August 2021 Newsletter
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The Elegance and Wisdom of Simplicity: As Applied to Dairy Ruminant Nutrition (Part 2)
Click here to view as a pdf: The Elegance and Wisdom of Simplicity Part II
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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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.
April 2021 Newsletter
Click here to view as a pdf: 2021 April Newsletter
The Elegance and Wisdom of Simplicity: As Applied to Dairy Ruminant Nutrition
Click here to view as a pdf: The Elegance And Wisdom Of Simplicity
By Dan Leiterman
Preface: This is the first part of a two-part article addressing my thoughts about common sense strategies for dairy nutrition.
Throughout the ages and in all walks of life, mankind has demonstrated a relentless and instinctive desire to learn, to explore and to discover answers for the many complex mysteries of life and science. The quest for knowledge is essential to our success as a species. However, managing the new knowledge and applying it to our benefit is an ever-increasing challenge. During our journey to learn as much as we can, it is important to remember the role of simplicity as an essential tool to help us manage the overwhelming amount of information we are exposed to every day. No matter how complex the topic, it must adhere to simple, basic and sound principles so information can be applied easily and efficiently with balance. If simplicity is not taken into account, it is too easy to lose perspective on the task at hand, forget the lessons of history, and become lost in a sea of data. Information that is consistent with simple principles will advance a cohesive, wise and efficient strategy that helps us to reach a sustainable goal. Keeping a solid tie to simplicity can provide clarity and help us stay on course in the growing complexity of our world.
How to Effectively Manage High Somatic Cell Counts
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By Teresa Marker, B.S.
Herd-wide high somatic cell count (HSCC) issues can negatively impact both milk quality and overall farm profitability. A recent study estimated that the cost of subclinical mastitis to the U.S. dairy industry exceeds $1 billion annually. The overall production loss for the average U.S. dairy farm was estimated at $110/cow annually. This loss can be attributed to discarded milk, treatment costs, extra labor costs, milk production losses, culling and death loss. The following article will outline what steps are needed to determine the cause of a high somatic cell count, how to interpret diagnostic test results and how to create a plan to help reduce the overall herd somatic cell count.
Water Hygiene: How often Do You Think About It?
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By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.
Director of Technical Services
Water is the most critical nutrient for all animals, but how often do people think about it? Would you drink out of your animal’s water trough? Research shows that poor water quality dramatically reduces water consumption, which in turn lowers production and deteriorates overall animal health. A common cause of poor water quality is biofilm formation. Preventing biofilm formation and improving water quality can be done at a low cost while providing a high return on investment for farms.
The Impact of Fly Pressure and the Importance of Fly Control
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By Alex Austin, B.S.
When winter is over and warm weather arrives, it is goodbye to plowing snow and dealing with frozen water and hello to green pasture and sunshine. The warmth of spring and summer can present new challenges with the hatching fly population. Livestock owners know flies cause pain and discomfort to animals but they can also have a negative economic impact. It is important to enter the summer season with an effective fly control plan in place to maintain animal health and minimize fly pressure effects on producer profitability.