1. Total days on feed lessened from 743 in 1999 to 709 in 2007 and down to 696 in 2013. 
2. First-calf heifers calved younger, moving from 24.6 months of age in 1999 to 23.9 months in 2007 and to 23.4 months in 2013.

FASTER IS BETTER. At least it is when it comes to filling silos. University of Wisconsin personnel point out that rapid filling minimizes the risk of feed losses due to inclement weather and advancing maturity of the crop, reduces labor and overall ensiling costs and improves fermentation by minimizing exposure of the chopped forage to oxygen. Slow filling encourages fungal growth which can result in unstable silage at the time of feed out. When silage is stored in small-diameter silage bags (8 feet), the rate of fill may range from 50 tons to 200 tons per day. The filling rate of large-diameter silage bags (10 feet) and bunker silos (1,000-plus tons) can range from 100 tons to 500 tons per day.

SUMMER'S HEAT STRESS CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS. During summer, research shows that heat stress reduces pregnancy and conception rates which can carry over into the fall months. Additional research indicates embryo loss is increased during heat stress. Dairy nutritionist Rosemarie Burgos-Zimbelman maintains that rectal temperature is a better predictor of milk yield during heat stress than temperature-humidity index and advises dairy producers to monitor the body temperatures of cows to determine which cows cannot cope with heat stress. She says a good rule of thumb is that cows experiencing rectal temperatures of 102.2� F in the afternoon are at risk of reduced milk yield and fertility.

CALCIUM LOST: 8-10 G/D SHORTLY BEFORE CALVING AND 20-30 G/D AT CALVING. And if not addressed, resulting hypocalcemia can impact fresh cow health, future milk production and reproductive performance. Studies also have shown that immune function is compromised in dairy cows with low blood calcium concentrations. Cows with lower blood calcium concentrations within the first day after calving are more likely to have a displaced abomasum, ketosis, retained placenta and resulting metritis and mastitis. Subclinical hypocalcemia potentially occurs in more than 50% of dairy cows, does not present with recognizable symptoms and can only be diagnosed when blood samples are collected within the first 1 to 2 days post-calving and blood calcium concentration is determined to be below 8.5 md/dl. Donna Amaral/Phillips, University of Kentucky, reminds dairy producers to modify pre-fresh or close-up diets, making changes to allow for the physiological system to mobilize calcium so it can be primed and ready for the increased demand associated with the synthesis of colostrum and milk.

THINK TWICE BEFORE ADDING 'JUST A FEW MORE' TO A PEN. While overcrowding sometimes may seem to make economic sense at first blush, it could have long-term consequences. Spanish research has found that milk production declined as stall stocking density increased. Research at the Miner Institute found that, as stall stocking density jumped from 100 to 142 percent, milkfat percentage was reduced and somatic cell count increased. Overstocked cows ate 25 percent faster and ruminated one hour per day less, which researchers say impacted the reduction in the milkfat test. Overstocked cows also experienced a greater pathogen load in their environment, had greater teat end exposure to pathogens and may experience immune suppression.

ACTION TAKEN NOW CAN HELP YOU MAXIMIZE YOUR 2015 FORAGE STANDS, and a Wednesday, Aug. 27, World Class Webinar with Dr. Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin forage agronomist, will be devoted to this precise topic. "Fall Seeding: Strategies to Maximize 2015 Stands" will zero in on methods and management ideas to help you protect and preserve your stands so they provide abundant yields next summer. Dr. Undersander will address questions such as, 

• "Are there changes in fall management recommendations for very winter-hardy alfalfa?"
• "What fall fertilization will improve alfalfa winter survival and yield next spring?" and 
• "Is fall management of alfalfa-grass mixed stand different than for solo alfalfa?" 

