Access the latest UW-Madison Division of Extension Dairy Cattle Research during the upcoming Badger Dairy Insight webinar series
Join the University of Wisconsin-Madison – Division of Extension’s Dairy Program on Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 pm CST for the Badger Dairy Insight webinar series. We are featuring your local Extension Dairy Program Educators and UW Specialists as they present on current dairy topics. Take the opportunity to learn from and discuss with experts on the dates below. To learn more about Badger Dairy Insight and the Extension Dairy program please visit https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu. Print a complete list of the the 2024 Badger Dairy Insight – Spring Sessions Offered.
June 18, 2024 — Updating our thinking about corn silage and alternative forages
Cover crops, alternative crops- how well do they feed?
By Matt Lippert, Dairy Educator Wood and Clark Counties
Extension gathered samples of forages at harvest and after fermentation and visited with producers about their experiences with some of the forages that today are being used in addition to corn silage and alfalfa. These feeds included winter cereals such as rye and triticale, warm season grasses such as sorghum-sudangrass and annuals including Italian ryegrass and mixtures with legumes. These crops fill many agronomic and conservation niches, but how well can they be utilized to feed lactating dairy cows. Results are variable but many opportunities exist.
MILK 2024 – what’s new?
By Luiz Ferraretto, Dairy Nutrition Specialist
Differences in nutrient composition and digestibility among corn hybrids have the potential to impact energy content of corn silage and ultimately influence dairy cow production. From the perspective of maximizing nutritive value, energy predictions of corn silage can be useful to aid producers in selecting hybrids. The MILK index was developed to predict the energy content (milk/ton) and energy yield (milk/acre) of forages. This presentation will discuss the novel aspects of the newest iteration of the MILK model.
Learn the most up-to-date information on topics including dairy and livestock production, forages, and farm management resources from Extension’s Agriculture virtual education offerings. Your farm-ready research! There is no charge to participate in the sessions, however pre-registration is required to allow access. Register online at go.wisc.edu/FarmReadyResearch.
