Posted: February 7, 2012 at 9:37 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
South Dakota-based ethanol producer POET is targeting dairy producers with the introduction of a new low-fat distillers grains product.
POET notes that research indicates its new Dakota Gold Low Fat dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) can be fed to dairy cattle at a higher inclusion rate than traditional DDGS.
According to Kip Karges, PhD, Technical Services and Research Director at POET Nutrition, the product has just a 5 percent fat content, which offers a new opportunity for dairy operations that have had to limit DDGS use in the past because DDGS fat content can cause milk fat depression issues. “Dairy operations can feed more low fat DDGS to their livestock by using Dakota Gold Low Fat,” Karges said. “That will allow for optimum milk production while lowering ration cost.”
General research into the subject has shown that increasing concentrations of low-fat distillers grains have correlated to increasing efficiency of milk production. “When feeding regular DDGS you really have to limit feeds with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and may cause limitations in formulation procedures,” said Paul Kononoff, Associate Professor of Dairy Nutrition/Dairy Nutrition Specialist at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. “The reduction in fat in low fat DDGS allows for higher inclusion of the co-product without the worries of milk fat depression.” Kononoff and others as the University of Nebraska have performed trials for POET and will be releasing their data to the public this summer.
A deliberate research and development process was followed in bringing Dakota Gold Low Fat DDGS to market. The new Dakota Gold LF DDGS option is possible because of POET’s Voila™ Corn Oil production, which removes oil from DDGS. The resulting low fat DDGS have been researched and will continued to be researched to find new ways in which distillers grains, the second-largest traded feed ingredient on the market, can be used to produce protein for human consumption. Nutritionists at POET are providing animal research data to nutritionists and the feed industry in general regarding Dakota Gold LF DDGS. Research and nutrition details are available at the Dakota Gold website.
Posted: December 27, 2011 at 6:12 pm
By News Editor
This fall, the Livestock Marketing Group launched three innovations for dairy animals: the enhanced calf milk replacers, the AMPLI-Calf® grower feed and the updated MetaPro® Nutrition program for dairy cows.
In partnership with Animal Milk Products, a division of Land O’Lakes, Inc., Livestock Marketing introduced a new plant-based ingredient in all Full Potential and Performance milk replacers. When fed in milk replacer, digestarom® is designed to drive greater weight gain and milk replacer and calf starter intakes. In addition, a new product line extension was launched for the Full Potential milk replacers. ColdFront™ milk replacer formulation uniquely and effectively helps dairy calves face nutrition and health challenges during cold weather stress.
The new calf grower feed was developed for calves raised on AMPLI-Calf® starter feed. When fed AMPLI-Calf® grower feed vs. traditional grower feed during weeks 12-24, calves gained 70 lbs more, grew longer and taller, and had better average daily gains and feed efficiency. The Young Animal team led by Dr. Dari Brown ensured that the product feeding amounts and inclusion of hay are optimal for rumen development in calves. Land O’Lakes Purina Feed patented its breakthrough system and method for feeding ruminants based on rumen morphology.
Launched in 2006, MetaPro® Nutrition program has been the highest-selling program in the Dairy Feed portfolio. It is a great tool to optimize the amount of protein fed to dairy cows while optimizing the herd’s milk production and pounds of milk protein potential. MetaPro® Nutrition program now includes USA Lysine, the most bio-available lysine product in the industry marketed exclusively by Land O’Lakes Purina Feed.
Posted: December 19, 2011 at 5:19 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Milk production is on the rise according to the latest report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Milk production in the 23 major States during November totaled 14.7 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from November 2010. October revised production at 15.2 billion pounds, was up 2.5 percent from October 2010.
The report indicates that production increases came from both a per cow production increase of 16 pounds and a herd expansion of 108,000 head since this time in 2010. Notably, California continues to lead the nation in milk production outpacing second place Wisconsin by more than 1.2 billion pounds last month.
As the U.S. dairy industry is a major market for feed corn, distillers dried grains and corn silage, the National Corn Growers Association noted that this trend benefits not only dairy but also grain farmers across the country.