3 ONE-DAY DAIRY OBSTETRICS WORKSHOPS SPECIFICLY FOR HISPANIC WORKERS are slated for Tuesday, Aug. 19, Emerald Dairy, Emerald, Wis.; Wednesday, Aug. 20, Central Sands Dairy, Nekoosa, Wis.; and Thursday, Aug. 21, Rosendale Dairy, Pickett, Wis. Each workshop, developed by PDPW, will cover the birthing process for the safe delivery of a healthy calf, with workers will receive hands-on time in the maternity pen with Oscar Duarte, DVM, plus farm safety information from Yurany Ninco Sanchez, National Farm Medicine Center's community outreach trainer, and how to handle the challenging compromised cow led by Bob Leder, DVM. This training, delivered by bilingual trainers, is ideal for every person on your O.B. team and those you want to prepare to join this important team. Workshop start time is 9:45 a.m., wrapping up by 4 p.m. All individuals will receive a completion certificate. Registration deadline is Sunday, Aug. 17. Additional information is available online by clicking here. 

AND 3 ONE-DAY CALF CARE WORKSHOPS SPECIFICLY FOR HISPANIC WORKERS are on tap at three locations across the state:  Tuesday, Aug. 26, Norm-E-Lane, Chili, Wis.; Wednesday, Aug. 27, Sunburst Dairy, Belleville, Wis.; and Thursday, Aug. 28, Sunset Farms, Allenton, Wis. Each workshop will cover the critical first two weeks of a calf's life, with sessions delivered by three bilingual trainers.  Using live calves and cows, the ever-popular Oscar Duarte will focus on newborn protocols, when and how much to feed calves, tube and bottle feeding and much more. Yurany Ninco Sanchez, National Farm Medicine Center's community outreach trainer, will provide information focused on protecting handlers from injury and accidents while Bob Leder, DVM, will address transporting and carrying a newborn calf in a safe manner, euthanasia and more. Workshop start time is 9:45 a.m., wrapping up by 4 p.m. All individuals will receive a completion certificate. Registration deadline is Sunday, Aug. 24. Additional information is available online at this link.

FOUR WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMS ARE OPENING THEIR FARMS to elected officials, community leaders, conservation officials, fellow dairy farmers, neighbors of dairy farmers and citizens interested in keeping Wisconsin communities green and vibrant. These four ACE (Agricultural Community Engagement) On-the Farm Twilight Meeting are jointly sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Towns Association and PDPW. Bring yourself, bring a non-rural friend, bring an elected official. The meetings are FREE. Each On-the-Farm Twilight Meeting will start at 6 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m. and will include a tour of the host dairy followed by a facilitated discussion focused on how the dairy industry and communities can work together to grow strong and better together. Take your pick of four locations across the state: 

• Monday, Aug. 18, Wagner Farms, Hank & Pam Wagner Family, Oconto Falls, Wis.
• Tuesday, Aug. 26, Norm-E-Lane, Meissner Families, Chili, Wis.
• Wednesday, Aug. 27, Sunburst Dairy, Brian and Yogi Brown Family, Belleville, Wis.
• Thursday, Aug. 28, Sunset Farms Inc., Wolf Family, Allenton, Wis.

To reserve a space at any of the four ACE On-the-Farm Twilight Meetings, please contact the Wisconsin Towns Association at 715-526-3157 or email them at [email protected]. Walk-ins are welcome.

Listen to a podcast on Dairyline Radio about ACE On-the-Farm Twilight Meetings:

AG ECONOMIST AND MARKETING GURU DAN BASSE WILL LEAD a series of three World Class Webinars this fall focused on "New Times for Dairying - Risks and Rewards." The three webinars will  be conducted noon to 1 p.m. Central Time. The dates are:

• Wednesday, Sept. 17 "The New Landscape of Feed Costs for Dairymen - How Best to Protect and Profit into 2016"; 
• Wednesday, Oct. 8 "Risk and Opportunities as the EU Liberalizes Trade in a World Seeking Greater Supply"; and 
• Wednesday, Nov. 12 "How Long Will Good Times Last? The Merging of U.S. Dairy and Beef Industries' Profit Cycles."