Dairy Nutrition News

Lallemand Animal Nutrition Launches Ruminant Digestive Health Platform

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:13:03 GMT

A newly relaunched educational platform from Lallemand Animal Nutrition, rumantdigestivesystem.com , highlights a growing shift in cattle health management: Focusing only on the rumen is no longer enough to optimize performance, health and efficiency.

What Is a Whole-System Approach to Ruminant Digestive Health?

A whole-system approach evaluates the entire ruminant digestive tract, including both the rumen and lower gut, and how these compartments interact to influence:

Feed efficiency
Microbiome balance
Immune function
Disease risk

This approach reflects emerging research showing postruminal function plays a measurable role in overall herd outcomes.

From Rumen-Centric to Full Digestive Insight

Historically, ration formulation and digestive health strategies have centered on rumen fermentation. However, increasing attention is being placed on the lower gut, particularly its role in inflammation, nutrient absorption and systemic health.

To address this, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has expanded its interactive learning platform to cover the full digestive system, helping veterinarians and advisers connect research with practical management decisions.

The platform combines scientific data with applied insights, supporting a more complete understanding of how digestive function drives productivity and welfare.

Key Topics Covered in the Platform

The platform consolidates core areas of ruminant digestive health into a single resource:

Rumen–lower gut interactions
The ruminant microbiome and its function
Digestive development from calf to mature animal
Common challenges such as SARA, liver abscesses, leaky gut and BRD
The role of probiotics and microbial-based solutions

This structure helps translate complex digestive science into actionable strategies for on-farm use.

Using this Platform in Practice

The updated platform serves as a centralized, science-based tool to strengthen both decision making and communication among nutritionists, veterinarians and producers.

According to Lallemand, it supports a more comprehensive evaluation of digestive health issues by encouraging a broader view of the entire gastrointestinal tract. This allows for stronger integration of nutrition and health strategies, rather than addressing problems in isolation. It also helps veterinarians engage more confidently with emerging research, making it easier to incorporate new insights into practical recommendations. By shifting from a compartment-focused approach to a system-level perspective, veterinarians are better equipped to interpret multifactorial conditions where rumen and lower gut interactions influence outcomes.

The platform also functions as a practical communication tool.

Its interactive, visual format helps explain complex digestive processes in a way that is easier to understand and apply. This supports:

Clearer explanations of digestive function
Reinforcement of nutrition and management strategies
More effective discussions around performance and herd health

This improves the likelihood that recommendations are both understood and implemented on farm.

As ruminant nutrition research advances, translating new findings into daily practice remains a persistent challenge. By combining current science with real-world context, this platform helps bridge that gap, allowing veterinarians to apply emerging insights more effectively during herd visits and consultations.

A whole-tract approach to digestive health is becoming essential, and tools that integrate research with application will be critical in delivering more precise, system-based recommendations.

China, U.S., and Brazil Lead Global Feed Surge Amid Regional Shifts

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:46:39 GMT

A newly released global feed survey estimates world feed production increased in 2025 by 2.9% to 1.44 billion metric tons.

In the 2026 Agri-Food Outlook released by Alltech , data shows most regions and sectors experienced growth.

“The numbers suggest a strong recovery phase for animal agriculture; but the data show that growth was uneven, increasingly regionalized and driven less by herd expansion than by structural change, productivity gains and shifts in how production is measured and recorded,” Alltech reports.

In North America, operational efficiency gains, sustainability pressures, formulation optimization and consolidation among feed mills continue to reshape the feed industry across the region. Feed tonnage contracted modestly, primarily due to a historically tight cattle cycle and declining beef herd dynamics. Alltech says the region still saw some selective, species-driven momentum, with growth concentrated in broilers and dairy. While pork feed stabilized, the egg and turkey sectors remained in recovery following health-related disruptions.

The survey collected data from 142 countries and 38,837 feed mills in late 2025. By analyzing compound feed production and prices, the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of global feed production. Alltech says these insights serve as a barometer for the overall livestock industry, highlighting key trends across species, along with regional challenges and opportunities for growth.

Top 10 Feed-Producing Countries

The top 10 feed-producing countries produced 65.2% of the world’s feed in 2025. The survey also showed 47.7% of all global feed tonnage was produced in the top three countries: China, U.S. and Brazil.

Global Feed Volume by Species

More Regional Results

Asia: 559.297 million mt

Asia reigns as the global center of feed production, with growth via industrialization and price-conscious consumers increasing the demand for poultry and aquaculture in 2025. The survey shows continued shifts from on-farm mixing to commercial feed, especially in China. In addition, Southeast Asia experienced a recovery of the sow herd which lifted pork output. Poultry feed tonnage also remained strong.

Europe: 274.061 million mt

Europe’s feed sector in 2025 was differentiated, yet broadly resilient, growing by 1.0%, Alltech notes. Lower raw material prices, supported by large global harvests of soybeans, rapeseed, wheat and maize, improved margins and stimulated production in several key markets. The region stabilized overall even with ongoing disease pressure and regulatory constraints. Modest gains in dairy and broilers offset challenges in other segments.

Latin America: 204.446 million mt

Latin America solidified its position as the world’s premier “protein basket” in 2025. Compound feed demand expanded 2.8% year over year, rising by 5.536 million mt, supported by strong export markets and lower grain prices. Growth was broad-based across the poultry, pork and aquaculture sectors. However, local disruptions in parts of the Andean and Caribbean sub-regions tempered overall expansion.

Africa and the Middle East: 102.549 million mt

Africa expanded strongly (+11.5%) on commercialization and rising compound feed penetration as the Middle East entered a structural plateau (+1.1%). Across both sub-regions, Alltech says three forces shaped performance: protein affordability, input vulnerability driven by grain prices and currency volatility, and continued disease disruptions — particularly related to foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza.

Oceania: 11.104 million mt

Oceania experienced broad-based gains last year, with an overall 3.4% increase supported by population growth, resilient livestock sectors and strong export demand. Absolute increases were at their strongest in the broiler, layer, beef and pig sectors, the report says. High feedlot numbers and elevated cattle inventories sustained record beef production, particularly in Australia (+11%), with more moderate growth in New Zealand (+1.6%). Recovery in layer feeds following an avian influenza outbreak, along with steady demand for chicken and pork, led to a balanced regional expansion.

FAQs

Q: What was the total world feed production in 2025?
A: 1.44 billion metric tons.

Q: Why did U.S. feed production decrease?
A: Production fell by 0.8% due to a tight cattle cycle and declining beef herd dynamics.

Q. Which countries are the top producers of animal feed?
A. The top three feed-producing countries are China (330.06 million mt), the United States (267.38 million mt), and Brazil (89.90 million mt). Together, they account for 47.7% of the world’s total feed tonnage.

Q. Which livestock species saw the highest growth in feed demand?
A. Aquaculture experienced the highest growth rate at 4.7%, followed closely by the broiler sector at 3.7%.

Q. What is driving the growth in the global feed industry?
A. According to Alltech, growth is being driven by structural changes, productivity gains, and shifts in production measurement rather than simple herd expansion.

Q. Which global region had the highest percentage of growth in feed production?
A. Africa saw the most significant growth at 11.5%, fueled by increased commercialization and the rising use of compound feed.

The compound feed production totals and prices reported in the 2026 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook were collected in the first quarter of 2026 with assistance from feed mills and industry and government entities around the world. These figures are estimates and are intended to serve as an informative resource for industry stakeholders. To access more data and insights, visit alltech.com/agri-food-outlook .

Mycotoxin Risk Holds Steady in 2025

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:49:11 GMT

According to the dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey , which assessed the global mycotoxin threat, 86% of North American samples tested above the recommended threshold for at least one mycotoxin. While mycotoxin levels haven’t necessarily escalated from 2024 to 2025, there was a shift in the distribution, which has some implications for cattle and swine operations.

“The 2025 results show a continued mycotoxin challenge, with contamination rates rising for both aflatoxins and zearalenone and average levels increasing across all major mycotoxins,” said Ursula Hofstetter, head of mycotoxin risk management at dsm-firmenich, in a press release.

The Major Players

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi, most commonly Fusarium, Aspergillus and Claviceps species. They develop in the field and can persist through harvest and storage. Weather stress, hybrid selection and storage management all influence which toxins dominate in a given year.

The primary mycotoxins shaping North American livestock risk in 2025 were:

Deoxynivalenol (DON)
A Type B trichothecene produced by Fusarium species. Commonly found in corn and wheat. Often referred to as ‘vomitoxin’.
Zearalenone (ZEN)
Also a Fusarium toxin. Structurally estrogenic and frequently present alongside DON in corn and small grains.
Fumonisins (FUM)
Produced by Fusarium verticillioides and related species. Predominantly found in corn.
Aflatoxins (AFLA)
Produced by Aspergillus species. More common in drought- or heat-stressed corn.
Ergot alkaloids (ERGOT)
Produced by Claviceps species. Typically associated with small grains.

These toxins rarely occur in isolation. Co-contamination often shapes the reality producers see on the farm.

What Changed from 2024 to 2025

The 2025 North American mycotoxin prevalence in raw materials compared to 2024 shows the following shifts:

DON: 74% → 76%
ZEN: 73% → 78%
FUM: 46% → 55%
AFLA: 15% → 17%
ERGOT: 44% → 9%

Trichothecenes remain deeply entrenched, with DON prevalence increasing slightly. Most of this increase is a result of an increase in wheat (73% → 93%). Meanwhile, fumonisins rose meaningfully and ergots dropped sharply.

Cattle: Rumen Function, Immune Resilience and Production Losses

Cattle historically are considered somewhat more resilient to mycotoxins than monogastrics, owing to partial ruminal detoxification. However, evidence increasingly shows persistent exposure to Fusarium toxins like DON, ZEN and FUM, especially in combination, can exert significant effects on digestion, immunity and metabolic health.

When looking at global finished feed samples for ruminants:

DON was prevalent in 69% of samples and above the risk threshold in 53% of samples.
ZEN was prevalent in 73% of samples and above the risk threshold in 33% of samples.
AFLA was present in 34% of samples and above the risk threshold in 29% of samples.

Studies have demonstrated short-term exposure to Fusarium toxins, including ZEN and FUM, affects fermentation patterns and the microbial community, which in turn can reduce fiber breakdown and volatile fatty acid production — key drivers of energy supply in cattle. Even modest disruptions to the rumen microbiota can reduce feed efficiency and gain over time.

The immune system is also affected by mycotoxins. The immunosuppressive effects of common mycotoxins in ruminants have been documented , including alterations in cytokine gene expression, immunoglobulin production and macrophage function.

Further, individual toxins like AFLA have well-established effects on liver function and general metabolism in cattle. Chronic AFLA exposure has been linked to reduced appetite, lower weight gains and elevated liver enzymes, indicating compromised hepatic function that can impact production and health resilience.

These findings indicate how cattle performance and disease resistance can be eroded by the mycotoxin patterns reported in the 2025 data. Persistent DON and ZEN exposure, combined with higher FUM presence, places additional load on rumen fermentation and immune competence, potentially contributing to subclinical production drift.

Swine: Immune Disruption, Gut Barrier Injury and Performance Drag

In swine, elevated prevalence of DON, ZEN and FUM can exert systemic effects on immune function, gut integrity and reproductive physiology at both clinical and subclinical levels.

