Glad it was helpful!

Please email dairy field specialist, Larry Tranel, at [email protected] for more information, thank you!

Reply from Dr. Krueder: Yes, you can absolutely listen to the lungs in goats just like you can in cattle. The challenge is that the data suggests we (vets included) aren’t very good at using this tool to accurately identify clinical acute respiratory disease. As a general rule, if you hear abnormal lung sounds (anything other than normal breath sounds on inspiration which is the active phase, and a quite expiration phase, which is passive), that would indicate the potential for disease; a lack of sounds on inspiration is also abnormal. Used in combination with attitude scoring, scoring for other respiratory signs, and an abnormal body temperature, abnormal lung sounds would be another indication for treatment. However, if you do not hear abnormal lungs sounds but all of the other indicators are present, I would not use that as a reason to avoid treatment - the data shows we miss animals that would have benefited from treatment otherwise. Because of the complexities of this, for producers we often do not include lung auscultation in our scoring systems.

Hello - This is the response from UW Extension presenter, Luiz Ferraretto: There are many silage bacteria commonly used as silage inoculants. For example, lactobacillus, pediococcus, lactococcus, enterococcus. But there are other options. If looking for heterofermentation, L. buchneri alone or in combination with L. hilgardii, L. diolivorans or other lactic acid producing bacteria are good options. I suggest the use bacterial inoculants instead of acids for corn silage. The only exception would be when having major issues with stability at feedout. Under this condition, adding some propionic acid to the diet is a good option.

Thanks for your comment, we covered heifer benchmarking (including bodyweight and height at first service) in another webinar that will be available on this playlist soon.

Hello - Thanks for questions. If goat kids do not receive adequate colostrum as soon as possible, they are more prone to illnesses and diseases and lowered growth rates. The immunoglobulins produced in colostrum are only available to the kid in the first few hours of life. www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/files/documents/DairyGoatColostrumManagementFactsheet.pdf

Yes, this parlor could easily be manufactured off-site in a shop and then anchored to both the floor and outside walls or ceiling for strength. Just the posts in the concrete or attached to the concrete is not enough else it will push from side to side when cows on the platforms. thanks for the question!

Hello! This was between 2 and 3 weeks off and on, thanks for the question!

To answer the question our home farm has about 80 to 90 acres available for grazing or haying for the milk cows. Early in the season we graze what we need to keep up with the grass and we make balage or dry hay on the extra. As the season progresses and depending on dryness we graze more of the farm. Occasionally we make some third crop on some fields but usually by then we are grazing most everything. We try to graze from Mid to late April until mid to late October with very little hay feeding (usually we feed 1 small square slice per cow per milking during the grazing season) then continue to graze with higher supplement until late November. This year because of the dryness I started feeding balage fairly heavily in September to supplement the pasture. We also have been planting some of this acreage (5-6 acres) to sorgum sudan to graze during dry periods (It was very helpful this season). As far as heifer feed we have a 30 acre pasture away from the home farm where we rotate heifers and dry cows, I usually move them to new grass every 3 days. Smaller heifers 2-400 pounds are sometimes run with the cows so they can get better feed. I also rent about 25 acres from a neighbor were I make balage or dry hay for winter feed. Also we usually buy some hay every year (30 - 100 balage bales or dry big squares) to make sure we don't run out of feed. So in summary our system is simple, yet complex and flexible.

thank you for your reply