Dairy feeding : article
STOCKTON, Mo. – So-called “sacrifice pastures” might be needed to help promote forage production the rest of this cattle grazing season, according to Patrick Davis, a University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist based in Stockton.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – One of the most important tools for livestock producers is a sharp No. 2 pencil.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ways to replace toxic tall fescue pastures keep improving as renovations move across the Fescue Belt from Missouri to Georgia.
Five grazing schools in five states in March will clarify a complex system, says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist.
This is part of an MU Extension series to help row crop and livestock producers manage drought. For more articles, go to Drought Resources.
SEDALIA, Mo. – Lexi Angelo earned high individual honors at the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held Aug. 17 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory recommends applying fall nitrogen in mid-August to cool-season pastures.
Despite drought conditions in much of the state, Lory says, “we need to get nitrogen applied now so we can take full advantage of the…
Delayed nitrogen for cool-season forages now has little chance to boost fall growth and risks nitrate buildup or fertilizer loss under dry conditions.
Learn strategies to reduce financial loss after drought by adjusting pasture management and considering native warm-season grasses.
SEDALIA, Mo.—Many Missouri producers are asking if it is safe to use soybeans for livestock forage. The topic was brought up repeatedly by attendees at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Get a head start on pastures for the year with good management of spring flush, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.Early decisions determine pasture health for the rest of the season, Naumann says.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Start stockpiling fescue mid-August for healthier and more profitable cattle, says University of Missouri Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts.Stockpiling fescue saves time and money by reducing the need to feed hay.
MONETT, Mo. – Fourth-generation farmer Mike Meier knows change will help his family’s Century Farm survive.The rotational grazing and breeding system he uses for his dairy herd works. Now he wants to apply those principles to beef cattle. “At 56, I wanted to go in a different direction,” he says.
Cheap hay can cost more in the long run due to poor quality, storage, and feeding practices.
High heat and humidity after a wet spring increase ergot risk in tall fescue, posing dangers to livestock and humans.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – An emergency feeding situation is shaping up for Missouri’s beef producers because of the drought.
Grazing cornstalks can help fill cattle feed gaps during drought, but supplementation and careful management are needed.
Dairy farmers face lower milk demand as COVID-19 disrupts markets. Strategies include culling cows, reducing feed costs, and adjusting production.
Deep roots help grass survive drought, but overgrazing weakens root systems. Rotational grazing boosts pasture growth and efficiency.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In dry weather with short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought increases the chance of nitrate poisoning and prussic acid poisoning. High concentrations in plants and water can harm or even kill animals.
Attend free SW Missouri meetings Aug. 4 for cattle producers on drought survival, hay management, and feeding strategies.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Rain makes grass grow. That’s good for grazing livestock, but makes haying difficult.Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist, sees unusual potential for cattle producers.
COLUMBIA. Mo. – Shortage of cattle forage forces some Ozark herd owners to chop trees to feed leaves. That method was used in big droughts of the 1930s and 1950s.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Newly made spring hay finally being baled in June may be toxic for cattle. Hold off on feeding new hay, says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist.The longer the hay can be stored after baling, the less toxic it becomes.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – To reduce fescue foot, a long-used plan to feed winter hay after grazing down fall pastures should be changed. A University of Missouri Extension forage specialist says it’s backwards. Feed hay first; then graze stockpiled winter pastures.
Learn how to plant and manage warm-season annuals like pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass to maintain quality forage during summer shortages.
Learn how baleage makes spring forage harvest faster and easier, turning tough haymaking into a manageable task.
University of Missouri Extension will offer Hay Quality Management workshops this fall in Cole, Miller, Gasconade and Osage counties. Local livestock and hay producers are invited to attend these free programs intended to help farmers improve hay quality to reduce feed costs and enhance livestock…
Frost seeding legumes boosts pasture yield and quality, reduces fertilizer needs, and supports livestock health and grazing profits.
STOCKTON, Mo. – Add legumes to grazing pastures to improve cow performance, soil health and forage production, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist in Cedar County.
