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Feeding and forage analysis

▶️ Watch: From Field to Feed: What We Know about Growing High Oleic Soybeans

▶️ Watch: From Field to Feed: What We Know about Growing High Oleic Soybeans

Dr. Shawn Conley discusses the agronomic side about what makes growing high oleic soybeans different, how they perform in the field, and key management considerations.

▶ Watch: Focus on Forage Cover Crops (2025)

▶ Watch: Focus on Forage Cover Crops (2025)

The third Focus on Forage webinar in the 2025 series, Focus on Forage Cover Crops, features research-based resources and management strategies to keep forage systems productive over time.

Pure live seed

Pure live seed

We have paid little attention to Pure Live Seed (PLS) in the Midwest because we have generally had high quality seed (greater than 90% germ and 98% purity). But the short forage seed supply has caused some low quality seed to come on the market. To avoid being caught paying market price for low quality […]

Moldy Hay for Horses

Moldy Hay for Horses

When haymaking conditions are poor hay may be rained on or left lying in the field for prolonged time periods due to cool and humid conditions which reduced drying rates. The long drying periods with high humidity allow field growth of mold on the hay.

Milk2016 (ALFALFA-GRASS): Index Combining Yield and Quality

Milk2016 (ALFALFA-GRASS): Index Combining Yield and Quality

Undersander et al. (1993) developed a method for estimating milk per ton of forage dry matter (DM) as an index of forage quality of alfalfa and grasses. The milk per ton index of Undersander et al. (1993) is based on energy content of the forage predicted from acid detergent fiber (ADF) content and DM intake potential of the forage predicted from neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content.

Growing high-quality grass for dairy rations requires attention to detail

Growing high-quality grass for dairy rations requires attention to detail

As interest grows in adding grasses to dairy rations (to add digestible fiber and improve cow performance and health), many dairy producers find themselves learning about a feedstuff they haven’t grown or used in many years. This Fact Sheet will explore some reasons for feeding grasses, discuss some of the agronomic considerations producers need to think about when growing grasses for […]

Update on starch utilization by dairy cows

Update on starch utilization by dairy cows

“Update on starch utilization by dairy cows” was presented by Randy Shaver, University of Wisconsin. Two-to fourfold increases in corn prices in recent years over historical trends have prompted many questions about the utilization of starch by dairy cows.

Update on corn shredlage for dairy cows

Update on corn shredlage for dairy cows

There continues to be a lot of interest in corn silage harvested with a self-propelled forage harvester (SPFH) equipped with an aftermarket processor having cross-grooved processing rolls set for 2- to 3-mm roll gap and greater roll speed differential than has typically been used (32% versus 21%). Also, the developer of this processor recommends that […]

Influence of ensiling on the digestibility of whole-plant corn silage

Influence of ensiling on the digestibility of whole-plant corn silage

Increasing starch or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility in whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) may increase lactation performance by dairy cows or reduce purchased feed costs for dairy farmers.

Nitrate poisoning in cattle, sheep, and goats

Nitrate poisoning in cattle, sheep, and goats

Nitrate poisoning is a condition that may affect ruminants consuming certain forages or water that contains an excessive amount of nitrate. Horses are much less sensitive to nitrate toxicity since they are hindgut ferments and do not have a rumen.

Corn shredlage for dairy cows

Corn shredlage for dairy cows

Garnering much recent interest by dairy producers and their nutritionists has been a new method of harvesting whole-plant corn for silage. The resultant product has been called corn shredlage by the developer of the process Shredlage™

Grass Forages and Magnesium Status of Dairy Cattle

Grass Forages and Magnesium Status of Dairy Cattle

Introduction Forage grasses are an important source of dry matter in dairy cattle diets. Agronomic practices associated with grass forage production however, can alter magnesium utilization by dairy cattle. Altered magnesium utilization induced when cattle graze lush forage grasses is referred to as grass tetany. Historic use of vocabulary directly associating the term grass tetany […]

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