“It is important to value our relationship with dairy farmers, a constant and valued customer for our product,” said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. “In 2011 alone, it is estimated that the U.S. dairy herd will consume more than 800 million bushels of corn. As they grow, so do we thus reemphasizing the importance of cooperation throughout the agricultural community.”
Here’s a new product we just received an announcement for from Van Beek Natural Science. It’s a feed supplement that “protects newborn calves from stress induced scours with its unique mode of action,” called Tri-Pectate® Capsules.
Tri-Pectate Capsules are formulated with Axaphen®, a patented combination of essential oils and enhancers. Axaphen has powerful antimicrobial properties that eliminate bacteria on contact.
Pectin is dietary fiber in Tri-Pectate that swells up to hold fluid and normalizes gut flow. It also helps remove toxins while coating the intestinal wall, thus proactively working against GI problems before they start. The right balance of mineral bio-complexes help bind and inactivate harmful pathogens. They eliminate toxins from the body, stimulate the immune system, and soothe the intestinal tract.
All the power of the Tri-Pectate syringe formula has been packed into this convenient capsule. Tri-Pectate Capsules are available in 20ct and 100ct jars and 450ct pails. The product is sold through all major livestock & dairy distributors. Please visit www.vanbeeknaturalscience.com for more information.
Posted: September 15, 2011 at 9:25 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Dairy, livestock and poultry producers were represented during a hearing this week before a House Agriculture subcommittee on concerns about feed availability and the main theme of all the witnesses was the impact of ethanol policy on feed availability.
Testifying on behalf of the dairy industry was Dr. Eric Erba with California Dairies. “From our point of view, the problem is not feed availability, it is the price of feed,” Erba said. “Feed has been and continues to be available, but not at prices at prices that make good financial sense for dairy producers” since feed costs represent almost 65% of the cost of producing milk.
Erba noted that California dairy producers are particularly vulnerable to feed price increases because they buy most of their corn for feed, rather than grow it on their own operations. “Dairy producers are critical of the federal policy that favors fuel over food because of the evidence that policies put animal agriculture at tremendous risk for higher production costs with no guarantee of higher prices for product produced,” he said.
Posted: September 7, 2011 at 2:35 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Idaho is synonymous with potatoes, but there is more corn in the ground there these days to support a growing dairy industry.
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that some Pacific Northwest farmers can increase corn yields by using strip tillage and banding fertilizer instead of conventional tilling. Strip tillage and banding involves excavating a single row for planting about 6 to 12 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep with a knife-like shank that can also inject fertilizer directly below the seed.
The scientists found that using these practices increased corn grain yields on severely eroded soils st higher elevations by 12 percent the first year and 26 percent the second year. This translated into yield increases between 11 and 26 bushels per acre.
Demand for animal feed is on the rise worldwide and dairy cattle is no exception. But where will all the feed come from? One emerging option is algae meal, a product or co-product from algal biofuels production. To study algae meal as feed for dairy cattle, University of Minnesota recently completed a feed-trial of PetroAlgae‘s micro-crop meal to determine how it performed. The trial discovered that it performed as well as alfalfa in dairy cattle diets. The global market for dairy feed from alfalfa alone is estimated at 400 million metric tons by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
The study encompassed a continuous 6-week feeding trial of a statistically significant sample of 36 dairy cows living in barns housed at the University of Minnesota. It measured the algae meal against a 17.5 percent protein alfalfa diet and measured nutrient intake, milk yield and composition. With the positive results, PetroAlgae anticipates its micro-crop meal will be highly competitive in the feed market.
The University of Minnesota study is the first to validate PetroAlgae micro-crop meal in the dairy diet against the industry standard. Several key findings included algae meal having higher dairy efficiency values, higher energy values than alfalfa, and algae meal matched the alfalfa diet in milk, milk yield, body score, and body weight.
