cowmanagement june 2012

ED ITION U .S. V O LU M E 4 NO 3 J UN E 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

C O W H EA LTH

Proper use of medicines in meat just as important as in milk H O U SIN G

New information now used to enhance cow comfort with ventilation systems FA RM REPO RT

A South Carolina producer shares his experience about his bottling plant CMUS03_cover 2

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C ONTENTS

FEATURES

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Cow talk CRV breeding information Trouw Nutrition news Vet practice: management team FARM REPORT

10 Watson Dorn bottles his own milk 24 Dairy production in Italy BREEDING

16 Genetic advancements of milk production MANAGEMENT

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Nutrient management Advisory group Looking for the right ventilation Water heating

Watson Dorn: “I would definitely build a bottling plant again” 10

Management Proper medicine use

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Preventing antibiotic residues in meat is just as important as in milk.

Amy Ryan Changing with the times

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n an ever changing dairy industry, we are challenged by many elements beyond our control. Weather, rising fuel and feed costs, less than promising milk prices all influence our businesses.

We need to challenge ourselves to continually evolve our operations and develop plans to overcome obstacles.

This issue highlights methods to assist with that task.

Many operations are now utilizing peer advisory groups to exchange ideas with other producers. Such advisory groups present the opportunity to share experiences, push you to think outside the box, provide a forum to brainstorm new ideas and possibly help implement changes to further evolve your dairy.

Turn to page 18 to learn more about peer advisory groups and what you can do to create them.

This month’s vet column discusses the advantages of developing a management team for your dairy. Pinpointing the

right people for your team, helps to best utilize their talents and successfully work toward your goals.

Antibiotic use is a hot topic in our dairy industry. Using antibiotics responsibly by working with your vet to develop a strategy, build protocols and document drug use is discussed on page 6.

Nutrient management is not a new topic to the dairy industry, but it is commonly scrutinized. This issue features the first article in a series that will discuss on-farm nutrient flow, monitoring nutrients and developing a nutrient management plan. Page 14 talks about effectively balancing the nutrient flow on your farm.

The farm report features dairy producer Watson Dorn, whose operation has profitabily evolved over time. Dorn and his family operate an on-farm bottling plant to offer local product to consumers. Read about their story on page 10.

Series Staff Nutrient management Advisory group

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This series will discuss different components of onfarm nutrient management.

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Peer advisory groups provide a forum for today’s business-minded producers.

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C O W

Virtual farm tours showcase top notch dairies Since 2001, World Dairy Expo’s Virtual Farm Tours have become a producer favorite, allowing them to visit a variety of dairies from around the U.S. without leaving the show. Virtual Farm Tours will focus on a variety of management topics including optimizing nutrition, environmental stewardship, genomic testing and mating decisions, financial management, unique marketing, automation, expansion and milk quality. The free tours will be presented daily, Tuesday, October 2 through Saturday, October 6 in the Mendota 1

TA L K

USDA celebrates 150 years of service

meeting room in the Exhibition Hall.

The presentations will be available for viewing on World Dairy Expo’s website after the show. The next farms are cooperating: – VanEss Dairy LLC, Sanborn, Iowa – Golden Oaks Farm, Wauconda, Ill. – Martin Dairy LLC, Tillamook, Ore. – United Pride Dairy LLC, Phillips, Wis. – Shamrock Farms, Stanfield, Ariz.

– Dockendorf Dairy, Watkins, Minn.

– McCarty Dairy, Rexford, Kan. – Dellar Dairy, Harrisville, Mich.

Source: www.worlddairyexpo.com

The polled cow Perk, a cow at Golden Oaks Farm, a herd featured in the virtual tours

President Lincoln established USDA in 1862 because he understood the importance of agriculture to America’s success – and under the Obama Administration USDA has focused on advancing Lincoln’s legacy. The Department has delivered record amounts of loan assistance; enrolled a record number of acres in conservation programs; provided food assistance to many Americans and helped upgrade infrastructure for millions of people.

Throughout 2012, USDA will continue to recognize important events such as President Lincoln’s signing of the Act to establish the Department of Agriculture on May, 15, 1862 and the July 2, 1862 signing of the Morrill Act to establish public land grant universities.

USDA supports the tremendous growth and continued successes of American agriculture at home and abroad, drives economic growth, conducts groundbreaking research, conserves natural resources, promotes healthy families and builds stronger communities and nations. The Department will focus on rebuilding and revitalizing the nation’s future while bolstering innovation and supporting economic growth for millions of American families.

Source: www.usda.gov

FSIS to increase residue testing The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced two steps designed to prevent meat products that contain illegal residues from reaching consumers: the issuance of a compliance guide that will help livestock slaughter establishments avoid purchasing animals with illegal drug or other chemical residues; and increased testing of animals from producers with a history of residue violations.

The residue compliance guide is intended for all livestock slaughter establishments, particularly those for dairy cows and bob veal calves, which account for the

majority of residue violations. The guide outlines basic measures that slaughter establishments can employ to prevent or reduce residues in livestock.

FSIS administers the U.S. National Residue Program (NRP) to keep products with illegal residues from reaching

consumers. As part of the announcement, FSIS stated that a key part of the NRP, the Residue Repeat Violator List, has been revised and streamlined to be more user-friendly. The list now includes only producers who have supplied more than one animal with an illegal residue level in the past year. FSIS is interested in receiving comments on the list, including how to improve its usefulness, and whether the Agency should provide additional information on producers who supply animals with violative residues.

Source: www.usda.gov

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Preventing antibiotic residues in m eat

Responsible us e The dairy business is under scrutiny as never before for drug residues in beef. Dairy producers should develop strategies, build protocols and document treatments to protect human health and make it possible to continue using therapeutic antibiotics. text JoDee Sattler

I

t can’t be denied. Dairy producers are in the business of producing beef – just as much as they’re in the business of producing milk.

The good news: antibiotic residues in milk and milk products are a rare consequence of treating cattle with antibiotics. The bad news: dairy producers don’t have such a clean record with the beef they market. Depending on the year cited, up to 90 percent of drug residue issues in beef stem from dairy animals. Cull cows account for 70 percent, whereas bob veal calves make up the other 20 percent of residue in meat problem.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), failure to observe label withdrawal periods before slaughter is the principal cause of illegal drug residues. Other major causes of violative residues are failure to observe label directions regarding dosage and route of administration.

“Fortunately, drug residues in dairy beef carcasses are decreasing,” states Joseph Dalton, University of Idaho dairy specialist. Yet, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

While prudent antibiotic use in livestock is extremely important in preventing antibiotic resistance in both humans

Injectable animal health products – Products labeled for subcutaneous (SQ) administration should be administered SQ in the neck region (ahead of the shoulders).

– All products labeled for intra-muscular (IM) use shall be given in the neck region only (no exceptions, regardless of age).

– All products cause tissue damage when injected IM. Therefore, all IM use should be avoided, if possible.

– Products cleared for SQ , IV or oral administration are recommended.

– Products with low dosage rates are recommended and proper spacing should be followed.

– Administer no more than 10 cc of product per IM injection site.

Source: Beef Quality Assurance

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n m eat is just as important as in milk

us e of medicines and livestock, another important factor is preventing allergic reactions in those who are hypersensitive to penicillin or other antibiotics, explains Jerry Jones, professor emeritus and Extension dairy scientist, milk quality and milking management, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. Up to 10 percent of the population suffers allergic reactions at concentrations as low as 1 ppb penicillin.

Solution: Follow the label Following label directions seems so basic, but its importance cannot be overstated. “When we have (antibiotic) residues (in beef), the label most likely wasn’t adhered to in some manner, which would include not adhering to the label slaughter withdrawal time,” says Michael Apley, DVM, clinical pharmacologist and food animal production medicine specialist at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, Kan. “Or, if it were to be given at an elevated dose, or intramuscularly, rather than the label intravenous route, these could also result in residues.”

