Troy Downing

Retired

Content by Troy Downing

A Horse Owner’s Guide to Pasture-associated Laminitis

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.

Scott Duggan, Troy Downing | Jun 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 conventional tillage or...

Dan M. Sullivan, Troy Downing, Linda Brewer | Aug 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 tasas de ...

Troy Downing, Dan M. Sullivan | Mar 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Manure Application Rates for Forage Production

This publication provides estimates of crop removal of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for forage crops grown on dairies in western Oregon. It also provides guidance on liquid manure application rates to meet crop nitrogen requirements.

Troy Downing, Dan M. Sullivan | Nov 2020 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Assessing Phosphorus and Potassium Feeding on Oregon Dairies

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

As of January 2017, Oregon livestock producers must comply with a new federal law that fundamentally changes the way feed-grade antibiotics are used in their operations: The Veterinary Feed Directive. This publication answers some ...

Sergio Arispe, Charles Estill, Troy Downing | Sep 2016 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Owning a Dairy Cow or Goat

Discusses how to choose the best type of animal for your needs and briefly mentions issues related to feeding and breeding. Provides information on safely using milk, either fresh or in cheese, butter, or yogurt.

Troy Downing, Lisbeth Goddik | May 2015 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Calculating Dairy Manure Nutrient Application Rates

This publication describes how to calibrate waste-handling equipment and calculate nutrient application rates. It covers calibration of typical equipment found on dairies, such as stationary guns, traveling guns, liquid wagons, and ...

Spanish: Cálculo de Tasas de Aplicación de Estiércoles Nutrientes de Granja Lechera

Troy Downing | Apr 2015 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Dairy Grazing for More Milk and Profit

This publication covers how pasture grows, understanding grazing systems, and forage quality. It also covers advanced tools for managing high-intensity grazing systems, such as the feed wedge (also called pasture wedge or grazing wedge).

Troy Downing, David Hannaway | Dec 2014 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

What Are Your Forages Worth?

Designed to help dairy farmers calculate the costs of homegrown forages and compare them to the costs of purchasing forages. Presents typical per-acre costs of establishing, producing, and harvesting alfalfa or grass for silage to...

Troy Downing, Michael Gamroth | May 2013 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Developing a system to track nitrogen cycling on pasture-based diaries

Most dairy farmers do not have the desire or see the need to have a detailed record-keeping system to make management decisions about their cropland. This project was as much about the behavior and attitudes of dairy farmers...

Troy Downing | Aug 2011 | Article

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 | Aug 2009 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 | May 2009 | Article

The value of locally grown forages continues to go up

A look at the cost/benefit of locally grown forages.

Troy Downing | May 2009 | Article

Forage testing is important for balancing rations

Summer appears to be in full swing here on the coast. This is the time when many livestock producers spend their time cutting silage and hay and preserving it for use later this fall and winter. For years I have seen ...

Troy Downing | May 2009 | Article

Fiber digestibility in cool season grasses

The past several years we have conducted a trail looking at fiber digestibility of several cool season grasses. Grasses were planted in the fall and harvested for two consecutive years. Varieties were replicated three times, dry...

Troy Downing | Apr 2009 | Article

Improved Understanding of Fiber Digestibility in Ryegrasses

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

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

Troy Downing, Patrick French | Aug 2008 | Online resource

Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Cool-season Grasses

This 2-year project has been helpful in characterizing nonstructural carbohydrates in cool-season grasses. We have learned a lot about the normal fluctuations seen across environments and, more specifically, variations due to genetic ...

Troy Downing, Michael Gamroth | Nov 2007 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Forage Cultivars

We are just beginning to see interest by researchers to learn more about a cultivar's palatability and intake potential. Understanding these performance differences between cultivars is of growing importance. In addition to the ...

Troy Downing | Aug 2007 | Article

Convincing Oregon's Dairy Industry They Have a Problem with Phosphorus

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

Feed Management: A Tool for Balancing Nutrients on Dairies and Other Livestock Operations

Excess phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in livestock diets is expensive and potentially damaging to the environment and to animal health. This publication suggests ways to improve feed management and avoid overfeeding P and K. ...

Michael Gamroth, Troy Downing | Jul 2006 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Judging Dairy Cattle: Giving Reasons

When you want to talk about dairy cattle with someone, you need accurate, meaningful vocabulary words (terminology or terms) in order to understand each other. When you give a set of reasons, an accurate set of terms is ...

Troy Downing, Michael Gamroth | Apr 2005 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Phosphorus on the farm from feed grains and by-products

Phosphorus is an important plant nutrient for growing dairy forages. Unfortunately, many dairies have more phosphorus excreted and stored in manure than they can use during a crop year. Soils have the ability to store moderate ...

Troy Downing, Michael Gamroth | Mar 2004 | Article

Keeping Track of Manure Nutrients in Dairy Pastures

Designed to help dairy owners determine manure application rates and forage consumption. Describes how to: (1) estimate manure generated by animals and the confinement facility; (2) measure grass consumed by animals using clip and ...

Troy Downing | Aug 2001 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Flame-clipping Udders on Dairy Cows

Explains benefits of removing hair from udders and how to flame-clip udders.

Michael Gamroth, Troy Downing | Apr 2000 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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