Home > Crops & Livestock > Livestock > Dairy > Nutrition > Corn Silage Management for Lactating Dairy Cows [Image: Corn silage management] This article contains current recommendations for selecting corn hybrids, planting, harvesting, storing and feeding corn silage to dairy cows. Environmental Consideration on Forage Quality Three factors definitely not favorable for optimal plant growth and forage quality are heat stress, drought, and inadequate soil nutrient supply. These problems are very common in Louisiana. Although we may have little control over these environmental influences, we do need to understand the overall effects of environment on forage quality. Aflatoxin in Dairy Feeds Safe levels for aflatoxin feeding vary with each individual animal. The ingestion of aflatoxin at levels even lower than those given above may cause some undesirable side effects. Moreover, these effects are dependent on factors such as age, sex and general health of the animals. Milk Urea Nitrogen Evaluation in Louisiana Dairy Herds This article summarizes factors influencing MUN in Louisiana Dairy Herds.  more articles... Does Chromium Have a Future in Dairy Cow Nutrition? This article evaluates the potential advantages of feeding chromium to dairy cows All Trace Mineral Supplements Are Not Created Equal When it comes to deciding which mineral supplements to use in livestock feeding, two criteria need to be considered: Biological efficacy and economic efficiency. Managing Feed Cost Ration quality and the level of feed consumed both play important roles in maximizing dairy farm profitability. Feedstuff analysis allows better appreciation of real cost and should be considered in ration formulation. Feed efficiency should be calculated and monitored to identify the most profitable cows of the herd and to evaluate the nutritional programs more closely and accurately.