Author Archives: ods

For more than two decades, Brown Midrib (BMR) corn hybrids have been one of the most discussed innovations in dairy nutrition. By reducing lignin concentration in the plant cell wall, BMR silage improved fiber digestibility and allowed dairy cows to consume more feed and produce more milk. For many progressive dairy farms, BMR corn silageContinue reading “Life After BMR. Why the Future of Corn Silage Is About Systems, Not Genetics”

Methane reduction is becoming one of the central topics in global dairy production. Governments want it.Retail chains demand it.Carbon markets are building around it. But the key question remains: What actually happens inside the cow when methane inhibitors are used? A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Dairy Science analyzed dozensContinue reading “Methane Inhibitors: Climate Tool or Nutrition Risk?”

For many years, calf feeding programs have been designed around one key idea:limit milk intake to stimulate starter consumption. Typical recommendations suggest feeding: 4–6 L of milk per day or approximately 500–600 g of milk replacer powder. The logic seems simple:less milk → more starter → faster rumen development. But what happens if we lookContinue reading “How Much Energy Does a Calf Actually Receive? A simple calculation that challenges common calf feeding practices”

One of the growing challenges in dairy production is reducing the environmental footprint of manure nitrogen without compromising milk production. Ammonia emissions from dairy manure are considered one of the major environmental concerns in livestock systems because they contribute to air pollution, eutrophication of water bodies, and indirect greenhouse gas formation. A recent experiment fromContinue reading “When Lower DCAD Reduces Ammonia but Risks Milk Production. A feeding strategy dilemma in modern dairy systems”