Dairying, by its nature, requires specific practices to conserve and protect soil and water resources. Best management practices (BMPs) are an effective and practical means of reducing point- and nonpoint-source water pollutants at levels compatible with environmental quality goals. (PDF Format Only)

Electronic measures of somatic cell counts on individual cows can be used to manage somatic cell counts in bulk tank milk.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provides information on the latest developments and issues affecting dairy farming.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provides information on the latest developments and issues affecting the dairy industry.

Most ration formulation is completed by computers. Numerous software products have been developed to assist nutritionist in matching feedstuffs to nutrient requirements for particular production settings. They can estimate nutrient supply from a diet and reports how well a given diet meets the requirements for the animal specified.

When it comes to deciding which mineral supplements to use in livestock feeding, two criteria need to be considered: Biological efficacy and economic efficiency.

The Southern Dairy Conference is a major outreach function of the Southern Extension/Research Activities Information Exchange Group 15 - Sustainability and Competitiveness of the Southern Dairy Industry.

Ration quality and the level of feed consumed both play important roles in maximizing dairy farm profitability. Feedstuff analysis allows better appreciation of real cost and should be considered in ration formulation. Feed efficiency should be calculated and monitored to identify the most profitable cows of the herd and to evaluate the nutritional programs more closely and accurately.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provides information on the latest developments and issues affecting dairy farming. Some topics covered include: Farm Bill Update, Dairy Scholarships and Ag Related Jobs Available, Alfalfa Baleage Production, Quality, and Persistence, Whole Cottonseed is still worth the Price.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provided information on the latest developments and issues affecting dairy farming.

This article discusses common diseases in show animals and how to prevent them.

This report is a joint publication of the LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, the Hill Farm Research Station, and the Department of Dairy Science. It provides details of research trials at the three locations along with some topical papers of importance to dairy producers in Louisiana.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs and returns for beef cattle, dairy and forage crop production in Louisiana for the 2009 crop year.

Role of vitamin E in dairy cow nutrition. Effects on reproduction, imunity, and production.

Minutes of the meetings of the Southern Extension/Research Activities Information Exchange Group 15 - Sustainability and Competitiveness of the Southern Dairy Industry

DAIRYSOUTH-L is an e-mail discussion group hosted by the Southern Extension/Research Activities Information Exchange Group 15 - Sustainability and Competitiveness of the Southern Dairy Industry.

Objectives of the Southern Extension/Research Activities Information Exchange Group 15 - Sustainability and Competitiveness of the Southern Dairy Industry.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provided information on the latest developments and issues affecting dairy farming.

The LSU AgCenter soon will begin comprehensive tests for salt contamination in areas of Vermilion Parish hit by Hurricane Rita’s storm surge, but officials this week said the problem may not be as bad as originally feared.

Many producers use early weaning programs to lower the costs of feed and labor. Calves tend to scour less when consuming solid feeds compared with liquid feeds. As a result, health costs may decrease.

Members of the Southern Extension/Research Activities Information Exchange Group 15 - Sustainability and Competitiveness of the Southern Dairy Industry.

Based on the information known at the time of the storm, and given the historical value of these industries to the state, the AgCenter was able to provide preliminary estimates on losses of revenue due to production losses.

The dollar amounts, which are estimates of reduced revenue and increased costs, are broken down by storm and commodity. Total estimated costs are also provided.

In replacement rearing, no phase has greater potential for decreasing production costs and increasing profitability than the period prior to weaning.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provides information on the latest developments and issues affecting dairy farming.

The USDA Dairy Sire Summaries now include three selection indexes that can be very useful in simplifying sire selection. These are called Net Merit Dollars (NM$), Cheese Merit Dollars (CM$) and Fluid Merit Dollars (FM$).

A healthy calf crop provides replacement animals for the future of the dairy operation. However, a busy work environment often causes the neonatal calf to become overlooked, leading to consequences that may be irreversible. It is important to understand that the neonate must consume sufficient colostrum as soon after birth as possible to achieve the needed passive immunity to survive the first few weeks of life.

