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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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Ventilating Repurposed Structures For Calf Housing

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By Alex Austin

Building a new calf raising facility is an expensive investment and not always an option. Converting an existing structure, whether it’s a pole shed or old stanchion barn, to house and raise calves can be a great option when done correctly. When considering repurposing an existing structure, a lot of thought goes into the logistics of everyday calf care, such as feeding and bedding, but one area that can be overlooked is proper ventilation. A poorly ventilated calf barn will quickly lead to struggles with calf health and poor performance. To avoid these and achieve proper ventilation, a system that can deliver fresh air in different penning set ups and overcome potential structural challenges is key. Read More →

Stepping Back: With Reflection and Gratitude

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By Dan Leiterman

This coming April I will be 72 years old and have served the agricultural industry for nearly 50 years. After much reflection and with immense gratitude, I believe it is time to step back and retire.

In reflecting back on my career, it is humbling to see how much I owe the farming community. Almost everything in my life can be somehow connected to my career in agriculture. It was 45 years ago, while working at a local feed mill in western Wisconsin that a pretty young woman came into our store looking for horse feed. I loaded the feed into her truck and asked her out on a date. Fast forward to today, Jan and I have been married for over 43 years. We have raised a family and now enjoy watching our sons grow their families.

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When Mixing Milk Replacer, Water Temperature Matters

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By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.

In the children’s book Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a little girl named Goldilocks wanders into the forest home of a family of bears and while they are out, she eats from three different bowls of porridge. The first one is too hot and the second one is too cold, but the third one was “just right”. When mixing milk replacer it’s important that the water used to mix is not too hot or too cold. So what temperature is “just right” when mixing calf milk replacer?

 

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Benefits Of A High Quality Milk Replacer

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20210917_CCWEB_CassyBy Cassy Golburg, B.A.

Choosing a milk replacer can seem daunting. There are a variety of things to consider including the type of ingredients, ingredient quality, and the way a milk replacer is processed. All of these can have a large effect on the digestibility and the quality of the milk replacer. Crystal Creek® offers four high quality milk replacer formulations designed to help a calf reach its genetic potential in a dairy herd.

Processing Style:

Many milk replacers are heat processed. Standard heat processing involves adding heat and steam at many stages of production. Gentle processing, on the other hand, avoids any additional steam or heat that could compromise protein structure and nutrient availability. Gentle processing also plays a part in the digestibility of the milk replacer. Crystal Creek® uses gentle processing for its milk replacers, this allows for higher quality ingredients like human grade fats to be used, and the preservation of proteins.

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Crystal Creek® Natural, LLC
1600 Roundhouse Road  •  Spooner, Wisconsin 54801
 1-888-376-6777  •  info@crystalcreeknatural.com

Crystal Creek