Apley adds that using an antibiotic other than labeled in a lactating dairy cow is against the law. “Adhering to regulations for use of sulfonamides in dairy cattle and following product label instructions would make a residue very unlikely.”

“Residues are definitely not a drug problem; they are a people problem,” says Jeff Bleck, DVM, Dairy Doctors Veterinary Service, Plymouth, Wis. The “people problem” can be the owner, veterinarian or person giving the shot.

“We need to do a better job of cleaning up our act and only using drugs according to the label,” Bleck states. Not following the specific instructions for injection sites and amounts may cause drugs to linger longer than indicated on the bottle.

Adhere to administration routes

Give products labeled for intra-muscular in the neck region only

Pay attention to drug administration procedures because of the potential for producing violative milk and/or tissue residues, warns John Middleton, DVM, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine associate professor of food animal medicine. A drug’s administration route impacts the absorption rate and elimination time. Similarly, over-thecounter drugs not used according to the manufacturer’s label may yield violative residues so follow label instructions.

Middleton notes that several drugs, with the same active ingredient, can be labeled for different routes of administration. However, they are not the same because the medicine contains different concentrations or formulation bases. For example, Naxcel and Spectramast LC & DC all contain ceftiofur as their active drug ingredient but are labeled with different administration routes.

Bleck shares another example. A commonly used anti-

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from “abnormal” cattle. Medicine may not clear the system of a sick animal in the same time as the label indicates.

Consult carefully with your veterinarian when treating sick cattle.

Develop plan with vet

Products labeled for subcutaneous (SQ) administration should be administered SQ in the neck region (ahead of the shoulders)

inflammatory Flunixin was often injected under the skin or in the muscle.

However, the label only lists intravenous as the approved administration.

Withdrawal times are accurate What are the consequences of not following the label? The drug could stay in an animal’s system for a much longer period of time than the listed withdrawal period. If you use drugs by label with the correct dose and route, pharmaceutical providers are 99.9 percent confident that the withdrawal time is correct.

Additionally, Keith Sterner, DVM, Ionia, Mich., notes that some pharmaceutical products have a zero or very short milk and/or tissue withdrawal time. “This does not mean there is little or no risk of producing a violative residue with these products. Like all drugs, you must follow label instructions (dose, administration route, dosing interval, treatment duration, etc.) to prevent a potential residue.”

Labels are based on “normal” cattle.

You should watch for exceptions, such as dehydration, kidney failure, liver problems, poor rumen function, etc. It may take longer for treatments to clear

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To get started with a responsible drug treatment plan, Apley highly recommends working with your veterinarian and key animal care providers in writing protocols for how drugs are used in your dairy operation.

Train employees how to use the protocols and routinely retrain them.

Your herd veterinarian is a key player in this team process. “The best control measure is to have your veterinarian at the table when you design your total herd health plan,” Apley remarks. “If you have a veterinarian advocating extensive extra-label drug use or the use of unapproved products, get some other opinions. Protect yourself and the cattle industry.”

Apley notes that 70 percent of the residues in cull dairy cows that occurred between 2005 and 2008 had no veterinarian involvement. “Together, we need to agree on specific protocols and adhere to proper drug use, administration and withdrawal times.

Then, veterinarians and producers should document training and employees’ agreement to follow these protocols.”

Apley continues, “Avoiding residues is as simple as adhering to the withdrawal time and having treatment records.”

Create residue avoidance plan In developing clients’ residue avoidance plans, Apley suggests using a checklist that includes treatment protocols and records for tracking animals. The Dairy Animal Care Quality Assurance (DACQA) guidelines provide a great starting point. The guidelines contain basic information on properly selecting and administering products, correct record keeping for a dairy’s entire production system, and animal care and handling.

Residues issues, according to Bleck, most often come down to poor record keeping. FDA cited a lack of treatment records, not adjusting withdrawal times to account for increased dosage, and an ineffective animal identification system

Treatment records should include: – Identification of animal treated – Date treated – Product administered – Dosage used – Route and location of administration – Earliest date animals will have cleared withdrawal time – Name of person administering product

as top reasons for residue violations.

David Rhoda, DVM, Evansville, Wis., suggests maintaining treatment records by management groups, such as preweaned calves, replacements and prefresh, dry cows, fresh and sick cows.

Furthermore, consider groups for fertility, clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis and lameness. “Solid records for each of these groups are vital because they may have a cross-over effect on each other.” For example, cow treatment records are crucial for calf management because residues may come from a cow and show up in calf that was never treated with antibiotics.

Furthermore, accurate treatment records may also help in determining future treatment decisions and protocols. Maintain all treatment records for a minimum of two years after an animal leaves the dairy.

Dairies that adhere to a responsible drug usage policy make sure certain procedures are in place. First, they use proactive (preventive) management, nutrition and husbandry practices that are designed to reduce or eliminate diseases on their dairy. Second, they involve input from a competent veterinary professional to ensure that their drug usage, treatment plans and record keeping procedures are effective and compliant. This includes, but is not limited to, timely and appropriate diagnostic workup (including laboratory sample submission), training of farm personnel, establishment of effective protocols, monitoring the effectiveness of procedures, and willingness to make revisions when necessary. l

2012

04-06-2012 13:27:03

CRV

B R EEDING

N E W S

CRV fills void with grazing consultation service Tired of the pasture always looking greener on the other side of the fence, or perhaps you need help on how to put that pasture to work for maximum benefit to your dairy?

With pasture or grass-based dairy systems becoming increasingly popular, Grant Chadwick, one of the newest members of the CRV team, has the knowledge and experience to help. Originally from New Zealand and having come to Missouri four years ago, Grant has over twenty years of pasture growth and dairy management experience he wants to share with you through

his grazing consultation service, which is brand new to the US dairy industry.

Whether your just starting out or looking for a change, a pasture system is a viable option.

A viable option for beginning dairy farmers, a pasture system offers several different benefits. A pasture system can save a new producer thousands of dollars in farm capital by not requiring the facilities or equipment necessary to run a conventionally housed dairy.

Grant’s expertise can help beginners to understand the type of grasses that grow best in the region, what type of cows will be best suited for the grasses,

Grass-based dairy systems becoming increasingly popular

or how to budget pasture feed to ensure success.

Producers looking to expand or transition in to a more sustainable style of dairy cattle production will also find this service useful. Using Grant’s advice can greatly reduce a farms feed bill, increasing the margin between milk profits and feed costs. Implementing a grass-based system can rejuvenate soils without heavy amounts of fertilizer, along with improving hoof health, and improving breeding performance of the cows. Less time required for feed harvest or manure management can allow the producer more free time for their families or off-farm activities.

Hybrid dairy systems with both conventional and pasture methods implemented are becoming an industry trend. CRV wants to ensure its customers have all the resources available to them to be sustainable and profitable in their ventures. To learn more about CRV’s grazing consultation service contact CRV at 1-608-441-3202.

Costello announced as summer marketing intern Matthew Costello, DeWitt, IA, has joined CRV as the summer marketing intern. Growing up living and working on dairy farms and taking a special interest in genetics with his own herd, Matthew’s dairy roots run deep. Now a junior in dairy science at Iowa State University, Matthew’s courses in dairy cattle management, farm business management, and marketing have given him a basic knowledge that working at CRV will expand upon.

“Matthew will be implemental in marketing the many tools and products CRV has to offer,” stated Danyel Hosto, marketing coordinator. “Matthew has the skills, work ethic, and attention to

customer needs that are essential to his new position and will help attain his success.”