When looking at global finished feed samples for swine:

DON was present in 85% of samples and above the risk threshold in 41% of samples.
ZEN was present in 79% of samples and above the risk threshold in 19% of samples.
FUM was present in 44% of samples and above the risk threshold in 8% of samples.

Research has shown DON and FUM alter the gut epithelial barrier, impair immune defenses and increase bacterial translocation from the gut, making pigs more susceptible to infections even when properly vaccinated. In the immune tissues themselves, DON exposure has been linked to changes in the gene expression of key antimicrobial and inflammatory regulators, implying a weakened ability to respond to disease challenge at the cellular level.

ZEN adds another layer of complexity. Beyond its well-known estrogenic effects (i.e., swelling of reproductive tissues and altered estrous cycles), ZEN has been shown to suppress antibody production in porcine immune cells, reducing levels of IgM, IgG and IgA. These immunoglobulins are important for protective vaccine responses. This explains why farms employing what should be effective vaccination programs still report breakthrough disease.

Collectively, these mechanisms mean widespread DON and ZEN exposure is a disease vulnerability issue. When the gut barrier is compromised and immune cell function is suppressed, pigs are less able to defend against respiratory pathogens, enteric bacteria and systemic infections alike, and their response to vaccination may be diminished.

Mycotoxin Co-Contamination Defines 2025

The defining feature of mycotoxins in 2025 is not a single toxin spike, but co-contamination. Feeds routinely contain multiple mycotoxins at once and their effects overlap, creating steady biological pressure.

The result is rarely dramatic toxicosis, but production drift is reflected in reduced gains, narrower reproductive margins, lowered health resilience and increased performance variability.

With persistent DON, rising ZEN and higher FUM prevalence in North America, ingredient-level vigilance and close monitoring of performance trends are important. The mycotoxin burden did not spike, but it did rearrange.

Why Fiber Quality Matters More for Beef-on-Dairy

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:33:20 GMT

On paper, a beef-on-dairy steer may look about the same as conventional beef at finishing. But at the bunk and in the rumen, it’s a very different animal.

While physically these animals are identical, beef-on-dairy cattle are running on a more expensive engine, according to University of Nebraska beef systems Extension educator Alfredo Di Costanzo. During his recent webinar on beef-on-dairy fiber requirements, he used grazing data to highlight the different fiber needs for this terminal cross.

Different Genetics, Different Requirements

During a recent study, when Di Costanzo compared beef breeds to beef-on-dairy animals on pasture, the results were consistent. The traditional beef cattle converted forage to gain more efficiently, while the beef-on-dairy group gained more slowly and finished at lighter weights. To Di Costanzo, it showed the genetic influence of the dairy breed increases the energy required for growth.

“Because I put dairy [genetics] on this beef animal, the maintenance requirements have gone up,” he explains. “If we’re going to increase fiber inclusion, we’re going to have to do it with a better-quality forage.”

Why Low-Quality Fiber Doesn’t Cut It

The challenge is not just that beef-on-dairy cattle use more energy. It is also how quickly feed moves through their systems.

Dairy and dairy-cross animals tend to have a faster rate of passage through the rumen, Di Costanzo notes. That may not sound like a major difference, but it changes what kind of forage they can actually use. A stemmy, lower-quality roughage a beef steer might handle fairly well can end up acting like little more than gut fill in a Holstein-influenced calf.

While this study focused on cattle on pasture, the same idea applies at the feed bunk.

Di Costanzo explains lower-quality fiber does not stay in the rumen long enough to be properly digested for these beef-on-dairy crosses. In nutrition terms, that can create negative effects where poor-quality roughage drags down the performance of the entire ration by taking up space without delivering much energy in return.

“Lower quality forage, for me, means less time for ruminal digestion and more time, too, for negative associative effects,” Di Costanzo warns.

Those negative effects can show up as lower total digestibility, poorer feed efficiency and more variability in intake, especially when cattle are already being pushed on a high‑concentrate program. For beef‑on‑dairy cattle, that means cheap, low‑quality roughage is rarely worth the investment. Di Costanzo notes every pound of dry matter must work harder, making junk roughage a poor economic fit.

Is Cheap Roughage Costing You Gain?

Biologically, cattle can get by on very little fiber if energy and protein are there, Di Costanzo notes.

“At zero or near-zero inclusion of fiber in the diet, cattle are continuing to thrive,” he adds. “There’s really no NDF requirement for maintenance or growth.”

But in a real‑world feeding program, beef‑on‑dairy cattle need rations that turn a profit, not just keep them alive. That’s why Di Costanzo warns against using cheap, low‑quality hay or residues just to say the diet has enough roughage.

Instead, he suggests aiming for about 10% to 15% NDF from good‑quality forage. For many feed yards, that might mean favoring well‑processed silages or higher‑quality forages over the cheapest roughage available. The goal isn’t to stuff the rumen. It’s to support muscle gain without sacrificing efficiency.

Quality Over Quantity

Fiber decisions are not just about keeping the rumen healthy. They also affect how cattle perform on feed and the value you get when it’s time to sell.

Adding more fiber to beef-on-dairy diets can help support greater feed intake, but there’s a limit. Average daily gain starts to drop quickly once physically effective NDF goes above about 15.5%, and feed conversion efficiency also declines. The challenge for producers and nutritionists is finding the sweet spot where cattle eat enough without slowing growth.

Overall, the type of NDF is less important than making sure cattle get the right amount of good-quality fiber. Hitting that balance helps support intake, maintain feed efficiency and keep beef-on-dairy steers performing at their best. For beef on dairy cattle, a well-planned grower ration with the right balance of concentrate and quality fiber can set cattle up for a better finish.

New Dietary Guidelines Move Food Pyramid Closer to the Farm

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:43:25 GMT

The White House delivered a simple but clear message to Americans today: Eat real food.

“We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” says Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.”

In the “most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades,” the White House released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 . The updated pyramid inverts the 1992 USDA version by prioritizing:

Protein (1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, an increase from 0.8 grams)
Dairy and healthy fats as the foundation
Vegetables (3 servings per day)
Fruits (2 servings per day)

Unlike the old pyramid’s grain-heavy base and processed carbs, new recommendations limit whole grains to 2 to 4 servings per day and added sugars and highly processed oils should be avoided entirely.

Eat More Protein

Rollins says the previous dietary guidelines demonized protein in favor of carbohydrates.

“These guidelines reflect gold standard science by prioritizing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods in every meal,” Rollins says. “This includes a variety of animal sources, including eggs, poultry, seafood, and red meat, in addition to plant-sourced protein foods such as beans, peas, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds and soy.”

To put the new protein recommendations into perspective, Sigrid Johannes, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says for folks who should be consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight that’s a 100% increase in recommended daily protein intake.

Dairy’s Seat at the Table

Dairy emerged in a strong position under the new dietary guidelines, with federal nutrition guidance supporting dairy at all fat levels for the first time.

“One of the key messages they’re telling consumers is eat dairy and eat dairy at all fat levels — that’s whole milk, cheese and butter,” says Matt Herrick of the International Dairy Foods Association. He calls it “a significant watershed moment,” reflecting how many families currently eat and shop today.

Echoing Herrick’s perspective, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud adds by better recognizing both fat and protein, the guidelines give a fuller picture of dairy’s nutritional value.

“Not all fats are created equal, and because the guidelines acknowledge this, dairy’s benefits are better reflected in this iteration of the guidelines,” Doud says.

When it comes to protein, consumer demand is reshaping the category, with cottage cheese at its highest level since the 1980s because of the high-protein trend, Herrick notes.

“Consumers are looking at labels more than ever and trying to find cleaner, less processed foods. Dairy fits that bill. Most products have just a handful of ingredients, and they’re all high in protein. People are turning to protein for growth, energy and overall health, and we’re going to continue to see consumers look to dairy to fulfill their protein and healthy fats needs,” Herrick says.

The processing sector has grown alongside the rising demand for dairy, reflecting both increased production and changing consumer preferences. Roughly $8 billion has been invested in new processing facilities from 2022 to 2025, with another $11 billion expected through 2028.

“We’re going to continue to see investments in processing facilities — new plants, updated lines and more capacity — to meet growing consumer demand for dairy protein and healthy fats,” Herrick notes.

Eat More Meat and Poultry

When it comes to meat and poultry, Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute President and CEO, says Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership have simplified the dietary guidelines making it clear meat is a protein powerhouse.

“Robust scientific evidence demonstrates that meat is a rich source of high-quality protein, essential vitamins and highly bioavailable minerals that support human health throughout the lifespan,” Potts says.

Kansas beef producer Marisa Kleysteuber describes the new “commonsense” dietary guidelines as “exciting and refreshing.”

“As beef producers we are blessed to work with a ruminant animal that can utilize Mother Nature’s production of cellulose from rain and sunshine and then convert it to one of the most nutrient rich proteins there is,” she says. “Whether the consumer is desiring an organic, grass fed or corn fed beef product, there are cattlemen and women all over the U.S. who put their heart into raising these cattle to produce a nutritious and delicious product that we have always believed in and now our leaders are standing behind the ranchers and farmers of America.”

Quintessentially American foods such as burgers, steaks, pork chops and Easter hams can remain a staple of American households, and the guidelines go so far as to recommend parents introduce nutrient-dense foods, including meat, early and continue focusing on “nutrient-dense foods such as protein foods” throughout childhood.

“America’s pork producers appreciate the 2025 dietary guidelines putting pork front and center on the plate. They took note of producer concerns and rightly gave pork and other high-protein, nutrient-dense and delicious meats their due when it comes to Americans’ health and dietary habits,” says Rob Brenneman , National Pork Producers Council president-elect and pork producer from Washington, Iowa.

Maddie Hokanson , a Minnesota pork producer and mother of two, says the new dietary guidelines’ strong emphasis on protein is a positive for the pork industry. She believes the new guidelines, paired with pork’s quality nutrition and versatility, bring together the perfect opportunity to increase pork consumption and demand in the U.S.

“As pig farmers, we are proud to produce a meat product that is packed with high-quality protein, while also being nutrient-dense with many essential vitamins and minerals,” Hokanson says. “As a parent to young children, I see both the physical and cognitive benefits of prioritizing protein in the diet at all ages, and I’m excited to see what the short- and long-term effects of this recommendation will be.”

Three Servings of Veggies and Two Servings of Fruit

Dairy and meat weren’t the only items at the top of the new dietary pyramid. Fresh fruits and vegetables were also given top billing.

“Diets rich in vegetables and fruits reduce disease risk more effectively than many drugs,” says Robert F Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health.

The new dietary guidelines recommend three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. Like past editions of the dietary guidelines , the new guidelines recommend Americans eat “a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits” and advises whole produce items be eaten “in their original form.” Though not explicitly stated, the updated guidelines also call out “frozen, dried, or canned vegetables or fruits with no or very limited added sugars” as good options.

“Today’s dietary guidelines reinforce the critical role fruits and vegetables play in overall health,” says Mollie Van Lieu, International Fresh Produce Association vice president of nutrition and health, in the group’s response. “Scientific evidence consistently shows that fruits and vegetables should make up the majority of what people eat. The Administration’s focus on whole foods is an opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable intake, as they are the most nutrient-dense foods available.”

Rollins Teases Plan to Expand Real Food Retail Accessibility

There was more than the new dietary guidelines announced at the press event. Rollins mentioned upcoming changes at retail she says would increase the accessibility of whole, healthy foods to those in food deserts.

