A TMR mixer is a long life, depreciable asset, that simultaneously decreases feed cost and increases animal productivity (revenue), with the cost being amortizable over numerous years, its operational life being a function of how much it is used each year. Dr. Alan Vaage Dr. Alan Vaage is a Ruminant Nutritionist with over 30 years [...]

Consistent feed composition and delivery are generally recognized as key components for optimal animal health and maximizing milk production and profitability. Equally important are accurate measurement and tracking of feed intake for determining feed efficiency of milk production and income over feed cost (IOFC) as key indicators of economic performance and profitability. Dr. Alan Vaage [...]

Addition of water to total mixed rations (TMRs) has become a generally accepted recommendation to reduce sorting behaviour by cattle during eating. As such, there are a number of recommendations out there concerning the “ideal” moisture content for total mixed rations (TMRs), some of which may seem to contradict each another. Dr. Alan Vaage Dr. [...]

A recent experiment in the Journal of Dairy Science by Jud Heinrich’s group at Pennsylvania State University lends support to Jaylor’s recommendations for the optimal particle size distribution of total mixed rations (TMRs) for dairy cattle. Dr. Alan Vaage Dr. Alan Vaage is a Ruminant Nutritionist with over 30 years of experience in the beef [...]