Rumen Health Leads to Overall Herd Health

Rumen stability must be properly managed for herd health and optimum efficiency. Feeding and nutrition management can improve production and fertility as well as reduce the length of time between calving. Learn more about rumen health and prevention methods for rumen acidosis in dairy cattle.

Heifers: Increasing the Potential of Your Future Milking Herd

Heifers are the future of your herd and your long-term success as a dairy producer. Heifer raising makes up 20-25% of the total cost of milk production. A successful pre-weaning calf program has been proven to increase first lactation milk yield by 1,000 lbs – 3,000 lbs. Genetic selection can account for 150 lbs-300 lbs greater milk production per lactation, but pre-weaning management can increase this 5-fold.

A successful pre-weaning calf program includes:

  • 1 gal of high-quality colostrum within 4 hours of birth…

Equine Nutrition | Bailey’s Bit About Nutrition

Horses are not ruminants, but still can live off of plant material. Horses are grazing animals with digestive tracts best suited for eating forages for 15- 20 hours per day. Grass and hay are the natural feeds for horses due to the structure and shape of the equine digestive tract. Unlike the cow, their stomachs are relatively small and can only hold about eight quarts. Their stomachs can actually hold more, but the stomach begins to empty when it is only two-thirds full.

Free Choice Mineral | Bailey’s Bit About Nutrition

Free Choice Mineral 
Free choice mineral mixes are commonly used to provide the mineral that grazing cattle need. Cattle are great self-regulators and they usually know about how much to consume in order to balance the minerals in their body. Free choice programs are an excellent way to allow the livestock to choose the nutrients they need and replenish what might be lacking in their feeds.
Salt can be used as a weapon to control intake.

Sheep Nutrition | Bailey’s Bit About Nutrition

Sheep Nutrition
Sheep nutrition should include water, energy (carbohydrates and fats), proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Sheep are ruminants so they eat grass, forbs, clover, and other plants found on pasture. Comparing a sheep to a cow, sheep tend to eat a greater variety of plants than cattle do. They particularly like forbs. Forbs are herbaceous (not woody), broadleaf plants that are not grass-like. Sheep prefer forbs as they are very nutritious. When pasture is not available, harvested feeds, such as silage, hay, green chop, and crop …

Free Choice Minerals: Summer Sale

Balance Nutrition with Needed Minerals 
Free choice minerals are essential to keep a balanced diet for all life stages. Providing livestock with a free choice option ensures a balanced diet without ration balancing. 
 
 
 
Pallet Discount (June 1 to August 31, 2021) 
Receive a $1/bag discount for each 40 bag (pallet) increment when purchasing any combination of free choice minerals. 

Featured Products:

  • “O” SK Blend – A free choice package designed to provide supplemental salt and kelp to livestock which also meets organic production standards.

Proactive Management, Cow Comfort Keys to Organic Farming Success

In 1993, the team at R & G Miller & Sons, Inc. opted to make the switch to organic dairy farming. “We weren’t satisfied with the way things were going on the farm,” said Ron Miller, general farm manager. “After becoming organic certified on all 1,550 acres and feeding our cattle organic feed for a year, we became fully organic certified in 1997. Since the transition, our yields have gone up, and I’ve only seen one alfalfa field on the farm that could benefit from pesticide …