Have trouble sorting out PENDF, NDF and PEF? Pioneer Hi-Bred nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, explains these acronyms and their value to producers. “This information offers producers the ability to add up physically effective fiber coming from all different types of forages that are being brought into the ration to see if it meets the requirements of the total ration,” says Seglar. Hear more about this topic in this edition of the Pioneer Forage Forum.
Bill Seglar on Alphabet Forages (5:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Moldy silages can create a variety of concerns for producers. Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, discusses the effects of moldy silages. Additionally, Seglar explains how to identify moldy silages as well as how to reduce and remove the problem. Seglar says moldy silages are the result of an energy-consuming, spore-forming microbe, known as molds, that deplete the silage of its energy value. From the start, the cattle are going to be consuming a much less energy-dense forage.
Bill Seglar on Moldy Silages (5 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Posted: July 18, 2008 at 5:34 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
The first ever winners of the BQA Award were announced today and one of them is a dairy producer.
Quality. It’s not only a word written in an instruction manual but a responsible action – one must live it and then teach it. That was the underlying theme this week as two producers were honored with the national Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) award, created to recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers from across the country who incorporate BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. The winners were selected based upon their commitment to beef quality assurance while operating sustainable cattle operations.
This year’s winners were Jim Docheff, Diamond D Dairy from Longmont, Colo., and Anne Burkholder, Will Feed Inc. from Cozad, Neb.
A common trait among the two winners is a strong desire to continually improve BQA on their operations while successfully encouraging others around them to implement BQA. The National BQA award winners are selected annually by a committee of representatives from universities, state beef councils and cattle industry groups. For more information about the beef checkoff or BQA program, visit www.bqa.org, www.dbqa.org or www.beefboard.org.
Posted: July 18, 2008 at 1:41 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Inspirational speaker and writer, Rebecca Long Chaney, is working on a series of agricultural education books for pre-schoolers and elementary school children. Here she’s seen with her exhibit at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.
The book she’s promoting will be available through her website soon. This first book, which she had for sale, is written from the perspective of her twin daughters, raising their first orphan beef calf they found in a field. The book follows along from the field to when they get the calf halter trained.
Rebecca says the next book will focus on dairy, with her daughters spending a day on a neighbor’s dairy and working in a local creamery. She’s very passionate about teaching the truth about animal agriculture to children and says that this project is one she’ll be working on for years.
Rebecca was born and raised on a dairy farm and now raises registered Hereford beef cattle.
Posted: July 18, 2008 at 1:40 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
CBB’s Chief Executive Officer is Tom Ramey. This morning he made a presentation at the second general session of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. You can listen to his presentation below.
I also interviewed Tom and found out that there are two main issues of special importance to the Beef Checkoff here at this conference. The first one, according to Tom, is the budget. The recommended budget was presented at the CBB Update Session and committees will be looking at the parts that affect them during their meetings. Tom says that Checkoff dollars are down and that it’s a tough time right now. He says some difficult decisions will need to be made.
The other big issue is the process to create recommendations for ways to improve the Checkoff. Tom says the staff has sent out over 300 letters soliciting comments and that they’ll be organizing meetings with a number of the organizations targeted. Once those comments come in the staff will organize them and scrub them so that the Admin Subcommittee, which is charged with overseeing this process, can look at them on the merit of the comment without being affected by seeing who wrote them. Then the staff will be helping organize meetings with the committee to review the comments and formulate recommendations prior to the end of the year.
Tom says producers here seem excited about what the Checkoff is doing but are concerned about the budget. He says these are difficult times for the beef industry.
Listen to my interview with Tom here:
Listen to Tom’s general session presentation here:
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:15 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
One of the main dairy groups represented at today’s Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference was Dairy Management Inc. David Pelzer is Senior VP, Industry Image & Relations. DMI is a non-profit organization that manages the Dairy Checkoff.
I spoke to him today about dairy and beef producers getting together and discussing common issues. He says that on the dairy side of things it’s important for the industry to become more consumer driven instead of just production driven. As he puts it, “Give consumers what they want, when they want it and how they want it.”
He says that on-farm practices or the consumer’s perception of on-farm practices can affect buying habits. For this reason he says that all DMI related organizations are becoming increasingly focused on consumer perceptions. He wants to show consumers that it’s standard operating procedure for beef and dairy producers to care about their animals and the environment.
David thinks this Symposium is a great opportunity to get together.
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:11 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Earlier this week the National Dairy Board met and like last year, that meeting ended just in time for attendees to meet with beef producers at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium. One of those people is Rob Byrne, Sr. VP Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, National Milk Producers Federation.