“Soon, USDA will finalize our stocking standards,” she says, explaining retailers that take SNAP benefits are bound by the stocking standards. “Very soon we will be finalizing that rule that will mandate all 250,000 retailers in America to double the type of staple foods they provide for America’s SNAP households. This means healthier options will be in reach for all American families, regardless of circumstance, at levels never seen before in our country.”

Grains and Oilseed Industry Focuses on Positives

In terms of grains, in its guidance USDA recommends Americans “focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates.” The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) shared mixed reactions to the changes.

“We appreciate the continued recognition of whole grains as an essential part of Americans’ diets,” said a spokesperson with NAWG in a statement to Farm Journal. “However, we are concerned that some portions of the new guidelines around grains and wheat are unintentionally confusing. Wheat, wheat flour, and foods made from wheat have been nutrient-rich, life-sustaining staples for tens of thousands of years and deserve clear, continued support as a central part of our nation’s diet.”

The American Soybean Association (ASA) focuses on the positives saying it highlights the importance of increased protein consumption, including plant-based proteins, such as soy-based foods. They also emphasize prioritizing healthy fats, including oils rich in essential fatty acids like soybean oil.

ASA says an addendum continues to call into question the process of soybean oil extraction, which it says is scientifically proven to be safe for human health.

“Soybean oil and soy protein play a critical role in the health and nutrition of Americans,” says Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer, in a press release. “We remain deeply concerned by the rhetoric and selectively cited studies regarding the health and safety of soybean oil in DGA supporting material.”

Metzger says soybean growers will continue to work with the administration and educate MAHA commission leadership on the health benefits of soy-based foods and soybean oil.

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) echoed those concern: “Vegetable oils, or “seed oils” as they’re sometimes referred to, are a significant provider of essential fatty acids and remain a safe and cost-effective source of dietary fats in the American diet, as they are globally,” said a NOPA press release. “However, some appendices rely on a narrow evidence base with limited citations, which is concerning given the administration’s rhetoric questioning the safety of certain vegetable oils despite an established scientific consensus.”

NOPA also argues oilseeds support the production of affordable meat, dairy and eggs as meal produced from oilseeds are a key component of livestock diets.

The Impact of Low Trace Minerals in Cattle May Be Bigger Than You Expect

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:12:13 GMT

Trace minerals — including copper, selenium, zinc, manganese and cobalt — are needed in vanishingly small amounts. However, when these nutrients fall even the smallest bit short of a cow’s needs, the consequences can be significant. These results can include slower growth, compromised immunity and poor reproduction.

Although trace minerals make up less than 0.01% of an animal’s body weight, they’re fundamental co-factors in enzymes, antioxidants, metabolic and immune pathways. Subclinical deficiencies may be a more extensive problem as the symptoms are not evident and there is no intervention, leading to economic losses.

David Schaeffer, professor at the University of Illinois, and his colleagues recently published work analyzing trace mineral concentrations from beef and dairy livers submitted to the California Animal Health & Food Safety Lab System laboratory between 2012 and 2021. The aim of this work was to compare any correlation patterns of copper, selenium, and manganese contents, and incidence of disease.

This work included 1,495 liver samples collected from cattle submitted for diagnostic testing. They were categorized as beef (857) or dairy (638), and further grouped by age (neonates, adolescents and adults).

The study revealed significant differences between deficiencies in beef and cattle. Overall, 73% of beef cattle and 45% of dairy cattle were found to be deficient in at least one trace mineral. In beef cattle, 46% of cattle were deficient in selenium, while 39% were deficient in manganese and 33% were deficient in copper. In dairy cattle, 10% of cattle were deficient in selenium, while 37% were deficient in manganese, and only 5% were deficient in copper.

(Adapted from Schaeffer et al., 2025)

The observed increased incidence of deficiency in beef cattle is likely expected as these animals often rely on free choice minerals, while dairy cattle are fed a total mixed ration including a mineral supplement. Interestingly, Schaeffer also reported a large portion of dairy cattle may have been oversupplemented as they observed above normal copper and selenium levels.

Associations between mineral status and disease occurred across both groups, but were most prevalent in beef cattle.

In beef cattle reported to have bovine respiratory disease (BRD), 68% of animals were deficient in copper, selenium or both minerals. The median age of these animals was 8 months, and most of them had been recently transported and co-mingled with other calves.

One thing the authors noticed was some conditions that are usually subclinical in beef cattle, for example parasites, were fatal in animals that were deficient in copper, selenium, or both.

“Now obviously we don’t know the condition score of those animals,” says co-author David Villar on a recent episode of “Have You Herd?”. “I would imagine it was pretty poor to die from internal parasites.”

As stated above, dairy cattle cases had much lower prevalences of trace mineral deficiency. Along with this, they also had lower incidences of correlation between deficiency and disease.

Of the dairy cattle with only one deficiency, the most frequent diagnoses were BRD (23%), Salmonella (14%), scours (16%), and septicemia (6%). Of all dairy cattle, 11% of those with BRD also had a copper or selenium deficiency.

It’s important to remember these are correlations between mineral status and disease, not causation.

Villar highlights what he hopes producers and veterinarians would take away from this work: “The main conclusion I would make is that beef, but not dairy, are still largely deficient in essential microminerals, copper and selenium. We need to check the herd management to see what’s happening.”

These results present an opportunity for producers and veterinarians to build preventative mineral nutrition programs, especially in beef herds where deficiencies are more prevalent. Proactive monitoring and targeted supplementation could reduce disease, mortality and economic loss in cattle herds.

Global Feed Production Rebounds, Says Alltech in Agri-Food Outlook

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:06:03 GMT

Global feed production rebounded in 2024 after a stagnant 2023, increasing 1.2% from 1.380 billion metric tons (mt) to 1.396 billion mt. This growth, achieved despite challenges that included highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), climate fluctuations and economic uncertainty, underscores the resilience and adaptability of the international agriculture industry, Alltech reports in the 2025 Agri-Food Outlook.

The annual report includes the results of the company’s 14th annual global feed production survey with data collected from 142 countries and 28,235 feed mills in 2024. Through an analysis of compound feed production and prices, the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of global feed production.

Alltech says these insights serve as a barometer for the overall livestock industry, highlighting key trends across species, regional challenges and opportunities for growth.

Top 10 Countries
The Top 10 feed-producing countries in 2024 produced 65.6% of the world’s feed, with 52% of global feed production concentrated in only four countries (China, U.S., Brazil, India).

The Top 10 include:
1. China: 315.030 million mt of feed, down 2.03% from 2023
2. U.S.: 269.620 million mt; up 0.68%
3. Brazil: 86.636 million mt; up 2.43%
4. India: 55.243 million mt; up 4.56%
5. Mexico: 41.401 million mt; up 1.38%
6. Russia: 38.481 million mt; up 8.53%
7. Spain: 35.972 million mt; up 1.46%
8. Vietnam: 25.850 million mt; up 3.41%
9. Türkiye: 24.502 million mt; up 4.83%
10. Japan: 24.297 million mt; up 0.14%

Species Highlights
Poultry feed experienced an increase in production, both for broilers (up 1.8%) and layers (up 1.4%). Broiler feed is the largest species segment, accounting for 27.6% of the total feed tonnage in the world.

“As a ‘budget-friendly’ protein option, the broiler industry benefits from surges in red meat prices,” the authors of the report share. “Affordability drove demand in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, while rising incomes boosted growth in Africa.”

Although HPAI was a persistent issue for poultry production, broiler feed volumes are expected to continue seeing moderate growth in 2025 because of broiler meat’s affordability and export opportunities, the report says.

The slow 1.4% growth rate of layers reflected the challenges facing the industry, including the disruptions by avian influenza and oversupply in some regions, Alltech points out.

Global pig feed production experienced a loss in 2024 of 0.6%, leading to a decreased total of 369.293 million mt, the report notes. Growth in the European, Latin American and North American pork segments was counterbalanced by downturns in Africa and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Oceania.

“These trends were partly dictated by how well producers in each region continued to recover from outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF), with export demand allowing Europe and Latin America to reclaim lost ground,” the authors explain. “Survey respondents were divided in their outlook for pig feed production, which recorded the highest amount of pessimism among all feed segments.”

The report adds that disease management and stabilized feed costs will continue to be critical for the pig feed sector to achieve growth throughout the world.

Dairy feed tonnage increased by 3.2%, to 165.500 million mt. Analysts attribute this to robust consumer demand, favorable milk prices and a shift toward more intensive farming practices, with Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and Latin America all displaying growth.

“While dairy feed production remained stable in North America, Oceania’s reliance on abundant pasture led to a slight dip in its feed tonnage,” the authors say. “Despite challenges that ranged from disease pressures to volatile weather conditions, the global dairy sector continues to exhibit strong resilience and growth potential. The modernization and intensification of production and higher milk yields are expected to foster further increases — but lower farmgate prices in China could limit global gains overall.”

Beef feed tonnage rose from 131.6 million mt in 2023 to 134.1 million mt in 2024. Alltech says this reflects a global increase of 1.8%. North America, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Oceania all recorded gains thanks to a rise in demand for beef exports due to tight supply elsewhere around the world.

“Scarce forages in parts of North America, Latin America and Australia drove cattle producers to rely more heavily on commercial feeds. The decline in beef feed tonnage seen in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East was attributed to oversupply and lower prices,” the report says.

Access more data and insights from the 2025 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook here.

Editor’s Note: The compound feed production totals and prices reported in the 2025 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook were collected in the first quarter of 2025 with assistance from feed mills and industry and government entities around the world. These figures are estimates and are intended to serve as an informative resource for industry stakeholders.

Your next read: A Pinch of This, A Dash of That: It’s Time to Update Pork’s Recipe for Sustainability

Liver Abscesses Reduced with Beef-Cross Feeding Strategy

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

As the dairy-beef crossbreeding phenomenon continues to evolve, there remain unsolved challenges to maximizing the performance and value of those animals.

We know those calves aren’t the same as fullblood, conventional beef animals. And we know we can’t feed and raise them exactly the same. But can we get closer to matching the performance of their beef cousins, particularly related to challenges like their currently high incidence of liver abscesses?

A recent Iowa State University study sought to bring some clarity to the lifetime nutrition of beef-cross animals, and how it influences their performance and ultimate carcass quality. The study started with 120 day-old, dairy-beef cross steers, and segmented them into 4 feeding groups:

A high-starch starter ration for 60 days, followed by a high-starch pelleted ration for 60 days.
A high-starch starter ration for 60 days, followed by a forage-based TMR ration for 60 days.
A low-starch starter ration for 60 days, followed by the high-starch pelleted ration for 60 days.
A low-starch starter ration for 60 days, followed by the forage-based TMR ration for 60 days.

All calves were weaned from a common liquid ration at 60 days. Following the 60-day postweaning experimental phase, the entire study group was fed a common grower TMR ration for 140 days, and a common finishing diet for another 200 days.

In the post-weaning receiving phase, the two groups fed the pelleted ration had significantly higher feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), and ending weight. However, that disparity narrowed during the grower phase. By the end of the grower phase (~260 days), there was no significant difference in bodyweight between the four groups.

In the finishing phase, there was also no significant difference in feed intake or ADG between any group. But the low starch/TMR group was unique in that it had a slightly different growth curve. Those calves continued steadily increasing in daily feed intake and growth as the other calves were slowing down.