Frost-seeding legumes boosts pasture health, lowers input costs, improves soil fertility, and supports cattle growth even in drought-prone areas.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – High nitrogen prices make it especially important to consider frost seeding legumes this winter, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts.
STOCKTON, Mo. – St. Clair County Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Missouri Extension, and Missouri Forage and Grassland Council will hold a school on management-intensive grazing May 9-10 in Osceola.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Rain-delayed haymaking leads to poor-quality feed for livestock next winter. Supplemental feed will be needed to make balanced rations, says University of Missouri Extension forage specialist Rob Kallenbach.
Learn how to protect dairy cows from heat stress with cooling, nutrition, and reproductive management strategies.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many beef and dairy calves will be born in the next three months. As spring calving season approaches, University of Missouri Extension experts stress the importance of properly caring for newborn calves.
GALENA, Mo. – With a shortage of standing forage for cattle and the low availability of hay, it is more important than ever this winter to reduce waste when feeding hay.Hay waste is normal, but it can be controlled and minimized, said University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim…
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — The greening of pastures and the rising of temperatures have led ruminant-livestock owners to start thinking about the upcoming haying season.
Removing fescue seed heads helps reduce toxins, improve cattle health, and boost pasture quality through clipping, haying, or spraying.
Learn how excess Kentucky bluegrass in pastures can limit forage yield and when to interseed alternative grasses for better productivity.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Adding poultry litter or nitrogen to toxic fescue pastures grows more grass, but also boosts toxins in the grass.
Check fescue seed labels to ensure healthy livestock and long-lasting pastures with the right novel-endophyte seed.
Cutting hay in May boosts quality and yield. Harvest before seed develops and store properly to preserve nutrients and minimize losses.
Learn how to manage ergot infestations in pastures to protect livestock health. Tips on mowing, haymaking, and recognizing symptoms of ergot poisoning.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Northern Missouri has received plenty of rain, and dairy producers there are hopeful about making a silage pile, while those in the state’s southern counties are looking at options as drought conditions and oppressive heat have taken hold.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Missouri Holstein Dezi is a moo-ver and a milker.The Lawrence County cow outperforms most of her regional counterparts, producing just short of three times as much milk per day, says University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel.
CLEVER, Mo. – While fall is the best time to consider pasture renovation, spring is the second-best time, so there is still time to help pastures get back in shape for the next season, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg.
MU Extension’s “What the Hay?” webinar series focus on forage, fertilizer, fixes and funds, says agricultural business specialist Amie Breshears. It runs 12:15-12:45 p.m. Thursdays from Oct. 2 to Nov. 6.
MU Extension will host “Baled Late, Fed Smart,” a series of programs in October designed to help livestock producers effectively manage and utilize lower-quality hay. Sessions in Wright, Taney and Ozark counties will provide strategies for feeding cattle when forage quality is compromised.
Interactive Cow College Workshops offer Southeast Missouri producers practical training in forage, cattle health, heifer development and risk-management.
Help for Missouri firms to create and maintain FSMA-compliant feed safety plans and proper documentation.
MU Extension offers an afternoon of programs on using native warm-season grasses for their forage value and seed production potential Oct. 14 at the MU Southwest Center at Mount Vernon. The event is free.
A forage specialist launches a podcast sharing tips on pasture management, livestock production, and improving forage systems.
Foremost Dairy boosts calf health with top-quality colostrum, lowering scours, pneumonia, and mortality.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension dairy veterinarian Scott Poock has developed a spreadsheet to track and evaluate colostrum management data in dairy calves.
Find hay for sale in Missouri with this searchable online directory from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Discover how native warm-season grasses can sustain forage for livestock during drought by offering heat-tolerant feed when cool-season grasses decline.
Nitrogen boosts fescue yields but raises toxins, so manage fertilizer carefully to protect animal health.
Missouri hay producers showcased their work at the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show, featuring 49 entries from 30 participants, highlighting top-quality hay.
Choose drought-resilient forages and legumes to maintain productive pastures and reduce feed costs during dry summers.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — It wasn’t the best of springs for baling hay.
