As the sustained increase in dairy production throughout the Southern High Plains region of West Texas and New Mexico continues to stretch the area’s Ogallala Aquifer beyond capacity, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have looked to the efforts of Indian cattle farmers for an attempt to lower the area’s water usage. The potential solution involves replacing corn silage and … Read More
Canola is New Protein Source for Dairy Cattle
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Wisconsin are helping dairy farmers weigh the merits of protein supplements available for their cattle. Dairy producers have two options when it comes to protein supplements soybean meal and now canola meal. “Canola only recently caught on as a protein source for cattle when new varieties were developed,” says Glen A. Broderick, a former … Read More
Tackling Cattle Fever Ticks with Vaccines
A new vaccine for cattle fever ticks and developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could control the pests and help prevent a reinfestation in the United States. Cattle fever ticks still manage to cross the Mexican border into Texas and can transmit pathogens that cause bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis—diseases that can kill … Read More