Category: Farm Management

Resource Category Topic Type
Alfalfa-grass or red clover-grass: Effects on milk production, composition, nitrogen, and energy utilization
Research has shown that dairy cows fed legume silages consumed more dry matter (DM) and produced more milk than those receiving grass silages. However, across northeastern U.S. dairies, legumes only contributed to 26% of grazed forage. Research to improve legume persistence while closing knowledge gaps about which legume-grass mixtures are best suitable for producing profitable milk (i.e., higher butterfat and protein) is needed to make organic and conventional dairies in New England more competitive in the long run.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Alternative forages for seasonal slumps
In farming, a ‘summer slump’ refers to the periods of the growing season when traditional forage plants—eaten by livestock—don’t grow well or aren’t readily available. Scientists with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station are helping identify what forage crops could be grown to supplement traditional forages during these seasonal ‘slumps.’
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Climate Science, Farm Management, Resilient Agriculture Resource
An overview of organic, grass-fed dairy farm management and factors related to higher milk production
Until recently, the organic grass-fed (OGF) management systems have had little research directed to identifying best practices for higher milk production. Andre Brito, a scientist with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station and associate professor in the Agriculture, Nutrition and Food Systems department, was one of several Northeast scientists to contribute to a paper in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems journal that studied management techniques of OGF dairy farmers.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Crop rotational complexity affects plant-soil nitrogen cycling during water deficit
When it comes to crop rotations, complexity is key to boosting levels of nitrogen—a soil nutrient that is critical to crop production. That's according to new research involving NHAES Station scientist and professor of natural resources and the environment Stuart Grandy.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Climate Science, Farm Management, Molecular Biology, Soil Management Resource
Effect of selisseo on selenium in milk and in blood for mid- and late-lactation holstein cows
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral that, if deficient in soil, will be deficient in diets fed to dairy cows. Adequate Se is important for animal health to support immune functions and efficiently fight oxidative stress and pathogens. Standard farm practice is to supplement Se in the diet either in mineral form (sodium selenite) or organic forms. This study compared the bio-efficacy of two organic Se sources in mid-lactating dairy cows based on the Se transfer into plasma and milk.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Effect of sodium butyrate, monensin, and butyric acid on Eimeria bovis sporozoites
COLSA scientists Pete Erickson and Tom Foxall led research that found evidence that the compound sodium butyrate—a nutrient that people obtain by consuming beans, peas and other legumes, but that can also be added to animal feed—could be used as a coccidiosis preventative in cattle. Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that affects livestock around the world.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Biological Sciences | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Effects of incremental amounts of red seaweed on milk production, composition and methane emissions
Enteric fermentation (fermentation taking place in the digestive system of animals) by ruminants is the largest source of methane emissions in the US (approximately 25% of total methane emissions). Recently, algae-based feeds have gained attention because they may be able to not only suppress methane emissions, but also to improve animal feed efficiency. Our objective was to evaluate how incremental increases of the seaweed Chondrus crispus affects milk and methane production in organic dairy cows.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Feeding nicotinic acid: Effects on pre-partum cow health, colostrum and calf performance
Colostrum is essential for calf health from the increase in protein content (antibodies and growth factors). However, about 60% of the colostrum produced in the United States fails to meet quality standards. Since nicotinic acid increases blood flow and potentially rumen bacteria growth, adding this to the diet of dry cows could enhance the quality of colostrum for calves. This research examines that hypothesis.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Feeding sodium butyrate to post-weaned replacement heifers
Raising replacement heifers is one of the largest expenses on the farm. Thus, it is important to closely manage young-stock with adequate nutrition to ensure those animals reach developmental maturity. Performance can be affected through diet manipulation, such as changing the volatile fatty acid proportions in the rumen. Scientists found that sodium butyrate is an adequate replacement for monensin in the diets of post-weaned heifers for both growth and reduction in coccidiosis. Sodium butyrate could potentially be fed from birth to first calving for increased nutrient use, growth and improved health.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Feeding wet brewers' grain to heifers
It has been a common practice to feed wet brewers' grains to dairy cows, but no data were available indicating how to feed it to post-weaned heifers. Wet brewers' grains have a propensity to spoil. This research determined how preservation can be increased and whether there are positive or negative effects on performance as compared to heifers fed a conventional diet.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Growing figs in cold climates
Figs can be grown commercially in mild climates, but gardeners in cold climates use various methods such as pots, greenhouses, wrapping, or burying to protect from freezing. Research conducted at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station in 2017 showed success in over-wintering figs in northern New England using row covers, low or high tunnels, improving survival rates, growth, and fruit yield.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Farm Management, Resilient Agriculture, Specialty Crops Resource