“Some of this may be due to compensatory gain following the receiving phase, but we speculate some may also be due to a healthier rumen in the later finishing period,” said Iowa State Extension Beef Specialist Denise Schwab, primary investigator of the study.

Harvest data indicated no difference in the quality grade, yield grade, or carcass weights between the four groups, but the low starch/TMR group had slightly heavier carcass weights.

Most telling was the disparity in the incidence of liver abscesses and condemned rumens. In total, the incidence of liver abscesses across all groups was 19%, which is well below current industry incidence for dairy-beef cross steers. The high starch/TMR group had more than 30% incidence of liver abscesses, while the low starch/TMR group had less than 5%.

Rumen condemnations were highest for the high starch/high starch pellet group, at 19%. Comparatively, the low starch/TMR group was the lowest, at just 4%. Overall, the low starch/TMR group had an average of 20% fewer liver abscesses and rumen condemnations compared to the other three groups.

In terms of numeric economic returns, the low starch/TMR group had the highest average carcass value, and the high starch/TMR group had the highest net economic returns.

A summary of the study, which was supported by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Beef Checkoff, can be found here .

Your Next Read: New Calf Health Monitoring Tool is Nothing to Spit At

Data Shows Larger Hay Supply and Lower Hay Prices

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 21:13:17 GMT

Larger May 1 stocks and increased year over year hay production led to larger hay supplies in 2024 (Figure 1). Total hay production in 2024 was up 3.3 percent year over year and combined with May 1 hay stocks up 46.6 percent over 2023 levels to increase the total hay supply by 7.9 percent compared to year earlier levels. The total hay supply was 1.7 percent below the ten-year average supply from 2014-2023.

(Peel)

Total hay production includes total alfalfa hay production, almost unchanged from 2023 levels and 8.4 percent below the ten-year average as well as total other hay production, up 5.5 percent year over year and 0.6 percent above the 2014-2023 average.

Coming into winter 2024/2025, Dec. 1 hay stocks were up 6.3 percent year over year, though still down 3.2 percent from the ten-year average. Hay supplies have recovered from the drought-reduced levels of 2022-2023 (Figure 1) and, as a result, hay prices have dropped from record levels (Figure 2).

(Peel)

Table 1 shows the top ten state rankings for December 1 Stocks; All Hay Production: Alfalfa Hay Production and Other Hay Production and highlights the considerable regional variation in hay production and stocks. Texas is the largest hay producer, mostly other hay, with production and Dec. 1 stocks well above average.

Alfalfa hay production was down compared to the ten-year average in some important dairy production states (California and Idaho) as well as in some mostly beef cow states (Montana and South Dakota) that depend on alfalfa hay (Table 1).

(Peel)

In many states, increased hay supplies are providing more management flexibility for cattle producers and lower hay costs are reducing annual cost of production somewhat. However, among major beef cow states, Florida, Kansas, Montana, and North Dakota, 2024 Dec. 1 hay stocks are down year over year and below the ten-year average.

Your next read: Future Proof Your Cattle Management

Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:58:07 GMT

Weeds can reduce the quantity and the stand life of desirable forage plants in pastures and hayfields. Weeds also impact the aesthetic value of a pasture. Therefore, producers may choose to initiate weed management strategies that reduce the impact of weeds on forage production.

The first step in effective weed control is to evaluate the pasture or hay field to determine the source of the weed problem. Soil testing to determine the current nutrient and pH status is the place to begin. After correcting fertility levels, the following things must be evaluated and corrected:

Stocking rate to eliminate overgrazing problems
Pasture rotation schedule
Need for additional grazing land
Prevent scalping and mowing-too-low
Correct the mower height in order to leave adequate stubble
Consider renovation where forage stands are very weak

First, a weed is defined as any plant growing where you don’t want it. Therefore, we must begin to think in a broader sense as to what weeds are. A weed can be Bahiagrass or Crabgrass growing in a Bermudagrass hayfield. These unwanted plants are often more aggressive than existing or desired forage species and compete for light, water, and nutrients. In latter stages of maturity, weeds can also reduce the quality and palatability of the forage available for livestock grazing. However, not all weedy plants are detrimental to pastures. In fact, some weedy plants provide nutritional value to grazing animals.

Grazing can be used as an effective weed management tool. Livestock will graze weeds when they are small. In the early vegetative stage of growth, many weeds have nutritive values equal to or greater than the desired forages. However, the forage quality of weeds decline rapidly as the plants mature.

Mowing is especially effective in reducing the amount of weed seed produced by established broadleaf weeds. The mower should cut as close to the ground as possible. Mowing may not completely eliminate weed seed production, since some seed could be produced by plants that regrow from tillers present on grasses below the height of cutting. Also, perennial weeds that spread by underground rootstocks, like thistle, are not effectively controlled by a single mowing.

Another control method includes various herbicides that are available to provide broad-spectrum weed control. When making your selection try to choose a product that will control as many weeds as possible. This reduces the use of herbicides and also minimizes cost by reducing the number of passes through the field. When applying multiple products choose products that can be mixed in the same tank and applied in one pass.

Two popular types of weed control products are pre-emerge and post-emerge herbicides. Pre-emerge herbicide must be applied before the weed seeds germinate. An example of a pre-emerge product is Prowl H2O. This herbicide is used to control Crabgrass in Bermudagrass hayfields. Post-emerge products are used to kill weeds after they have germinated. These herbicides must be used when the plant is actively growing and not simply green.

When using any herbicide, it is important to be aware of the surrounding crops. Drift from many of these herbicides are lethal to other crops like vegetables, shrubs and flowers. Pesticide spray drift is the movement of pesticide dust or droplets through the air at the time of application or soon after, to any site other than the area intended. They should choose a product that will not harm surrounding crops if drift occurs. Drift will vary with boom height, nozzle type, pressure, and wind.

Most herbicides have grazing and feeding restrictions stated on the label that limit the use of the crop for livestock feed. Producers should know and adhere to any grazing or haying restrictions. These restrictions can be anywhere from seven days to one year. Different products vary in their restriction guidelines. Many products that have no grazing restrictions for beef cattle will have grazing restrictions for dairy cattle. Most will also have a withdrawal period before slaughter.

Herbicides can be a useful tool for weed management in pastures and hayfields. They should be used where appropriate and when cost effective. A program that integrates several different control strategies is generally more successful than relying on only one method. Weeds present at the time of herbicide application may be controlled, but if the forage stand is not vigorous and actively growing, new weed seedlings will soon emerge and occupy the bare areas that remain. Thus, without proper use of mechanical control methods and good cultural practices, herbicide use will not be beneficial.

New $20 Million Feed Mill Expansion Unveiled in Idaho

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:34:21 GMT

Beef and dairy producers throughout Idaho may soon be receiving steamflaked corn and calf grains from a newly expanded feed facility in the state. Scoular, a global agribusiness company based out of Nebraska, recently completed a $20 million expansion of its state-of-the-art feed blending facility located in Jerome, Idaho.

According to the company, the expansion adds a 120-feet high concrete feed mill, boosting the facility’s production capacity by 35% and delivers a 40% increase in storage capacity.

“Scoular’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable and innovative solutions to our feed and food customers around the world,” Scoular CEO, Paul Maass, said in a company. “This new investment is a perfect example of meeting our customers’ demands and bringing forward the ideal solutions. We are thrilled to continue to make growth investments in this important region and industry.”

Updates to the facility will help provide two new capabilities, including:

A steamflaking process that processes corn and barley into flakes and makes the feed more digestible for cattle. The corn is steamed, heated, then pressed into a flake.
A pellet mill to make feed pellets. Pellets are easy to transfer, handle and proportion for optimal nutrition. Feed pellets are typically used for feeding calves and beef cattle.

“The expansion shows Scoular’s customer-focused approach,” said Jeff Ackerman of Bettencourt Dairies. “Scoular is helping us provide the right nutritional profile to the animal at the right time. Tailor-made feed blends are essential.”

As the dairy sector continues to grow in the state, this expansion will provide both beef and dairy producers with an additional resource for purchasing feed.

“To see a company like Scoular expand means good news for producers,” added Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. “It gives producers more options for how they want to handle feed on their farms.”

This expansion not only provides more choices for producers but also reinforces Scoular’s commitment to bolstering the local agricultural community.

“Agriculture drives the Magic Valley’s economy, and Scoular has made it a priority to support the industry through innovation, state-of-the-art facilities and programs that support local producers,” said Andy Hohwieler, a Scoular Regional Manager based in Twin Falls. “With our latest investment, we look forward to creating new feed products that create solutions for end-users.”

Your Next Read: Beef-on-Dairy: How to Make Successful Semen Selection Strategies

Stay Safe this Silage Harvest Season

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 17:17:31 GMT

During the rush of corn silage harvest, safety often takes a back seat. However, tragedy can strike in the blink of an eye. Kansas State Extension offers these tips to remember before heading out into the fields this season.

Tractor Rollovers

Operating large machinery during harvest is always a dangerous job. Unfortunately, tractor rollovers have accounted for about 50% of the approximately 250 tractor-related fatalities reported annually in the U.S. To minimize rollover risks, consider the following:

Rollover protective structures create a zone of protection around the tractor operator. When used with a seat belt, rollover protective structures prevent the operator from being thrown from the protective zone and crushed by the tractor or equipment drawn by it.
A straight drop off a bunker silo wall is a significant risk, so never fill higher than the top of the wall.
Sight rails should be installed on above-ground walls. These rails indicate the location of the wall to the tractor operator, but they are not intended to hold an over-turning tractor.
Install lights to the rail if filling will occur at night.
When filling bunker silos and drive-over piles, pack tractor operators should always form a progressive wedge of forage, which provides a minimum slope of 1 to 3 for packing.
To reduce the risk of a tractor rollover, it is important to maintain a minimum slope of 1 to 3 on the sides and ends of a drive-over pile.
Tractors should be backed up steep slopes to prevent rollbacks.
Use low-clearance, wide-front-end tractors equipped with well-lugged tires to prevent slipping.
Add wheel weights and weights to the front and back of the tractors to improve stability.
When using front-end loaders to move forage to the bunker or pile, do not elevate the bucket any higher than necessary, thereby helping to keep the center of gravity low.
When 2 or more pack tractors are used, establish a driving procedure to prevent collisions.

Truck Rollovers

Trucks can overturn on steep forage slopes, particularly if the forage is not loaded and packed uniformly.
Raise the dump body only while the truck is on a firm surface to prevent an overturn.
As the bed is raised for unloading, it is important that the load center of gravity stay between the frame rails of the truck frame.
Trucks are less stable as the bed is raised, particularly if the surface is not perfectly flat.
A tire rut or depression from a previous load, low tires on one side of a truck, uneven loading of a truck, or a wind gust increase the risk of a truck tipping over during unloading, especially when 2 or more of these hazards combine at a single time point.

