Charles Sniffen

Why should we do this?With a good controlled fermentation (con-trolling pH or acidity) in the rumen, we will do two things: first, we will maximize the energy derived from the fiber, starch and other carbohydrates fed and secondly we will optimize microbial protein flow from the rumen. This results in high quality protein production in the rumen and can reduce the need to feed more expensive ingre ...

Forages make up 45 to 95 percent of the feed that dairy animals receive on a farm. We usually think in terms of just the lactating cows. It is more difficult to think in terms of the whole herd in terms of the forage needs for the farm on an annual basis.Forages are the single-most important feed that we feed on the farm and the most variable in quality. It is critical to the profitable success of ...

Introduction  There is increasing pressure at federal, state and local levels about nutrient waste and pollution relative to N, P, CH4 and CO2 discharges from the animal industry. Large animal operations have come under more intense scrutiny than small animal operations, with CAFO regulations being put in place.    This has put increasing pressure on producers and us as nu ...

IntroductionThe work of Dr. Mike Allen, Michigan State in the late 80’s, measuring NDF digestibility of different corn silage hybrids, initially resulted in much controversy. There was much resistance to the concept that differences in fiber digestibility in corn silage could have an impact on animal performance. He proceeded to do studies with BMR hybrids as well as with conventional hybrid ...