Different crops have different requirements, which is why Pioneer offers crop-specific inoculants. Scott Dennis, Pioneer Hi-Bred ruminant microbiologist, says the goal is to get maximum performance for each crop.
Scott Dennis on Crop Specific Inoculation (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Inoculating silage is a standard practice, but have you wondered why or how it works? Pioneer Hi-Bred has the world’s largest collection of lactic acid bacteria, the beneficial organisms used in silage inoculants. Scott Dennis, Pioneer ruminant microbiologist, looks at why inoculates work. Dennis says the purpose of making silage is for year-round feed, and preserving nutrients aids in accomplishing that.
Scott Dennis on Silage Inoculants (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Silage evaluation can be a timely process. Following harvest, a sample needs to be bagged and sent to a lab for evaluation. At Pioneer Hi-Bred, experts are using near-infrared technology (NIR) on research choppers which offers a much faster turnaround time for evaluating the nutritional value of silage hybrids. Kevin Putnam, Pioneer dairy specialist, discusses the benefits of Pioneer using NIR on their research choppers.
Kevin Putnam on Using NIR on Choppers (5:28 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
High moisture corn offers growers both agronomic and nutritional benefits. Fred Owens, Pioneer senior research scientist, discusses some of these benefits, including, high digestibility, earlier harvest window and increased nutritional energy value.
Fred Owens on Feeding High Moisture Corn (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Growing conditions can vary from year to year and this variance can impact the nutritional value of the silage. In this edition of the Pioneer Forage Forum podcast, Pioneer livestock information manager Jim Smith explains the effects of solar radiation, moisture and heat at different stages of plant growth.
Jim Smith on the Impact of Growing Conditions on Nutritional Value of Silage (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
In this edition of the Pioneer Forage Forum podcast, Bill Ramsey, Pioneer livestock information manager, discusses several ways to measure feed quality performance. Ramsey looks at three questions producers should consider when evaluating the nutritional value of their feed. Some ways to measure feed value include, NIR on choppers and the physical makeup of the silage.
Bill Ramsey on Measuring Feed Quality Performance (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Breeding corn for silage is very much like a conventional program for grain. The main difference is the equipment used to measure the end product. Bill Curran, Pioneer research scientist, discusses some of the key traits producers and breeders are looking to achieve. Some key traits include dry matter, tonnage and starch digestibility.
Bill Curran on Breeding Corn Hybrids for Silage (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Now is the time to start assessing the yield potential for alfalfa stands – looking for potential winterkill concerns. There are several factors that affect winter injury, such as stand age, variety, soil conditions, such as pH fertility and fall moisture, timing of the last cut and cutting interval. In some parts of the country, snow cover is also a factor. David Miller, Pioneer alfalfa research director, discusses winterkill concerns, spring growth characteristics and more.
Dave Miller on Assessing Spring Alfalfa Stands (5:20 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Spring alfalfa planting is just around the corner. David Miller, director of alfalfa breeding at Pioneer, discusses some factors to take into consideration before putting the seed in the ground. Miller looks at seedbed preparation, planting depth and soil quality recommendations.
Dave Miller on Spring Alfalfa Planting (4:45 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Alfalfa was once considered a one-size-fits-all crop. Through alfalfa breeding and technology, new alfalfa traits offer growers options for matching the right product to the right field conditions. David Miller, director of alfalfa breeding at Pioneer, discusses these new trait advances.
Dave Miller on New Alfalfa Traits (5:18 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
The recent turn in dairy commodity prices have producers looking for tactics to boost their bottom lines. Jim Smith, Pioneer livestock information manager, discusses some management practices to maximize production and lower input costs. Smith says to group the herd according to production capabilities and feed those animals accordingly, focusing on the most profitable animals in an operation. Smith also recommends continuous evaluation of nutrients and ingredients being fed.
Jim Smith on Feed Efficiences (5:00 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
More than half of the digested fiber comes from the starch and sugar portion of the corn kernel. Therefore, it is vital for a producer to evaluate the availability of fiber in feed supplies this winter and look at factors such as kernel particles that can make a difference in the nutritional value of their silage. Energy from starch is available only if the material is digested. Smaller kernel particles are digested more easily by the intestines and rumen. Larger particles or whole kernels often are digested without breakdown, resulting in minimal nutritional value and, potentially, acidosis. Fredric Owens, Pioneer senior research scientist talks about starch digestibility and its importance.
Fredric Owens on Starch Digestibility (5:20 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.
Curious as to whether ensiled corn is better for your operation than dry corn? Scott Dennis, Pioneer Hi-Bred technical services manager for forage additives, says it’s not a matter of whether one has more nutritional value but rather how effectively an animal digests the nutrients. Ensiled or high-moisture corn, makes the starch more available to the rumen bacteria. Dennis, however, points out there are pros and cons to feeding both high-moisture and dry corn, and it’s a matter of what works best for each producer’s operation.
Scott Dennis on Ensiled vs Dry Corn (5:00 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 you ever wondered how inoculants work and what job each inoculant strain serves? Scott Dennis, Pioneer Hi-Bred technical services manager for forage additives, sorts through the information, explaining the role for each strain and the impact it has on silages.
Scott Dennis on Inoculant Strains (5:00 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.
Higher feed prices have put a new twist on developing a strategy for winter feeding for dairy producers. Leo Brown, Livestock Information Manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, discusses steps livestock producers can take to make the transition to new feedstocks as efficient as possible from an economic and production perspective. “Every year is different,” says Brown. “Because a feed ration worked last year and the year before, doesn’t mean a producer shouldn’t look at options. Producers need to be efficient, making the most cost-effective choices while meeting production goals.”
Leo Brown on Winter Inventory Strategies (5:00 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.
Feed prices are high and look to remain on the high end. There are some factors for producers to keep in mind for their dairy operation. According to Leo Brown, livestock information manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, producers should evaluate cost-effective feed ingredients, look for good buys, manage the basics of feeding on the farm and keep cows in top reproductive form.
Leo Brown on Evaluating Cost Effective Feed Options (5:00 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.
High-moisture corn (HMC) offers growers some benefits that dry corn may not. Leo Brown, Pioneer Hi-Bred livestock information manager, says high-moisture corn is increasing in popularity because growers have a longer window of time for optimum harvesting, which reduces their field losses. Also helping to reduce losses is the availability of L. Buchneri inoculants specifically designed for HMC at the fermentation stage. When is the right time to harvest? Brown suggests when corn has reached black layer and when moisture is about 28 percent to 32 percent moisture content. Harvesting when corn is at the right moisture content is important.
Leo Brown on Harvesting High Moisture Corn (5:00 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.
With high commodity prices, it is important to maximize profit from every acre. Silage performance can vary depending on hybrid selection. Performance consistency can be different from one hybrid to the next. Leo Brown, livestock information manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, says growers need to look at maturity and agronomic needs first then yield, tonnage and fiber digestibility when making a hybrid selection.
Leo Brown on Hybrids for Silage Quality (5:00 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.
Looking for answers as to how NDF digestibility impacts dairy production? Pioneer Hi-Bred nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, explains how the types of forages being fed will impact neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Furthermore, Seglar talks about the value of silage additives and the role they play in nutrition.
Bill Seglar on NDF Digestibility (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.
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.