Reduce Risks

Keep machine guards and shields in place to protect the operator from an assortment of rotating shaft, chain, and V-belt drives; gears and pulleys; and rotating knives on forage harvesters, wagons, and silage feeding equipment.
Keep nonworkers away from traffic areas.
Never allow people on foot (especially children) near the moving harvest and transport equipment in the field or people on foot near a bunker silo or drive-over pile during filling or feed-out. (4) Adjust rear-view mirrors.
When inspection or servicing work is needed, shut down the engine and remove and pocket the keys to prevent accidental starting by another person.
Mount and dismount the tractor or forage harvester using a debris-free access ladder and steps and handholds. Maintain a 3-point contact as you climb and always face the machine.
Stop the machine before lubricating, adjusting, inspecting, or unplugging. Wait for the cutter head to come to a complete stop before adjusting or unplugging.
Never approach the blades of a silage defacer while the machine is in operation.
Wear snug clothing.
Use reverse alarm devices or a remote video camera on large or oversized machines to increase visibility and warn others that you are operating the equipment in a reverse direction.
Use standard agricultural hand signals to communicate with others when operating machinery or when helping with machinery movement.
Monitor weather and field conditions as they relate to safety and adjust the harvest accordingly.
Be sure all equipment operators are competent and trained for the jobs they are doing.
Employers should remind forage harvester, truck, and tractor operators to be careful, use seat belts, and never take unnecessary risks. The reminder should be made at the beginning of every working day.

FDA Approves Elanco’s New, First-in-Class Methane-Reducing Feed Ingredient

Wed, 29 May 2024 19:24:18 GMT

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated recently announced that the FDA has completed its comprehensive, multi-year review of Bovaer® (3-NOP), a first-in-class methane-reducing feed ingredient, and determined the product meets safety and efficacy requirements for use in lactating dairy cattle.

According to the company, Bovaer works by suppressing the enzyme in the cow’s rumen that forms methane. Feeding one tablespoon of Bovaer per lactating dairy cow per day can reduce methane emissions by about 30% or about 1.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions annually while creating an opportunity for dairy farmers to be financially rewarded for reducing their dairy’s carbon footprint. Feeding one million cows, Bovaer would reduce emissions equivalent to removing more than 285,000 cars from the road for a year, Elanco states. Feeding Bovaer to cattle has proven to be safe for animals, producers and consumers.

“This monumental announcement has the ability to accelerate the opportunity for climate-neutral dairy farming while creating a new revenue stream for dairy farmers across the country,” says Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health. “We appreciate FDA’s commitment to maintaining high standards for science-based review, while balancing the need to quickly bring solutions to the market. Bovaer represents another example of Elanco being a partner of choice in animal health, where the capabilities of our talented R&D, regulatory and commercial teams are delivering significant value.”

Industry experts are also applauding the approval of this first-ever ingredient.

“The FDA’s approval of Elanco’s Bovaer is another important step on U.S. dairy’s journey toward a net-zero future, one in which dairy farmers have already made great progress,” says Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation. “Bovaer and other new technologies that reduce enteric emissions will help U.S. farmers be rewarded for participating in voluntary, producer-led sustainability initiatives, which is critical for the success of such efforts”

Sustainability experts have also chimed in.

“Reducing enteric methane is critical if we are to reach our climate goals,” said Dr. Frank Mitloehner, CLEAR Center Director and University California Davis Professor and Cooperative Extension Air Quality Specialist. “It’s exciting our farmers will have an important tool to do that, in Bovaer.”

With milk prices lacking, input cost climbing and consumer perception becoming ever more important, Elanco states that feeding Bovaer to cows provides a scalable and credible way for dairy farmers to benefit from being good stewards of the environment while also being financially rewarded for implementing on-farm sustainability interventions.

“At an added cost of a few cents a gallon of milk, Bovaer can help food companies meet their climate commitments and consumer desire for more sustainable dairy products,” says Katie Cook, Vice President, Livestock Sustainability and Farm Animal Marketing at Elanco. “Meanwhile, by engaging in voluntary carbon markets and securing USDA and state conservation programming, dairy producers have a scalable sustainability practice with the potential to create an annual return of $20 or more per lactating cow by feeding Bovaer. Our goal is to make this opportunity a reality starting this summer, while creating a self-sustaining carbon inset market for American agriculture.”

For more on nutrition, read:

Global Feed Production Takes a Dip

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 20:04:07 GMT

There was 0.2% less animal feed grown in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the 2024 Agri-Food Outlook Report published by Alltech.

Alltech analysts estimated that global feed tonnage produced worldwide dropped by 2.6 million metric tons last year. The report attributed this decline to a drop in feed demand. It was fueled by:

More efficient use of feed in livestock operations.
Tight margins in food-animal production, causing a slowdown in the overall production of animal protein.
Changing food consumption patterns, caused by inflation and dietary trends.
Geopolitical tensions around the globe.

The greatest reduction in feed production occurred in Europe and North America. The largest growth was seen in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Latin America, Africa, and Oceania.

The top-5 feed producing countries were unchanged: (1) China; (2) United States; (3) Brazil; (4) India; and (5) Mexico.

Compared to all feed production, the global dairy industry showed a 10-fold reduction, down 2.28% in the past year. High feed costs and low milk prices pushed dairy farmers to trim back cow numbers and seek less-costly, non-commercial feed sources. The report noted European dairy farmers continue to grapple with stricter environmental policies as they try to keep their businesses viable.

The only part of the world that saw growth in dairy feed production was the Asia-Pacific region. There, consumers are more widely embracing dairy products, and feed production in cooperatives is expanding.

Alltech’s annual feed survey encompasses data from 142 countries and more than 27,000 feed mills worldwide.

For more on nutrition, read:

Researchers Zero in on Liver Abscesses for Beef-on-Dairy

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Liver abscesses are a silent scourge in cattle feeding, robbing the industry of both performance and profit. And they are hitting dairy-beef-cross animals the hardest.

According to Michigan State University Extension, liver abscesses are not a new issue, having been associated with cattle consuming primarily grain-based diets as early as the 1930s. But they remain a costly challenge.

Michigan State Extension Beef Specialist Jerad Jaborek noted that livers condemned at slaughter represent an annual loss to the U.S. beef industry of more than $60 million. And that does not take into account the approximately 5-15% ding to average daily gain, and 9.7% reduction in feed efficiency they also actuate.

Further costs are incurred at the harvest level, where carcass tissue around an infected site may need to be trimmed by hand, and a burst abscess can cause chain stoppage in a plant for an hour or more.

Liver abscesses are also on the rise. According to the National Beef Quality Audit 2018, the incidence of liver abscesses in finished animals had risen from 9.9% in 2010-11, to 19.3% in 2016-17.

This piles more issues onto the plate of concerns about the issue, because feeding an antibiotic – most commonly tylosin phosphate – is currently the most effective strategy to control the problem.

But more liver abscesses means more prophylactic antibiotic use, at a time when regulatory bodies and consumer groups are calling on livestock producers to reduce their antibiotic use in food animals, not raise it.

One of the most frustrating aspects of liver abscesses is that animals show no signs of them, so they are only detected at harvest. “After decades of studies, researchers haven’t found an accurate way to predict nor diagnose liver abscesses,” said Rand Broadway, a research scientist with the USDA Livestock Issues Research Unit.

A research team at Kansas State University is working to change that. They recently found that biochemicals unique to liver abscesses could be used as biomarkers to detect them in live cattle.

They are using that knowledge to develop a diagnostic test, which they say could indicate whether an animal’s liver is abscessed while it is still alive. They say their molecular-level work also could provide insight into when cattle get liver abscesses; evaluate intervention strategies for abscessed cattle; and possibly assist in effectively managing cattle by providing information about liver abscess status to feedlots.

Meanwhile, a cooperative endeavor between USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Texas Tech University, Kansas State, and West Texas A&M University is aiming to develop reliable and repeatable models to identify triggers for the condition.

“Our study is a huge collaborative effort between USDA and academic partners to develop a liver abscess model in cattle that can help us better understand how liver abscess formation begins,” noted Broadway. “We are constantly learning about the causes and development of these abscesses.”

Their initial work shows an even higher prevalence of liver abscesses of approximately 50% in the dairy-beef-cross steers they have evaluated. They selected that subset of animals because it is the population of cattle that most commonly suffer from the infection.

So far, they have discovered that the causative bacteria may not always originate from the rumen as previously thought, and may instead come from the lower gastrointestinal tract.

According to Jaborek, previous attempts to control liver abscesses with ionophores and essential oils have been relatively unsuccessful, but research efforts to develop vaccines against liver abscesses are also underway.

Broadway said the USDA-university conglomerate also hopes to arrive at non-antibiotic solutions. “We seek to use the knowledge gained from these models to develop alternative interventions, such as nutritional management strategies,” he said.

For more on Beef-on-Dairy, read:

Beef-on-Dairy: Why Feedlots Crave This Important Information

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:37:24 GMT

Within the last five years, the number of purebred dairy animals that have passed through feedlots has shrunk drastically. What used to be a purebred Holstein steer has now become a beef-on-dairy cross, and it’s estimated almost 23% of the total number of fed steers and heifers within the U.S. are actually coming from dairies.

According to Dr. Aimee Halfa, a beef innovation lead at Cargill, there are several reasons why these beef-on-dairy animals have seen explosive growth. One of the biggest spurs from the severe drought that has blanketed most of the Midwest, which in turn has forced herd reductions amongst the beef industry.

With the conventional beef herd currently in a liquidation phase, feeder calf prices have skyrocketed, triggering a supply and demand issue between the beef industry and feedlots. Dairy producers, however, have helped fill the pipeline by producing beef-on-dairy calves, and have turned a hefty profit in doing so.

Feedlots and Consumers Crave Knowledge

Not only have beef-on-dairy animals proven their worth within the beef supply chain system, they’ve also won over consumers with their overall consistency.

“The beef industry has always been segmented and variable,” Halfa told the audience during the Dairy Strong conference held in Green Bay, Wis. “We have cattle that originate from variable genetics, different production systems and different environments. All of this is feeding into a system where our customers and consumers want to be able to purchase a steak, hamburger or whatever kind of beef product they want and have the same eating experience every single time. Additionally, they want to know exactly how that animal was raised. This is where dairy can contribute nicely to our system.”

According to Halfa, beef-on-dairy cross animals work well in the beef industry because they are so uniform. And because of this, dairy farmers have the opportunity to contribute quality beef to the pipeline while also turning a sizeable profit. To do so, however, requires producers and feedlots to breed and feed these animals efficiently. And as beef-on-dairy animals within the feedlot system continue to rise, feedlots are craving two key pieces of information to help ensure these crossbred cattle thrive.

Health Records

No matter what age beef-on-dairy animals are sold, buyers want to see that the animals they are purchasing were well cared for. In particular, feedlots are looking for beef-on-dairy animals who were given colostrum, vaccinated and who have been exposed to a minimum amount of stress.

“One thing we’ve known for a while in the beef cattle industry is that disease, specifically respiratory disease, has a big impact on animal performance and carcass quality,” Halfa says. “Knowing when and what vaccinations or antibiotics were used along with having information on any health events is really valuable data to pass along.”

By knowing the animal’s health status before it enters, feedlots can make more informed treatment decisions and better understand a specific animal’s performance metrics.

Nutrition Records

When a beef-on-dairy calf makes its way to the feedlot, the transition can be a stressful one. Just the dietary changes alone can be a challenge, Halfa notes.

“One area I see some operations struggle with is the transition from a calf grain to a feedlot TMR,” she says. “This is a really challenging point in these animals lives and when it’s not done correctly, you can really miss out on some good performance during a time when you should be capturing great feed efficiency and gain.”

