The dry period of a dairy cow should be considered an important phase of her lactation cycle. In the first three weeks following drying off, cows are at a high risk of developing mastitis; they are undergoing physiological changes and are more exposed to bacteria from the environment because the keratin plug is not fully developed for all quarters during this time. Adequate nutrition and appropriate disease prevention of the cow at this time will ensure optimal health, milk production, and reproductive performance during the lactation following calving. Therefore, the feeding and management of dry cows is very important from an economic aspect.

• Drying off: When drying off a cow, the goal is to abruptly end milk secretion and to seal the teat canal as quickly as possible. Cows should not be milked intermittently towards the end of lactation because this prevents the teat canal from sealing and creates continued stimulus for milk production, increasing a cow’s risk for developing mastitis. After the cow’s final milking, the veterinarian-recommended dry cow therapy should be administered. Teat sealant may also be administered to prevent bacteria from entering the teat cistern and causing new infections. Finally, the entire surface of the teats should be covered using an effective teat dip. 

• Dry cow therapy: The cow is very vulnerable to new infections during the first three weeks after drying off, so all quarters should be treated with a dry cow mastitis treatment. During this time, risk of infection is higher because physiological changes occur in the mammary gland, bacteria do not get flushed out of the streak canal during the milking process, there is no protection from teat-dip, and milk leakage occurs. Dry cow therapy can clear up an estimated 70 to 98% of already existing infections and helps prevent new infections, making it one of the most economically beneficial methods for mastitis prevention. The prevention of subclinical mastitis is especially important at this time because it can precede clinical cases and, depending on its causative pathogens, can infect other animals. A long-acting intra-mammary antibiotic should be administered to every quarter after the cow’s final milking.

• Nutrition of dry cows: Nutrition during the dry period is important for maintaining proper body condition score of 3.0 to 3.25. Separate diets should be made for far-off and close-up dry cows. Diets of far-off cows should contain less energy and adequate amounts of fiber. Diets of close-up cows should contain more metabolizable protein and energy than diets of far-off dry cows, but should still contain controlled amounts of both energy and fiber to ensure adequate feed intake after calving. Depletion of protein reserves during the dry period can negatively affect the cow’s health, milk production, and reproductive performance during the following lactation. Diets of close-up cows can also contain forages that are lower in potassium, such as corn silage, and grain products to help prevent milk fever after calving. If a herd is not big enough or it is not possible to manage close-up and far-off dry cows separately, dry cows can be managed as one group with a shorter dry period and a negative DCAD diet.

• Length of dry period: Dry periods typically last 60 days and involve both a far-off and a close-up period. The close-up period begins three weeks before expected calving. Research has found that if no dry period is provided for a cow, she will produce 25 to 30% less milk the next lactation. However, some producers have recently begun shifting to using shorter dry periods of 40 to 42 days. These shorter dry periods involve only one group and are paired with a negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) nutrition program. Some argued benefits of using this program include having cows producing milk for 18 to 20 more days and less labor and stress involved since cows only have to be kept in one group rather than two. Research has found that there is no difference in milk yield following a 30-day dry period versus a 60-day dry period for multiparous cows. However, 30-day dry periods in primiparous (first-calf) cows have been found to result in reduced milk yield.

• Minimizing heat stress: Heat stress should also be prevented by providing proper cooling through the use of shade, fans, and sprinklers. Heat stress reduces the amount of mammary tissue that can be developed, so a cow that is heat-stressed during her dry period will have a reduced capacity for producing milk in her following lactation.  Studies have shown dry cows that are cooled during summer months can produce 10 to 12 lb. more milk per day during lactation than cows that do not receive additional heat abatement.

• Minimizing social, environmental, and metabolic stress for close-up cows: Stress can affect feed intake, immune function, and overall health and productivity of cows around the time of calving. Social stress can be minimized by having as few pen moves or regroupings of cows as possible so that the social hierarchy of the cows is not disturbed. Adding multiple cows to a group at once is preferable to adding cows individually. Social and metabolic stress can be reduced by providing 36 inches of feed bunk space per cow to ensure adequate dry matter intake and reduce competition for feed. A minimum of 1 freestall or100 to 125square feetper cow should be provided to ensure adequate lying time.

Drying off cows abruptly, administering veterinarian-recommended dry cow therapy, and using a teat sealant will help protect cows from pathogens during the dry period and prevent mastitis in the following lactation. Meeting nutrition requirements of cows, depending on what phase of the dry period they are in and the length of the dry period, will help prevent transition cow disorders and ensure maximum milk production in the following lactation. Providing adequate heat abatement will prevent the negative effects of heat stress and minimizing regrouping and pen moves will minimize social stress of dry cows. Following these steps will help dry cows have better health, milk production, and reproductive performance in their next lactation.

Source: afs.ca.uky.edu

Proper dairy stockmanship is crucial when moving dairy cows and proper training of farm personnel to build these skills is essential. Personnel training in dairy stockmanship skills should result in low stress handling of animals, allowing for a safe and efficient work environment for both cattle and humans. While good dairy stockmanship practices are hardly ever broadcast on the evening news, poor stockmanship is one undercover video away of making national news. This article covers some key components to remember when moving cattle.

Stockmanship Principles: The Flight and Pressure Zones

Pressure is exerted on the flight zone when a person slowly steps into the pressure zone of the cow (Figure 1), signaling the cow to move away from the person causing the pressure. Proper manipulation of a cow’s pressure zone allows a person to safely and calmly move the cow in the desired direction. Remember a cow will move in the direction her nose is pointed.Cows have a flight zone, and the size of these are different for each cow. The flight zone is the area surrounding an animal that if invaded by a predator or person, will cause alarm and escape behavior in the affected animal. Whereas, the pressure zone is the area where the cow will be attentive towards and uncomfortable with the approach of the person or predator, but the animal is not quite ready to run away. The pressure zone encompasses the flight zone of the animal (Figure 1).

Not only does the cow respond as a prey animal to stimulus on her pressure and flight zones, but also responds to other experiences in her environment. Her current environment as well as her past experiences (memories) can have an effect on a cow’s response to pressure. If a cow remembers a bad experience be it with her environment or with certain personnel, she will have a heightened stress response when faced with the same situation again. Preventing bad cow experiences is key to good stockmanship. Also, cattle will increase or decrease the radius of its pressure and flight zones in relation to the experiences with the person, situation or environment in question.

Cows Do Not Speak English or Spanish

Cows do not talk or use sign language when communicating with humans or other cows. They use their 5 senses: taste, smell, hearing, sight, and touch. As an example, cows use senses, such as taste, smell and touch, when looking for feed, showing signs of heat, or when socializing with other cows. Cows have better hearing than humans which makes them more sensitive to sounds in their environment. Cows can see 340° around them, however, just like a car they have a blind spot. They only have one blind spot which is directly behind them (Figure 1). When a person invades the pressure zone of a cow, the animal will always look at what is pressuring them. If a person was to stand directly behind a cow and apply pressure to the pressure zone, the cow will turn around to look at the person, hindering the process of moving the animals. Thus, the best position to stand when wanting to move cows forward is from the side as displayed in Figure 1. From this sideway position, make sure that you can see the eye of the cow that you want to move. Remember this basic principle: A cow cannot see you if you cannot see at least one of her eyes. When you move towards the animal and advance inside of her flight zone, if the cow can see you, she will respond calmly and move forward.

 The cow’s shoulder is her point of balance (Figure 2). If a handler stands behind the point of balance, the cow will move forward. If the handler stands in front of the point of balance the cow will backup. If you want to move the cow forward, stand behind her shoulder (striped arrow, Figure 2). If you want her to backup, stand in front of her shoulder (checkered arrow, Figure 2). Remember a cow will move in the direction her nose is pointed.Cows do not talk or use sign language when communicating with humans or other cows. They use their 5 senses: taste, smell, hearing, sight, and touch. As an example, cows use senses, such as taste, smell and touch, when looking for feed, showing signs of heat, or when socializing with other cows. Cows have better hearing than humans which makes them more sensitive to sounds in their environment. Cows can see 340° around them, however, just like a car they have a blind spot. They only have one blind spot which is directly behind them (Figure 1). When a person invades the pressure zone of a cow, the animal will always look at what is pressuring them. If a person was to stand directly behind a cow and apply pressure to the pressure zone, the cow will turn around to look at the person, hindering the process of moving the animals. Thus, the best position to stand when wanting to move cows forward is from the side as displayed in Figure 1. From this sideway position, make sure that you can see the eye of the cow that you want to move. Remember this basic principle: A cow cannot see you if you cannot see at least one of her eyes. When you move towards the animal and advance inside of her flight zone, if the cow can see you, she will respond calmly and move forward.
 

Slow Down! Cows Walk Slower than People

Cows, when not startled or pressured, tend to walk at 2 miles per hour. The average human when working cattle walks 3 to 4 miles per hour, twice as fast as cattle. When a person walks with a group of cows at normal walking speed, the person will start to pass the animal’s shoulder point of balance and it will result in cows slowing down. Once past a cow’s point of balance, the cow or cows will turn around and move in the opposite, intended direction. However, if a person walks towards a group of cows moving in the opposite direction they will speed up in order to pass the person that is pressuring them.

When observing cows walking unassisted, their head is normally down so they can see where they are going to step next. A rushed cow will have her head up and not watch where she is walking because she is watching whatever is pressuring her. This could lead to slipping and tripping of the cow, possibly resulting in injury or lameness. How can this be prevented? Slow down when moving cattle and manipulate their pressure zone so the cow can see where she is going and watch the person pressuring them at the same time. When moving a group of cows, a slow zig zag pattern with a stationary rocking motion from the back of the group is most effective when trying to move cows calmly and efficiently.Cows, when not startled or pressured, tend to walk at 2 miles per hour. The average human when working cattle walks 3 to 4 miles per hour, twice as fast as cattle. When a person walks with a group of cows at normal walking speed, the person will start to pass the animal’s shoulder point of balance and it will result in cows slowing down. Once past a cow’s point of balance, the cow or cows will turn around and move in the opposite, intended direction. However, if a person walks towards a group of cows moving in the opposite direction they will speed up in order to pass the person that is pressuring them.

Stressed Cows Take Longer to Milk

Inappropriate movement of cows from their pen to the milking parlor greatly affects milk let down in the parlor. Crowd gates should only be used to apply pressure to the pressure zone, not physically push the cow toward the parlor. Sticks or hot shots should not be used to move cows toward the parlor. A cow that is stressed on the way to and in the holding pen will produce adrenaline which blocks the receptors for oxytocin, which inhibits milk let down. Cows that are stressed take longer to milk and can develop hyperkeratosis on the teat end. This roughening of the teat end provides a place for bacteria to colonize and it’s a major risk factor for mastitis. Uninhibited milk let down in the parlor can decrease the time it takes to fully milk a cow and, in turn, can increase parlor throughput. Increased parlor throughput benefits the cow and dairy personnel. The less time a cow is away from her pen, the more time she has to eat, drink, and lay down. The better the parlor throughput, the less time is spent milking with less chance of hyperkeratosis.

