Retired

Content by Troy Downing

Silage Corn Nutrient Management Guide for Western Oregon

Silage corn is an excellent feed for dairy cattle because of its high dry-matter yield, energy content and palatability. This guide provides nutrient and lime recommendations for silage corn established after ...

Dan M. Sullivan, Troy Downing, Linda Brewer, John M. Hart | Mar 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog

Oregon State University Extension Service

A horse owner's guide to pasture-associated laminitis

Scott Duggan and Troy Downing

EM 9354

Learn how to avoid laminitis in your horse and how to detect when your horse may be suffering from it.

Horse owners can prevent laminitis, a painful hoof inflammation, in their horses by regulating their consumption of lush pasture grasses and grain and ensuring they get exercise and eat unprocessed forages high in fiber.

The key to preventing laminitis in your horses is to regulate their time grazing on grass high in nonstructural carbohydrates. Inadequate exercise is another cause of this painful hoof condition.

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Tasas de Aplicación de Estiércol para la Producción de Forraje en el Oeste de Oregón (Manure Application Rates for Forage Production)

Esta publicación proporciona estimaciones de la eliminación de nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio de cultivos forrajeros que se cultivan en lecherías en el oeste de Oregon. También proporciona orientación sobre las ...

Troy Downing, Dan M. Sullivan | Jun 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog

Manure application rates for forage production

This guide helps determine the proper rate of manure application for growing forage crops on dairies in Western Oregon with the goal of balancing nitrogen input and output via forage harvesting.

Troy Downing, Dan M. Sullivan | Apr 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog

Assessing Phosphorus and Potassium Feeding on Oregon Dairies (in English)

A study was conducted on Oregon dairy farms in 2002-2003 investigating the quantity of phosphorus and potassium in cow diets and in the produced urine and feces.

Troy Downing, Amy Peters, Patrick French, Kathryn Higgs, Mary French | Sep 2016 | Online resource

The Veterinary Feed Directive: Questions and answers for Oregon livestock producers

Oregon livestock producers must comply with the Veterinary Feed Directive, which affects how they use feed-grade antibiotics. This publication outlines regulations and responsibilities.

Sergio Arispe, Charles Estill, Troy Downing | Jan 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog

What are your forages worth?

Learn how to calculate the cost of homegrown forages. Compare the value of these forages against the cost of purchasing high-quality forages.

Troy Downing, Michael Gamroth, Amy Peters, Anna-Marie Chamberlain | Jul 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog

Owning a dairy cow or goat

People who live on a small acreage often choose dairy cattle or dairy goats to harvest and use their forage. Learn how to care for your animal and use the milk she produces.

Troy Downing, Lisbeth Goddik | Dec 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog

Ammonia control best management practices

This publication provides and evaluates best management practices for the control of ammonia lost to the air on dairy farms.

Troy Downing, Michael Gamroth | May 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog

Soil pH and pasture productivity on the Oregon Coast

Producers have questioned the conventional advice to apply lime to change the pH of coastal soils. We look at one set of data on ryegrass pastures that shows the return on investment may indeed be modest.

Troy Downing | Feb 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog

Improved Understanding of Fiber Digestibility in Ryegrasses (in English)

Dairy nutritionists have long known that forages with the same laboratory analysis could produce significantly different performance in lactating cows. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) may explain much of this variation. The objectives of the study described here were to demonstrate NDFD variation between varieties of ryegrass and season of harvest and to use this information as the basis for an educational Extension program.

Troy Downing, Patrick French | Apr 2009 | Online resource

Fiber Digestibility in Ryegrasses (in English)

A look at the fiber digestibility in ryegrasses for cow diets.

Troy Downing, Patrick French | Aug 2008 | Online resource

Convincing Oregon's Dairy Industry They Have a Problem with Phosphorus (in English)

In a study published in the Journal of Extension, the phosphorus feeding levels on Oregon dairy farms were assessed and and compared. On average, farms in the study were overfeeding phosphorus by 18% compared to the recommended level.

Troy Downing, Amy Peters, Patrick French, Kathryn Higgs | Jun 2007 | Online resource