To help make the transition a bit smoother, Halfa recommends dairy producers provide feedlots with the nutritional information of beef-on-dairy calves sold after weaning.

“Providing feedlots with previous diet information along with when the animal was weaned are two excellent pieces of data to pass along,” Halfa says. “Bonus points should be given to producers who track an animal’s average daily gain. Communicating that captured level of information can be really helpful for the next person feeding those animals.”

Additional Areas to Focus On

Besides providing health and nutritional information, Halfa says there are several other ways dairy producers can work to keep the buyers of their beef-on-dairy animals happy.

Communication - Regardless of who you are selling your animals to, communication and a well-established relationship will always be essential.

“Ask questions, get feedback and make improvements,” Halfa says. “People who are feeding or buying your cattle love to get information on the animals they are purchasing, and its valuable information dairy producers can provide. Prioritizing communication is an excellent way to help secure future business relations.”

Traceability – Knowing exactly how and where an animal was raised can be a big-ticket advantage for feedlots looking to buy animals who are predictable and consistent. According to Halfa, this is an area where dairy producers excel.

“When it comes to traceability, the beef industry has a lot of hurdles. The dairy industry, however, has a great opportunity to provide a traceable beef product much easier and quicker,” she says.

Dairy farmers are no strangers to providing quick and accurate information. In turn, not only does this help supply buyers with valuable information, but it also opens doors of opportunity to increase market access and build up your farm’s reputation of producing high-quality animals.

Metrics = Money

Whether you are selling your beef-on-dairy animals to a private buyer or a commercial feedlot, knowing the specific data points these buyers are looking for can help bring additional value to the animals you bring to market. Failing to pass this information along could be cause you to leave extra dollars on the table.

“Beef-on-dairy animals have the potential to add quality cattle to our fed beef supply,” Halfa says. “If you are going to look at breeding dairy animals to beef, it’s important to understand the metrics behind how these animals should be handled and fed within feedlots in order to sell them for a healthy alternative income stream.”

For more on beef-on-dairy, read:

The 'Golden Ticket' To Cattle Feeding Efficiency? It’s Been Found, FBN and Boveta Suggest

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:30:37 GMT

Has the ‘golden ticket’ to cattle feeding efficiency and carcass yield with reduction in methane gas emissions and wet waste been found? Farmers Business Network (FBN), along with its partner, Boveta Nutrition, LLC, believe so.

Recently, the companies announced results from an FBN-managed independent study at an operation outside of Lincoln, Nebr., trialing the partnership’s amino acid balancing program.

The farm manager, Ben Row at Talcott Land and Cattle, says their backgrounding operation went from $1.20 cost of gain, to now being around $0.71. Row also believes the health of the cattle and overall performance has improved on the program.

Additional findings from Boveta research with cattle on the company’s balanced diet plan conclude:
• Backgrounding cattle on forage diet showed $0.20 per lb. cost of gain advantage
• Finishing cattle consumed 15% less feed, maintained daily gain and delivered an average savings of $0.07 per pound gained
• A large commercial feedlot study produced a $30 per head advantage for steers
• In dairy cattle, milk yield increased by 3.9 lb/day or 4%

While these recent findings show a promising future in cattle production, it’s worth nothing that amino acid balancing is not a new concept.

“Amino acid balancing has been a standard nutritional practice in the swine and poultry industries to drive margin and animal growth, but we haven’t been able to solve the riddle with beef cattle until now,” says Dr. Monty Kerley, FBN’s senior ruminant nutritionist, in the release. “After decades, we finally believe we’re able to deliver this solution to beef producers and its unique potential to decrease feed costs while maintaining optimal growth.”

Specifically, growth performance, average daily gain and feed efficiency rise to the top as the driving forces behind amino acid balancing, Kerley adds.

The program is set to begin with FBN customers with cattle operations in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Dakota and South Dakota—with plans to expand nationally and internationally in the future.

As the first step towards implementing the program, FBN offers a feed consultation and will take inventory of the producer’s available feed resources to formulate the best, most cost-efficient ration for the specific cattle in the current operation. Then, in balancing the amino acids, a unique ration and supplement will be formulated to complete the operation’s feeding plan.

Once the final nutrition recommendation is created and priced, the producer will then have the option to purchase the supplement and officially enter the program.

Kerley says obtaining the supplement should be no different for producers, as FBN and Boveta plan to work with local feed mills and cooperatives to fulfill the operation’s needs.

When encouraging producers to consider the program, Kerley explains, “Focus on cost of gain and not cost per ton. A lot of times, we change the proteins around. We may be looking at a $5, $10 or $15 per ton feed cost increase, but the reason we do that is because there’s going to be a cost of gain advantage to the producers. They’ll realize the net benefit.”

In addition to production performance and growth, the companies explain the environmental impacts of cattle production can also be improved through the program.

“Reducing intake by use of Boveta’s patent-pending diet formulation model improves income over feed costs by 8 to 12% while similarly reducing methane and wet waste. Combining that improved efficiency with reduced roughage intake provides a healthy, practical way to further improve profits and reduce methane emissions up to 30% or more,” says a Boveta research report.

The program is still in a very hands-on stage, and Gregory Mills, president and CEO of Boveta Nutrition, LLC, says the availability of a mobile app or computer software is not there yet.

More Boveta Nutrition, LLC research results from implementation of amino acid balancing and diet formulation in beef and dairy cattle can be found on the company’s website .

Read More:
Proprietary Feeding System Improves Feed Efficiency and Carcass Yield

Here’s Why Cows Produce Less Colostrum During the Fall and Winter

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:15:09 GMT

When a cow freshens during the fall or winter, have you noticed that she tends to produce less colostrum than her herd mates who calved during the spring and summer? It’s not a coincidence, yet little is known as to why this phenomenon occurs. Recent research, however, is shedding a little more ‘light’ on the situation.

A study by Gavin and colleagues conducted on a Texas dairy herd evaluated the colostrum production and quality of 2,988 Jersey cows during a year to assess possible effects of photoperiod, temperature, and cow factors on colostrum production. The average colostrum production for the herd stood at 9.4 lb. with a range of 0 to 58.4 lb. produced.

The research team noted a considerable variation in colostrum production throughout the year, with average colostrum production of 14.5 lbs. in June, 5.5 lbs. in January, and 10.6 lbs. in May. They also observed that cows with more than one lactation had a more significant decline in colostrum production from June to December, on average, compared to first lactation heifers, with 35% of them producing no colostrum in December compared to 1% of the first lactation heifers.

It was discovered that an animal’s photoperiod, also known as the amount of time a cow receives light, was the main factor that affected colostrum production. They observed that longer sunlight duration 21 days before and at calving day strongly correlated with greater colostrum yield.

A similar study conducted in Michigan found corresponding results. The study, which was conducted by Rossi and co-authors, evaluated three commercial Michigan dairy farms. It was observed that the lowest colostrum yield was produced during winter (4.5 quarts) by cows milked within 6 hours after calving when compared to the other seasons (5.7, 6.2, 5.7 quarts of colostrum during spring, summer, and fall, respectively).

While there’s no known way to prevent this season depression in colostrum yield, there are tactics farmers can take to help combat it. Banking additional high-quality colostrum during the spring and summer months can help farmers get through periods of lower colostrum production, along with the use of colostrum replacement packets when necessary.

For more on calf management, read:

Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed, page 2

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 14:25:53 GMT

(Farm Journal)

>>> Continued from page 1

Figure 2: Regarding the use of cannabis as an animal feed, 48% said they either strongly agreed or agreed that they would feed it to their animals.

(Farm Journal)

Figure 3: The survey also asked if farmers and ranchers think it is ethical to feed cannabis products to animals if trace constituents, such as THC, can be found in the meat. Overwhelmingly, respondents said no.

(Farm Journal)

Source: 2019 Farm Journal Cannabis in U.S. Agriculture Study

Objectives and methodology: Measure farmers’ and ranchers’ awareness
of cannabis and interest in growing hemp. The e-blast was distributed to row crop farmers with 1+ acres of corn, soybeans or wheat, and also to livestock producers with 1+ head of hogs, beef cattle, dairy cattle or poultry, and produce growers with 1+ acres of produce. A set of 950 completes yielded a margin of error of +/- 3.2%. Respondents were entered in a drawing to receive one of 25 copies of “Making the Family Farm the Family Business” by Chip Flory.

Read more about cannabis in animal feed here:

> From AgWeb:

Perdue Answers Buzz on Hemp in Animal Feed

> From Bovine Veterinarian:

Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine

> From Farm Journal’s PORK:

Could Cannabis Improve Pork Flavor? Weed-Fed Pigs Creating a Stir

PORK Poll: Could Marijuana in the Pig Diet Make a Difference?

Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 14:23:27 GMT

(Farm Journal)

Volatility driven by overproduction, trade wars and ever-more fickle consumers has American farmers and ranchers facing the largest financial crisis in a generation. Searching for alternatives, many U.S. farmers are scrambling this winter to add hemp to their crop rotation, thanks to the green light given to the long-forbidden crop in the 2018 farm bill. It’s the start of what could become a revolution to traditional agriculture at a time when many farmers are financially desperate.

A new survey conducted by Farm Journal and Drovers finds that among those now considering growing hemp, additional revenue and profits are the driving factors. For instance, one respondent voiced a common theme: “If I could be certain it was low in THC and it was more profitable (to grow) it would be okay.” Another said: “If it has uses, is okay for the environment, if there is a market, if I can make money, then yes.”

Livestock producers will play a crucial role in the success or failure
of hemp, as the crop holds many potential benefits as a feedstuff. Some states have already set in motion programs to analyze hemp’s safety and practicality as a livestock feed. Two years ago, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill creating a working group under the Commissioner of Agriculture to study the feasibility of hemp as animal feed. As of January 2019, 40 other states have given hemp the go ahead.

As cattle feed, scientists believe hemp can benefit health and increase performance. Hemp seed, for instance, is high in much-desired fatty acids, such as Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9 and GLA. It is also very high in proteins, which contain every amino acid.

Hemp seeds are also high in fiber, aiding an animal’s digestive system. It also is a good source of minerals, such as: Copper, Iron, Boron, Zinc, Manganese, Nitrogen and Zinc. Hemp will be given to animals in Colorado, via crushed seed meal, pellets or oil given as a supplement.

The distinction between recreational marijuana and hemp, and how that factors into cultivation of the crop should be noted. Hemp and marijuana are from the same Cannabis Sativa family, and they share similarities. However, the notable difference is the amount of the psychoactive chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which pro- duces a high. The references here for agricultural uses are only for hemp, which contains less than 0.3% THC. For comparison, marijuana contains from 5% to 35% THC.

With the door now open for hemp cultivation and feeding, Farm Journal and Drovers surveyed farmers and livestock producers to gauge their attitude about the use of the crop many consider controversial. We found a majority of both farmers and ranchers are amenable to using hemp, yet conservative rural values remain among the majority of respondents.

Check out the figures below that reveal cattle owners’ level of interest in growing hemp and using cannabis in animal feed.

The 2019 Farm Journal/Drovers Cannabis in U.S. Agriculture Study surveyed farmers and ranchers to gauge their interest in growing cannabis. Here’s what we learned.

Figure 1: Cattle owners are less interested in growing cannabis than farmers.

(Farm Journal)

Click next page to read more results.