Take Home Messages

Closely monitoring herd performance is vital to a successful dairy operation but is critical during economic downturns. Operations can achieve greater success by establishing advisory teams with their consultants. Milk production, somatic cell counts, pregnancy rate, culling rate, and income over feed cost are just a few of the metrics available for monitoring among dairy advisory teams. It does not take long to see the list of metrics to monitor and discuss grow and grow, especially for teams that have functioned for a few years or shifted gears. As the list of metrics to monitor grows, less time is spent with the team addressing current issues. Prioritizing the list of metrics to monitor can allow for appropriate time spent with both current issues as well as long term trends. Here are a few questions to consider when maximizing the time available to the advisory team while keeping key data and information involved with the process.

What are the goals and objectives of the team?

This is a good place to start. What are the current goals and objectives the team has identified? With this list, teams can then identify what metrics would be best to monitor to track goal and objective performance. Successful teams will have a continual cycle of defining needs, setting goals, tracking progress, achieving/maintaining goals, and evaluating success and evaluation. As such, the metrics monitored should change to address the changes in goals for the team. Check out these resources for more on team goals and objectives:

• What are Dairy Advisory Teams? 
• Goal Setting worksheet 

Why are we looking at this metric?

If there is not a quick answer to that question, then it may be a metric to be retired from future team discussions. This question relates back to the previous topic of goals and objectives. There needs to be a relevance to monitoring a metric, typically in relation to tracking progress or monitoring a previous goal’s achievement. If the metric is only useful to one member of the team and doesn’t relate to past or current goals and objectives, it may need to be sidelined from routine discussion within the team.

How are various metrics being tracked?

Consolidation can be a key component to limiting discussion time on metrics. Think about all the various sources of data available to the average dairy: milk production, components, and quality from the cooperative, test day records, financials, etc. All of these potential sources can provide insight into a goal but may require several reports and sources to capture all the metrics of interest to the team. Try using a spreadsheet (such as the Penn State Extension Dairy Team’s Monthly Monitor ) to summarize several metrics in one report. By consolidating them down into one report, it will simplify not only going over the metrics, but teams will also be able to see some of the historical trends of the numbers as well.

Being creative in data tracking can also save time. With a little computer skills, providing graphical representation of the metrics can improve and enhance interpretation of the metrics, thus reducing the time spent reviewing and discussing them. Just be sure whatever graph you apply actually fits the data being tracked; keep it simple.

What are the economic considerations to these metrics?

Farm financials can be challenging to understand, let alone discuss in a team setting. There are a few ways to minimize the stress of these metrics while benefiting from reviewing them regularly. First, pick a metric like income over feed cost (check out Income over Feed Cost for more information) that can be monitored more easily and routinely than some financial ratios. Second, decide which financial metrics relate back to the goals and objectives of the team, and choose how often to review them. Depending on the metric, quarterly or annual review may be sufficient to help make progress. Finally, benchmark the operation against itself. Knowing where an operation is and the progress made are just as vital as trying to compare to an industry benchmark.

When are metrics being shared with the team?

Having some prep time individually can definitely increase the efficiency of data use by any team. I’ve found that if the metrics (such as test day records and production information) are summarized and provided to team members ahead of time for review, then the discussion during the actual team meeting can be spent on other areas. Another benefit to providing the summary prior to the actual meeting is the ability for members to digest the data and formulate questions, so they are prepared for quality discussion at the time of the meeting. With the data out ahead of time, a good team routine can be established. The discussion on monitored metrics may be first on the agenda with a time limit (typically 5 to 10 minutes), thus freeing up team time for other agenda items. Don’t forget, just because they are reviewed in the beginning, doesn’t mean you can’t revisit specific metrics if they apply to discussions later in the meeting.

The metrics used by an advisory team play a vital role in tracking and monitoring the progress related to identified goals and performance of the individual operation. With all the data currently available to a dairy operation, it is easy to reach data overload, and potentially hinder constructive discussions during the limited time of team meetings. By asking yourself the above questions, and making some minor revisions to your metrics, that valuable discussion time can continue to thrive in your team meetings.

Source: extension.psu.edu

AIMING to drive production and breed the best cows they can, South Australian dairy farmers Graeme and Michele Hamilton and their son Craig, are focused on keeping good records to help them make informed decisions.

At OB Flat, SA, they run up to 500 dairy cows, mainly red breeds with some Holsteins, calving in September and February.

“Our cow pedigrees go back many generations and we have records for just about everything, including calf size and vigour, pregnancy, health treatments and calving ease, as well as all the usual production and herd tests records,” Graeme said.

“We use Mistro through the phone app and the PC version in the office, but we also enter everything on paper, which might sound unnecessary but if we find an error we can then trace things back with a paper trail.”

Graeme’s parents Don and Pat began herd testing six times a year in 1970, a practice he and Michele have carried on since taking on the operation in 1990.

Don and Pat also initiated the Hamiltons’ involvement with red cattle breeds, establishing an Illawarra stud under the Cluain prefix in 1964.

“Our breeding aim is to have a consistent herd – we want to breed consistency in every drop of heifers – there’s no room for duds,” Graeme said.

“Red breeds are a later-maturing type of cow, so we want longevity combined with fertility and a production target of 9000 litres a cow each year.”

The Hamiltons have 68 hectares under pivot irrigation near the milking area, with another 47ha of irrigation at a block further away, mainly used for growing out young stock and fodder production.

The cows are fed grain at the dairy at an annual rate of 2.2 tonnes per cow, which supplements the pasture base on the milking area – worth 3t/cow. The herd is also fed up to 1.5t silage.

The cows are joined using AI, with home-bred, genomically tested mop-up bulls for the heifers.

“We might keep up to five bull calves from the best performing cows a year, but we put them under intense selection pressure to identify which are the best two to keep as mop-up bulls over the heifers,” Graeme said.

Only the top 80 per cent of the herd is joined to red breed sires. The bottom 20pc – based on Balanced Performance Index, cow family, udders, feet and temperament – is joined to Angus sires through AI.

“Joining to Angus makes (culling) pretty simple – if the calf is black then it goes,” Graeme said.

About 180 heifer calves are reared each year and are grown out to a target weight of 330 kilograms to 350kg for joining at 15 months of age.

Of the 180 calves reared, about 150 will join the herd, while any heifer that fails to meet the target joining weight, has conformation issues or fails to get in calf is sold.

“We are very harsh on our heifers because it’s pretty hard to cull them once they get in calf and go into the herd,” Graeme said.

“The longevity of red breed dairy cattle means our average age in the herd is about 50 months, although we do have some 10-year-old cows.”

In the past, they have relied on genetic information from overseas bulls in Denmark and Germany but have been working with DataGene to build the information available within Australia.

“We’ve also been supplying tail hairs for genomic testing from all our heifer calves for the past five years to help build the database for red breed genomics,” Graeme said.

High performing genetics have also been proven to make a difference for the Hamiltons.

Their herd was one of 27 across Australia that underwent detailed analysis by the ImProving Herds project to investigate the contribution of genetics to production.

It identified the top and bottom 25 per cent of each herd, ranked using the Balanced Performance Index, then used 10 years of records to compare these.

The study found the top 25pc of the Hamilton Run herd produced 60 kilograms of fat and 61kg of protein more per cow each year than the bottom 25pc and were worth an extra $531 annually.

On average, the top 25pc of cows also stayed in the herd 11 months longer than the bottom 25pc.

Source: The Australian Dairyfarmer

The performance of dairy cows is mainly determined by genetic merit, but without proper management by knowledgeable and capable farm personnel, dairy cows will not be able to fully express their genetic potential. In order to properly manage dairy cows to allow them to excel, it is critical to establish a reliable team of farm personnel who are routinely trained using up-to- date and easy-to-understand training materials. Despite the unquestionable importance of personnel training in dairy farms, only 60% of the dairy operations in the U.S. provide such training (USDA, 2014). Of this 60%, 41% provide oral presentation trainings, while only 12% provide training using interactive teaching methods, such as educational videos (USDA, 2014).

Although any type of personnel training (e.g., on-job, lecture, combination) would be beneficial, a combination of oral presentations and hands-on demonstrations has been shown to significantly increase the knowledge and skills of farm employees. In a study by Schuenemann et al. (2013), the authors reported that a combination of oral presentation and hands-on demonstration training increased the level of knowledge of the participants by 21%. Supporting the latter, we reported similar results (23.7% gain of knowledge) in a study (Barragan et al., 2016) where oral presentation and hands-on demonstration training, regarding physiology of parturition, calving assistance practices, and utilization of a new record collection/keeping tool (eCalving app), was delivered to maternity personnel. In this study, personnel not only increased their level of knowledge, but also reported that the training materials were relevant and of immediate use for their daily work (Barragan et al., 2016). The benefits of this training approach not only include improving personnel knowledge, skill, and confidence at work, but also enhancing calf and cow health and performance. It has been reported that this training approach was essential for decreasing the incidence of stillborn calves, metritis, and damage of the birth canal (Lombard et al., 2007; Schuenemann et al., 2011), all of which are important risk factors for poor reproductive performance.

In 2018, the Penn State Veterinary Extension Team has provided personnel training for 22 PA dairy farms, educating 88 employees. The main topics covered during these trainings were milking routine practices (n = 13), calving management practices (n = 7), and hoof health and care practices (n = 2). During these trainings, participants had an average gain of knowledge of 29.42% (range = 21.42% to 42.5%). Furthermore, farm employees reported that the program provided relevant information for their daily work (agree = 24.4%; strongly agree = 75.6%) and that they will feel more comfortable doing their job as a result of the training program (agree = 26.8%; strongly agree = 73.2 %). In addition, 100% of the participants reported that they would like to have another training in the near future. These educational programs are provided by the Penn State Veterinary Extension team at a very affordable cost, intended to cover only the travel expenses of educators.

The cost of providing proper training to farm personnel may be insignificant compared to the benefits to animal health and performance observed in operations where personnel were properly trained. Some of the most significant improvements in farm profitability resulting from these programs were increase in milk yield (4 lb/cow/day), decrease in the number of stillborn calves (2.29%), and decrease in retained placenta (2.6%) and metritis (1.59%) incidences. It has been reported that cows that had a stillborn calf had a 24% decrease in pregnancy rate (Bicalho et al., 2007), and cows that had retained placenta or metritis had a 14% and 15% decrease in conception rate, respectively (Gröhn and Rajala-Schultz, 2000). Therefore, personnel training, especially in transition cow management, may have substantial benefits on the reproductive performance of dairy cows.