As marketing intern, Matthew will be responsible for creating marketing literature, organizing press releases, updating social media pages, customer relationship management, and will be working with several CRV employees to help with product market launches.

Working in the office and the field, Matthew will use his knowledge of the dairy industry along with his understanding of new technologies to evolve tools and information for CRV staff and customers.

“I’m excited to be spending my summer in Madison with everyone here at CRV,” Matthew said. “Working with CRV to

Matthew Costello

create helpful and informative tools that everyone will be able to use and understand will be a test of my skills that I look forward to.”

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Hickory Hill Milk Watson Dorn is cashing in on consumers’ desire to buy local products.

Number of cows: Number of acres: Production: Cell Count:

R E P O RT

Edgefield

275 600 21,000 RHA less than 200,000

Watson Dorn

The trucks to deliver the milk to the stores

A South Carolina producer adds a bottling plant to the family dairy

locally produced, top quality milk.

It hasn’t been a cheap or easy process.

“Economists will tell you that if you start a new business you won’t see a dime of profit for the first two years.

That is about right,” says Dorn.

“A very small bottling plant costs at least $300,000. Then you need at least one truck and inventory, jugs, caps, labels, testing equipment, chocolate, sugar. On and on before you see a dollar.”

Labor is another big ticket item. While he is still milking 275 cows, the same as before he built the bottling plant, Dorn has gone from five full time employees to six with threes part time employees.

The additional workers are all in the bottling plant. “A bottling plant will double your work load,” he notes.

text Becky Mills

Permitting process nightmare

Do it yourself milk marketing Watson Dorn uses an on-farm bottling plant to recoup part of the dollars consumers spend on milk. Consumers win with

S

even years ago Watson Dorn’s wife, Lisa, a C.P.A., ran the numbers on an on-farm bottling enterprise. “She said it would work,” Watson recalls, “But our children were small then.” However, the Edgefield, South Carolina, dairyman says, “I couldn’t get it off my brain.”

Three and a half years later, in October of 2008, he read an article about Missouri producer/processor Leroy Shatto. “He said there wasn’t a day he didn’t get a call, letter or e-mail thanking him for his milk.” That did it for Dorn.

“Bottling went hand in hand with what we were already doing,” he explains.

Watson Dorn says he and his family, going back to his late grandparents, Marvin and Maysie, his parents, Jim and Marie, and he and Lisa’s children, Daniel and Courtney, have always taken pride in the quality of their milk.

Their milk has routinely earned quality

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Hygiene in the parlor

awards from their milk co-op. “Plus, more and more people want to know where their food is coming from and under what conditions it is produced,” says Dorn.

North Carolina State University ag economist Geoff Benson agrees. “I think the key to the expansion of on-farm processing is consumer interest in local foods. They want to know the farmer and know how the product is made.”

While the Dorns are in a fairly isolated area they have two larger cities, with many potential customers, within an hour’s drive.

Once they committed to the new enterprise they wasted no time in building the bottling plant. By February 17, 2009, jugs of milk were rolling off the line. Now, Dorn says he is at 75% of his goal of bottling and selling 5,000 gallons a week.

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Dorn also says, “If you don’t have everything organized at the dairy, don’t do it. Our dairy nutritionist says 90% of the time when somebody starts bottling their own milk their dairy goes down. It hasn’t here. That is because of our employees. They take pride in producing quality milk.”

He adds, “The key is to hire competent, energetic, trustworthy people.” Dorn says Benjamin Holmes, plant manager, is a prime example.

Another time killer was the permitting process. “It was a nightmare,” says Dorn.

“Since we sell in Georgia and North Carolina I had to get interstate shipper listed.” Unfortunately he learned that the expensive way when he watched $600 of milk go down the drain in Georgia.

He also had to get another well drilled and it had to go through a permitting process. He and Holmes both had to be certified to run their in-house lab and

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Lots of ventilation to keep the cows cool

Strict hygiene rules

labels had to be approved by the South Carolina Department of Health.

This is in addition to monitoring already done on the milk at the milk parlor.

There was one part of the learning curve that wasn’t steep, though. Dorn says the processing itself was easy to learn even though they process a bit differently from most commercial suppliers.

They rely on low temperature vat pasteurization at 145 degrees for 30 minutes. “That kills the bad bacteria but not the good bacteria,” says Dorn. They also do not homogenize, which gives the

milk its old consistency.

fashioned

The small bottling plant

taste

and

Word of mouth Another selling point is the quality. “It makes the shelf life longer,” Dorn says.

“It only comes from our cows, it isn’t on a milk truck for a thousand miles and it can go from the udder to the jug in three to six hours.”

“I think all milk is a really good product,” Dorn emphasizes. “But we know ours is better. I couldn’t sell it if I didn’t believe in it.”

And sell it he does. Dorn says conventional advertising is cost prohibitive so he relies on word of mouth.

While one of his first and biggest customers was food distribution giant Sysco, he and his family literally knocked on doors to get their milk in supermarkets, health food stores and independent convenience stores.

They would stand outside the stores and try to give customers brochures but Dorn says that wasn’t successful. Then he had the idea of adding to their sales

Green grass and sunshine are two of the main ingredients in Hickory Hill Milk

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r e p o rt

force. He called Earth Fare, an upscale health food store, and asked the manager if he could bring a cow. The next Saturday morning, Fran, a former show cow, was bedded down in a shaded pen in the parking lot.

“Mothers would walk up and ask if their children could pet the cow. I’d say of course, here is a brochure. The store almost ran out of milk.”

In three years Earth Fare has gone from selling 20 gallons of Hickory Hill Milk in a week to 400 gallons.

Farm tours

Consumers are able to buy locally milk

The Dorns also go to three or four food shows a year. One of their main customer draws, though, is their farm tours. Held each Tuesday in October and year round when asked, they charge $5.00 a person.

The tours include a hay ride and a pint of their chocolate milk.

“It isn’t a money maker because of the time it requires but people meet our family and the cows and feel like they

have ownership in the product,” says Dorn.

There is also an on-farm sales outlet, better known as the cooler. “It is open 24 hours a day. Payment is on the honor system. We sell almost as much there as we sell in our biggest stores.”

Even with the increased work load and responsibility, Dorn says he would definitely build the bottling plant if he had it to do over. “I’d just do it when I was younger,” he says jokingly. “It is definitely a way to recoup more of the dollars that consumers spend on milk.

We are getting ready to make some serious money.”

Still, he says the rewards aren’t all financial. A customer called and cried when she told him after three months of drinking Hickory Hill Milk, with its good bacteria, her nine year old daughter was able to go off all three of the meds she was taking for acid reflux.

“You can’t put a price on that,” says Dorn. l

The Dorn family holds tours so their customers can see the cows that produce their milk

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04-06-2012 13:06:22

TROUW NUTRITION NEWS

Nutreco’s commitment to sustainability Nutreco has issued its Sustainability Vision 2020 and plans to make sustainability an integral part of everyday business. This will help ensure Nutreco can contribute to the Feeding the Future challenge: feeding nine billion people sustainably in 2050. The Sustainability Vision 2020 will be executed during the coming eight years, thus raising the sustainability level of Nutreco’s activities and products. With it Nutreco also aims to raise sustainability along the value chains in which it operates. Prepared in practical terms that relate to the

regular business of Nutreco, ‘Sustainability Vision 2020’ provides every employee with priorities and opportunities to contribute individually and collectively to achieving the Vision objectives.

As a business-to-business company, Nutreco is a frontrunner in setting a long-term vision for sustainability.

The priority is emphasized in the Nutreco strategy revealed in November 2011: ‘Ambition 2016-driving sustainable growth’.

Sustainability is identified as one of four focus areas that will drive the company’s growth.

Trouw Nutrition adds two new members to their Agri Sales Team!

