DSD 6.12 | Brachytic corn for increased production

The brachytic gene mutation results in corn that is shorter in stature but an improved digestibility profile. Through a reduction in intranode distance, the corn plant reduces indigestible fiber. Dr. Antonio Gallo, PhD ruminant nutritionist from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and his team in Italy recently studied the impact of this gene mutation on the productivity of the dairy herd.

High quality, home grown forages allow dairy producers to maintain the competitive edge. By limiting the purchase of off-farm nutrients, forages possess the ability to advance or hold back a herd. When brachytic corn was fed, they found a yield increase of 3.8 lbs/cow/day. However, the higher producing animals did not consume more.

“This is likely due to a chemotactic effect,” Gallo describes. The team measured changes in the intake pattern which provided insight to future research questions for data to better understand how this phenomenon could have happened.

The quality of corn silage impacts the health and productivity of the dairy cow. Additionally, her intake behavior is impacted by the ration. As more dairy farms move toward robotic systems, maximizing the energy density of the PMR will directly impact productivity, perhaps brachytic corn is most important in these systems.

Listen in to understand how the brachytic corn variety might work in your operation.

Topics of discussion

1:24 Introduction of Dr. Antonio Gallo 3:01 What is “brachytic” 5:38 Chemical analysis of Short Stature (SSC) vs Tall Stature Corn (TSC) 6:24 NDF differences (Table 2) 9:11 Dry matter differences – ‘stay green’ benefit 10:02 What about disease pressure in corn fields 12:01 SSC field observations re: lodging during derechos 12:31 Planting rate 13:37 Ration calculation – and feeding strategy 14:58 Individual intake and feeding behavior of each animal 15:59 Research herd description 16:13 Milk yield response, 3.8 lbs/cow/day 17:22 Rumen Flow Rate 18:22 Dry matter yield drag at harvest? 20:10 Feed behavior – eating less and producing more 21:04 Chemotactic effect - Apparent digestibility NDF, starch and protein 24:52 What do you want ‘boots on the ground’ dairymen to know about your project Featured Article:

Effect of silage from a new brachytic corn hybrid with a high harvest index on feeding behavior and performance of lactating dairy cows

#2xAg2030; #journalofdairyscience; #openaccess; #MODAIRY; #NDFd; #cornsilage; #brachytic; #moremilk; #staygreen; #lignin; #mealsize; #dairysciencedigest; #ReaganBluel

DSD 6.11 | The sweet spot - Insemination timing for peak profit

With changes in the marketplace, coupled with increased reproductive performance of your herd there is an increased opportunity to improve net return. While breeding beef and sexed semen is no longer new, our industry has experienced a miscalculation of the ideal number of replacement heifers needed to optimize this model.

To ensure you’re on the right path, Megan Lauber , Dr. Paul Fricke and Dr. Victor Cabrera from University of WI recently completed work on a model of the interaction between 21-d Preg rate, semen type, days in milk and heifer survival to find the optimum window – known as the Insemination Eligibility Period (IEP). This metric will soon to be easily monitored with a tool available online.

Their model found $51.00 / head improvements in net return when all the metrics are optimized. Listen in for a comprehensive discussion about how to model your herd’s data to customize and therefore optimize your reproductive trajectory and financial success of the future.

Topics of discussion

1:33 Introduction of Megan Lauber 2:54 Impact of strategic breeding on the beef semen industry, as of 2025 5:33 Preg Rate's impact on the insemination eligibility period (IEP) & change over time 7:49 Semen scenarios / combinations of beef and xx-semen to control inventory 9:34 Defining Insemination eligibility period (IEP) 11:21 Impact of insufficient replacements 13:03 Optimum time to inseminate a cow to maximize income 13:53 How does the shift in IEP manipulate the age of the national herd? 16:24 Figure 3: the unexpected shape of the net return 21:20 Herd turnover rate and Heifer survivability 22:48 Heifer hoarding vs just right 25:40 Figure 5: Net Return 28:57 Figure 7: Impact on Net return when Preg Rate increases across semen models 32:15 Why was 170 d used for the net return analysis? 33:21 What do you want “boots on the ground” dairymen to learn from this project?

Featured Article:

An economic simulation model to assess the effect of the 21-day pregnancy rate, semen type, and heifer survival rate on the optimal insemination eligibility period for lactating dairy cows

Dr. Victor Cabrera’s TOOL website : https://dairymgt.cals.wisc.edu/tools.php

#2xAg2030; #journalofdairyscience; #openaccess; #MODAIRY; #reproduction; #model; #pregrate; #21-dPR; #netreturn; #beefondairy; #sexedsemen; #dairysciencedigest; #ReaganBluel

DSD 6.11 | The sweet spot - Insemination timing for peak profit

With changes in the marketplace, coupled with increased reproductive performance of your herd there is an increased opportunity to improve net return. While breeding beef and sexed semen is no longer new, our industry has experienced a miscalculation of the ideal number of replacement heifers needed to optimize this model.

To ensure you’re on the right path, Megan Lauber , Dr. Paul Fricke and Dr. Victor Cabrera from University of WI recently completed work on a model of the interaction between 21-d Preg rate, semen type, days in milk and heifer survival to find the optimum window – known as the Insemination Eligibility Period (IEP). This metric will soon to be easily monitored with a tool available online.

Their model found $51.00 / head improvements in net return when all the metrics are optimized. Listen in for a comprehensive discussion about how to model your herd’s data to customize and therefore optimize your reproductive trajectory and financial success of the future.

Topics of discussion

1:33 Introduction of Megan Lauber 2:54 Impact of strategic breeding on the beef semen industry, as of 2025 5:33 Preg Rate's impact on the insemination eligibility period (IEP) & change over time 7:49 Semen scenarios / combinations of beef and xx-semen to control inventory 9:34 Defining Insemination eligibility period (IEP) 11:21 Impact of insufficient replacements 13:03 Optimum time to inseminate a cow to maximize income 13:53 How does the shift in IEP manipulate the age of the national herd? 16:24 Figure 3: the unexpected shape of the net return 21:20 Herd turnover rate and Heifer survivability 22:48 Heifer hoarding vs just right 25:40 Figure 5: Net Return 28:57 Figure 7: Impact on Net return when Preg Rate increases across semen models 32:15 Why was 170 d used for the net return analysis? 33:21 What do you want “boots on the ground” dairymen to learn from this project?

Featured Article:

An economic simulation model to assess the effect of the 21-day pregnancy rate, semen type, and heifer survival rate on the optimal insemination eligibility period for lactating dairy cows

Dr. Victor Cabrera’s TOOL website : https://dairymgt.cals.wisc.edu/tools.php

#2xAg2030; #journalofdairyscience; #openaccess; #MODAIRY; #reproduction; #model; #pregrate; #21-dPR; #netreturn; #beefondairy; #sexedsemen; #dairysciencedigest; #ReaganBluel