Articles
Livestock Quiz Bowl & Skillathon Contest
Meats Judging Contest
Look at all costs, not just daily feed cost, when evaluating feedlot rations
Evaluating different rations and scenarios as prices and situations change to optimize profits using the resources the farm has available is time well spent. When doing so, it is critical to look at all costs impacted by any ration changes, not just ration cost per ton or feed cost per day, to assess costs and returns accurately.
Animal Sciences Virtual Education Series
In 2024, one webinar will be offered on Monday, February 5th, from 7-8. p.m. This is available for all youth grades 3-13. The session will be recorded and available on the Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program’s YouTube channel. This is offered in connection with the University of Wisconsin Madison Animal & Dairy Sciences Department, College of Agricultural […]
Considerations for Breeding Dairy Cattle to Beef Breeds for Meat Production
Producing beef x dairy cross calves has the potential to increase market value of these calves compared to straight bred dairy bull calves. However, as the supply of beef x dairy cross calves increases, it’s reasonable to assume buyers will become more discerning. Dairy producers can stack the odds in their favor with thoughtful beef […]
Dairy farm use, and criteria for use, of beef genetics on dairy females
Interest has grown in utilizing beef sires on dairy females. Beef x dairy cross calves may provide an opportunity to increase revenue from calf sales, and improve feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics. Conversely, crossbred calves may introduce more variability in performance and carcass characteristics compared to their purebred dairy counterparts. In the fall/winter of 2018 […]
When to Cull Bulls
It is common practice this time of year to evaluate our cows to make culling decisions, but this is also a good time to evaluate our bulls to determine which sires we are going to feed through the winter and which have come to the end of their genetic contribution to the operation. Bulls, much […]
Welcome to the 2021 Badger Swine Symposium
Welcome to the 2021 virtual Badger Swine Symposium. The University of Wisconsin system has a strong history of swine research that continues today. Learn about several student swine research projects and a couple faculty research projects that are ongoing. Dr. Tom Crenshaw is a professor of animal science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Nutritional strategies to stop pig growth during crisis management – 2021 Badger Swine Symposium
Hear about the research on the efficacy of using ammonium chloride supplements during crisis management as a strategy to limit or stop growth in various ages of pigs. Learn about the optimal ammonium chloride dosage for water or feed to limit any negative effects in the recovery phase. Discover the answer to if there is compensatory growth after ammonium chloride supplementation or if there is normal growth to know when animals will achieve market weight.
Methods to assess dietary phosphorus adequacy for sows – 2021 Badger Swine Symposium
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that is involved in multiple physiological functions. These functions include bone mineralization, energy transfer and storage, cell membrane structure maintenance, and acid-base balance. Adequate phosphorus nutrition of sows is critical for optimal growth and development of the offspring during gestation and lactation. It’s also very important for maternal health and productive performance. Despite this importance to animal function, there is limited research on this nutrient. Normally diets are formulated to provide an excess of phosphorus, but this process presents environmental concerns. So additional information on actual phosphorus requirements of the sow are important to be able to balance the diet with adequate, but not excessive phosphorus levels.