Personnel training is not only important to monitor and control critical risk factors of poor reproductive performance during the transition period, but also to obtain excellent compliance with fertility protocols. Timed artificial insemination is one of the most common breeding practices performed in dairy operations in the U.S. (USDA, 2009). During these fertility programs, specific synchronization hormones must be provided to dairy cows on specific days, and lack of compliance with the synchronization injections can significantly decrease the efficacy of the program. For instance, in a fertility program where three injections must be administered, if there is a 100% compliance (e.g., proper drug, proper dose, correct day/time) with each injection the overall program compliance would be 100% (overall program compliance = 100% × 100% × 100% = 100%). Now, if the compliance with each individual injection decreases to 95%, instead of 100%, the overall program compliance decreases to 86% (overall program compliance = 95% × 95% × 95% = 86%). This situation becomes even more detrimental in fertility programs that require several injections, such as Double-Ovsynch, where six single injections must be administered to synchronize cows. In this scenario, a compliance of 95% for each individual injection would decrease the overall program compliance to 73.5%, resulting in a significant negative impact on the reproductive performance of the animals being synchronized.

The training of farm personnel has positive impacts on animal well-being and performance, thus increasing the overall farm profitability. Training programs that deliver up-to- date information in an easy-to-understand manner increase knowledge, skills, and confidence of farm employees, all of which may improve employee performance and subsequently enhance cow health and production. The implementation of these training programs in main areas, such as transition cow management and fertility programs, is an inexpensive practice that would greatly contribute to ensuring excellent reproduction in dairy operations.

Source: extension.psu.edu

If lactating dairy cattle get too hot, they don’t produce as much milk, and that can add up to economic losses of more than $1 billion a year in the U.S. alone, University of Florida researchers say.

This loss can easily double if dry cows — those in late pregnancy that are not lactating — suffer from heat stress. That stress causes cows to produce less milk during their next lactation, and also affects the growing fetus, said Jimena Laporta, an assistant professor of animal sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

So, it’s just as important to keep the pregnant dry cows cool during hot months, Laporta said.

A new UF/IFAS study found that, two years after birth, cows born from heat-stressed mothers produced less milk. The research delves into why dairy calves that experience heat stress in the womb, particularly during the last trimester, produce less milk later.

UF/IFAS researchers looked at the mammary glands from cows that were born from heat-stressed mothers and found that excessive heat in the womb limited the optimal growth and development of those glands. This exposure to heat stress in the uterus likely leads to less dairy production in adulthood, Laporta said.

But if pregnant dry cows go through systems that relieve the heat — such as shade, fans and water soakers — the mammary glands of their offspring are normal.

Thus, by cooling pregnant dry cows, dairy farmers can kill two birds with one stone: avoid lower milk production of the cow in her next lactation and their daughters two years later, Laporta said.

For the past eight years, UF/IFAS researchers have shown that when pregnant cows are exposed to too much heat before they calve, they produce less milk in their next lactation. “Now we know that heat exposure in the womb compromises normal mammary gland development and reduces the milk production of their offspring two years later,” Laporta said.

“This research can have a significant impact for the dairy industry, particularly in Florida and the Southeast, which experience more than 200 days of hot weather annually,” she said.

Source: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu

Silos full? With the recently-ensiled corn crop they should be as full as they are all year. Do you know what’s in each silo, and if so, is it written down? This is especially important if you grew both BMR and conventional corn for silage, or if some fields were affected by disease, drought or some other problem. It’s not good enough that you know where everything is, since unforeseen events (accident, sickness, etc.) could result in someone else needing to know what’s stored where. “If you don’t know where it is you don’t own it.” That’s not quite true with silage, but you get the idea.

Is your farm struggling to meet the industry goal of 90 percent of calves with successful passive transfer? If you have enough first milking colostrum to allocate six quarts (1.5 gallons) to heifer calves, then you should consider a second colostrum feeding to your calves.

Newborn calves should be fed a minimum of 10 percent of their body weight of high-quality colostrum in the first 24 hours following birth. High quality colostrum means free from bacterial contamination and contains at least 50g/L immunoglobulins (IgG). For Holstein heifer calves (average 85-90 lbs. at birth), 10 percent of body weight equates to approximately four quarts (one gallon or 3.8 liters) of colostrum. The quicker calves are fed colostrum, and the more IgG they are fed, the better the transfer of immunity to the calf. Michigan State University Extension recommends feeding four quarts of high quality, clean colostrum within six hours of birth to achieve successful passive transfer. However, there are still a subset of calves that will not have successful passive transfer even if all these goals are met. For example, if the calf is stressed before birth, colostrum feeding is delayed or if quality or cleanliness are compromised, then that calf is at risk for failure of passive transfer even with four quarts of colostrum.

Because gut closure (the process of the gut wall closing down the ability to directly absorb IgG) begins almost immediately at birth and is complete by 24 hours, we typically focus on getting the first feeding into the calf as quick as possible. However, colostrum contains much more than just IgG. Colostrum is very high in fat and protein, and contains hormones that researchers now believe are very important to the calf. A second feeding of colostrum will provide the calf additional antibodies, but also the nutrition it needs. Michigan State University Extension recommends feeding a second meal of colostrum six to 12 hours after the first feeding, at a volume of two to three quarts. While the second feeding must be free of bacterial contamination, it is worth feeding even if there are less than 50 g/L IgG’s (under 22 on the BRIX scale). It is noteworthy that most calves will not be hungry six to 12 hours after a four-quart first colostrum feeding, so using an esophageal tube feeder will probably be warranted.

According to UDSA’s survey “Dairy Cattle Management Practices in the United States, 2014,” 74 percent of small (30-99 cows) and 58 percent of medium operations (100-499 cows) and 52 percent of large (500 + cows) operations fed two quarts or less of colostrum at first feeding. However, the majority of operations across herd sizes fed an additional two quarts or more resulting in almost 90 percent of operations (88 percent) feeding four quarts or more of colostrum during the first 24 hours of life. Our research at MSU, and research done at other universities, indicates that two quarts at first feeding is not enough. The farms with the best passive transfer results from 50 Michigan dairy farms in 2016 all fed a second feeding and a total colostrum of 5.5 – 6 quarts the first 24 hours. Indicating that most farm operations see the benefit of feeding a second feeding of colostrum.

While research has been limited in the area of second colostrum feeding, if there is enough colostrum on your farm to provide heifers an additional two to three quarts of first milking colostrum, calves could benefit from improved health and growth.

Source: canr.msu.edu

Interest in the use of automatic milking systems (AMS) continues to be high, even in a stressed dairy economy. Some of the primary reasons reported for this change in milking technology include: 1) reduction in labor, especially hired labor, 2) more flexible life-style, and 3) potential improvement in cow heath and milk yield. At present (September 2018), we have about 2140 dairy farms in Ohio and 52 farms with AMS, with about 143 AMS on Ohio farms. Thus, about 2.4% of the dairy farms in Ohio have the AMS. The vendors are primarily Lely and DeLaval, with one farm now having installed the GEA system.  Although the adoption rate in Ohio is growing, it is certainly less than in Europe, Canada (6.8% in 2015), and several other states in the US. One of the aspects of adopting the AMS system that can be challenging, at least for a few weeks, is the transition period from the conventional milking system to the AMS.

A study conducted by four major universities in Canada titled “Producer experience with transitioning to automatic milking: cow training, challenges, and effect on quality of life” was reported in the 2018 October issue of the Journal of Dairy Science. Producers (n = 217 responses) from 8 Canadian providences using the Lely and DeLaval AMS were surveyed during 2014 and 2015. Overall, 42% of the producers trained animals to the AMS before the first milking. Feeding in the AMS was often practiced during training, but spraying of teats was less frequent. During training, small groups of cows (< 20) were commonly used. For producers who used a training program, it typically took 7 days to train a cow or heifer. It was estimated in the study that it would take 30 days to adapt a herd to an AMS, and the length of this duration was not different for those herds that did or did not train animals prior to the first milking in the AMS. About 2% of the cows within the herds were culled for not adapting to the AMS, with the range being 0 to 40%.

Some of the challenges experienced by dairy producers in the transition to the use of AMS included:

Challenge                                Some common solutions expressed

Learn to use AMS                    Time and patience, help from dealer

Cow training                            Time and patience, creating small groups for training,
                                                recruiting extra help during training period

Feeding                                   Working with nutritionist

Trusting the AMS                     Time and patience

Other challenges stated included: demanding during the first few days/weeks, changing health management, non-AMS transition issues caused by converting from tiestall to freestall, building modifications, technical issues, feet and leg issues, being on call, lack of support, decreased milk quality, finances, and employee management and training. Overall, producers positively scored all improvement and expectation statements, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the AMS.

Obviously, changing to an AMS system requires a lot of planning. Initially, the mission and succession plans for the dairy operation need to be clarified and the financial plan fully developed. During even the initial phases, it is important to visit with equipment dealerships to discuss cost, service, and start up help provided and to visit operations whereby the use of the AMS has been in effect for different periods of time, e.g. 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, etc., to learn how transitioning occurred, any development of problems over time, and dependability of service from the dealer. Once the decision is made to install an AMS but prior to the transition, plans need to be made for the practices used during transition (e.g. training), personnel needed during the transition, and time of year relative to when other major events will be taking place on the farm or for the family. With all of the challenges in the transition, time and patience were the major points identified. A well-organized plan can provide for a more smooth transition and working closely with the dealer, nutritionist, and other professionals before and during the transition can reduce the risk and duration for challenges during the transition.

Source: dairy.osu.edu

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Sadly, dairy farmers feel like they are living a flashback to 2016.

Through September this year, the average Class III price plus the Federal Order 33 Producer Price Differential (the Statistical Uniform Price or SUP) is $15.03 per hundredweight (cwt.), which is exactly the average for all of 2016.

Last year, 2017, provided a small measure of relief, with the SUP averaging $16.57.

How much are you paying for the privilege of milking cows?

Sadly, more cows and more milk in domestic and foreign markets, as well as a relatively strong dollar and uncertain policy, have wreaked havoc on milk markets. Controlling expenses continues to be an important factor in the search for short- and long-term profitability of dairy farms. The challenge continues to be controlling costs without negatively affecting production, reproduction, growth, animal and personnel welfare. With that in mind, regular review of overall costs is in order.

The more things change. The more they stay the same. Feed, labor, depreciation, and supplies were the top four expenses for all farms and the top 20 percent of farms in 2017. These were consistently the top four expenses for the last four years.

What is the take-home message?

