Paul Dyk, MSc, PAS is owner of Forward Dairy Consulting, LLC. He provides independent nutrition and management consulting to his dairy clients with a focus on listening to and meeting his client’s goals.
Paul received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dordt College (now Dordt University) with a double major in Animal Science and Biology. He obtained his Master of Science in Dairy Nutrition from Michigan State University with Dr. Mike VandeHaar. His Master’s work included a landmark field study looking at the relationship of precalving nutrition and management to metabolic health issues.
Paul has a diverse work background that has developed skills in dairy nutrition and management, teaching, and practical farm solutions. He worked for 5 years in the UW Extension service and 1.5 years in the Michigan State Extension service with a focus on developing materials for employee training, pioneering an employee newsletter, and organizing events around animal welfare and manure management. Paul and his wife owned and managed a dairy for 4 years that included both Holsteins and Jerseys. Paul was involved in the dry feed business for 6 years with two different companies focused on ration formulation and on-farm dairy consulting. For the last 8 years, Paul was involved in the liquid feed business as technical support for nutritionists in the Midwest. In this last role, Paul developed a TMR quality control program that has been applied across the US with a focus on objective lab analyses of TMRs, bunk management scoring, and the use of visual technology to identify opportunities in feeding systems. Paul’s focus has been to connect research to field application to measured economic results through production and animal health.
Paul is a member of the American Dairy Science Association and the American Registry of Professional Animals Scientists.
Paul and his wife, Neva, live near Fond du Lac, WI with their four daughters.
A Software Love AffairClick to open A Software Love Affair
Integrating new software into your team can feel like a blind date. Worse yet, a speed date followed by an arranged marriage. This shotgun arrangement may not end well. But, there is a better way…
Confessions From a Husband and a NutritionistClick to open Confessions From a Husband and a Nutritionist
A confession. I thought it looked straight, drilled two holes in the wall and hung the picture. My wife didn’t see it that way and now we have three holes in the wall. A second confession. For a long time, I thought I could go onto a dairy and eyeball if a TMR mixer was level… no wife present to double check the measurement. And now I know better. But does it matter if the mixer isn’t perfectly level?
The Sexy OneClick to open The Sexy One
It’s the new “sexy” forage, also known as the cocktail mix; it’s mysterious, unknown, and risky. She is a femme fatale. Seductive, she draws her lover into a compromised relationship. Once she is planted, there are many promises — but no guarantees. Dramatic? Perhaps, but before you start dating this forage, be ready for a rocky relationship with highs and lows.
Driving Cars and Sampling ForagesClick to open Driving Cars and Sampling Forages
Even if I yell at you, I still love you. Not exactly the definition of modern parenting, but it is my opening line when I teach my daughters to drive. As I sit next to them for the first time in the parking lot, a bit of fear races through me. When I worked as an extension agent, I put a nice concise table and description together on the frequency and technique for sampling forages. As I now work full time as a nutritionist in the field, I realize training feeders in the real world requires recommendations that don’t fit in a table. There is no yelling, but a bit of fear does exist. If we don’t get a good sample, it doesn’t make sense to waste time balancing to two decimal places on a computer. How do I mitigate risk with a weekend feeder? Can our feeders sample easily and accurately every time, knowing when and where to hit the brake and turn the wheel?
Axe Throwing, Alcohol and CowsClick to open Axe Throwing, Alcohol and Cows
It is a strange and disturbing combination that has spread across America. Axe throwing and alcohol are being combined as a form of entertainment. And how does this relate to cows? Read to find out…
These Five Corn Silage Harvest Errors Occur Too OftenClick to open These Five Corn Silage Harvest Errors Occur Too Often
It’s corn silage harvest season — a short window of time that affects dairy profitability all year long. What can go wrong? Unfortunately, there are many things that can and do go awry on an annual basis. Some are out of our control while others are not. In my experience, here are five corn silage harvest mistakes that happen too often and have a profound negative impact on the crop we’ll feed over the next year.
Why Are My Feed Costs So High?Click to open Why Are My Feed Costs So High?
Simple question I hear from producers -not so simple answer. Let’s work through this question: How are you measuring feed costs? Did you contract feed last year? Are you consulting with risk management professionals? Are you maximizing government programs as well as market tools? Are you getting the most you can out of your forages?
Your Next World Class FeederClick to open Your Next World Class Feeder
Your lead feeder is leaving you with a two-week notice. You’ve done your best, but he is moving to a new and great opportunity; you are happy for him. Now what? Can anyone fill that role? Where do you start?
FeedFIT – Trimming Feed Costs through WeighbacksClick to open FeedFIT – Trimming Feed Costs through Weighbacks
Is it weighbacks or refusals that you have left in the feedbunk? Do your feeders understand the difference? Refusals is feed that is left that is mostly inedible for high producing cows. It doesn’t look like the original high cow TMR. It might contain longer particles like straw, pieces of cob or it is heating. Weighbacks is feed that is left that is like the TMR from the day before. Cows are eating this like the original TMR. Maybe it’s not perfectly the same, but it is within 10% of the original ration specs. What do we do with weighbacks?