Kevin Curry

Shelley Turner

Help us welcome Kevin Curry and Shelley Turner to Trouw Nutrition USA!

The Nutreco Sustainability Vision 2020 is organized in four areas: • • • •

I ngredients: creating a sustainable base for feed Operations: ensuring our own house is in order Nutritional solutions: enabling the farmer and animal to perform best Commitment: involving people in the Feeding the Future challenge

By implementing this plan, Nutreco furthers it’s committed to feeding the future in 2050!

Kevin Curry, B.S is the new Agri Territory Sales Manager for Illinois and Missouri. Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Illinois and currently lives in Springfield, IL. He has worked in the animal nutrition industry for over 30 years, most recently working for Alpharma Inc. Prior to that, he was with American Cynamid. Kevin is enthusiastic about his new position and he is eager to meet with his customers.

Shelley Turner, M.S. recently joined Trouw Nutrition USA as the new Technical Associate. Shelley received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition from the University of Missouri. With Shelley’s educational background, she brings a wealth of knowledge to this new position.

In this new role, Shelley will be moving to Minnesota and based at our Agri plant in Willmar. Shelley is excited and looking forward to the opportunities to develop business.

For more information on products and services of Trouw Nutrition International: Tel. 800.328.8942. www.trouwnutritionusa.com COW MAN AG E ME N T

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SERIES NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Nutrient management improves profits and shows your environmental stewardship savvy

Optimizing nutrient potential Nutrient management is critical on a dairy operation.

This series will discuss different components of on-farm nutrient management and highlight some of the keys to having success in this area.

text Amy Ryan

M

anaging the flow and recycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P and K) on a dairy begins with understanding the farm nutrient cycle. Dr. David Beede, Meadows Chair for Dairy Nutrition and Environmental Management at Michigan State University and colleagues including Natalie Rector, Extension Nutrient Management Educator, developed the Spartan Nutrient Cycle Card to assist producers with this.

“As fertilizer price increases, losing nutrients is more expensive and maximizing on-farm nutrient use is crucial.

Knowing where the nutrients are on your farm and methods to optimize them impacts profitability,” says Rector.

“The Spartan Nutrient Cycle card focuses on balancing nutrient imports and exports to efficiently use nutrients,” says Beede. The card identifies four critical control points (CCP) in management.

Beede emphasizes that each of the four CCP hold the same importance in ensuring effective nutrient management and reducing risk of nutrient leakage from the farm system.

What’s in the dairy ration?

“Nutrient management starts with checks and balances in the ration,” says Rector. “Producers should work with their nutritionist to formulate an accurate ration and understand how variation in feed sources impacts

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management system. This first in a series of articles will discuss the on-farm nutrient cycle and those four critical control points.

Part 1: Nutrient cycle Part 2: Monitoring nutrients Part 3: Developing a plan

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Four critical control points are the basis of a successful nutrient

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the nutrients excreted in the cycle.”

Beede adds that nitrogen is supplied in the ration in the form of dietary crude protein to meet the animals’ nutrient requirements. Phosphorus and potassium are dietary macromineral elements.

“The two main sources of all mass (N, P, K) to the farm system are the cows’ rations and crop fertilizers. Imports of nutrients typically happen from each source,” says Beede. “Producers can control the amounts imported in feed and fertilizer to meet the nutrient needs of their animals and crops.”

Here are the CCP for ration inputs: •E xcess N, P, and K do not improve animal performance and are costly.

They increase soil accumulation of N, P and K and risk of pollution.

•M atch ration protein (N), P, and K to NRC 2001 recommendations for each animal group’s milk yield growth rate.

•F eeding milk cows 1 gram P for each pound of milk produced supplies all the cows’ P needs for maintenance, production, growth and pregnancy.

•R ation P should equal 0.32 to 0.38% in dry matter depending on feed intake and milk yield.

• Feed growing heifers rations with 0.25 to 0.30% P dry basis, depending on body size and growth rate.

Milk and animals sold represent the second point of transfer and opportunity for nutrient loss, while purchased

animals can add nutrients to the cycle.

Thus, buying or selling livestock increases the importance of a balanced ration.

Managing manure Manure management through facilities, storage and treatment is next.

“Proper manure management means nutrient retention and reduced risk of pollution,” says Beede. “Producers must focus on minimizing, containing, storing, and treating manure nutrients in and around housing and manure storage.”

CCP that assist in this area include: • Divert rain and snow melt away from manure and feed surfaces.

• Clean outdoor animal lots, traffic lanes, and handling areas frequently.

• Collect and store contaminated runoff for later use or employ appropriate treatment method.

• Ensure new manure storage meets design requirements.

• Maintain natural crusting in liquid storage or consider alternative covers or treatments to contain emissions.

Application and transfer Next is optimizing nutrient application and transfer to the soil and considering the export of nutrients through crops sold. Beede and Rector emphasize the importance of a nutrient management plan, sufficient land base, and appropriate application practices to keep manure

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nutrients in the root zone. “Surface application presents greater risk for runoff and nutrient loss, while injecting or incorporating means less nutrient loss to environment,” says Rector. “If land base is an issue, manure export may be the only efficient option.”

CCP for soil application and transfer are: • Develop a nutrient management plan for long-term nutrient balance with sufficient land base.

• Test soil for nutrient availability and manure for nutrient contents. Follow nutrient recommendations for each crop to maintain nutrient balance.

• Vary allocation of manure among fields based on soil fertility tests, expected crop yields, and windows of opportunity for application. Routinely calibrate application equipment. Avoid overapplication of manure nutrients.

• Consider runoff and leaching risk.

Adjust locations and application rates based on proximity to neighbors, land

slopes, surface waters, and drainage.

• I ncorporate or inject manure when practical.

Manage feed properly Finally, nutrients move on and off the farm by selling feed and crops and by purchasing feed and byproducts.

According to Beede, nutrient losses are minimized through proper feed management with close attention to highmoisture forages, grains, and byproducts.

CCP here include: •H arvest forages for silage at less than 70% moisture for bunker silos or less than 65% for upright silos.

•E xclude oxygen from stored highmoisture feeds to avoid volatilization and breakdown of nutrients.

• Pack forages to a minimum of 15 lb/ft3 of dry matter and cover bunker silos.

• Divert water away from feed storage.

•M aintain smooth vertical faces of bunker silos at feed-out.

• Keep apron areas free of feed debris.

• Divert runoff to a storage structure or an acceptable treatment system.

• Before importing byproduct feeds, confirm that the additional P will not create a P imbalance in your farm.

Know availability and losses Optimizing on-farm nutrient availability is challenging, but the profit and environmental benefits are clear. Beede highlights these keys to success: balance rations to NRC recommendations; do not over-feed crude protein, P, and K; and use fertilizer based on soil tests.

“Regardless of farm size, producers must develop, implement and follow a defined nutrient management plan that minimizes nutrient and energy loss,” he says. “Following this plan demonstrates the operation’s commitment to good stewardship, ensuring environmental sustainability of the farm and long-term profitability.” l

Routinely calibrate equipment and avoid overapplication

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BR E E D I N G

Our industry values milk production and is very good at achieving top figures, but at what cost?

Genetic advancements of milk production The US dairy industry has developed leaps and bounds due to focused advancement in specific breeding goals, and with many tools to drive this genetic selection. The most progress has been made in the realm of production as this has been easiest throughout time to evaluate. As the industry continues to evolve, the goals and tools to get there will change with it. text Danyel Hosto

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s Holstein Association USA states in the History of the Breed, the first Holsteins were brought to the US from the Netherlands in 1852 by Winthrop Chenery. As you can expect, these first imports were not up to the productive standards we enjoy today. However, producers of the day were fueled by the goal of creating higher-producing animals, as well as the competition at Madison Square Garden for the highest 24-hour milk and butter production.