For most herds, the four highest costs will be feed, labor, depreciation, and supplies. How much potential — and realistic — savings are there for your farm? We cannot cut costs only to negatively impact current and future health and production.

Depreciation of machinery, equipment, and buildings is a hard number to change. This number (7 percent of the cost-basis balance sheet inventory value for machinery and equipment, 15 percent for titled vehicles, and 5 percent for buildings and improvements) represents normal wear, tear, and use of these items in the course of business for the year.

The biggest opportunity to impact that number is before machinery, equipment, and buildings are purchased. Is a purchase a want or a need? Is it realistic to expect cows to pay for this item or improvement? How much will it cost per cwt .or per cow? What benefits and economic returns will it provide?

The best tools for comparing your farm to other Ohio farms are the benchmark reports included in the Ohio Dairy Enterprise Analysis Summaries, which can be found at http://farmprofitability.osu.edu.

Directions on the charts explain their use.

Bottom line, you can see the range of income and expense items for other Ohio farms. Specifically, these allow farms to set realistic goals for trimming expenses.

Combine this review with an evaluation of net return per cow. Is it positive? This has been a challenge for farms in this extended down price cycle. If it is positive, is it high enough to cover all the demands for principal, family living, income taxes, etc.?

Finding the balance will be the ongoing challenge for today’s dairy farm businesses.

Source: farmanddairy.com

 

Feed more volume of milk replacer solution: Increasing total volume of milk solution fed, as well as increasing the fat percentage of the milk will maximize calf growth potential during cold weather. Providing calves with more solution throughout the day during the cold winter season allows for increased caloric intake, which provides more energy for growth and immune function. Table 3 shows how increasing the total volume of solution offered per day significantly increases the energy allowable gain of an 80-pound calf in 10-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. 

 

 

 

What about calf starter? 

Offering a high-quality calf starter is vital for calves to perform well and stay healthy no matter the season. Calf starter consumption in the winter not only promotes early rumen development, but also helps calves generate more body heat via increased energy intake and increased metabolic activity.

 

I thought increasing the fat content and volume of milk replacer would reduce solid feed intake?

Traditional milk replacers use animal fat as the foremost source of energy. Collaborative research conducted by Hubbard Feeds and the University of Minnesota has demonstrated that starter intake decreases as the amount of animal fat in the milk replacer increases, or as milk replacer volume fed increases. In cold weather, using the right blend of fats may improve calf health, starter intake, and performance, versus animal fat only.

 

There’s more to the story than just temperature.

• Body size/breed: Small calves and small breeds (e.g., Jersey calves) have higher maintenance requirements than large calves or large breeds. These smaller animals need to be carefully managed and monitored during the cold winter months. Contact your Hubbard Feeds representative to find out more about cold weather feeding for small breed calves.
• Hair coat: Calves can adapt to cold weather with a thick hair coat, but they need additional support to maintain core temperature. The hair coat should be dried, fluffed and free of snow, mud, and/or manure as soon as possible after birth. Consider using calf jackets to help insulate young calves once their hair coat is clean and dry.
• Housing: Calves should be housed in draft-free pens or stalls with proper ventilation. Bedding in the winter should be deep, allowing for calves to nest. Clean and dry long-stemmed straw bedding is ideal in the winter to help insulate calves.
• Water: Delivering warm water to calves during the winter months helps them digest nutrients and promotes solid feed intake. Develop a plan to deliver warm water to calves immediately after milk feedings, while they’re still standing.

Source: Hubbard

Come weaning time, there’s a seemingly never-ending house of horrors awaiting young calves.

But rather than ghosts and goblins, weaned calves face frightening new surroundings. This can include unfamiliar feed, new water sources, exposure to different cattle and harmful pathogens, plus increased stress. Without proper care, sending a recently weaned calf into the next segment of the cattle industry is like sending a toddler into a haunted house alone.

Calves Embark on a Substantial Endeavor at Weaning

When stockers or feedlots buy weaned calves, they may or may not be purchasing cattle that are well prepared for the next segment of the industry. When I give presentations about nutrition for weaned calves to others in our industry, I always focus on the many risks calves face at weaning. While a weaned calf may weigh three times more than I do, it is a fragile creature. When considering the wellness of weaned calves, I recommend prioritizing three key areas — nutrition, health and stress.

1. Nutrition
At the very basic level, all cattle require water, minerals, vitamins, energy and protein. Weaned calves will benefit from a nutrient-dense starter ration. While calves may only initially eat 1 to 2 pounds of feed a day, it’s crucial they begin receiving nutrients into their bodies. I like to remind cattle producers that flexibility and understanding are key during the earliest weeks of arrival for weaned calves. Likely, there will be groups that are unfamiliar with feed or water troughs. They may have little interest in either.

WARNING: Danger lurks when calves are switched too quickly from a starter to a grower ration. Throughout my time in the industry, I have seen producers immediately increase energy by 30% when making the transition from starter to grower ration. This abrupt switch causes acidosis, which can then cause a domino effect of digestive nightmares. It is crucial to make a gradual transition from starter to grower rations. For instance, if I jump energy by 15%, I’ll cut back feed by 10%. Although the grower ration is higher in energy, dropping the feed intake allows the transition to be made with little change in the rumen.  

TIP: Make the starter-to-grower ration transition on a Monday. Cut the delivery back by 10%. If calves were receiving 10 pounds of starter, you’ll now feed 9 pounds of grower ration. If calves clean up the feed in three days, I’ll add another half-pound. Now, they are receiving 9.5 pounds. If they clean that up in three days, I’ll go on up to 10 pounds. A gradual transition is crucial.

In addition to grain, recently weaned calves often have not seen a water trough. Their go-to water sources have been ponds, rivers or creeks. To help familiarize them with a water trough, I have used a few rubber ducks to float in the trough. Calves are curious creatures. Once nosing the ducks, they’ll soon become acquainted with their new water source. You also can add a water pump. Once they hear bubbling water, calves will soon catch on.

Nutrition directly impacts vaccination programs. If weaned calves do not receive adequate minerals and other nutrients, they could be faced with depressed immune response, which affects weight gain long term.

2. Health
By prioritizing nutrition, you can help your calves achieve a full immune response to vaccinations. Among respiratory pathogens that put young calves at risk, Mannheimia haemolytica, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus Types 1 and 2, and bovine syncytial respiratory virus (BRSV) are primary concerns. Providing vaccines early in life can allow calves to use nutrients for growth and production rather than fighting disease.

3. Stress
Stress is high whether weaned calves enter the grow yard or a feedlot setting. To help calves progress in this new segment, ensure they are receiving proper nutrition for excellent health. Additionally, look for areas to reduce stress to boost immunity and productivity. 

A few simple ways you can do this include:      

• Break cattle into smaller pens of no more than 50 head to help eliminate the stress from social hierarchy.
• Create a comfortable environment for the calves and implement best cattle handling techniques to keep calves calm, cool and stress-free.
• Prioritize nutrition and health so calves are physically prepared to take on their new environment.

As noted earlier, a calf’s endeavor come weaning time is similar to sending a toddler into a haunted house without anyone there to hold his hand. At this moment, can you picture his stress level? Producers can help reduce the stress weaned calves face and increase productivity by focusing on excellent nutrition and health. Visit SelectVAC.com to learn more about preconditioning to help improve overall cattle health and profits.

About Zoetis
Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS) is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 60 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products, genetic tests, biodevices and a range of services. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2017, the company generated annual revenue of $5.3 billion with approximately 9,000 employees. For more information, visit zoetisUS.com.

Gippsland dairyfarmers Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day are committed to making rapid genetic gain in their 750-cow dairy herd, Araluen Park, and have the figures to prove their efforts are paying substantial dividends.

They were one of 27 Australian dairy farms that underwent detailed analysis by the ImProving Herds project to investigate the contribution of genetics to dairy businesses. All participants had herds with good data and were prepared to share their records.

The study identified the top and bottom 25 per cent of each herd, ranked on Balanced Performance Index (BPI), the main genetic index used by the Australian dairy industry.

The herd’s records were analysed to look at the difference in the contribution to the farm business between the top and bottom 25 per cent of the herd. The analysis was based on 10 years of historical performance data, plus recent farm financial data.

In the Araluen Park herd, cows in the top 25 per cent have a marginal income over feed costs of $370/cow/year more than the bottom 25 per cent.

The top cows each produced per year an extra 690 litres of milk, 40kg of protein and 56kg of fat than their herd mates in the bottom 25 per cent.

The extra milk produced by the top 25 per cent of cows was worth an extra $498/cow/year in income. This was offset by higher feed costs of $128/cow/year, leaving an increase in marginal milk income over feed costs of $370/cow/year.

The top cows also lasted in the herd for an extra 16 months.

“When you look at the figures you can see the clear benefits of genetics,” Ms Day said.

“The results clearly demonstrate the value of investing in genetics to improve farm profitability.

“We always believed using genetic indexes and general herd improvement tools were profitable and the ImProving Herds project has validated our belief in the value of making genetic progress in our Jersey herd.”

Committed to Genetics

Mr Saunders and Ms Day are both fourth-generation dairyfarmers and are committed to using the best Jersey sires available from Australia and overseas, as well as genomically testing their females.

“Stock are our second biggest asset after the farm, so we want to use every tool available to add to their value,” Ms Day said.

She and Mr Saunders are focused on making genetic gain and this has been possible by selecting the best sires and using them extensively through artificial insemination.

“We’ve been using 100 per cent AI on the herd since 1985 and have been progeny testing young sires for more than 30 years,” she said.

“Our herd has grown in from 350 cows to 750 cows in 2.5 years through natural increase and we have been able to do this relatively easy without comprising the genetic gain in the herd because we have had 100 per cent of our calves bred through AI.”

The couple have a long-standing passion for Jersey genetics and have imported embryos in partnership with a friend from the United States, to ensure they have access to leading genetics and families. US Jersey families now make up abut 30 per cent of the Araluen Park herd.

They use BPI when selecting sires for use in their herd and aim to be ranked in the top 2 per cent for genetic merit for Jersey herds in Australia.

Mr Saunders said: “We always look for bulls at the top of the list for BPI but this can sometimes be a problem with US sires as not all of them have a BPI, so then our key criteria are protein, type, udder, strength and more recently fertility. All bulls also have to be genomically tested.”

Breeding better cows

Most of the Araluen Park herd has been genomically tested, with each drop of heifers tested as calves for the past four years.

Tail hairs are taken from all heifer calves when they are between a month to six weeks old and sampling is carried out to coincide with disbudding. Results take about a month to come back.

“Now that our herd numbers have stabilised, we can start using these genomic results to rank our heifer calves on BPI and sell the bottom 25 per cent as weaned calves and make genetic gain earlier,” Ms Day said.

