an integral part of most dairy rations because of the energy and fibre it brings to lactating cow diets. To maximize the amount of energy that can be "harvested" from this forage, extra effort is needed to get all the details right – particularly when it comes to improving starch digestibility.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22.” You might be wondering why an article on heifer raising is starting off with lyrics from a popular Taylor Swift song, but that line from her 2013 song describes a lot of themes around setting goals and optimizing heifer raising.

The start of a new forage year is always filled with much anticipation – will it be a record-breaking year in terms of yield? Will the quality match or surpass the previous year?

Today, many producers are looking to reduce costs and improve profits on their operations. An area often overlooked is the cost of raising replacement heifers.