In 1887, Clothilde claimed this title for the Holstein breed, and set the stage for future gain.

In the 1930’s, the Indiana Ag Statistics Service shows that dairy cattle were producing around 4000 pounds of milk a year, on average. Consumer demand for quality dairy products continued a steep growth curve along. Within 25 years, the average had doubled, and by the 1980’s they had reached 16,000 pounds average production. Most of this advancement came from improved management, but genetics has continued to play a driving role.

Between 1957 and 2007, the average milk production per cow increased by

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5,997 kg, with 3,390 kg of this increase due to genetics according to a paper by Van Raden in 2004. This means 56% of this production increase occurred due to genetic improvement.

Tools to success Maybe you’ve heard the phrase before, ‘breeding is an art’. Corrective matings to create the next show winner or a consistent group of cattle to achieve your herd goals is a bit of a skill. You can’t argue with the herds that have been built over 40 plus years of dedication to this art, however science supports this craft.

For decades, investments into collection of data and information have been essential to the tool development that drives the genetic progresses we enjoy today according to Wiggans from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Cow testing associations, which became dairy herd improvement association (DHIA) was formed in 1908 to help producers improve milk production. As it developed, components and somatic cell count information became part of the equation.

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Type evaluations of sire daughters from the herdbook found its start through the USDA with Jerseys in 1978, with Holstein and Guernsey initiating one year later.

Linear classification as we know it was taken on by Holstein Association in 1982.

The results of linear and production data is compiled every four months in the sire evaluations which can be utilized for corrective mating.

The culmination of all this information from the USDA, breed organizations has

been evolved by the dairy record processing centers, DHIA and breeding companies to create tools that can be used easily and effectively by dairy producers across the country.

Mating cattle to attain a farm breeding goal has traditionally contained more of the art of breeding. Capturing the science behind that art, the availability of herd mating programs that incorporate phenotypic data and pedigree information, dairy farms can

Corrective matings to create the next show winner to achieve your herd goals is a bit of a skill

move toward their breeding goals to achieve genetic improvement for the continued development of the industry, no matter their size or management style.

Future improvement The years of development in the direction of increased milk production for the United States and several other countries has yielded outstanding achievement. In 2011, the USDA reports a production average of 21,335 pounds per cow. All this success comes at a cost for other traits though.

The impact of genetic selection for increased milk yield on the welfare of dairy cows, a paper completed in 2010

by Oltenacu and Broom from Oklahoma State and University of Cambridge respectively, identifies the changing consumer appetite from solely increased production efficiency. Health, longevity and fertility traits are becoming all the time more important from management and welfare respects.

Calving intervals are one of the welfare traits that Oltenacu and Broom compiled in their paper. In 1960, 13 months between calvings was the US industry average. By 2002, this interval had expanded to 15 months.

Oltenacu and Broom also identify another reproductive indicator within the national dairy herd, first service conception rates. Since 1951, a continually decrease has been shown.

Starting at 65 percent over 50 years ago, in 1998 this rate was 40 percent.

A conclusion from the above state paper is that there is a genetic correlation between milk yield and metabolic disorders so all of these, including reproductive disorders, lameness and mastitis are production-related diseases.

Now how does the dairy industry continue to be successful for the future?

Finding the balance in future breeding goals with production and welfare traits will be essential for further genetic development of Holsteins, and all dairy cattle in the US. No matter how it develops background data and information will continue to be important in the future of mating for genetic improvement. l

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Challenge your mindset, brainstorm new ventures, compare financials… all through a peer advisory group

Soar with the eagles Peer advisory groups provide a forum for today’s businessminded agricultural producers to seize the opportunity to “challenge your beliefs.” text JoDee Sattler

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ho do you turn to as you strive to continuously improve your dairy operation? While it may be convenient and natural to talk with family members (who may also be business partners and/ or employees), you may limit business improvement because family probably have similar viewpoints and you’re going to avoid “hurting” a family member’s feelings.

Some top dairy managers are now turning to business peers to help them advance their businesses. “Somebody somewhere has a better idea; that’s why I like peer-to-peer groups so much,” says Danny Klinefelter, Texas AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. “It’s what you can learn from other people that will help you advance and improve your farming operation.”

Klinefelter says peer advisory groups are “underutilized” by agricultural producers. While informal peer-to-peer learning frequently occurs among farmers during conferences, the knowledge shared seldom probes the details needed to move a business forward.

Typically, peer advisory groups include

people who consider one another as “equals.” Agricultural-based groups consist of about eight (can range from five to 12) primary farm owners and/or managers. Despite the term “equal,” farms within peer advisory groups can vary by size, commodities, management style and geographic location. The term equal means members view one another as equal in the ability to manage a business and respect one another’s ideas, opinions and suggestions.

Sounding board for ideas Peer advisory groups act as a sounding board for plans and ideas. There’s no financial or business investment. “Strive for trust, open dialogue and mutual respect, Klinefelter says. Confidentiality and noncompete are needed for mutual respect to develop within a peer advisory group. Clearly define what members are trying to accomplish.

For several years, Bill Morgan, a dairy producer from Union Springs, N.Y., has participated in a peer discussion group.

Why? “You can really elevate your farm by listening to others,” he says.

A big benefit of participating in a peer advisory group is that members hold one

Key components of peer advisory groups • Information exchange for mutual self-improvement; all members give and take • Members respect each other’s ideas, opinions and suggestions • Everyone actively participates • Custom built, with about 8 members • Built on confidentiality and trust

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another accountable. If a member states that he plans to accomplish a certain task, he is more apt to do so because he told someone. At the next meeting, fellow members will check if the individual actually accomplished that task. Additionally, group members can provide encouragement, support and understanding – even if a person is pushed outside a comfort zone.

Typically, groups meet quarterly or semi-annually. Meeting frequency often depends on the amount of travel involved for those in the group. Morgan noted that the 2005 Pro-Dairy (Cornell University) advisory group he belongs to has members from five states: Idaho, New York, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Be aware that your time commitment goes beyond the meeting and travel.

“Preparing for a peer advisory group meeting requires upfront time,” Morgan says. “You need to prepare numbers, such as pregnancy rate, and financial records. By gathering these numbers and sharing them with my peers, I shave costs.”

Klinefelter adds that it’s best if members don’t agree on all topics. “You want to be in a group with someone who sees business differently than you,” Klinefelter says. “Take that different strategy or idea and tweak it or compile various ideas and come up with something new. Often times, it’s the interaction of people – not so much the content of presentations – that helps you improve your business.”

Narrow your discussions As groups evolve, members become more comfortable in what they discuss.

Generally, discussion topics fall under four basic categories: education and skills development, production issues, financial issues and organizational management.

Klinefelter says, usually, groups don’t

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Are you a good peer advisory group candidate?

You must be: • willing to share details of your business • progressive and forward thinking • humble, patient, respectful and trustworthy • able to have your ideas challenged

and listen to criticism without giving excuses • capable of listening objectively and communicating skillfully • ready to challenge others and give honest criticism • the person with a decision-making

authority within your business • part of a successful business • open to change Adapted from: Peer Advisory Groups in Agriculture: A Resource Guide, written by Kayla Doerr

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Potential ground rules to consider • Develop specific written goals that describe the group’s purpose • Commit to confidentiality

share financial information at their first meetings. “Members need to get to a certain comfort level before discussing financials.” Sometimes, facilitators can “crunch numbers” and provide ratios.

Then, the numbers are disassociated with individuals/farming operations.

However, Morgan says peer group members must be willing to share numbers. “I don’t think it’s a big deal sharing financial information and other performance data.”

Groups need to address the basis for removal from their group. For example, potentially a member could be removed if he dominates conversation, violates confidentiality or gets extremely irritated when another person disagrees.

Similarly, Klinefelter says it’s okay to move on from your first peer advisory group to a second peer advisory group because, “Sometimes, people just don’t jive; and sometimes, what people want from a peer advisory group changes.

“Peer advisory groups need to be facilitated. Facilitators won’t be free; they can cost about $15,000 per year,” Klinefelter says.”

•H ire an outside facilitator (some groups are self-facilitated) • Create rules of conduct

a source for identifying alternatives and exploring what-if scenarios. Seize the opportunity to “challenge your beliefs.”

Benchmarking, whether it’s parlor throughput, dry matter intake or return on investment, yields extremely valuable insights on a business’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. Groups interested in production or financial benchmarking need to make sure everyone uses similar methods to arrive at their figures. “Financial benchmarking is critical,” Klinefelter claims. “You need to know the areas where you need to improve.”

Additional resources: •C ornell University ProDairy Program, in conjunction with the New York Center for Dairy Excellence, started “Dairy Profit Discussion Groups” in 2008. Kathy Barrett, senior Extension associate at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, wrote a facilitator’s guide for these groups, which can be found at: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/prodairy/pdf/farmertofarmer.pdf • Peer Advisory Groups in Agriculture: A Resource Guide, written by Kayla Doerr, graduate assistant, department of agricultural economics, Texas AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, with supervision from Dr. Danny Klinefelter, committee chair, can be found at: http://www.associationofagriculturalproductionexecutives.org/Kayla%20Doerr%20 -%20Peer%20Advisory%20Groups.pdf • Association of Agricultural Production Executives (AAPEX), PO Box E, College Station, TX 77841 www.associationofagriculturalproductionexecutives.org • “Enhancing sustainable agriculture through farmer groups: The experience of the Kansas Heartland Sustainable Agriculture Network,” by Jerry Jost, David Norman and Stan Freyenberger, Kansas State University, is available at: http://www.kansassustainableag.org/Library/ksas4.htm

Groups provide many benefits Klinefelter lists many reasons why dairy producers should consider actively participating in a peer advisory group, including multiple vantage points and different perspectives gained from others in the group, insight and objectivity, and

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No two peer advisory groups are identical, due to unique individuals, chemistry, structure and discussion topics.

Capitalizing on the skills, knowledge and experiences held within a peer advisory group provides many opportunities, including joint business ventures, for all participants to blossom. Admittedly, it can be a little scary sharing personal goals and revealing business financials to others. Yet, it will be difficult to grow your farm management skills and/or improve your business without seeking information from outside your farming operation. l

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31-05-2012 15:42:35

h o u sin g

New information now used to enhance cow comfort with power ventilation systems

Answers blowing in the wind The addition of power ventilated dairy housing, in cross- or tunnel-ventilated building designs are increasingly popular.

Such ventilation is popular because we are questioning the old thermal heat index (THI) standards and learning our high producing cows are reaching heat stress thresholds sooner than we traditionally thought. text Michael J. Wolf DVM

B

efore adopting power ventilation, there are several issues to consider when designing facilities. Issues include: site specific climate conditions, thermal gain from solar radiation through the roof, stocking density, breed type, air exchange, effective cow side velocity (ECV), added cooling when favorable

conditions exist and building a costeffective ventilation design package.

Many ventilation design combinations are available today. Some of these designs are wind tunnel barns, cross ventilated barns with cooling pads, high-velocity low-speed (HVLS) fans, multiple basket and panel fans, power vent systems, and

hybrid wind tunnel systems. Each design should meet several goals required of a complete ventilation system.

Ask yourself these questions: • Does the investment provide for a year around system?

• Does it provide for adequate air exchange within the cows environment (four air changes per hour at a minimum and up to a maximum 60 air exchanges per hour)?

• How well does the design provide Effective Cow side Velocity (ECV) uniformly throughout the cow’s environment?

• Does it have the ability to add cooling capacity to enhance ambient temperature reduction?

Fans are rated by BESS Labs for energy usage in CFM per watt, and many producers use this as a sole indicator of the fan’s effectiveness. But, while CFM capacity meets the need based on

Many cross vent barns have adopted the cooling pad technology to add cooling to the incoming air

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d

appropriate air exchange, it does not reflect how the velocity is distributed across the cow’s living space.

Since we want cows lying down 50 percent of the day, we need the cooling air velocity to reach her at an agreed upon ECV where she is resting. Analyzing a ventilation system’s ECV and rating the system’s velocity (ft/min) per watt is a better way of viewing how effective it is in cooling the cow and its cost of operation.

High-pressure fog system An optimal ventilation system will cool ambient air to further enhance the cooling effect. Many cross vent barns have adopted cooling pad technology to add cooling to the incoming air.

Although cooling is an improvement over the air exchange and ECV alone, it has some limitations. Cooling pads add a physical restriction to incoming air volume. A new, out-of-the-box cooling pad will only allow for 400 ft/min (4.5 mph) air velocity. Keeping these systems clean of debris and mineral residue build up, plus having to dry the pads for a couple hours every day to avoid mold issues make cooling pads a challenge.

As velocity of air passing through the cooling pad increases (more fans are

turned on, or fans are run at higher speeds) there is less air contact time, not allowing the air to decrease in temperature as far. This negative relationship with air velocity and air temperature decrease yields, marginal improvement in ECV with an increased energy cost. The static pressure goes up dramatically in these facilities. (Observing how the louvers droop down, and not open, gives an idea of how increasing fan capacity is increasing static pressure and not yielding more ECV) .

Cross vent or hybrid wind tunnel design with high pressure fogging as the cooling system is the latest innovation in dairy housing design. Hybrid systems provide appropriate seasonal air exchange, ECV, cooling in summer, cold weather internal air mixing and tempering to keep the cow in her thermal neutral zone (20-65 degrees) as much as possible.

Reduce thermal loading The addition of the 72” Cyclone Fan® strategically staged throughout the building directing air flow away from feed alleys and over the stall beds increases ECV. The high-pressure fog system supplies cooling when the temperature and humidity levels allow

cooling opportunities in either barn design. Nozzles need to be cleaned as necessary to maintain a high-pressure fog system.

Many experts and dairymen believe that their area of the country is too humid for high pressure fogging. This impression comes from the weather report which indicates that on any given day the high or low temp was “X” and the humidity was “Y”. The humidity is the average for the day. Hour-by-hour analysis of relative humidity reveals opportunities virtually every day for high-pressure fogging to cool ambient air for the cow’s environment. We can significantly reduce thermal loading during peak temperature hours by air exchange, uniform ECV and cooling, resulting in a more productive dairy cow with better dry matter intake, milk yields reproductive performance, and reduced lameness scores.

The various systems being proposed by the ventilation industry need to address impacts of each of the design proposals.

The Five Star Dairy-VES Environmental Solutions and Lighting LLC applied research facility near Elk Mound, Wisconsin is investigating the impacts of air exchange, ECV, cooling and energy efficiency in a commercial dairy setting.l

Improved ECV by using these fans over conventional

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I N T ER N A T I O N A L

With high land prices, the Italian dairy business is only profitable with very intensive production per acre

Italians caught by milk quota High land prices and high production – of both cows and land – are typical of the southern European country of Italy, where there is currently full-on investment in biogas plants. “Profits from dairy farming are too low.” text Alice Booij

Eugenio Vincenzi: “Production can never keep up with the pace of global consumption”

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ore than 37,000 Italian dairy farmers with 1.8 million cows produce year 11 billion kilos (Kilo equals 2.2 lb) of milk each year. The “heart” of dairy farming is in the north of Italy, in the Po Valley, otherwise known as ‘Food Valley’, which accounts for some 80 percent of Italian agricultural production in terms of dairy cattle, pigs and poultry.