The ImProving Herds analysis showed if the couple had sold the bottom 25 per cent of their calves, they would not have sold a single high performer from their herd; their calf genomic results matched their first lactation performance.

“Identifying the lower ranked heifer calves earlier means more money in the bank because we are not using as much feed to grow out young heifers we may not want,” Ms Day said.

“The potential to increase the number of heifer calves by using sexed semen means we can still put more heifers into the herd and then reassess how our three and four-year-old cows are performing after their second or third lactation then decide who to keep and who to cull.”

The Araluen Park herd has recently joined Ginfo — DataGene’s national genetic information reference pool — which is motivating the couple to continue improving the rate of genetic gain in their herd.

Contact: DataGene, phone (03) 9032 7191 or email abv@datagene.com.au.

ImProving Herds is a Gardiner Dairy Foundation project in collaboration with Dairy Australia, DataGene, the Victorian Government, Holstein Australia and the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia (NHIA).

Source: The Australian Dairyfarmer

Typically, dairy farms have an opportunity after corn silage harvest to pump down lagoons and get manure hauled and applied. Hopefully, all goes well, without any accidents or manure spills, but hope is not a spill or accident prevention plan. Livestock operations that store, haul, and apply manure need to have an emergency response plan to handle manure spills and escapes. Preventing manure spills is one important component of that plan. A good start to preventing manure spills is to understand some common reasons manure spills occur, as well as where in the process from storage to application spills commonly occur.

            At the 2018 Manure Science Review in late July in Hardin County, Glen Arnold, OSU Extension Manure Management Specialist, gave a presentation on manure spills and escapes. During his presentation, Arnold said that manure spills/escapes occur at three different locations and/or phases of manure management. One area is on the farmstead itself, close to farm buildings and facilities. Most of these manure incidents are actually escapes and are the result of manure pit overflows, manure pond overflows, and/or lot runoffs. Manure spills can happen during the transport of manure. As farms and applicators strive to do a better job of matching up manure nutrients with fields needing those nutrients, manure is getting transported longer distances. During transport, manure spills are the result of flipped manure tankers or semi-truck tankers, manure hose leaks, or improperly secured manure loads. The third area where manure spills/escapes happen is on the field, during or shortly after the manure application. These spills are the result of surface runoff or rapid movement through the soil profile and into field tile.

Kevin Erb, from the University of Wisconsin Extension in a webinar on the topic of manure spills, said that generally manure spills happen for one or more reasons. One is mechanical failure of equipment used in the handling and application of manure. Often these cases are truly accidental due to unforeseen situations and circumstances.  Another reason is the improper application of manure or improper storage management. Improper application is over application of manure based on field conditions or field fertility level. Improper storage management includes not monitoring storage closely enough, resulting in an overflow situation. Finally, manure spills can occur due to negligence. Negligence can be defined as failure to exercise reasonable care or maybe even knowingly increasing the risk of a manure spill. This could be something like failure to maintain equipment in good working order, performing tasks when under serious sleep deprivation, or ignoring a manure plan or weather forecast.

            Identifying the where/when manure spills/escapes occur is useful, especially when combined with an analysis of why manure spill/escapes happen. Taken together, they identify areas of risk that include both manageable factors as well as those factors outside of the farm’s or applicator’s control. With each of these causes, the farm manager needs to identify what can be done to minimize risk, including such things as periodic and regular equipment checks/maintenance, emergency shut-offs, employee/applicator training, work schedules that provide adequate rest, up-to-date manure management plans that guide application rates, weather monitoring, and record keeping.

Manure spills/escapes happen despite planning, preparation, and best intentions. Therefore, the farm needs an emergency plan. The plan should spell out what to do, who will do it, and who to contact in case of a manure spill/escape. Quick response can minimize detrimental effects; delays make a bad situation worse. In his presentation, Arnold said that your spill plan should contain cell phone numbers of key people who can help and you need to know who responds to text messages. You should know: Who has equipment to block a ditch or stream? Who has equipment to pump manure out of a stream or ditch? Who has tile plugs? Who can transport the spilled product you are cleaning up? When manure gets into a stream, be prepared to pump 20 to 25 times the volume of the manure that entered the stream according to Arnold. Where will this pumped product go? How will you get oxygen back into the stream and who has that equipment? As part of their preparedness, some farms keep a manure spill kit available. A list of some materials and resources to include in a manure spill kit is available at: http://tiny.cc/manurespillkit.

Source: Ohio State University Extension

Thank You for visiting 4dBarn in the World Dairy Expo 2018. It was our pleasure to participate show for the third time! We had a lot of good discussions about work efficiency and cow comfort in a robot barn.

Finnish 4dBarn is a leading independent consulting company, offering unique robot barn functional design and troubleshooting for dairy farms. Our mission is to coach the farmer and help him to design the barn which suites his goals and management. Each of the layouts is designed around the unique management style of the producer.

We emphasize animal health and welfare, good management and labour efficiency. Our consultation services focus on optimizing labour efficiency through barn design, cow traffic systems, and gate placement.

4dBarn has made a field survey timing and following morning tasks in the robot barn. Our international data has over 50 barns and it shows a huge variation in labour efficiency between farms, from 140 to 940 litres of milk/labour hour. There´s a lot of potentials to improve when we compare the amount of milk/labour hour or time consumption minutes per cow. It is clear that just having an automatic milking system in a barn, doesn’t make it labour efficient or guarantee good milk production.

We in 4dBarn think of barn as a tool for milk production. Most important points in designing a functional tool are to ensure cow comfort and fluent cow flow together with good and efficient working routines. As with any tool, usage is in the hub. We know how an efficient robotic barn works and help our customers to get a perfect tool for their needs.

4dBarn design concept can be adapted to any size of farms and we do functional design for new barns as well as existing barns converted to robotic milking. Most of our projects are in Scandinavia, but we work globally.

For more information please visit www.4dbarn.com/en/

If manure application is needed, consider these suggestions during unfavorable conditions.

Frequent rainfall has delayed harvest across the state, leading to concerns about whether manure application will be completed. The projected favorable forecast the next nine days should provide an opportunity for manure application.

At this point, focus needs to shift from waiting for ideal manure application conditions, to making sure there is sufficient storage capacity to make it through the winter. However, as these weather conditions can increase nutrient transport and loss, it is important to make sure best manure application strategies are followed to minimize negative environmental impacts and ensure producers benefit from the manure’s fertilizer value.

Increased soil moisture increases both the risk of runoff and manure movement to tile lines. Higher soil moistures lead to both slower infiltrations of applied manures and greater potential for leaching. Liquid manure applications will increase soil moisture further; for example, a manure application of 13,500 gallons per acre is equivalent to a half-inch rainstorm.

There are some things producers can do to minimize risk of nutrient loss.

• Consider reducing manure application rates. This may mean supplementing fertilizers or providing a second manure application in the spring to meet nutrient application goals, but the soil has a better chance of holding all the nutrients applied.
• Pick and choose your fields. All fields aren’t created equal. Some have more slope, some are closer to streams and rivers, and some are naturally wetter and more poorly drained. Take advantage of knowing the farm and apply in the drier locations.
• Follow the contour. Wetter soils mean the manure soaks in slower; the manure and those nutrients need to stay where they are put. Following the contour provides less opportunity for flow and decreases mini-micro topography that runoff from the field from rainfall events shortly after manure application.
• Surface residue. Fields with more residue cover will tend to have less runoff and less erosion than fields where residue has been removed. Take advantage of this by putting manure where residue cover remains.
• Increase setback distances from rivers, streams, lakes, and sinkholes.
• Review your manure management plan. Identify fields that have a low phosphorus index and apply to those first. This normally means the field is at a lower risk of nutrient loss.
• Watch the forecast. The highest risk time for nutrient transport is within the first 48-hours of manure application. Try to avoid applying if larger storms (greater than 0.5 inches) are forecast.

These practices don’t eliminate risk of nutrient loss, but taking these actions can help keep the nutrients in the fields and out of Iowa’s waters.

Finally, wet conditions always lead to concerns and questions about compaction. Check tire inflation pressures, only partially fill tanks, or consider drag line application to reduce compaction risk. Good manure storage management means making sure to have sufficient capacity to make it spring. Keep soil and weather conditions in mind, and focus on actions to protect Iowa’s waters. Safe hauling.

Source: extension.iastate.edu

No matter how long you’ve been raising calves, it’s important to help build a solid foundation for each new arrival.

“There are four essential elements of newborn calf care that have equal bearing on health and productivity,” says Olson, technical services veterinarian for Milk Products. “Managing these four pillars with careful consistency will help set calves up for future productivity – whether that future is in the milking parlor or the feedlot.”

The four pillars of calf care include:

1. A healthy birth

“A calf’s entry into the world can have a tremendous influence on the rest of its life,” says Olson.

Ensure a healthy delivery:

• Allow the calving process to proceed as naturally as possible. Avoid the temptation to grab a calf and pull if the cow is progressing normally. Many important biological events occur during birth, such as the calf taking control of its circulatory system from its mother. If calving requires intervention, keep the health of the calf and cow in mind.
• Assist calves at birth to ensure they start breathing immediately after the umbilical cord breaks. Clearing the nostrils with a clean towel, a poke of clean straw in the nostril, and/or pouring ice water over the head are all ways to make sure newborn calves take that critical first gasp of air immediately after birth.

“Research has shown the importance of calves being able to sit upright and rest on their sternum within 15 minutes of birth,” says Olson. “If calves are not able to sit up, they will likely need additional care. Discuss with your veterinarian how you can prepare to assist these types of high-risk calves.

2. High-quality colostrum

The importance of delivering critical antibodies to newborn calves – which only can be achieved by feeding colostrum or a high-quality colostrum replacer – cannot be overlooked.

“Unlike some species, including humans, cattle do not pass on maternal immunity in-utero,” says Olson. “Newborn calves need to achieve early immunity through successful passive transfer. The only way they can acquire it is via colostrum.”

There is extensive literature discussing the many aspects of colostrum, but Olson’s “high points” are:

• Harvest clean, biosecure colostrum as quickly as possible after birth. Colostrum quality steadily decreases after birth.
• Aim to administer colostrum to calves at 10 percent of bodyweight within 2 hours of birth.[ A 90-pound calf would equal 9 pounds of colostrum, or about 1 gallon.
• If quality maternal colostrum is not available, feed high-quality colostrum replacer to deliver at least 150 grams of immunoglobulin (IgG).

3. Optimal nutrition

A fundamentally sound diet can be achieved through several strategies, which Olson advises setting with a nutrition professional.

