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Consistency Matters As Much As Production

Your milk statements from the plant carry more meaning than how big the check will be at the end of the month. You already know that fat and protein test averages tell volumes about effective fiber, ration digestibility, protein, and carbohydrate balance, as well as many other factors, such as fat levels in the diet.
 
The variability of these component values can be as telling, if not more so, than the monthly or weekly averages. Variations in milk fat, protein percentage, and milk urea nitrogen can also point out effects of crowding, heat stress, large meal sizes and slug feeding, and inconsistencies in feeding times or accuracy of total mixed ration formulation.
 
In the December 2015 Wisconsin Agriculturist article Consistency matters as much as production, UW-Extension Wood County Agriculture Agent Matt Lippert discusses how to use your own herd as a benchmark and to account for sources of  variability.
 

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The Benefits of Group Sow Housing

Video: The Benefits of Group Sow Housing


Discover how Alberta producers are successfully transitioning to sow group housing ahead of the 2029 Code of Practice deadline. In this video, Stan and Andy Van Essen of AVE Farms share their firsthand experience converting their barn, the benefits they’ve seen for sow welfare, herd management, employees, and overall farm performance. Whether you’re considering your own conversion or looking to learn from fellow producers, this walkthrough offers practical insights and real-world results to help guide your decision-making.