The Moos Room™

University of Minnesota Extension

Hosted by members of the University of Minnesota Extension Beef and Dairy Teams, The Moos Room discusses relevant topics to help beef and dairy producers be more successful. The information is evidence-based and presented as an informal conversation between the hosts and guests.

  1. -6 j

    Episode 357 - From Calf to Carcass: Early Nutrition for Beef-on-Dairy Success - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

    Beef-on-dairy calves continue to bring strong prices, but producing calves that perform well from birth through harvest requires careful decisions about genetics and nutrition. In this episode, we look at current Minnesota calf markets, the factors influencing beef sire selection and recent research exploring how early feeding programs affect the long-term performance of Angus-Holstein calves. A University of Minnesota study compared conventional 20:20 milk replacer with a higher-energy 24:24 formulation. Calves receiving the 24:24 milk replacer had greater starter intake, faster weight and frame growth, and improved feed efficiency through eight weeks of age. The results suggest that supplying more nutrients early in life may encourage—not suppress—starter consumption. We also discuss an Iowa State University study that followed beef-on-dairy steers from the nursery through harvest. Although pelleted diets produced faster growth shortly after weaning, cattle raised on forage-based total mixed rations performed better later in the feeding period. The low-starch TMR group finished with heavier body and carcass weights, more Prime carcasses and greater carcass value, while the high-starch TMR group experienced substantially more liver abscesses. The research highlights why early growth should not be the only goal. Rumen health, feed costs, finishing performance and carcass quality all matter when developing profitable beef-on-dairy feeding programs. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos RoomTwitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafetyFacebook -> @UMNDairyYouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and HealthInstagram -> @UMNWCROCDairyExtension WebsiteAgriAmerica Podcast Directory

  2. 20 juil.

    Episode 356 - Heat Stress and Water Intake in Dairy Cows - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

    This episode examines how heat stress affects water intake in dairy cows—and why farms must prepare their watering systems for increasingly hot weather. A review of studies from 1985–2024 found that Holstein cows producing roughly 65–70 pounds of milk averaged about 24 gallons of water per day under thermoneutral conditions. During heat stress, intake increased by approximately 10 liters, or 2–3 gallons, per cow per day. Each one-unit increase in the temperature-humidity index was associated with another 1.5 liters of water intake. Although heat-stressed cows produce less milk, they drink more because the additional water supports evaporative cooling and body-temperature regulation. Data from the University of Minnesota’s dairy herd revealed a more complicated picture. smaXtec sensors showed that cows averaged around 23 gallons per day, but estimated intake declined during summer. Possible reasons include warmer drinking water, pasture water access, competition at waterers, and changes in drinking behavior. Cows generally drank only four or five times per day, consuming roughly 14–20 liters at each visit. Peak drinking also shifted from midafternoon in winter to around 7 p.m. in summer, often after milking. These patterns highlight the importance of examining when cows drink—not just daily totals. Farms should ensure adequate water flow, tank capacity, access, and cool water during peak-use periods. Sensor readings are most valuable when compared with each cow’s normal behavior and interpreted alongside weather, milk production, rumination, health events, and management changes. The central message is that water intake can be a useful indicator of heat stress, but unexpected changes should prompt investigation rather than an automatic conclusion. As extreme heat becomes more common, dairy water systems must be designed for peak demand rather than historical averages. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos RoomTwitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafetyFacebook -> @UMNDairyYouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and HealthInstagram -> @UMNWCROCDairyExtension WebsiteAgriAmerica Podcast Directory

À propos

Hosted by members of the University of Minnesota Extension Beef and Dairy Teams, The Moos Room discusses relevant topics to help beef and dairy producers be more successful. The information is evidence-based and presented as an informal conversation between the hosts and guests.

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