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The Importance of Monitoring Nutrition When Pasturing Pigs

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20220629_CCWEB_Dr-Darren-ZimmermanBy Darren Zimmerman, D.V.M.

There has been a steady increase in the number of producers choosing to pasture pigs. The reasons can vary:  cost of feed savings, aid in tilling soil, spreading manure. When considering if pasturing pigs is right for your operation, there are many things to consider, with one of the most important being how to maintain proper nutrition for the animal.

There has been extensive research on swine nutrition, and nearly all recommendations are for a complete diet. A complete diet is one that is mixed evenly and proportional in all feedings to all desired ingredients to meet the needs of the specific intended animal. This includes calories, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. Swine in different stages of life have different needs.

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Checking Forage Dry Matter: A Boring Magic Bullet

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By Erik Brettingen, B.S.

In working with clients to continually improve performance and success on their dairies, conversation often turns toward looking for one ingredient or tweak, that “silver bullet”, that could be added to the ration to make more milk, components, reproductive performance, etc. The idea of a fast and simple solution is certainly appealing. However, improvement and success are typically found by doing many small things correctly every day, week or month.  Consistency is key, especially for cows, and focusing on the little things that matter can make a huge difference.  Measuring and monitoring forage dry matter could be the single most important thing to do on a dairy on a regular basis but it is something we don’t see being done very often.

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Common Questions About Ketosis

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By Carley Ciolkosz, B.S.
Livestock Nutritionist

What is ketosis? What are the types of ketosis and how are they different? What are the options for treating cows if they do have ketosis? What preventative measures can be taken to ensure cows don’t get ketosis? These are all common questions associated with ketosis. This article is going define what ketosis is, what the different types are, how to treat the cows that have ketosis, and some good prevention strategies against ketosis.
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Products To Always Have On Hand – Calf Toolbox

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By Alex Austin

In my last article, I discussed the top three Crystal Creek® products to have on hand for adult dairy cattle. In this article I will focus on pre-weaned calves. When young calves first show signs of a health issue, such as scours or pneumonia, early intervention is key. Having essential products on hand makes it easy to start treatment at the first signs, so no time is wasted. Below are some Crystal Creek® calf products to carry on your farm.

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Milking Older Cows- Why Parity Matters

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By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.

In the world of dairy farming, the concept of parity—referring to the number of times a cow has calved—can be a crucial tool to optimize herd productivity. As cows age and go through multiple lactations, their productivity trends will shift, impacting their profitability to the dairy operation. Research shows that older, multiparous cows (cows that have had multiple calves) often have significant productivity advantages. This article discusses why parity matters in dairy herds and how milking older cows can boost overall herd productivity and profitability.
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What Our Inoc-U-Lock™ Line of Forage Inoculants Has To Offer For Your Farm

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By Carley Ciolkosz, B.S.
Livestock Nutritionist

One of the main goals on farms is for profitable livestock, and the foundation that profitable livestock rely on is feeding high quality forages. The need to feed high quality forages is critical to a healthy bottom line for any dairy or beef producer. Research has shown that applying a high-quality inoculant to forages at the time of ensiling can in turn provide a significant return on investment for the producer. There are many benefits to a well-designed inoculant program including speeding up fermentation which leads to reducing dry matter loss, reducing protein degradation and energy loss, stabilizing face quality, improving bunk shelf life, enhanced dry matter intake and improved forage digestibility. Crystal Creek® believes that our line of Inoc-U-Lock™ forage inoculants will help producers reach these goals on their farms.

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Products To Always Have On Hand – Cow Toolbox

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By Alex Austin

When it comes to owning dairy cows, the question is not if there will be a health challenge, but when. Most producers carry tools on hand to be prepared for a variety of potential issues, from milk fever to mastitis. Some common tools are bottles of calcium, vet wrap, syringes, etc. This article lists a few Crystal Creek® products that are recommended for dairy producers to carry in their toolbox.

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Crystal Creek® 17% Start To Finish™ Goat Pellets

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20220629_CCWEB_Dr-Darren-ZimmermanBy Darren Zimmerman, D.V.M.

More and more goat producers are raising animals with little to no land base. Hence they rely on purchased feedstuffs more than homegrown forages. Having high-quality pelleted feed allows these producers to raise their animals without having to grow and harvest forages which has some inherent efficiencies as well.

With this in mind, Crystal Creek® has developed 17% Start To Finish™ Goat Pellets.

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