“The results of this study show that PetroAlgae micro-crop meal is a desirable ingredient for high producing dairy cattle and that it performed comparably to high-protein alfalfa meal,” said Dr. Noah Litherland, who performed the study at the University of Minnesota. “We are encouraged to see this product perform so well against one of the more universally understood products in dairy nutrition.”
Litherland added, “There is also an intriguing opportunity to alter the lipid composition of the meat and milk for added human health benefit.”
Who knows, in the not to distant future farmer’s may be growing algae for feed and fuel alongside alfalfa and other crops.
A bull market for cotton lint could drive 2011 cottonseed production and supplies available to dairies to levels not seen since 2007, says Tom Wedegaertner, director of cottonseed research and marketing, Cotton Incorporated. In the meantime, old crop cottonseed remains a “competitive value, despite rising prices.”
U.S. average spot prices for cottonseed fluctuated between $200 and $250 per ton in 2010, but began creeping higher toward the end of the year and closed in on $250 per ton in early 2011, according to a recent report from the National Cotton Council.
“Competing feed prices tend to move together and everything is moving up right now,” Wedegaertner says. “When you consider $7 corn, cottonseed is still a very good buy.”
He adds that some relief may be on the horizon with higher cotton acres expected in 2011.
According to the National Cotton Council’s planting intentions survey released February 4, cotton is expected to reclaim more than 1.5 million acres this spring – a 14 percent increase over 2010 – and produce a crop that could net 6.5 million tons of cottonseed, up from the 6.2 million tons produced in 2010 and up sharply from 2009’s 4.1 million tons.
At the Alltech Global 500 feeding efficiency was the subject of a presentation by Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois. He says that to survive we’re going to have to become more feed efficient and since feed can make up half the cost of producing milk it’s very important. He says that with corn getting to $6/bushel we’re going to have to look at more forage in the diet. That means a closer look at the nutrition plan to control variation. He uses a term, “precision feeding” which he says is “everyday delivering the same ration, if it’s higher in forages it means you have to take that variation out based on variety selections and types of forages you’re feeding.”
Cotton Incorporated is asking dairy producers to get creative with their video cameras.
A free truckload of whole cottonseed is just one of the prizes dairy producers will have a chance to win by participating in Cotton Incorporated’s new video contest, dubbed “Innovative on-farm storage solutions for cottonseed.” Launching November 1, the contest invites dairy producers to grab their cameras and show off their cottonseed storage savvy.
While fun at heart, the video contest was created with purpose: to educate fellow dairy producers about innovative and cost-effective storage solutions for the feedstuff, supplies for which are forecast to double in 2010-11. The contest will live on Cotton Incorporated’s recently launched website, www.wholecottonseed.com. The new website and contest coexist to engage progressive dairy producers with whole fuzzy cottonseed in a new and interactive way.
The video contest entry requires dairy producers to demonstrate in three minutes or less an innovative storage solution for cottonseed. Entries must be submitted at www.wholecottonseed.com/contest by December 10, 2010. Cotton Incorporated will select the top five videos, based on the following criteria weighed at 25 percent each: originality, maintenance of seed quality, economic feasibility and presentation (clarity of message, creative, professional delivery). The five finalists will receive a $500 Visa® gift card and a Kodak® flip camera and digital picture frame. The public will subsequently have the opportunity to vote and elect the winning video. The recipient of the grand prize shall receive a free truckload of cottonseed worth approximately $5,000.
Posted: October 4, 2010 at 9:59 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Alpharma sponsored a media breakfast at World Dairy Expo featuring the latest research into precision feeding of dairy replacement heifers, presented by Pat Hoffman with the Department of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“There’s been a lot of research work around the country on trying to capture some management practices that improve feed efficiency and reduce costs for dairy replacement heifers and precision feeding is one of those practices that seems to be really working out to have some very distinct benefits,” Pat told me in an interview after his presentation. His research suggests that dry matter intake can be reduced by 2-3 pounds per day without any carryover effects on milk production down the road. They also saw increased feed efficiency in the research and decreased excretions.