I spoke with Rob during today’s session. He was on the second part of the program that focused on animal care and welfare. Rob thinks that this joint meeting idea is fantastic. It’s an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. Animal care just happens to be a primary one right now.
Rob says the dairy industry has actually worked on this issue for many years. Recently released videos have sensationalized what is a very uncommon practice though and that has brought this issue to the forefront. He says that the increased consumer interest probably won’t result in any significant changes since producers in general do take good care of their animals but the situation he says, has placed a renewed focus on it. Rob says that this is currently a primary focus for NMPF. To that end, he says they’re forming a national animal welfare and care program for the dairy industry.
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:09 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
It’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference time once again. I’m helping out the Cattlemen’s Beef Board with their Beef Board Meeting.com as I have for several years now.
The current Vice Chairman of the CBB is Lucinda Williams. Lucinda is married to a 12th-generation dairy producer and farmer in Hatfield, Mass., on her 220-acre family owned farm, which dates back to 1661.
Lucinda not only got things moving in the Executive Committee meeting this morning but welcomed everyone to the second annual Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium. That session split it’s focus between nutrient-rich foods and animal care and welfare.
Lucinda says it’s hugely important to work together like this. She thinks it’s very important for producers to take time out of their busy schedules to come together and work jointly on issues common to each area. She acknowledges that animal care has become a big issue.
Because of Beef Checkoff efforts though she says that they’ve been able to counteract some of the sensationalism and keep consumer confidence in both beef and dairy products. She also likes to remind dairy producers that they are also beef producers.
With increased feed costs, producers are looking to refine management techniques for optimum feeding. Pioneer recently invested in an infrared camera that shows heat in the silage face. This technology shows several qualities about the silage in the bunker. With this camera, Pioneer professionals can show producers if silage was packed properly, if the method for feeding silage from the bunker is optimum for their operation, among other bunker management information. Bill Seglar, nutritional science veterinarian for Pioneer Hi-Bred, talks about how this technology can enhance dairy professionals’ knowledge and management information.
Bill Seglar on Infrared Technology (5 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
As we head into the summer months and temperatures begin to rise, producers need to monitor feed rations. Inevitably, dairy cows will go through an intake depression. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, says we need to pay close attention to our starch digestibility – how much effective fiber is in the ration. Producers need to have a ration balanced properly at that lower-level intake.
Bill Mahanna on Heat Stress (4:15 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:57 pm
By Laura McNamara
The idea of gaining two extra hours in dairy farm management each day without working extra hours seems like a dream, right? What about cutting the time employees spend searching for animals… in half? Well, Scott Haag at Box Canyon Dairy in Wendell, Idaho says a set of MobileDemand rugged tablet PC’s makes those dairy farm dreams an everyday reality.
MobileDemand is a rugged tablet PC manufacturer based out of Idaho and they’ve just put the power of the PC in the hands of the field staff at Box Canyon.
MobileDemand says its partnership with ProfitSource enables dairy farms to bring both wireless computing and specialized DairyQuest software into the cattle pens, streamlining operations, saving time, and reducing error.
I spoke with MobileDemand CEO Matt Miller about how he found the agriculture industry to be optimal match for the rugged PC company. You can listen to my interview with Matt here.
MobileDemand also offers a video summary of its case study with Box Canyon Dairy. The video further illustrates how the tablet PC and DairyQuest Software have helped one dairy farm increase efficiency in both the breeding and health monitoring of its 8,000 cows. You can watch the video here:
Posted: June 23, 2008 at 8:33 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
I really like the idea of Rabobank producing an audio podcast of their news releases. Then I can subscribe and get them automatically to listen to whenever and wherever I want.
Here’s what the latest RaboCast is about:
Since 1937 June has been Dairy Month: an annual tradition to celebrate the dairy industry. A new Rabobank podcast examines some causes for this celebration, such as growth in specialty products and an increase in dairy exports.
In the podcast, Rabobank Dairy Analyst and Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory Managing Director Debbie Perkins, explores the current U.S. dairy market, the growth of specialty products and export opportunities. (The full podcast is available online at www.RabobankAmerica.com/Rabocast.)
With rising hay prices, growers are looking to management practices to achieve a high-quality crop. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, discusses alfalfa management and suggests growers refine alfalfa curing practices to maintain integrity of harvested hay. Rapid, uniform curing of alfalfa is most desirable. However, recent research reveals forages don’t dry at a uniform rate. Proper cutting and management techniques can help offset curing time and potential quality losses, says Mahanna.
Bill Mahanna on Haylage Drying (4:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Cooperatives Working Together has announced the fifth round of herd retirements. Starting June 3, bids will be accepted through June 30. New to this round of bidding is the option for producers to include all their bred heifers, for a flat fee of $1,050 per animal; and the exclusion of regional safeguard limits.