The average size of a farm in Italy is eighty cows, and 78 percent of production is accounted for by farms producing more than 500,000 kilos

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(1,102,311 lb) of milk. Regional variation is enormous, however. In the richest milk-producing area of the Lombardy region, the average farm has more than 140 cows. Italian dairy farming is famous for its large scale operations, in conjunction with the high average milk yield of 12,000 kilos (26,455 lb) and more per cow. Dairy farming operations are mainly run by (large) families, and in Italy that means high equity, but also a low per worker/labor productivity level, with forty cows per employee/ owner.

Not enough milk is produced for the 60 million inhabitants of this southern European country. Italy imports around 40 to 50 percent of its total milk consumption. France and Germany in particular fill the gap with fresh milk, while the specialty cheese industry, for which about 80 percent of Italian milk is destined, can process even more. Of the cheese produced, 25 percent follows in the footsteps of Italian emigrants and is exported. This niche market, with its regionally based products, ensures milk prices are kept high.

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Premium from local cheese Around 400 different kinds of cheese are made in Italy, of which just 30 have a protected trade name, known as DOP cheeses, for example Parmesan and Grana Padano.

Production of this typical local cheese, often with special requirements in terms of nutrition for the cows, means many Italian dairy farmers are able to earn a premium of at least two cents per kilogram of milk. For example, by not exceeding a certain amount of maize silage, with no silage at all or just the minimum quantity of alfalfa in the ration, a special microflora develops on the farm, giving the regional cheese a unique, inimitable flavour. And it also brings a kind of ‘protection’ for the dairy farmers since cheaper milk from

other regions or countries cannot be used to make these local products.

An example of a successful collaboration (of which there are many in the Po valley) can be found in the region where the famous Grana Padano cheese is made. Nine farmers there started a small-scale cheese factory, where seven days a week around 110 tonnes of milk per day are processed into cheese wheels weighing 43 kilos (94 lb). After maturing for between nine and sixteen months, the cheese is marketed to consumers, as grated cheese, in pieces and for pizza. And the consumers love it: Italians eat about 23 kilos (50 lb) of cheese per person per year.

But after 2015, when the milk quota in Europe disappears, the expectation is that fewer cows will be milked in Italy.

With land prices around 100,000 euro ($132,171.98) per hectare (2.5 acres), acquiring feed for cows is a tough business which can only be profitable with very intensive production per hectare.

The emerging biogas plants are also competitors in the market for ‘feed’.

Land is seen as a limiting factor and will increase the costs in Italy even further.

With costs of about 37 cents per kilogram of milk, this is already at a fairly high level, says Bedino Antonio, veterinarian and president of the European Dairy Farmers federation (EDF). “Our cost price (ratio) is among the highest in Europe.”

With land at a premium, the cost of feed is high and is squeezing margins,

Most of the work is done by hand at the famous Grana Padano cheese

Antonio Bedino: “Our cost price ratio is among the highest in Europe”

Investing in biogas rather than cows

Marko Vareschi

Open housing systems to reduce heat stress in Italy

With his two uncles and a worker from India, Marko Vareschi milks 120 dairy cows in Italy. He can irrigate about 18 hectares (45 acres) around his farm (total area 100 hectares, 250 acres) using a large irrigation system. In the summer, the machinery is run for 16 or 17 hours every ten days and provides the necessary water supply. The logistics

relating to the water, which comes from the mountains, cost him an additional 230 euros ($304.00) per hectare.

Marko says he finds the profits from the dairy industry disappointing.

Therefore he is about to commission a new biogas plant which can generate up to 500 kWh per hour.

“I have a contract with the authorities for the supply of electricity: 28 eurocents per kWh, guaranteed for fifteen years.”

The investment in the enormous silos, fermentation plants and machinery to convert the gas to electricity will soon be paid for with a price agreement like this. “This is the most important part of our operation,” says Marko.

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I N T ER N A T I O N A L

Heat stress the biggest problem For cows in Italy, heat stress is the biggest problem in terms of continued milk production. The cows are housed in large open barns, with ventilation as part of the standard equipment.

The trick is to adjust the diet so that the cows generate less heat and have

despite a milk price that reached between 40 and 45 cents per kilo at the end of 2011.

No growth in production “The quota system has paralysed development in dairy farming for twenty years. We are twenty years behind,” says Bedino. “Our domestic market is disrupted and our competitiveness is reduced.” Money spent on leasing or buying quotas was not available for renovations, expansion or innovation. “All we did was pump the billions of euros round and round in the livestock industry. Tenant farmers did well out of it, but in the sector itself, there was no progress. Even worse, it has disadvantaged us in relation to other dairy farming countries in the world.”

No growth in production is expected,

Maize straw in stalls

sufficient energy and protein intake to maintain production. That means more roughage in the ration, more sugar (up to a maximum of 6 percent of the total ration) and a reduction in the starch content to 22 percent (normally 25 to 28 percent).

while the growing world population and increasing prosperity will drive the demand for dairy products upwards until 2030, the Italians suspect. “If people in Bangladesh are going to consume ten litres of milk a year instead of two, and you know that there 160 million people living there, you can easily see that production is never going to keep pace with global consumption,” says Eugenio Vincenzi of the feed additives company Sintofarm, who knows the industry inside out. “Milk production has to be much more efficient. We must have cows that can produce 32 kg (70 lb) milk from an intake of 20 kilos (44 lb) of roughage.”

Bedino is not positive about the role his country might play in increasing global milk production either. “We’re not going to produce it in Europe, our cost price is too high for that, and land is too scarce, even in Italy.”

Milk production in Italy is mainly concentrated in the northern part of the country. However, with temperatures above 30 degrees for a hundred days, and despite annual rainfall of 1,000 millimetres (32 inches), there is a drastic

As well live yeast to increase food absorption, 200 grams of bicarbonate per cow per day are added to the ration.

Feeding three times a day and taking measures at all times to prevent overheating are important.

water shortage in the Po valley, where the soil is extremely fertile. Yields of 60 tonnes (66 tons U.S.) of maize per hectare (2.5 acres) and also the yield of 8.5 tonnes dry weight Italian ryegrass are among the highest in the world. But without water, nothing grows. The tactic therefore is to irrigate and water – a strategy which comes with a price tag of about 250 euros per hectare for maintenance of the irrigation system.

The land in the north of Italy is therefore used intensively.

Increasing scale How does Bedino view developments on farms up to and after 2015? “They will continue to maximize. Production is approaching 14,000 kilos (30,864 lb) milk per cow and feed production per hectare is continuing to rise. That increases the profitability of the individual farm.” He sees no benefit in increasing the scale. “The past few years have shown that farms with 100 to 200 cows are the most profitable, provided they are reasonably self-sufficient in raw feed. Growth only increases competitiveness on paper.” l

With lots of maize in the ration, the focus in Italy is on high production

As well as making corn silage, Italian farmers thresh a considerable proportion of their maize, milling the kernels for intensive concentrated feed.

The maize straw is left on the land, raked together in good weather and baled into round bales. This maize straw can then be used for deep litter straw bedding. The straw is also used as bedding in stalls with cubicles. If sold, the straw fetches 100 euros per tonne.

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F R O M

T H E

V E T E R I N A R I A N D R .

E R I C

P R A C T I C E

D U C H

Dr. Eric Duch with United Veterinary Services in Wisconsin highlights the benefits of developing a management team and the keys to successful utilizing that team to assist in decision making.

A team approach boosts competitiveness and furthers progress

Managing as a team D

o you have a management team that works together to solve problems and guide the decision making process on your dairy? If not, why? Maybe you have not thought about it or had a poor past experience. Regardless, I encourage you to consider (or reconsider) taking a team approach to keeping your dairy competitive and moving forward. If everybody on the team works toward the same goals you dairy business should find success.