“Nutrition program goals should focus on the needs of the calf, combined with the needs of your farm,” says Olson. “For example, heifer calves should be fed to reach breeding maturity at a target age. Bull calves, on the other hand, may be fed with a goal of transitioning to dry feed as quickly as possible.”

Other keys to excellent nutrition include:

• Develop a liquid ration with adequate volume, total protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Think of it as a “liquid TMR.”
• Choose a highly palatable starter grain with a protein level of at least 18 percent. Begin offering small amounts during the first days of life.
• Always provide clean, free-choice water from the first day of life. Water is a critical element for hydration, digestion and rumen development.

4. Ideal environment

Whether you house your calves in hutches, group housing or individual pens, well-managed calves are clean, dry, comfortable and have clean air to breathe.

“It’s important to remember the physical housing structure is just a part of a calf’s total environment,” says Olson.

Don’t forget:

• Bedding choice and management. Clean and fluffy bedding allows the calf to nest. Try to use bedding without a lot of dust and keep calves away from wet bedding.
• Ventilation and air quality. As seasons change, it’s important to remember calf ventilation needs also change. In winter, air should exchange four times an hour and in summer 40 times an hour.
• Sanitation. Everything from pen dividers to feeding equipment should be cleaned. Talk to your advisors about developing a sanitation program.
• Cold weather adjustments. Calf jackets can be very beneficial in cold climates.

“Careful attention to each of these pillars will help you build a solid foundation for newborn calves,” says Olson. “If one of the pillars are broken, the entire foundation can collapse.”

For example, calves without adequate colostrum will likely face health challenges that no amount of nutrition can fix. Likewise, a perfect ration can be compromised if it is fed using dirty equipment.

“The farms that I see doing all four of these things successfully, are those that write and regularly review protocols,” said Olson. “That way everyone knows what to do and how to do it, every day. The result is a very solid foundation for every one of their calves.”

Consult your veterinarian, nutritionist or colostrum replacer supplier to learn more about timely and effective colostrum delivery. Learn more about colostrum replacer and whole milk products at CalfSolutions.com.

Source: Milk Products

Cows released from a Brandenburg farm have died after eating too much concentrate feed, according to local media. Dozens more remain in critical condition, spelling economic misfortune for a budding organic farm.

At least four cows have died and many more are injured after unknown assailants trespassed on an organic farm and released the cattle from their pens in the German state of Brandenburg, the Berliner Zeitung reported on Tuesday.

The culprits released scores of dairy cows and young cattle between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The cows proceeded to the concentrate feed area, where they ate up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of the substance. Normally, cows only receive a maximum of two kilograms of concentrate per day, the report said.

Four cows died from overdose while 40 others are in critical condition and require veterinarian treatment, according to the report.

“The damage to the liver is just too much,” Anja Schiemann, managing director at the Liebenwalder Agrar, told the Berliner Zeitung. “Too much concentrate feed causes the digestive system in the rumen to be severely disturbed.”

Search for perpetrators

Activists may have been behind the act, the report said, citing social media content. Schiemann’s company has offered a €1,000 ($1,160) reward for information that may lead to the capture of the perpetrators. Police are also searching for the perpetrators.

The deteriorating health of the cows is expected to have significant financial losses due to less milk and strict diets of hay, which have gone up in price due to a heatwave over the summer, according to Schiemann.

Source: DW

Cargill has developed an industry-first robotic cattle driver aimed at improving animal welfare and employee safety. The robots are designed to move cattle from pens to the harvest area, reducing stress to the animals by minimizing their proximity to human activity. Employees operate the robots from a catwalk located above the pens, reducing safety risks by keeping those who work in the cattle yard portion of processing plants at a greater distance from the 1300-pound animals.

“The robotic cattle driver developed by Cargill is a major innovation in the handling and welfare of farm animals,” said Temple Grandin, professor of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. “This device will lead to huge strides in employee safety while moving large animals and reduce the stress on cattle across the country.”

Cargill Protein spent two years developing the prototype, with significant input from animal welfare experts including Grandin, beef plant employees and engineers from equipment supplier Flock Free. Using waving automated arms, blowers and audio recordings to move cattle in a desired direction, the robots can operate in rain, snow or mud, with no delay in daily operations. Testing was conducted at Cargill’s Wyalusing, Penn., and Schuyler, Neb., beef processing facilities to determine a design and operational attributes of the robot that would effectively improve animal welfare and employee safety before being implemented at the company’s U.S. and Canadian beef plants.

“The average bovine weighs almost three quarters of a ton, and our plant processes several thousand head of cattle daily,” said Sammy Renteria, general manager of the Cargill beef plant in Schuyler, Neb. “This innovation provides a much safer workplace for our employees and allows them to develop new technology expertise as they manage and operate the robot.”

The robotic cattle drivers are currently being implemented at Cargill Protein beef plants in the U.S. and Canada. They are manufactured by the New Jersey-based company Flock Free. Cargill believes the robotic cattle driver has multiple applications for improving animal handling and worker safety across livestock and poultry supply chains and is working toward making them available for use throughout the industry.

Source: wisconsinagconnection.com

Deciding how your cows will move and flow may be one of the bigger choices you make when planning your robotic milking facility.

Yes, there are staunch defenders of both guided and free flow – and DeLaval supports the installation of both – but it’s not as simple as choosing a “side.” Depending on the situation – and more often in retrofits – there are modifications to the systems. We call this cow traffic type modified guided.

There are many possible modifications, but we will focus on one in this article. My goal is to help you understand how free flow and guided systems work and then to understand how one modified system may work better than the others.

Understanding cow movement

Before choosing a cow traffic system, it is critical to understand why a cow eats, why a cow gets up from her stall, and why she moves or flows around the barn. This movement usually leads to her eating at the bunk, the VMS™ or even a feed station. 

The desire to eat and take in feed is heavily influenced by the feed leaving the rumen. Feed leaves two ways: 1) through digestion – nutrients going into the blood to help keep the animal alive, move, stay warm, grow, and make milk, and 2) through passage, otherwise known as manure. When the digestion and rate of passage increases, then the cow will eat more. She will get up more often to eat and she may have bigger meal sizes. When the digestibility of the feed is greater she can eat more, make more milk and be milked more often. 

It doesn’t matter if it is free flow, guided or modified guided, the forages will influence her flow. The gates in a guided system should never influence her flow unless there is a conscious effort from the farmer to do so. DeLaval recommends that cows always be able to visit the bunk unless, of course, she is diverted to be milked. Gates should never stop a cow from walking through them.

What influences a cow in a free flow system to get up and flow or move to the VMS or the feed bunk:

1. Cows are lying in their stalls, “on their own” they will get up
2. They make a choice of going to the bunk or the VMS
3. Cow traffic to the VMS is driven by higher levels of pellets and lower energy at the bunk:
   • Higher levels of pellets are often consumed (12 lbs or 5 kg/cow/day)
   • As forage digestibility increases these, levels can be reduced
4. Visiting the bunk six to 10 times per day is driven by:
   • Forage digestibility
   • Cow health (no fever, no metabolic issues, and no lameness)
   • Barn design
   • Cow behaviour (delivery of fresh feed, time of day, buddy system, training)

What influences a cow in a guided flow system to get up and flow or move to the VMS or feed bunk:

1. Cows are lying in their stalls, “on their own” they will get up
2. They walk to the bunk via a preselection gate
3. Cow traffic to the gate is driven by a desire to eat at the bunk; higher energy nutrition at the bunk to meet needs more like a total mixed ration (TMR)
4. Visiting the bunk six to 10 times per day is driven by:
   • Forage digestibility
   • Cow health (no fever, no metabolic issue, no lameness)
   • Barn design

What influences a cow in a modified guided system:

The same as the above two patterns, except you have one row of cows facing the feed bunk and two rows. The partial mixed ration (PMR) is mixed normally with a lower energy or starch than guided but can be higher than with free flow. The nutritionists have to watch what the cows are doing and will adjust accordingly.

Why Free Flow:

• Simple
• Lower initial investment
• Feeding more pellets is economically acceptable
• Feed Advisor has experience

Why Guided:

• Your focus on highly digestible forages fits so you can reduce pellet consumption in the VMS
• Labour efficiency is a priority
• Feed Advisor has experience with this system

Why Modified Guided:

• You have a three- or six-row barn for a retrofit
• You like three- or six-row barns
• This will give you some labour efficiency
• This may allow you to reduce pellet intake in the VMS depending on the forage digestibility

All systems can work, the question is: what is the right system for you? When you pick the right system, then you will have success. 

Source: delaval.com

Update your milk quality program now to be ready when winter hits.

Frozen teats? Ouch. Elevated somatic cell counts and clinical mastitis? No, thank you. It’s time to prepare your milk quality program for winter.

“Healthy teat skin is crucial to help cows fend off intramammary infections,” says Keith Engel, GEA dairy farm hygiene and supplies specialist. “By addressing winter weather and teat skin condition before the temperatures drop, you can minimize damage and loss of profitability from elevations in somatic cell count levels.”

This is the second in a series of Dairy Financial Driver Profitability Quick Tips. Information is based on work by Zoetis and Compeer Financial to analyze 11 years of herd data from 489 year-end financial and production-record summaries to identify key drive

Quicker pregnancies are essential to keep milk flowing and the next generation of herd replacements growing.

A 9% difference in pregnancy rate added up to a $143/cow/year difference in net farm income between the top one-third of herds and the bottom one-third of herds, 1,*according to a study by Zoetis and Compeer Financial that analyzed 11 years of herd data from 489 year-end financial and production-record summaries.1,*

Optimizing pregnancy rate is not only about making sure cows efficiently move through the stages of production, but also about ensuring cows spend less time in late lactation when milk production is lower. Your goal should be to have cows spend more time at the front end of the lactation curve, ultimately driving profitability.

Follow these three tips to improve pregnancy rates and maximize profit opportunity:

1. Get cows pregnant earlier in lactation. — Staying at the front end of the milking curve means more efficient milk production. Optimize pregnancy rate by implementing a high-conception rate fertility synchronization program followed by an intensive heat detection program to identify open cows for prompt re-insemination.
2. Keep your fresh cows healthy. — Good fresh cow care is key to ensuring fresh cows are ready to breed. Evaluate your fresh cow program to make sure stress is minimized, rations are balanced, and health evaluations are done at the front and back of a cow. Look for signs of illness such as loss of appetite, drooping ears, depressed attitude, increased temperature, abnormal tail carriage and vaginal discharge, in addition to the telltale foul smell, which may signal a metritis infection. If metritis is an issue, eliminate the need for pen moves and avoid the cost of discarding milk by using a proven, on-label treatment.
3. Calve in the right heifers for your dairy. — First-lactation animals typically make 15% less milk than second-lactation animals. Therefore, it’s important to manage and monitor heifer inventories closely with the goal of balancing your heifer and adult cow population. Having the right number of heifers with genetics that achieve your herd goals will allow you to minimize replacement costs while avoiding milk production gaps. Genomic testing with CLARIFIDE® Plus can help identify heifers that will live longer in your herd.