“All of the economic indicators and benchmarks that guide CWT’s decisions, including farmers’ cost of production, show that now is the appropriate time for us to initiate this herd retirement,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, which manages CWT. “In particular, significantly higher feed and energy costs have put dairy farmers between a financial rock and a hard place.”
All dairy producers submitting bids to sell their herds must be members of CWT as of January 2008, either through their membership in a fully participating cooperative, or as an independent member of CWT. Bids will be reviewed in early July, with field auditors then proceeding after mid-July to visit each accepted farm to begin the cow removal process.
Through the herd retirement program, if a farmer’s bid is accepted, CWT pays that farmer for the volume of milk produced by that herd in a 12 month period. The farmer is responsible for selling the cows for slaughter, and he or she retains the proceeds from that transaction. As in the past, any producer who had his bid accepted in any of the previous herd retirements is not eligible to participate again.
Listen to Kozak’s opening statement from a Tuesday press conference here:
Dr. David Miller, director of alfalfa research for Pioneer, talks about the importance of forage quality. Forage quality has several definitions, depending on whether you are a beef producer or a dairy producer. Forage quality cannot always be expressed through a number, but rather how well an animal will perform when it is fed alfalfa, says Miller. Achieving high forage quality starts with management – timing cuttings, looking at weather forecasts and baling or chopping techniques.
David Miller on Alfalfa Management (5:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Best practices and cutting management will provide growers with an optimum alfalfa crop, says David Miller, director of alfalfa research for Pioneer. With a slow spring green-up, Miller takes a look at the impact of a cold winter on alfalfa as well as alfalfa genetics and management. Growers who tend to harvest late in the fall may be seeing more winterkill this spring, Miller says.
David Miller on Alfalfa Management (4:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
The dairy industry continues to become more global, and with the help of dairy checkoff dollars, the U.S. Dairy Export Council is pursuing growth opportunities for U.S. cheese worldwide, including Asia. Brian Baxter provided us with this report featuring Jeff McNeill, USDEC – Japan Director, that says that major progress has been made increasing U.S. cheese sales in Japan.
The PEAQ (Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality) method was developed around the relative feed value (RFV) which looks at the quantity of fiber. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, takes a look at determining not just the quantity of fiber but the digestibility of that fiber through RFQ or relative feed quality testing. Mahanna also comments on timing the first alfalfa cutting.
Bill Mahanna on Integrated Forage Program (5:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Managing the gaps in today’s agriculture can be an issue, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer. When visiting an operation, several factors come into play before a crop becomes feed. Pioneer can offer expertise to deal with the full continuum – managing the gaps between growing and cutting the feed to packing the silo and feed management. Mahanna comments on Pioneer’s integrated forage approach and the expertise available to producers.
Bill Mahanna on Integrated Forage Program (4:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Why does Pioneer have so many different silage inoculants? Pioneer microbiologists have focused on bacterial strains unique to each crop. Bacteria have special niches that they fill. Like humans in a room, some like it a little colder or warmer – bacteria works much the same way, designed for a specific environment. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer, says Pioneer is improving the nutritional value and preserving the quality of the crop by using specific products.
Bill Mahanna on Corn Specificity (4:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click “Livestock Nutrition” and “Forage Blog.” Those not registered for Pioneer GrowingPoint website can call 800-233-7333 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for assistance.
Have trouble sorting out PENDF, NDF and PEF? Pioneer Hi-Bred nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, explains these acronyms and their value to producers. “This information offers producers the ability to add up physically effective fiber coming from all different types of forages that are being brought into the ration to see if it meets the requirements of the total ration,” says Seglar. Hear more about this topic in this edition of the Pioneer Forage Forum.
The first ever winners of the BQA Award were announced today and one of them is a dairy producer.
Inspirational speaker and writer, Rebecca Long Chaney, is working on a series of agricultural education books for pre-schoolers and elementary school children. Here she’s seen with her exhibit at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.
CBB’s Chief Executive Officer is Tom Ramey. This morning he made a presentation at the second general session of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. You can listen to his presentation below.
One of the main dairy groups represented at today’s Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference was 
Earlier this week the National Dairy Board met and like last year, that meeting ended just in time for attendees to meet with beef producers at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium. One of those people is Rob Byrne, Sr. VP Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, 
It’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference time once again. I’m helping out the Cattlemen’s Beef Board with their 
I really like the idea of Rabobank producing an audio podcast of their news releases. Then I can subscribe and get them automatically to listen to whenever and wherever I want.