December 2021 Newsletter
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10 Years in a Family Business: Lessons Learned
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By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.
Director of Technical Services
I spent nine years in college before entering what my dad refers to as the real world. It was only after college that I realized how little those nine years had prepared me for the road that lay ahead. For the past 10 years, I have been fortunate enough to work alongside my parents in our family business. I’ve learned more during my time in the family business than I did in all those years of college. I’ve also learned a lot from working with our clients and their family businesses. Below are three of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far.
Non-Nutrient Factors That Impact Dairy Diet Performance
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By Erik Brettingen, B.S.
When looking for the next pound of milk, most time is spent evaluating what could be changed in the ration. This often leads to discussions based on individual feedstuffs and ingredients. Dairy cow performance starts with a properly balanced diet, but sometimes the biggest opportunities are unrelated to the nutrient values in the feed. The environment in which a cow spends most of its day, how its feed is delivered, and the management of the cow’s time, all play a role in performance.
Is Paired Housing The Right Choice For Your Calf Raising Operation?
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By Alex Austin, B.S.
Raising replacement heifers is an important part of any dairy operation. Dairy producers have many factors to consider when deciding the best way to raise their calves. Paired housing for calves is a concept that has gained popularity, for a number of reasons, over the last decade.
Dr. Ryan Leiterman Contributes to Progressive Dairy Magazine
Dr. Ryan Leiterman recently contributed to Progressive Dairy Magazine with his article “Lessons Learned from 10 Years in a Family Business.”
Click here to view in Progressive Dairy Magazine:
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Lessons learned from 10 years in a family business-1721PD-noAds
August 2021 Newsletter
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The Elegance and Wisdom of Simplicity: As Applied to Dairy Ruminant Nutrition (Part 2)
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By Dan Leiterman
Preface: This is the second part of a two-part article addressing my thoughts about common sense strategies for dairy nutrition. The first article can be found at: https://crystalcreeknatural.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Elegance-And-Wisdom-Of-Simplicity.pdf
The Important Role of Simplicity
In part 1 of this article (published in the April 2021 Crystal Creek® Newsletter), I talked about the important role of simplicity and how complex science needs to adhere to simple, basic and sound principles so information can be easily and efficiently applied with balance. If the concept of simplicity is not paramount, it is easy to lose perspective and forget what we have learned through decades of feeding animals. Simplicity also helps us deal with the overwhelming sea of data. Information that is consistent with simple principles will advance a cohesive and efficient strategy that helps us reach a sustainable goal.
Using Data Collection Devices to Evaluate Progress in Your Dairy Herd
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By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.
Director of Technical Services
Dairy producers have been given a new tool to help track a herd’s overall health, fertility and production with activity monitoring systems. These systems provide data that can be measured over a period of time. Crystal Creek® has worked with several herds that utilize these activity monitoring systems and have found them to be an invaluable means of collecting data for making decisions impacting the herd. Nutritionists can collect and organize data from the system on a regular basis. The effects of changes in feeding strategies or procedural changes can easily be tracked by these monitoring systems. A nutritionist can conduct business meetings with the dairy producer and other team members, (veterinarians, breeders, bankers, agronomists, etc.) to review the data collected throughout the year and create goals for the future.
The Skin: The Window to the Immune System
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Dr. Ryan Leiterman holds degrees in both Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Medicine.
By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.
Director of Technical Services
The skin is the frontline defense mechanism for every animal and as a result, it is under constant challenges from toxins, infectious agents and physical stresses. It’s more than just a physical barrier between the body and the environment; the skin is an active immune organ. Specialized immune cells found only in the skin are always on the lookout, patrolling for infection.
Crystal Creek® Paladin® Swine Program
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By Erik Brettingen, B.S.
Crystal Creek® has a highly successful, comprehensive swine program that can help swine operations with their ever-changing needs. The Paldin® Swine Program includes ration balancing services, innovative products and veterinary consulting to help support the profitability of a swine operation.