Nuisance Birds May Be Showing Up Soon

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:50:26 GMT

The onset of fall marks the return of nuisance birds to dairy farms and feedlots in cooler climates.

Ricky Woods, USDA Wildlife Services specialist based in Nebraska, shared advice for managing the birds in a recent episode of the I-29 Moo University Dairy Podcast series .

Woods said he typically sees migratory birds like starlings returning from about late October until March. Starlings are recruiters, so they may come back to the same site year after year, with not only their offspring, but other birds that have joined the flock along the way.

Flocks ranging in size from 1,000 to 100,000 birds may travel together. Dairies and feedlots are popular destinations because of easily accessible shelter and feed sources. Sometimes, flocks will choose one site during the day, then travel to another site within a 20-mile radius at night. On some farms, flocks move in only at night to roost inside barns.

According to Woods, one starling will eat about a penny’s worth of feed per day. “That may not sound like a lot, but it can add up to huge losses when you consider thousands of birds residing on farms for several months,” he stated.

In addition to the feed loss, birds like starlings and pigeons can tear insulation out of barns, and contaminate the feed that cows consume. Woods said the feces and feathers from invasive birds can spread E. coli, salmonella, cryptosporidium and histoplasmosis to cows.

Getting rid of troublesome bird flocks can be tedious and time-consuming. Woods said pyrotechnics, noisemakers, trapping, and toxicants all have been used to accomplish the task. The choice of tactic depends on the nature and severity of the bird problem.

The goal of a bird eradication program is to make the birds so uncomfortable that they don’t want to be there. Something as simple as a hinged pair of 2X4s, clapped together, can be used to frighten birds so they don’t land. But that effort must be conducted essentially from sun-up to sundown for 7-10 consecutive days to be effective.

If birds are showing up to roost at night, pyrotechnics can be used to defend against them. The time window is shorter because the situation only needs to be addressed when birds arrive to roost in the hours just before and after sundown.

Woods said chemical toxicants like Avitrol® and DRC 1339 are Restricted Use Pesticides. While they will kill some birds, their true purpose is scare birds away.

Shooting is not an effective way to drastically reduce the bird population, but will help to frighten them. Mixing up approaches and using more than one mitigation method may be necessary. Human safety, of course, should be a primary priority in any bird mitigation effort.

If a dairy is struggling with a bird problem, Woods said the best approach is to contact a USDA

Wildlife Services representative. Their initial assessment and advice should be at no cost to the producer.

When asked why some dairies have zero bird problems while others struggle with them mightily, Woods said there really is no rhyme or reason why birds target certain farms. “Unfortunately,” he said, “it’s purely a case of bad luck.”

5 Ways to Manage Mycotoxins

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:45:17 GMT

The adage that “knowledge is power” is especially true when it comes to understanding mold and mycotoxins. During a recent Phibro Animal Health webinar , Lon Whitlow, professor emeritus at North Carolina State University, discussed how harvest, storage and handling practices can set the stage for mold and mycotoxin growth, which can be potentially dangerous for livestock.

“Under certain conditions, mold can form and proliferate in the fields, in storage or in the feed bunks — and where there’s mold, there are often mycotoxins,” Whitlow explained. “Given this prevalence, coupled with the immense impact mycotoxin contamination can have on an animal’s immune and reproductive systems, feed intake and production, it’s imperative that producers know the causes of mycotoxins to better recognize and treat the symptoms.”

Whitlow offers five reminders to help livestock producers better prevent, recognize and manage mycotoxin contamination.

1. Mycotoxins are routine in the fields and are byproducts of stressed molds.
Insects, disease, low soil fertility and excess water can set the stage for mold growth, which in turn may produce mycotoxins. Once harvested, crops are subject to molds in storage, so Whitlow advised farmers to aerate dry feeds and properly pack and cover silage. Also, consider mold inhibitors or microbial fermentation aids to keep feed mold-free. Cold, wet conditions and winter damage can set the stage for molds and mycotoxins, which require water and just a small amount of oxygen.

2. Where you find evidence of one mycotoxin, there are likely more.
There are thousands of known mold species, Whitlow said, and they may replicate quickly under certain environmental conditions. Fortunately, approximately two-thirds of molds are non-toxigenic or don’t produce mycotoxins, but the remaining one-third may produce more than 500 mycotoxins.

3. Mycotoxicosis can have widespread effects on animal health.
Mycotoxins may impact almost every aspect of immunity, reducing an animal’s ability to process antigens and build antibodies to those antigens. This reduces the maturation of disease-fighting immune cells and also reduces the production of cytokines, which limits the communication of immune cells, he said. Mycotoxins can also have intestinal effects, creating a loss of barrier function, reducing enzymes, increasing intestinal pathogens and causing diarrhea, because animals are unable to maintain water balance.

4. Symptoms of mycotoxin toxicity can be difficult to diagnoses.
Two of the more common mycotoxins are fumonisins and deoxynivalenol (DON). Fumonisins are known to disrupt metabolism and cause nerve degeneration, while DON may cause intestinal irritation, reduction in weight gain, changes in feed intake or lowered immunity. Aflatoxins tend to target the liver, while zearalenone often reduces conception and reproductive performance. One of the least prevalent but potentially most dangerous of all, T-2 toxins, produced by Fusarium molds, can cause cellular injury to multiple organs, resulting in increased disease incidence and even death.

5. Producers can reduce the threat of mycotoxin toxicity.
If contaminated feeds are discovered, Whitlow encouraged producers to sample and test their feeds to help identify what mycotoxins are present and to dilute or remove the contaminated feed if possible. Consider feeding immune enhancers, antioxidants, fibers, buffers or microbials to help strengthen immune systems and GI tracts and include binding agents in feeds to help protect animals from the harmful effects of mycotoxins.

“While prevention in the field and in storage is important, it’s also incumbent upon livestock producers to be vigilant in looking for signs of illness that might be a result of mycotoxin contamination and to act accordingly,” Whitlow said. “The best treatment requires multiple approaches, from buffers to binders.”

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Continue Testing for Mycotoxins

Feed Sustainability: Moving the Animal Protein Industry Forward

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:22:09 GMT

As the animal protein industry continues to find innovative ways to decrease the carbon footprint of animal products, a new resource guide may help move those efforts forward.

The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) recently released the Resource Guide on Sustainable Animal Feed , a digital resource to help companies in the animal feed supply chain better understand and address how the demand for animal protein products – and subsequently animal feed – affects the environment, including air, land, soil, water and biodiversity.

The free resource guide was developed by TSC alongside a group of stakeholders made up of over 20 different organizations including the National Pork Board, Pipestone Systems, BASF, The Nature Conservancy, Syngenta, American Feed Industry Association, Sustainable Food Lab, and others.

“As the demand for animal protein increases, so does the demand for animal feed. Every company along the value chain has the opportunity to make a significant contribution towards feed sustainability. This resource guide supports these organizations in their efforts,” Christy Slay, TSC’s senior director of science and research, said in a release .

Demand Is Rising
Population growth, rising income and changes in diet are just a few reasons why the global demand for animal protein is increasing. According to TSC, recent life-cycle assessments estimate that feed production accounts for 70% of the total carbon footprint of animal products.

The resource guide was created as a resource for sustainability professionals, procurement teams, feed and animal protein industry professionals, researchers, and non-profits. The guide brings together relevant resources and information related to feed sustainability globally with a focus on the U.S.

“The National Pork Board is committed to greater transparency about our industry’s efforts regarding environmental sustainability and our journey of continuous improvement,” Brett Kaysen, vice president or sustainability at the National Pork Board, said in a release. “This means making information, resources and tools available to those who buy pork to sell pork and help them better understand the animal feed supply chain. We’re proud to work with TSC and the other stakeholders to produce this valuable guide.”

A Holistic Approach to Sustainability
The authors behind the guide, Slay and TSC research assistant, Teresa Garcia-Moore, LL.M., hope companies will use this guide to create a more holistic approach to enhancing the overall sustainability of the animal and environment systems.

The guide addresses these key topics:
1. Leading organizations engaged in feed sustainability efforts
2. Useful tools
3. Reports and case study spotlights
4. Research
5. Companies’ feed sustainability initiatives

TSC plans to continually update the guide as resources become available. Access the free, digital guide here .

More from Farm Journal:

The Carbon-Neutral Pig and Chicken: The Pivotal Moment is Now

U.S. Pork More Sustainable Than Ever, Study Shows

Harvesting and Feeding Corn Stalks

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 00:12:00 GMT

The person who originated the adage, “It beats a snowbank” may have been thinking about feeding corn stalk bales. However, like most forages there can be quite a bit of variability in nutritional value.

Over the past several years we have submitted over 40 different samples of corn stalk bales through our office. Usually the bales fall into two different ranges. Those that are lower quality are usually between five and six percent crude protein and around 48 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a dry matter basis. Those which test with more feed value are about seven percent crude protein with a TDN somewhere around 52 percent on a dry matter basis. The primary difference between those of “lower” and “higher” quality seems to be the harvest method. Those stalks which were harvested directly behind the combine and not shredded are usually of higher quality than those that were mowed, raked and baled.

By far, the best method to utilize corn stalks is to harvest them with four legged harvesting machines (cows). In addition to using less labor and being less expensive, cattle will only harvest the highest quality parts of the plant (leaves, husks, grain) and leave the lower quality stalk in the field. This is especially vital in drought years since there is significantly less risk of cattle consuming toxic levels of nitrate because the highest concentration of nitrate in the corn plant is contained in the lower stalk. Unfortunately, a lack of fencing, water and in some cases, the need to plant a subsequent crop limits grazing of corn stalks.

On average, stalks baled after corn harvest contain about 6 percent protein and 50 percent total digestible nutrients which is below the protein and energy level required to winter a beef cow as illustrated in the following table.

Nutrient requirements of 1,300 pound beef cow with average milking ability

Stage of Production	Crude Protein %	Crude Protein #	TDN %	TDN Pounds
Mid Gestation	6.9	1.5	49	10.8
Late Gestation	7.7	1.8	53	12.5
Early Lactation	9.1	2.2	55	13.4

The small amount of money spent on a forage test can be valuable when feeding any forage. It is a valuable investment. Not only can you find out the nutrient value, you can also test for nitrate levels, which could be a problem in some fields this year.

Knowing Symptoms of Prussic Acid, Nitrates Key to Johnsongrass Care

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 00:12:00 GMT

Forage management has always been the foundation of a successful livestock operations in Arkansas and elsewhere, and keeping a close eye on those forages in drought conditions is fundamental to that success.

Johnsongrass, a good quality forage found widely throughout Arkansas, offers its own challenges in such conditions, said John Jennings, Professor of Forage for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“When it becomes stressed from drought, johnsongrass can produce prussic acid — also known as hydrocyanic acid — or can accumulate nitrate, both of which are very toxic to livestock,” Jennings said.

Other grasses, such as sorghum or sudan, including haygrazer, greengraze, Sudex and sudangrass, can also develop prussic acid and accumulate nitrate. Jennings said its important for growers to be able to identify the differences in these toxins, and how toxicity levels may be measured.

Prussic Acid

“It’s difficult to predict how much prussic acid toxin may be present in the forage,” Jennings said. “There are no reliable field or routine laboratory for measuring toxic levels of prussic acid in forage. Lab tests can confirm prussic acid poisoning for dead animals, but the amount of toxin that results in death hasn’t been established for any routine tests, and field testing is not available.”