The bottom line is getting cows pregnant at a faster rate increases milk production — which is ultimately the driving force behind profitability.

Find out more about 21-day pregnancy rate and the other Dairy Financial Drivers. Contact your Zoetis sales representative to discuss solutions for improved pregnancy rates on your dairy.

About Zoetis
Zoetis(NYSE: ZTS) is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 60 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products, genetic tests, biodevices and a range of services. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2017, the company generated annual revenue of $5.3 billion with approximately 9,000 employees. For more information, visit zoetisUS.com.

The 2018 extended drought in southwest Missouri has left pastures and hayfields with few forages left at the end of summer according to Tim Schnakenberg, field specialist in agronomy with University of Missouri Extension.

“Livestock producers are scrambling to offset the cost of high priced hay by ensuring that forages are growing for fall and winter grazing,” said Schnakenberg.

According to Schnakenberg, under normal circumstances, the cost of feeding a cow per day during the winter months using hay is 2-3 times more than if the same cow was dependent on fall and winter pasture.

“Considering the cost of hay today, it may be more like 6-9 times the cost, which gives even more credence to the necessity of efficient fall grazing practices,” said Schnakenberg.

Dependent on the conditions of their fields, producers could consider a few options.

First, consider stockpiling your better tall fescue and Bermudagrass fields.

“This is our cheapest and easiest option for fall and winter grazing. It’s estimated that 80 to 90 percent of livestock producers should primarily focus on this option if fescue stands are strong,” said Schnakenberg.

It is easy to look at a droughty fescue field and think there is no hope for regrowth.

“We know from past droughts, that there is lots of hope for fescue to return in the fall. First, make sure there is some green in the base of the crown. If the plants are still alive and there is a 75% stand of fescue left, the best approach will be to stockpile it,” said Schnakenberg.

Rotational grazing will nearly double utilization. Strip grazing or multiple paddocks work exceptionally well for rationing out stockpiled fescue.

Second, pastures with poor stands of fescue or with no fall growth potential may be planted with winter annuals according to Schnakenberg.

“Planting winter annuals into a strong fescue stand is counter-productive and may not be cost-effective,” said Schnakenberg. “August is the month to evaluate stands of fescue. Many fields are full of grassy and broadleaf weeds like foxtail, purpletop, broomsedge and ragweed. If there is little tall fescue left, a plan should be developed for either providing temporary forage or a long-term plan for reestablishment.”

Winter annual forage options for fall and winter grazing include cereal rye, triticale, wheat, oats, barley, turnips, kale and radishes. Each one has its benefits and challenges.

Or third, complete renovation of worn-out fields is also an option.

“Some fields may be due for complete renovation. Think of the long-term goals and plan for success,” said Schnakenberg.

Fields that will be killed to renovate using winter annuals would be prime candidates to establish warm season grasses next spring or novel endophyte fescue the following late summer/fall.

Source: University of Missouri Extension

An international group of researchers from Canada, South Korea and Egypt explored the use of fibrolytic enzymes (FETR) as an additive to dairy cow rations and its potential to influence lactation, feeding behavior and digestibility when used with a barley silage-based diet.

The team members published their work in the Journal of Dairy Science. ​

“This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a fibrolytic enzyme product applied directly to a barley silage–based diet fed to dairy cows during mid-lactation on milk yield, milk composition, nutrient intake and digestibility, and feeding behavior,” the researchers said.

During the feeding trials, the researchers found that there was no influence on feeding behavior from use of the enzyme, but it did improve feed efficiency and milk protein amounts. “Pretreating dairy cow barley-based TMR with FETR improved dairy cow performance during the mid-lactation phase,” they added.

“Based on the current study, the optimum dosage of the fibrolytic enzymes was 0.75 mL of FETR/kg DM of TMR [total mixed ration],” they said. “Applying this dosage improved NDF [neutral detergent fiber] digestibility, fat yield, FCM [fat corrected milk] yield, and feed efficiency of dairy cows fed a diet containing 34% barley silage (DM basis).”​

Why fibrolytic enzymes with barley silage?​

Dairy cows have the ability to transform forage into milk and protein products for human use, the researchers said. However, the rate and amount of forage digestion cows make is lower than when they are fed concentrates – limiting feed intake and cow performance.

It is important to boost forage digestibility to improve milk production, they said.

Fibrolytic enzymes can be added as feed additive in ruminant diets to improve forage fiber digestion and support increased milk production in cows, they said. enzyme use also has been linked to improved digestibility of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF).

“However, there are inconsistent results regarding the effect of providing fibrolytic enzymes to ruminant diets on dairy cow performance (Bernard et al., 2010; Chung et al., 2012; Dean et al., 2013),” they said. “Thus, the use of fibrolytic enzymes as feed additives has not yet been extensively adopted in commercial dairy farms.”​

As feed costs can vary, however, it remains important to “refine” enzyme use as feed additives to increase feed efficiency and lower the price of milk production, the researchers said.

In western Canada, whole-crop barley can be a main forage element for dairy and beef rations, they said.

Previously, three barley forage varieties were examined for their in vitro NDF digestibility to examine use of the forage with beef cattle, they said. “From the results of this study, it was found that all barley varieties, despite differences in NDF digestibility, have a similar effect on feed efficiency,” they added.

It was also noted that other factors also altered forage digestibility and quality, the researchers said. The range of nutritional quality for forage barley indicates that additional additives – like “fibrolytic enzyme products with high activity (xylanase and cellulase)” – may be needed to improve the digestibility of barley silage.

However, there is little information available on milk production response in cows when a fibrolytic enzyme is added to their barley silage-based ration, they said.

Methods and materials​

Prior to the feeding trial an in vitro examination was conducted to establish if adding fibrolytic enzymes would alter animal performance when used with a barley silage-based diet, the researchers said. The enzyme was tested on barley silage samples at six levels – 0, 0.25, 0.50. 0.75, 1 and 1.25 mL of FERT/kg DM of silage – and the gas generated was measured.

In the feeding trial, eight cows were given one of four diets for a period of 22 days, before being rotated to another of the trial diets, the researchers said. Each period on diet included a 16-day adjustment window and 6 days for sampling.

The diets included a total mixed ration (TMR) with 34.1% barley silage, 16.1% alfalfa hay, 19.7% barley grain and 30.1% concentrate on a DM basis and that diet was supplemented with 0, 0.5, 0.75 or 1mL of FETR/kg dry matter (DM), they said. The enzyme pretreatment was added to the feed during the mixing process.

Feed intake, feeding behavior and milk yield were noted daily during the 6-day period and milk samples were collected for the final three days and checked for milk fat, protein, lactose, MUN and TS, they said. TMR, ort and fecal samples also were gathered for analysis and to determine total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter, NDF and potentially digestible NDF.

Results​

In a pre-feeding trial in vitro test, adding the enzyme linearly increased digestibility of dry matter and appeared to improve the digestion of barley silages, the researchers said. There also was a linear effect on the digestibility of in vitro NDF digestibility.  

Adding the enzyme to cow rations did not alter the intake of DM, OM or NDF, they said. “The response of DM, OM, and NDF digestibility to the increasing level of FETR was cubic, where the intermediate dosage (0.75 mL of FETR/kg DM of TMR) has exhibited the best effect on nutrient digestibility,” they added.

“Pretreating dairy cow barley silage–based diet with 0.75 mL of FETR/kg of TMR increased the milk production efficiency of dairy cows fed diets containing 34% barley silage (DM basis),” they said. “The positive effect of adding FETR could benefit the dairy industry in western Canada, where barley silage-based diets are common.”​

The additive improved FCM and energy-corrected milk, with the highest levels found when 0.75 of the enzyme/kg was added to the TMR, the researchers said. Milk fat yield also increased, however the highest amount of enzyme tended to lower milk fat yield.

Milk protein composition increased linearly as more enzyme was added but yield did not, they said. The 0.75 diet also was found to generate the best milk lactose percentage, the best feed efficiency and a higher FCM yield. However, MUN was not altered.

“These findings indicate that supplementing the forage with moderate enzyme levels could enhance dairy cow performance,” they said. 

Learn management practices that can help improve your dairy herd’s bottom line

The dairy industry continues its struggle to control coliform mastitis, which was found to be the source of up to 50 percent of mastitis infections on U.S. dairy herds in 2017.¹ The consequences can be devastating, with research indicating a cost of $444 per clinical case of mastitis during the first 30 days in milk.²

Producers can suffer economic losses from clinical mastitis such as added labor, discarded milk, antibiotic treatment, production loss, veterinarian costs, culling and death (see Figure 1).³ In fact, clinical mastitis has been identified as the most common cause of death in adult dairy cows.²

Coliform mastitis infections can arise anytime during a cow’s lactation, but the highest risk period is early to peak lactation. Older, higher-producing cows are especially susceptible. Fortunately, producers can take steps toward prevention and control.

Focus on cleanliness

“Environmental pathogens that cause coliform mastitis can be found anywhere manure comes in contact with the udder,” said Dr. Linda Tikofsky, senior associate director of dairy professional veterinary services, Boehringer Ingelheim. She said producers can minimize mastitis risk by :⁴

• Providing an ample supply of dry, clean bedding that is frequently groomed;
• Refraining from overcrowding and/or overgrazing;
• Managing water tanks, feeding areas and walkways to eliminate standing water or excess manure that might splash onto the udder; and
• Ventilating barns to limit heat stress and the spread of bacteria

Implement a vaccination protocol

Vaccination can help reduce the severity and incidence of coliform mastitis.⁵ “I recommend vaccinating all cows at dry-off, then giving a booster vaccine two to four weeks later,” said Dr. Tikofsky. “If you’re struggling with an outbreak or it’s simply more convenient, you can also vaccinate the entire herd at once. Just don’t forget to give a booster. The vaccine you choose should have a short meat withdrawal and provide protection against E. coli, endotoxemia caused by E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. A veterinarian can help create a protocol that is best suited to your operation’s needs.”

Be prepared for an infection

Even with the best practices in place, mastitis infections will still happen. When mild or moderate clinical mastitis cases occur, Dr. Tikofsky recommends taking a milk sample, culturing and waiting 24 hours for results before treating. “Culturing can be done without a negative effect on cure rate or animal welfare in cases of mild or moderate mastitis,” she explained. “If you think you’re experiencing a coliform mastitis outbreak, work with your veterinarian to identify and address the cause.”