“Stockpiling fall forage can stretch your hay supply by delaying how early you start feeding hay, plus reduce your harvesting costs,” says Pat Miller, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.
Learn how to manage weaned fall-born calves using feed cost and value of gain to guide profitable decisions.
Learn simple strategies such as shade, fans and water to keep dairy herds cool and sustain milk output under heat pressure.
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Hay harvest is approaching, and producing high-quality hay reduces cattle supplementation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Davis discusses harvest management strategies to achieve optimal hay quality.
CLEVER, Mo. –Due to poor storage and feeding methods, only about half of Missouri hay reaches the cow’s mouth, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Andy McCorkill.
Learn strategies to reduce hay waste and feeding costs while improving livestock access and performance.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Drought in southwestern Missouri calls for long- and short-term feed plans for beef and dairy herds.
University of Missouri Extension state dairy specialist Stacey Hamilton urges producers not to panic as local feed supplies dwindle. There are options to carry herds through…
LINN, Mo. – Livestock producers and horse owners can learn how to make “Hay That Pays” at the University of Missouri Extension regional hay school Oct. 14 in Linn.The event runs 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Community Christian Church, 1598 U.S. Highway 50, Linn.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Producers looking for ways to grow forages during drought might consider planting an “annual pasture within a perennial pasture,” says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dry weather and short pastures have reduced forage supplies, prompting livestock producers to ponder “could have, would have, should have” scenarios, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eric Meusch.
SEDALIA, Mo. – While it is still too soon to sound the alarm on “drought,” parts of the state are becoming severely dry, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Gene Schmitz.
Stockpile tall fescue in late summer to extend grazing, lower hay use, and trim labor, cost, and time for cattle producers.
Learn how planting sunn hemp in summer can enhance forage quality, fix nitrogen and support livestock through heat and drought.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With high costs of feed for wintering cows, herd owners should consider adding monensin to grain supplements for winter forages. The additive, trade name Rumensin, controls coccidiosis, a disease caused by intestinal parasites.
Cattle rid their bodies of heat in three ways: radiation, convection and evaporation. “If your cattle can’t use all three methods, they’ll overheat fast,” says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutrition specialist Eric Bailey. Summer heat knocks weight off calves and pounds off milk,…
Test alfalfa hay to know its true nutritional value, boost livestock performance, and make informed feeding and supplement decisions.
Hay bale weight varies with moisture and density. Learn how to estimate actual weight for better feeding and management decisions.
Assess livestock feed needs, evaluate forage availability, and plan for necessary supplements to ensure adequate winter nutrition.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts says now is the time to check for ergot in the seed heads of grasses.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Proper management of the spring flush of tall fescue gives pastures and cattle a head start for the rest of the grazing season, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Don’t delay making hay,” says Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension.It might not seem like haymaking time, or haymaking weather, but early harvest results in more quality forage through the season, says the state forage specialist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With dry weather and short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows.
Compared to other parts of the agricultural community, graziers of cattle depend less on fossil fuel and more on solar energy to turn a natural resource like grass into a sellable commodity, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Graziers can save on operating expenses…
STOCKTON, Mo. – If not managed properly, muddy pastures can affect grazing the rest of the year, says University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist Patrick Davis.
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Cattle producers welcome the rain, but it leads to muddy pastures and proper management is needed for optimum grazing the rest of the year,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Use basic math and a forage-budget worksheet to calculate baleage production costs—seed, fuel, labor, equipment—and compare making feed versus buying.
In this video news story, University of Missouri researchers use GPS technology to understand the complexities of a cow's appetite. This knowledge may help livestock producers graze cattle more efficiently.
New tool helps farmers decide if harvesting wheat for silage or grain gives the best value based on yield and costs.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – At the right price, wheat middlings are a good source of protein, fiber and phosphorus for livestock, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Kendra Graham.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Winter is the time for livestock producers to prepare pastures for drought, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Increases in fertilizer prices add to the cost of growing forage for grazing. This leads farmers to ask if they should buy hay or fertilizer, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory.