Priority Area: Ensuring animal health and welfare
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Demonstration feed mill
A new project at UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Farm will bring a small-scale feed mill to life inside the maternity cow barn, giving students hands-on experience while supporting research that promotes animal…
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Increasing nutritional density of alfalfa through the application of locally-sourced effective microorganisms
This project investigates whether adding locally-sourced effective microorganisms (LEM) to alfalfa can enhance its nutritional value as dairy feed. Previous studies have shown that LEMs can increase essential nutrients in…
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Further development of Dairy Forage Fractionation (DFF) equipment
Wisconsin dairy farms rely on high-quality feed to keep their animals healthy and productive, but current methods for improving forage digestibility are often too expensive or impractical. This project aims…
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Management and housing practices related to bulk tank milk butterfat and protein concentration in WI dairy herds
Over the years, U.S. dairy farmers have significantly improved milk production and enhanced milkfat and protein levels, key components for high-quality dairy products like cheese. In Wisconsin, where dairy is…
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Ultracentrifuge enhances research capacity within Dairy Innovation Hub and teaching opportunities for UW-River Falls
Mastitis is one of the most common and costly diseases affecting dairy cows in the U.S., leading to significant losses for farmers due to treatment expenses, reduced milk production, and…
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Acquisition of a grinder-mixer to process high oleic soybeans
Palm fat, a by-product of palm oil production, is commonly added to dairy cow feed to increase energy levels, including at Mann Valley Farm (MVF). However, concerns about palm oil’s…
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Gene expression and sequence analysis to mitigate stress responses/outbreaks in dairy cows and increase alfalfa production.
Dairy production is a major economic driver in Wisconsin, generating 43.5% of the state’s total agriculture activity contributing $45.6 billion to industrial revenues and providing157,100 viable employment opportunities. Vital to…
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Development of online course on udder health: “Milk Quality from the Udder World (UW)
The dairy industry is evolving, creating a demand for research-based educational materials that promote best practices and support workforce development on dairy farms. Despite abundant research on milk quality and…
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Nutritional strategies to reduce early pregnancy loss in dairy cattle
The Dairy Task Force 2.0 recommended creating the Dairy Innovation Hub (recommendation #2) to address an urgent need for research and innovation to maintain a sustainable competitive advantage of Wisconsin…
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Assessing changes in the fecal microbiomes of neonatal dairy calves to enhance animal health
Diarrhea is one of the primary causes of mortality in neonatal dairy calves and results in financial losses to dairy farmers. Factors associated with birth seasons such as temperature, crowding…