High tunnel eggplant varieties, pruning and postharvest storing
Recently, parthenocarpic varieties of eggplant (varieties that fruit without pollination) have been developed specifically for protected cultivation. In places where eggplant is frequently grown in greenhouses, various pruning systems are used to enhance plant productivity and growth. In this study, researchers compared 10 varieties of elongated Italian eggplants to determine whether pruning to a 2- or 4-leader system would impact yields (when compared with no pruning) and the effects of postharvest storage on different varieties.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Farm Management, Resilient Agriculture, Specialty Crops Resource
Identifying the highest-yielding varieties of brussels sprouts for New Hampshire
Brussels sprout (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera) is a popular fall crop in New England. However, rapid turnover in the commercial availability of Brussels sprout cultivars – coupled with dramatic differences in the performance and adaptability among cultivars – make it a challenging crop for growers outside of major production regions to select varieties that will consistently perform well. While a 2013–15 study of Brussels sprout varieties offered recommendations for New England producers, new varieties have since been released. This research focused on re-examining best-performing varieties for the northern New England region and updating best practice recommendations.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Farm Management, Resilient Agriculture, Specialty Crops Resource
Impact of direct-fed enzymes and microbials on the health and performance of dairy cows
Dairy farmers have been using direct-fed microbials (DFMs) for several years in the feeding of dairy cattle. Results include increased feed intake, reduced incidence of ketosis and increased blood antibody concentrations. Supplementing feed with certain enzymes has been shown to increase fiber digestibility, resulting in greater rumen function through enhanced volatile fatty acid production. However, few studies consider the effect of the enzymes cellulases and amylases—with bacteria and yeast supplementation—on colostrum quality and yield.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Is increasing heifer calves without using sexed-semen possible?
Having adequate numbers of heifer calves to replace cows that are culled is essential for the continual success of any dairy farm. There has been much animal research examining the likelihood of female or male offspring. Sexed-semen has resulted in many heifer calves on dairy farms. Is there a way in which dairy producers can increase the number of heifers born without using it?
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Milk production and methane emissions in organic cows that graze on forage canola during the fall
Focus group interviews and surveys indicate that profitable strategies to maximize forage use present a challenge to the majority of organic dairy farmers. Moreover, there's a lack of knowledge about the best annual species and grazing rotations that can lead to higher milk production and farm profitability. Canola as a forage crop is an excellent candidate to test in grazing studies with lactating dairy cows because it helps reduce methane emissions, has a high nutritional value, and is easily digested.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Refining plasma dose response techniques for bioavailability of rumen protected amino acids
Lysine (Lys) and methionine (Met) are the two most limiting amino acids (AAs) in typical North American dairy diets (NRC, 2001). Several rumen-protected Lys (RP-Lys) and rumen-protected methionine (RP-Met) feed supplements are available in the marketplace for increasing concentrations of Lys and Met in metabolizable protein. However, successful use of rumen protected AA products requires accurate and reliable estimates of AA bioavailability because RP-AA nutrients are expensive. This study refines the plasma-free dose response technique to get reliable estimates of relative bioavailability of RP-AA supplements.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Revisiting perennial ryegrass as a forage species in New Hampshire
Certain cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) can provide some of the highest quality forage in addition to being productive and easy to establish. While these qualities make it an attractive prospect for U.S. forage producers, its susceptibility to winter-kill has prevented it from being fully integrated into pastures in the Northeast. NHAES researchers revisited research conducted several years ago at UNH to evaluate what traits contributed to ryegrass productivity and longevity and to better assess whether perennial ryegrass is a good choice for N.H. producers.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource
Silvopasture: A climate-friendly alternative to conventional open pasture practices
According to research at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire, conversion to silvopasture in the northeastern U.S. reduces greenhouse gas emissions when compared with open pasture and lowers soil greenhouse gas emissions by 35-50 percent. Silvopasture practices also improves soil water dynamics and tree growth rates.
Natural Resources and the Environment | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Climate Science, Ecosystem Services, Farm Management Resource
Supplemental mycotoxin deactivator: Effects on lactation performance and rumen parameters
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds naturally produced by certain types of molds and pose a serious risk to both humans and animals. Heat, humidity, and rainfall contribute to the growth and spread of mycotoxins. This makes managing and removing mycotoxins from animal feeds difficult. When feed is high in mycotoxin contamination, the overall health and production of dairy cattle are adversely impacted. Two trials were conducted to measure the effect of a mycotoxin deactivator binder, which can negate the toxic effects on lactating dairy cattle when fed a diet high in mycotoxin contamination.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station | Resource Category | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dairy Science, Farm Management Resource