“What we’re trying to accomplish with precision feeding is just the subtle limitation of dry matter, trying to save a few cents in feed costs, trying to reduce manure excretion without changing the well being or productive performance of the animal at all,” Pat says. “Precision feeding means that you’re going to feed precisely the nutrients that they need.” That means that the feed is concentrated in terms of protein and is utilized more efficiently.
I also talked with Lance Fox of Alpharma about why they sponsored this particular presentation at expo. “Alpharma has historically been active in the dairy heifer industry,” Lance said. “Pat’s been doing some recent research and we wanted the audience to get that updated research.”
Lance says Pat worked with Alpharma on the idea of updating research he did a few years ago on precision feeding. “In this new study he wanted to look at applying an ionophore to the diet and see if we could tweak that diet back a little more and have an economic advantage for the producer,” said Lance. Alpharma’s ionophore on the market is called Bovatec which is widely used in cattle to control coccidiosis and optimize feed efficiency/gain. “If we take a pound of corn at 6-8 cents per pound, the ionophore at about 300 mg per head per day is three cents per head per day, so you’ve got a nice return on investment when you can replace a pound of corn in the diet,” he said, and that held true in the latest research.
Posted: September 29, 2010 at 9:28 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Less crude protein in the diet of dairy cattle can actually improve nitrogen efficiency and ultimately result in both economic and environmental benefits.
That was the message at a seminar sponsored by Novus International today at the Sheraton next to World Dairy Expo. Dr. Larry Chase with Cornell University presented some compelling findings that indicate the traditional 18% crude protein dairy diet could be lowered with very positive results.
“At the tissue level, what you really need are amino acids as the building blocks for maintenance, growth, lactation, reproduction,” said Dr. Chase. “So we really need amino acids, not protein per se.” His work shows that there is a point where more crude protein in the diet is literally wasted in the animal, resulting in more manure and urine output, not more milk output – and protein is expensive. “We don’t want to spend a lot of money to make better quality manure,” he said.
Dr. Chase believes that producers could ultimately reduce CP in their rations by two percent or more with no drop in milk production. “Practically, I think a lot of herds can get down towards 16 percent or slightly under,” he says. It does mean that produces need to strike a delicate balance in their rations, stressing metabolizable protein rather than crude protein with amino acids and energy sources, but the payoff can be significant. “What we found in field trials is if we reduce the protein being fed in excess of requirement, we save the farmer money and lower excretion in the environment without hurting milk production.”
When Dr. Bob Stoltzfus with Lancaster Veterinary Associates in Lancaster, Pennsylvania heard about Dr. Chase’s research a few years ago, he was intrigued enough to try it himself on a real operation, resulting in what he calls a “transformation” from a conventional diet to a lower CP diet. “I went from an 18.3% crude protein diet in 2007 to a 16.2% crude protein diet in 2010,” he said. “Production was not affected by it, components were not affected by it, there are changes in the diet that you do, but the bottom line is that you excrete less nitrogen into the environment and in a 200 cow herd we made them about $22,000 per year.”
The financial incentive should be enough for producers to at least give it a try now, before they are forced to by environmental regulations. “Certainly in my area, in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, it’s going to be mandated and probably enforced by the EPA in the very near future, that farms have feed management plans which involve the inputs into the cows that ultimately result in waste in the manure in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus,” he said.
He recommends that producers who are interested in trying a lower crude protein diet work with their nutritionist to find the right balance in the diet to make it work.
Posted: August 19, 2010 at 7:53 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The ethanol co-product distillers grains offer a way to supplement bad hay being baled for winter feed this year.
During field days this month at University of Missouri Forage research centers, extension regional livestock specialist Chris Zumbrunnen told participants that distillers grains, which offer up to 30 percent protein, can pick up the slack when the hay quality falls short. “There is a tremendous amount of high quality product available,” Zumbrunnen said. There will also be plenty of poor quality hay that was harvested late and rained on during haymaking.
Zumbrunnen explained that different types of distillers grains require different handling methods.