What is known is this: Hydrocyanic acid (HCN), or prussic acid, is generally found in stressed johnsongrass or sorghum, and is formed by enzymatic action on compounds called cyanogenetic glucosides.

When these compounds are broken down in the rumen of cattle, the cyanide is absorbed and combines with the hemoglobin in the bloodstream. This prevents the red blood cells from releasing oxygen to the body tissues, and suffocation occurs. One diagnostic symptom of prussic acid poisoning is bright red blood since it is full of trapped oxygen. Prussic acid poisoning occurs rapidly with affected animals dying in the field.

“Johnsongrass — and any plants of the sorghum family — can develop prussic acid,” Jennings said. “Wilted leaves of wild cherry trees caused by storm damage, or trimming or cutting, also have high prussic acid potential.”

Wilted and drought stressed plants are most likely to develop prussic acid. During early drought stress, the grass may appear normal in the morning, but can wilt during afternoon heat, which increases toxic potential.

The amount of prussic acid is higher in young plants than in older ones, and the toxicity of leaves is higher than that of stems, Jennings said. Prussic acid poisoning potential is very high for johnsongrass forage that is shorter than 18 inches tall, wilted forage or for a new flush of growth soon after a rainfall or after hay cutting. Prussic acid concentration decreases as plants become taller and more mature.

“Many producers believe the white powdery substance commonly seen on johnsongrass stems in late summer is prussic acid residue, but it’s only common powdery mildew fungus and is not considered toxic to livestock,” Jennings said.

Prussic acid dissipates when the forage dries, so well-cured hay is considered safe, Jennings said. If johnsongrass patches are mowed before allowing animals to graze a pasture, make sure the cut johnsongrass is dried completely to allow the prussic acid to dissipate.

For more information on prussic acid, growers should consult the Division of Agriculture publication “FSA 3069 Prussic Acid” at https://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-3069.pdf .

Nitrate

Laboratory and field tests can be conducted on fresh forage and hay for nitrate content. Nitrate concentration of 700 ppm (parts per million) or less of nitrate-nitrogen is considered safe. Field tests with a diphenylamine solution can be used to indicate presence of nitrate to help determine if lab testing is needed to confirm nitrate concentration.

Growers can consult “FSA 3024 – Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle” for information on toxicity levels at ttps://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-3024.pdf .

“Nitrates can accumulate to toxic levels in some plant species, especially during drought stress,” Jennings said. Plants known for accumulating nitrate include johnsongrass, sorghums (forage sorghum, sorghum-sudan, and sudangrass), pearl millet, corn, and pigweed.

“Drought, shade, and sometimes potassium deficiency can cause a reduction in the activity of a specific plant enzyme that functions in the conversion of nitrate to precursors of plant protein, which allows accumulation of nitrate,” he said.

Similar to prussic acid poisoning, nitrate poisoning causes internal suffocation of the animal. However, nitrate prevents the blood from picking up oxygen to carry to the tissues. A diagnostic symptom of nitrate poisoning is dark, chocolate-brown appearing blood, which is a result of lack of oxygen in the blood, Jennings said.

Other things growers should keep in mind include:

High nitrates usually occur when forages have been heavily fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer, but can also occur after poultry litter application or in fields with a history of manure application.
High nitrate levels are most likely in young immature plants and decline as the plants mature. In cases of very high nitrate content, levels may remain high even in mature plants.
Nitrate levels are typically highest in the lower part of the plant stem/stalk.
High nitrate levels do not dissipate when hay is cut and remain high even in dry hay.
Nitrate levels may decrease by about 50% in silage/haylage during the fermentation process. Be reminded that this may not be enough to reduce very high nitrate forage to safe levels.

To learn more about forage management in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu .

Hay Moisture Levels

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 00:12:00 GMT

With the limited opportunities and short windows many have had to make hay so far this year, some hay may have been made at higher moisture levels than we would like. Moisture levels have a direct effect on hay quality. What we have found to be a consistent number in the literature is 20% moisture maximum. To be more specific:

1. Small squares to be 20% or less,
2. Large round, 18% or less and
3. Large squares, 16%

Hay baled at 20% moisture or higher has a high probability of developing mold, which will decrease the quality of hay by decreasing both protein and total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) AKA energy! The mold will also make the hay less palatable to livestock and could potentially be toxic, especially for horses. Even hay baled between 15%-20% moisture will experience what is known as “sweating.” Sweating, in regard to hay bales, refers to microbial respiration, which will create heat and result in dry matter (DM) loss. A good rule of thumb is that you should expect a 1% DM loss per 1% decrease of moisture after baling. As an example, hay baled at 20% moisture that is stored and dried down to 12%; will result in 8% DM loss.

What happens if we bale hay and the moisture content is too high? Bad things. If lucky, maybe the hay will only mold, but if it is too moist and starts heating, it could catch fire. If the hay heats to 100-120 degrees F, it will be fine; if it goes above that, monitor daily. Once it gets to 140 degrees F, consider tearing down the stack. At 150-160 degrees F, call the fire department, and once it gets to 160 degrees F, there will be smoldering pockets and hot spots, and gases will ignite hay when exposed to air (source: Washington State University Extension, Steve Fransen and Ned Zaugg).

It can be a double edged sword in regards to losing quality by not baling, or losing quality by baling with moisture levels that are too high. Therefore, our recommendation to ensure adequate livestock nutrition this winter is to have a forage analysis done on the hay baled this year. Once you have those results, develop a corresponding supplemental feed program, if necessary, based on the nutritional requirements of your livestock.

The two short videos below by Clif Little and Rory Lewandowski will answer questions regarding forage testing, and subsequently interpreting the results of the test(s).

Bloat in Cattle: How Real is the risk?

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 00:12:00 GMT

Bloat in cattle is a seasonal problem for producers which can be caused by grazing forage such as certain legumes and to a lesser extent by the fresh growth of winter annual cereals and leafy forages such as turnips.

Dirk Philipp, associate professor-forages for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says bloat is caused by gas build up in the rumen.

“Bloat is caused by the development of frothy liquid in the rumen. If gases build up in the rumen and create a stable foam, they push against the diaphragm which will suffocate the animal by keeping the diaphragm from being able to move air in and out of the lungs,” Philipp said.

Prevention

“The window to catch an animal with bloat and remove from a paddock is very narrow,” Philipp said, “so the focus should be on prevention.”

Forages that carry a risks for inducing bloat include:

Alfalfa.
Red and white clover.
Crimson clover.
Cereal crops.
Brassicas, such as turnips.

Philipp said these forages may pose a risk because of their high level of digestibility and low level of dry matter at certain times during their growing cycle.

“These forages are all highly digestible,” he said. “Rumen microbes have access to the protein in these forages very easily. When these microbes digest the forage they release gas, which builds up in the cow’s rumen. This gas mixes with liquids, which is how the froth and stable foam develops.”

These high-risk forages all occur in Arkansas, but most of the time they do not cause a problem.

“Clovers don’t really persist well in Arkansas and normally these forages are grazed in conjunction with other non-bloating forages,” Philipp said, “and the total amount of these forages is normally relatively small in pastures.”

Along with identifying high-risk forages, producers should also be aware that bloat is animal specific and depends on environmental factors.

“Day temperatures around 70 degrees and cool overnight temperature will lead to a higher risk,” Philipp said, as these are good growing conditions for higher-risk forages, “and high soil moisture, which leads to high plant moisture, will also increase risk. High plant moisture relates to lush forage with low dry matter values. Lower dry matter means higher risk because the percentage of protein will be higher in relation to fiber.”

Fields of entirely clovers or alfalfa are definitely at risk if:

Growth is lush and fresh such in spring.
Growth is young and little mature.
Plant moisture is high.
Cattle are moved onto the pasture with an “empty stomach.”

Tips to avoid bloat:

Never move cattle hungry on pastures with high risk forages or growth.
Feed hay (roughage) along with high risk forages.
- Hay will induce salivation and production of mucin that helps prevent foaming.
- Stock animals rotationally for short amounts of time only, especially when bloat risks are high, this way they don’t return repeatedly to the youngest and freshest growth.
- Monitor animals closely.
- If you live in an area where legumes persist, establish grass-legume mixes.
- Products such as ‘Bloat Guard’ are helpful, but don’t rely on them solely.

Product names mentioned in this story do not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Dairy Nutrition News

Lallemand Animal Nutrition Launches Ruminant Digestive Health Platform

What Is a Whole-System Approach to Ruminant Digestive Health?

From Rumen-Centric to Full Digestive Insight

Key Topics Covered in the Platform

Using this Platform in Practice

China, U.S., and Brazil Lead Global Feed Surge Amid Regional Shifts

Top 10 Feed-Producing Countries

Global Feed Volume by Species

More Regional Results

Asia: 559.297 million mt

Europe: 274.061 million mt

Latin America: 204.446 million mt

Africa and the Middle East: 102.549 million mt

Oceania: 11.104 million mt

FAQs

Mycotoxin Risk Holds Steady in 2025

The Major Players

What Changed from 2024 to 2025

Cattle: Rumen Function, Immune Resilience and Production Losses

Swine: Immune Disruption, Gut Barrier Injury and Performance Drag

Mycotoxin Co-Contamination Defines 2025

Why Fiber Quality Matters More for Beef-on-Dairy

Different Genetics, Different Requirements

Why Low-Quality Fiber Doesn’t Cut It

Is Cheap Roughage Costing You Gain?

Quality Over Quantity

New Dietary Guidelines Move Food Pyramid Closer to the Farm

Eat More Protein

Dairy’s Seat at the Table

Eat More Meat and Poultry

Three Servings of Veggies and Two Servings of Fruit

Rollins Teases Plan to Expand Real Food Retail Accessibility

Grains and Oilseed Industry Focuses on Positives

The Impact of Low Trace Minerals in Cattle May Be Bigger Than You Expect

Global Feed Production Rebounds, Says Alltech in Agri-Food Outlook

Liver Abscesses Reduced with Beef-Cross Feeding Strategy

Data Shows Larger Hay Supply and Lower Hay Prices

Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields

New $20 Million Feed Mill Expansion Unveiled in Idaho

Stay Safe this Silage Harvest Season

Tractor Rollovers

Truck Rollovers

Reduce Risks

FDA Approves Elanco’s New, First-in-Class Methane-Reducing Feed Ingredient

For more on nutrition, read:

Global Feed Production Takes a Dip

For more on nutrition, read:

Researchers Zero in on Liver Abscesses for Beef-on-Dairy

Beef-on-Dairy: Why Feedlots Crave This Important Information

Feedlots and Consumers Crave Knowledge

Health Records

Nutrition Records

Additional Areas to Focus On

Metrics = Money

For more on beef-on-dairy, read:

The 'Golden Ticket' To Cattle Feeding Efficiency? It’s Been Found, FBN and Boveta Suggest

Here’s Why Cows Produce Less Colostrum During the Fall and Winter

For more on calf management, read:

Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed, page 2

Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed

Nuisance Birds May Be Showing Up Soon

5 Ways to Manage Mycotoxins

Feed Sustainability: Moving the Animal Protein Industry Forward

Harvesting and Feeding Corn Stalks

Knowing Symptoms of Prussic Acid, Nitrates Key to Johnsongrass Care

Prussic Acid

Nitrate

Hay Moisture Levels

Bloat in Cattle: How Real is the risk?

Prevention