The Livestock Indemnity Program was a new, permanent disaster payment program created in the 2008 Farm Bill. The rules for this program have recently been published,and this document informs producers and other interested parties on how to determine if they are eligible for the program.

This article evaluates the potential advantages of feeding chromium to dairy cows

This series of articles was prepared by LSU AgCenter extension personnel to address some of the most important topics affecting Louisiana dairy producers during a severe drought. Those topics include Feeding Drought-Stressed Hay and Silage Crops; Weed and Chemical Toxins in Drought-Stressed Forages; Pasture Options for Dairy Producers; Winter Annual Pasture Management and Costs; and Coping with Forage Shortages Due to Drought Conditions: Purchased Forages and By-Products.

Handbook for Understanding Act 461 of the 2007 Louisiana Legislature-Refundable Tax Credit for Dairy Farmers

Poultry litter is relatively rich in nutrients and organic matter, but it needs to be properly managed. This article discusses how to realize the most benefits from poultry litter utilization as a fertilizer.

This article summarizes factors influencing MUN in Louisiana Dairy Herds.

This study evaluates ways to take advantage of seasonal impact on dairy farms.

This report evaluates the natural variability in the sperm sex ratio.

This article contains current recommendations for selecting corn hybrids, planting, harvesting, storing and feeding corn silage to dairy cows.

This study at the Southeast Research Station evaluated the effects of body condition at calving on the performance of lactating dairy cows.

Dry cow management is an integral part of total herd management. There are five keys to maintaining an excellent dry cow program.

One of the most difficult feeding challenges faced by dairy farmers is the drop off in feed intake and milk production during the summer. To minimize these losses, rations must be specially formulated for hot weather.

This report presents estimates of production costs for beef cattle, dairy cattle and forage production in Louisiana for 2005.

Producers can improve milk quality in Louisiana by lowering somatic cell counts, especially during the summer and early fall.

Monitoring the milking procedures, equipment cleaning and milk cooling should go a long way in producing high quality milk that is low in bacteria.

Determining what level of milk production and feed cost yields the most profit for the farm should be the main objective of any measure of economic and production efficiency; because at the end of the day, the main thing that counts is the number of cwt produced and the amount of profit from each cwt. This is the economic indicator that tells you the total net income for the farm.

Calf Notes is your source for pertinent, non-commercial and unbiased information on raising young dairy calves.

Safe levels for aflatoxin feeding vary with each individual animal. The ingestion of aflatoxin at levels even lower than those given above may cause some undesirable side effects. Moreover, these effects are dependent on factors such as age, sex and general health of the animals.

(Distributed 03/16/09) Rising costs to retailers and heavy worldwide demand pushed up the cost of milk for U.S. consumers, but recent events have put dairy farmers in a bind, according to an agricultural economist with the LSU AgCenter.

The Louisiana Dairy Digest is a publication of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that provides information on the latest developments and issues affecting the dairy industry.

Replacement heifers represent the future of the dairy farm. When deciding the best way to manage the heifer enterprise, dairy producers should realize that they have several options.

Farmers attending workshops in Acadia and Calcasieu parishes Tuesday (Oct. 25) learned about assistance for dealing with hardships caused by two hurricanes that struck the state this summer. Similar sessions, organized by the LSU AgCenter, were planned for New Iberia, Hammond and Raceland over the next few days.

Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during a week of competition at the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

Although there’s not an imminent danger, some scientists say a widespread disease or bioterrorism attack could wipe out significant portions of the U.S. farm animal population. That's where the National Animal Germplasm Program comes in.

(Distributed 11/05/03) Participants heard reports on a variety of research during a field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station on Oct. 30. Topics covered during the event ranged from the importance of conducting research to the need for farmers to be concerned about biosecurity in their operations.

Forage producers toured three different operations this week to learn the latest techniques in the production and use of high-quality grass to support the livestock operations in central and northwestern Louisiana.