The dried product, known as DDGs, which has only 10 percent moisture, handles and stores easily but it can draw moisture and become caked in storage. “If you put it in a bin, you might have a hard time getting it out,” Zumbrunnen said. The wet product, with 65 percent moisture, is less expensive, but needs to be used quickly. “It’s tough to store and do anything with,” he said. “You can’t stack it, as it will spread out unless contained.”
A new modified wet distillers grain offered by some ethanol plants allows more flexibility and ease in feeding. The modified product is dried down to 50 percent moisture. It retains its shape and won’t blow away like dry product. ”The modified wet product can be fed on the ground or on top of unrolled baled hay. It stays in place,” Zumbrunnen said “Those old cows love it.”
The best time for herd owners to buy distillers product is in late summer, before demand picks up from the feed yards. “You can save $30 a ton by buying in the off season,” Zumbrunnen said. “Now is the time to buy if you can store it.” A list of prices and sources for distillers grains in Missouri is updated weekly and listed on the dairy feed page of the MU AgEBB.
Posted: July 8, 2010 at 7:39 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Last year many growers encountered a wet growing season which led to some concerns with ear molds. Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian, discusses conditions conducive to ear molds and the impact it has on nutritional value.
“Modifying the rumen to reduce the risk of acidosis” was the title of Prof. Sergio Calsamiglia’s presentation at the Dairy Solutions Symposium. He works in the veterinary school at Universitat AutÒnoma de Barcelona.
He says research shows that acidosis is not just a pH problem but related to the type of feed you’re using. There is evidence that although using bicarbonate helps, it doesn’t solve the problem. Conversely, there are feed additives that don’t impact pH but help the problem. He says he thinks the term acidosis may mislead people since there are products like yeast that can help the problem even though it is not a buffer. The bottom line is that good nutrition and animal care is the most important thing to work on.
Posted: June 25, 2010 at 4:24 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The Nebraska Corn Board is giving the state’s dairy industry a well-deserved pat on the back for increasing production in a challenging year.
According to the latest state ag statistics, the Nebraska dairy industry produced more than 1.2 billion pounds of milk last year, an increase over the previous year.
“The number of dairy cows in Nebraska totaled some 61,000 head, which is an increase over the prior year. Growth in the dairy industry is something few states can show, as the dairy markets struggled nationally and many states saw their cow herd numbers decline,” said Kelsey Pope, promotion coordinator with the Nebraska Corn Board. “We’re fortunate to have gained cows, as dairy farms provide a number of good jobs and gives a boost to the local economy. With June being Dairy Month, this is something to celebrate – perhaps with a tall glass of milk. The state’s dairy receipts totaled about $172 million last year, but the sector’s total impact is considerably higher because so many dollars circulate several times through the local economy. Everything from a strong tax base, to feed, veterinary care, equipment, trucking, milk processing and more, a strong dairy sector is good for the state.”
Posted: May 27, 2010 at 9:22 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
In this edition of Forage Forum, Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian, addresses questions on BT corn for silage. Seglar says biotechnology traits do not impact nutritional value of the corn, but it is usually environmental factors that affect silage quality and nutritional value.
BASF Plant Science L.P. has announced the addition of T.A. Seeds as a new NutriDense® trait licensee. T.A. Seeds, headquartered in Jersey Shore, Pa., will offer NutriDense Silage traits starting this summer due to strong demand in its market area and the positive performance of NutriDense genetics.
BASF Plant Science breeding efforts have significantly improved NutriDense parent lines, and the hybrids developed from these lines have excellent agronomics, strong yield potential and outstanding nutritional performance.
“We are very excited to add T.A. Seeds to our growing list of NutriDense licensees,” said Barney Bernstein, director of trait marketing and sales for BASF Plant Science. “We have seen very positive results from NutriDense Silage hybrids in the northeast and surrounding areas, and are thrilled that T.A. Seeds can now offer NutriDense to their dairy customers.”