Handling, transportation, environment, feed, interactions with other animals, and interactions with humans can stress cattle. Do our attitudes influence factors that can affect profitability?

The saying goes “attitude is everything,” but is it? Researchers have been and are likely to continue exploring this notion in relation to production, reproduction, safety, and other aspects of operating dairy farms. Many stimuli including handling, transportation, their environment, feed, interactions with other animals, and interactions with humans can stress cattle. Do our attitudes influence factors that can affect profitability on dairy farms?

The interactions between humans and animals, along with attitudes of the animal handlers, were examined during a study of 30 organic dairies in Germany and Denmark (Ivemeyer et al., 2018). Data collected included observations of the milkers’ behavior toward the cows, survey responses on attitudes of the farmers, and udder health according to 3 indicators (percent of mastitis quarters, somatic cell score, and cure rate). More favorable udder health ratings were recorded when the respondents’ attitudes favored patience when moving cattle, pleasant behavior toward cows, a greater number of positive interactions with cows, and when the routines of the milkers were unchanged. Another European study assessed the interactions between humans and cattle by gauging whether certain factors influenced whether cattle avoided being touched by humans while at the feeding rack (des Roches et al., 2016). The study authors concluded that characteristics of the farm such as bedding, herd size, or milking system did not influence the cattle to avoid being touched; however, an avoidance association was observed when the farmers possessed a negative behavioral attitude toward the cows, which included behaviors such as naming cows, issuing a warning to them prior to milking, yelling, or reluctance to cull favorite cows. The average farm sizes in the studies previously mentioned were 85 cows and 54 cows, respectively.

A positive attitude and drive to seek assistance and information can be positively reflected by herd health measures including mastitis and decreased bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC). Researchers who conducted a survey of dairies in the southeastern U.S. concluded that producers reporting BTSCC levels at or below 300,000 who sought information and desired to lower their SCC were able to observe positive results and decrease the BTSCC (DeLong et al., 2017). Further, these researchers also noted an association between farmers’ attitudes toward their ability to manage mastitis related to milking practices and a lower BTSCC. An earlier study of factors influencing mastitis management across several states highlighted the role that attitudes can have, as the survey respondents reported higher BTSCC when the lack of adherence to milking protocols and cases of mastitis were perceived as issues on farms (Schewe et al., 2015).

The findings from a recent study of 265 male and female Finnish dairy farmers indicated that their well-being was tied to several factors including working with healthy farm animals along with family interaction, a workload that is within reason, and the sustainability of the farm economy (Kallioniemi et al., 2018). These results reflect that maintaining herd health aids in the positive well-being of the farmers that were surveyed.

These studies would indicate that a component of a farm management strategy is the right attitude. While the recent online trend of cow cuddling may be a bit extreme, it might be worthwhile to take a few minutes to check negative feelings at the barn door. Focusing our efforts on things that we can control and anticipating positive results may provide a boost in productivity and make for a better work environment.

Source: PennState Extension

Unacceptably high calf mortality rates on Australian dairies cause significant financial loss to individual enterprises. The extent of this financial loss is often not appreciated because it is hard to assess.

On many dairies, losing a few calves a year is not regarded as a big financial loss and that, in fact, is probably right. The things which are costing the enterprise money are the related but unseen financial effects of clinical and subclinical disease in the surviving calves.

When farmers are asked to estimate the cost of dead calves, most will list the obvious losses:

• Farmgate value of the calf.
• Value (if any) of the feed the calf consumed before death.
• Labour costs to rear them to the time the calf died.
• Veterinary costs, including drugs.

My experience and that of other large-scale calf rearers is that, as a generalisation, for every dead calf, there are about five sick ones. In this context, I would define a sick calf as one which needs or receives supportive therapy of some sort – tube feeding, isolation, electrolytes or drugs.

For every five sick calves there are probably 25 diverting nutrients from growth into immune system function to defend their bodies against infection, i.e. staying healthy but in doing so have reduced weight gains/kilogram of feed consumed.

It is the related illness, poor feed conversion efficiencies and sub-optimal growth rates in surviving calves that cost far more money than the value of the dead calves.

For example, it is quite possible that a group of calves under stress will consume double the amount of grain to reach a target weight when compared with a group of unstressed calves. This alone is an unnecessary cost but when coupled with the other unseen costs linked to poor early life growth rates, such as reduced lifetime feed conversion and failure to reach genetic potential for milk production, the financial impost associated with the cost of dead calves can be huge.

The figures I have given are not graven in stone; they will vary from farm to farm and year to year. The point is that by scrimping on rearing costs, calf health and growth rates will be jeopardised and the long-term financial losses will far outweigh any money saved in the short term.

Long-term productivity will certainly be compromised and animal welfare outcomes will not meet consumer expectations.

Often farms have no easily accessible factual record of the number of deaths that occur in a particular year. Guesstimates of losses are often later proven to be under-estimates.

The death of only 2 per cent of heifers reared is often viewed as a really good result. If one takes the approximate figures I have given above, two dead calves are linked to 10 sick calves and 50 that are not ill but which have enough of an immune challenge to decrease their feed conversion efficiency.

It is important to remember that I am not using these figures as facts. They are just approximations of what may be happening; on some farms, the results will be more favourable, on others the results will be much worse.

What I am trying to illustrate is that the actual cost of any dead calves can be a drop in the ocean A range of factors can cause an exponential increase in these costs on dairies rearing higher number compared with the real, on-going losses sustained, but not seen, by the enterprise.

Which calves should be included in the mortality statistics? From the point of view of improving calf management, it is generally accepted that if a calf is brought in from the calving area to the rearing area and is expected to live, i.e. it is tagged and treated normally for the first few hours of life but subsequently dies, that is should be counted as a dead calf.

Usually counting would cut off at 12 weeks, once a calf has been weaned but since some farms still have 12-week-old heifers on milk, maybe those farms should use a timeframe of weaning plus four weeks as the cut-off point for inclusion in mortality statistics.

Whatever upper age limit is chosen, it is important to be consistent from year to year. It is also important to include a few weeks post weaning in the statistics as poor weaning practices can result in post-weaning deaths, which still relate to poor calf management pas those deaths are not a result of poor calf management practices.

Stillbirths and calves that are obviously ill or deformed at birth should not be counted. A note should be kept of these deaths, though, as they may be a result of herd health problems.

Now, let’s consider what is an acceptable mortality rate. In an average beef herd in southern Australia, and I have managed several, it is pretty unusual to lose more than 1 per cent of calves, particularly in the first 2-3 months of life. This is what nature can do – 1 per cent or less.

Therefore, if dairy calves are to be removed from their natural mothers and raised by human surrogate mothers, those surrogates should have less than 1 per cent deaths as the goal. Achievinfor animal welfare this will have a positive financial impact on the business and will allow the farm to meet consumer expectations.

Money spent on raising heifers does not give a return until those heifers enter the herd. It is important to remember that, providing the money is spent proactively on raising healthy calves, not reactively on treating sick calves, the greater the investment, the greater the return will be.

Attempting to save money by reducing the costs of calf-feeding inputs will result in calves that do not achieve recommended growth rates and that are more likely to become ill and die.

Calves that are limit-fed will achieve low growth rates and will be on feed for much longer to achieve a target weight. Their efficiency of gain will be lower than calves that are fully fed (i.e. it will cost more to grow calves out to a target weight) and they will be far less productive cows when they enter the herd.

Add together the:

• Direct costs of increased mortality.
• Direct costs of increased sickness.
• Extra costs per kilogram of weight gain.
• Lower lifetime milk production.
• Lower lifetime feed conversion efficiency.
• Poor animal welfare outcomes.

This reveals the enterprise has a significant financial burden as well as not meeting welfare expectations.

In times of low milk prices, it is a normal survival tactic to try to cut back on every expense. The best way to economise in the area of heifers is to do a really good job.

Sick calves mean that somewhere, something is not being done well; this only adds to the costs of rearing heifers. Raising healthy calves is not any more expensive up front than doing a bad job – it just means money is spent in different areas.

Raising healthy calves may mean spending less money for a better result and it is far more satisfying than dealing with sick and dying calves.

Doing the most effective and economical job with pre-weaned calves means having:

• Excellent colostrum collection, storage and administration practices.
• Farm-specific sanitation protocols that are followed to the letter.
• Milk and grain feeding schedules that allow calves to grow at the recommended rates.
• The ability to weigh calves and to monitor the success of the calf management program.

Failure to acknowledge that an enterprise has a calf management problem will not make the problem go away; the problem will continue to drain resources from the enterprise until it is addressed.

Increasingly, high death rates are becoming not just an economic issue, which farmers can choose to ignore if they are prepared to accept the financial loss, but an issue of customer expectations. A pile of dead calves outside the calf shed is not something which the average customer would be happy about.

The good thing is that making management changes to meet consumer expectations only involves changes that reduce morbidity and mortality rates and increases growth rates and health outcomes, that is, changes that are beneficial to the enterprise.

At times when farmers are looking for ways to improve profitability, improving calf management is an area that delivers multiple benefits.

Source: The Australian Dairyfarmer

Source: Otago Daily Times

High level of nitrates have been detected in forages this year. Depending on where you live, it could be due to weather conditions, fertilizer, previous crop, or a combination. Regardless of the situation or where you are located in South Dakota, it is advised to have your forages tested for nitrates this year. Asking your neighbor, if he or she has high nitrates, is no indication of what your forage will be. Likewise, there is variation amongst fields that sit side by side.

Common forages that accumulate nitrates include: oats, wheat, millet, sudangrass, sorghum, corn, orchardgrass, tall fescue and weeds (i.e. kochia, pigweed, lambsquarters, ragweed). Another concern are cover crops. Several of the cover crop mixtures include the plants listed above. In addition most cover crops include brassicas (turnips, radishes, rapeseed) that can also accumulate nitrates.

If forages are too high in nitrates, abortion and or death could occur. Death may occur within 1 hour, or in the usual case, 3 to 4 hours after the onset of difficult breathing. An analysis of your forages, will prevent you from having these wrecks.

Several laboratories perform nitrate testing. Depending on lab, up to $20/sample. One abortion will pay for a lot of testing. Taking a representative sample is important regardless if it is standing forage or bales. When sampling from a standing crop, collect plants from all parts of the field, the good and bad areas. Do not sample from just one end of the field or the most convenient. If the hay is in a bale, a hay probe needs to be used to collect cores. For the proper method of sampling, view Proper Sampling of Hay and Forages or contact a SDSU Extension expert.

If an analysis indicates nitrates are present, most forages can be incorporated into your feeding program by blending with feedstuff that are low in nitrates. When nitrates get above 2000 ppm nitrate nitrogen, it should not be fed to pregnant animals, regardless if you were going to blend.

Source: igrow.org