“We are constantly evaluating new hybrids that will increase the profitability of eastern farmers,” said Taylor Doebler, T.A. Seeds seedsman. “Based on our experience, we believe NutriDense Silage hybrids are a good fit for this geography, and we look forward to offering them to our customers.”
NutriDense is a nutritionally enhanced corn that contains a stacked set of output traits designed to improve animal feed performance. Seed companies market the product through licensing agreements with BASF Plant Science.
For dairy producers, NutriDense® Silage hybrids can increase silage tonnage while improving income over feed costs through greater feed efficiency.
In this edition of Forage Forum, Pioneer livestock information manager Steve Soderlund discusses the benefits of dual-purpose hybrids, which can allow a producer greater flexibility, depending on environmental conditions and feed needs.
The Chairman of the Egyptian Buffalo Producer’s Association is Dr. Saad Alhayani (pictured left). He also owns and operates a very new open water buffalo feedlot and dairy. The U.S. Grains Council Corn Mission team I recently traveled with visited. These cute, sweet, little creatures are very different than your average bovine.
Dr. Alhayani says he imports frozen semen to assist in breeding better quality animals which is something relatively new to the country. He’s raising thousands of buffalo and feeding them corn and ddgs as well as other ingredients. We saw lots of bags of ddgs at his feedlot. That looked very positive for American corn growers! He says sometimes they blend as much as 25% ddgs in the feed.
His goal is to produce a few thousand pregnant heifers for local producers and maybe even to export. He appreciates the assistance he’s received from the USGC.
You can listen to my interview with Dr. Alhayani’s below and watch a video clip of him showing us his operation as well:
POET notes that research indicates its new Dakota Gold Low Fat dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) can be fed to dairy cattle at a higher inclusion rate than traditional DDGS.
Dairy, livestock and poultry producers were represented during a hearing this week before a House Agriculture subcommittee on concerns about feed availability and the main theme of all the witnesses was the impact of ethanol policy on feed availability.
USDA 
A bull market for cotton lint could drive 2011 cottonseed production and supplies available to dairies to levels not seen since 2007, says Tom Wedegaertner, director of cottonseed research and marketing, 
I also talked with Lance Fox of Alpharma about why they sponsored this particular presentation at expo. “Alpharma has historically been active in the dairy heifer industry,” Lance said. “Pat’s been doing some recent research and we wanted the audience to get that updated research.” 
That was the message at a seminar sponsored by 
When Dr. Bob Stoltzfus with Lancaster Veterinary Associates in Lancaster, Pennsylvania heard about Dr. Chase’s research a few years ago, he was intrigued enough to try it himself on a real operation, resulting in what he calls a “transformation” from a conventional diet to a lower CP diet. “I went from an 18.3% crude protein diet in 2007 to a 16.2% crude protein diet in 2010,” he said. “Production was not affected by it, components were not affected by it, there are changes in the diet that you do, but the bottom line is that you excrete less nitrogen into the environment and in a 200 cow herd we made them about $22,000 per year.”
During field days this month at University of Missouri Forage research centers, extension regional livestock specialist Chris Zumbrunnen told participants that distillers grains, which offer up to 30 percent protein, can pick up the slack when the hay quality falls short. “There is a tremendous amount of high quality product available,” Zumbrunnen said. There will also be plenty of poor quality hay that was harvested late and rained on during haymaking.
The dried product, known as DDGs, which has only 10 percent moisture, handles and stores easily but it can draw moisture and become caked in storage. “If you put it in a bin, you might have a hard time getting it out,” Zumbrunnen said. The wet product, with 65 percent moisture, is less expensive, but needs to be used quickly. “It’s tough to store and do anything with,” he said. “You can’t stack it, as it will spread out unless contained.”
Last year many growers encountered a wet growing season which led to some concerns with ear molds. Bill Seglar, 
“Modifying the rumen to reduce the risk of acidosis” was the title of Prof. Sergio Calsamiglia’s presentation at the 
According to the latest state ag statistics, the Nebraska dairy industry produced more than 1.2 billion pounds of milk last year, an increase over the previous year.
The Chairman of the