At our clinic, many of us are involved in the management teams of the dairies that we serve. Routinely scheduled meetings are very effective for solving problems and motivating people to make changes that will improve your dairy’s bottom line. Depending on the needs of the dairy, these meetings may be scheduled as frequently as every two weeks or as little as once per year.

The various areas of expertise on the team require different people to get the job done right. Getting everyone on the same page can be a challenge. Start by identifying the “go to” people in your operation and needed outside resources and then plan a meeting. Team members may include the owner(s), the veterinarian, the nutritionist, financial consultant, herd managers, marketing professionals, bankers, the agronomist, and others who are important to

making informed decisions. Some regions offer grants and other resources to help get started.

After you have assembled your team, make sure there is a clear understanding of your goals. Outline your long and short term goals so that team members understand your vision. Whether or not your goals are achieved is affected by the cumulative outcomes of the decisions made. Set new goals as the old goals are achieved. The team needs to work within the framework of the goals and vision of your dairy.

Some keys to making your management team meeting a positive and useful experience include: • An agenda shared with team members prior to meeting • All items discussed must be kept confidential • A person that runs and keeps the meeting moving • All team members come to the meeting with data and information to make informed decisions • Show respect and allow members to voice opinions • If the group is too focused on a particular detail move on and come back to it later in the meeting • Decide on a prioritized action plan and assign each item or task to a team member • Review the action plan at the next meeting and hold the assigned members accountable for results.

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H O U S I N G

The very best way to cope with fluctuating energy prices is to adopt dual-fuel or multi-fuel flexibility for your water heater

Fuel flexibility takes the burn out of heating water

Plentiful and reliable hot water is vital in cleaning milking systems, which is a crucial component of marketing high quality milk

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Water heaters that use more than one energy source can help reduce energy costs. An option is a multi-fuel system that can heat water using electricity, propane or fuel oil. text JoDee Sattler

O

ne way to beat gyrating costs is to use tools that allow you to switch input sources to take advantage of lower input prices. You use this strategy all the time in cattle rations by substituting higher priced feeds and additives with lower priced alternatives that yield similar results. Now, you may begin to look at energy sources in a similar way.

Most devices, such as tractors, water heaters, clothes dryers and furnaces, can only run from a single energy source.

The very best way to cope with fluctuating energy prices is to adopt dual-fuel or multi-fuel flexibility, says Dennis Buffington, professor, Penn State University department of agricultural and biological engineering.

Consider multiple sources “If you are buying a new water heating system, insist on getting one that can use two or more different energy sources,” Buffington says. For example, you can purchase a water heater that can use natural gas or fuel oil, with the capability of switching from one fuel to the other.

Another option is a multi-fuel system that can heat water using electricity, propane or fuel oil. “Energy source switching can be done simply by flipping a switch,” he says.

Buffington admits that a dual- or multifuel water heater will cost up to 30 percent more than a water heater that can only use one energy source. “Having the ability to cope with ever-increasing energy prices should make such an investment attractive,” says Buffington.

Kurt Koepp of Hot Water Products Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., says propane gas prices are typically very volatile, whereas electricity prices are more stable. Often, propane gas costs about twice as much as natural gas. However, that relationship can change overnight through political and business decisions made in this country or around the globe.

To evaluate energy prices, use dollars per million BTUs. For example, if electricity is 10 cents per kWh and propane $2.65 per gallon, which one costs less to heat water on your dairy? Electricity at $0.10 per kWh costs $29.31 per million BTUs, whereas propane at $2.65 per gallon costs $34.04 per million BTUs. In this scenario, electricity is cheaper.

Buffington developed an online spreadsheet (http://energy.cas.psu.edu/ costcomparator.html) to calculate relative prices. This online Excel calculator determines costs per million BTUs for various scenarios, including electricity, propane, natural gas, fuel oil and coal. All of these energy sources power water heaters.

The Penn State agricultural and biological engineer reminds dairy producers to “scavenge” heat from around the farm to pre-heat water and consequently save energy. Dairy farms systems may allow you to recover heat energy from plate coolers, refrigeration condensers, vacuum pumps and the sun.

Capture solar energy Speaking of the sun, with a FlexFuel water heater, you can combine solar with any energy source. Solar heat collection systems can be designed different ways, depending upon whether or not hot water demand corresponds to available sunlight, type of solar collectors used and solar water temperature. In this

system, each energy source operates with an independent thermostat.

Additionally, a FlexFuel water heater can indirectly get energy from buildings. In buildings, a piping loop connects a series of heat pumps (reversible air conditioning units). A heat pump removes heat from a building exactly like an air conditioner; except, the removed heat is diverted into the water loop, rather than using an outdoor condenser coil. Although these loops are not high temperature, they are high flow and contain considerable energy. This energy can be used in a FlexFuel water heater to preheat domestic hot water through a water-towater heat exchanger. In addition, heat not used in condenser coils can be used to heat water in this type of system.

There is another benefit to using a multifuel water heater. If one energy source lapses, you can turn to the other source as backup. If the electrical/propane gas water heater is using electricity and electrical power goes out, you can simply flip the switch and use propane gas.

No one wants to be without hot water, an essential ingredient in producing high quality milk. Without adequate hot water at suitable temperatures, rapid increases in bacterial contamination may occur and subsequently reduce milk quality and jeopardize milk quality premiums. Protect cattle health and income by ensuring milk quality through sufficient hot water.

Buffington says dual-fuel water heaters are not common in the United States but are quite prevalent in Germany. “I encourage dairy producers to consider a multi-fuel water heater when it’s time to purchase a new water heater. Don’t get discouraged if they’re not readily available. I’m confident that if there is demand, the market will respond.” l

Additional information water heating For additional information, contact Dennis Buffington, professor, Penn State University, e-mail: dbuffington@psu.edu, phone: 814-865-2971 The Dairy Practices Council offers a guide on sizing dairy farm water heater systems. Find more information at: • www.dairypc.org • www.pvi.com • www.bockwaterheaters.com • www.hotwaterproducts.com

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C O N TA C T S

SHOWS AND EVENTS

Lunchtime for a Holstein herd Picture: Harrie van Leeuwen

C O N TA C T S Cow Management is published six times per year by CRV Publishing

June 27-30: National Holstein Convention, Springfield, MO June 27-30: AJCA-NAJ Annual Meeting, North Conway, NH June 26: National Ayrshire Convention Appleton, WI July 13: National Red & White Convention Listowel, ON, CAN July 15-19: 2012 Joint Annual Meeting (ADSA, AMPA, ASAS, CSAS, WSASAS), Phoenix, AR July 16-20: Michigan Dairy Expo, East Lansing, MI July 17-19: Certified Milk Inspectors School, Ithaca, NY July 20: Illinois Championship Open Holstein Show & Futurity, Lincoln, IL July 20-22: Dairy Producers of New Mexico Annual Convention, Ruidoso, NM July 28-29: Mid-East Summer National Show, Columbus, OH August 7-9: Empire Farm Days, Seneca Falls, NY August 29: Midwest Fall National Show, St. Paul, MN September 10-13: ADSA Discovery Conference, Naperville, IL September 13: Western Fall National Show, Pullayup, WA September 14: Northeast Fall National Show, West Springfield, MA September 15-20: All-American Dairy Show, Harrisburg, PA September 19-21: 66th Annual Meeting & 24th Biennial Technical Conference of the National Association

of Animal Breeders (NAAB), Milwaukee, WI October 2-6: World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI

Editorial team Publisher Rochus Kingmans Chief editor Jaap van der Knaap Contributing writers Alice Booij, Eric Duch, Danyel Hosto, Becky Mills, Amy Ryan, JoDee Sattler, Michael J. Wolf Editing, design and production CRV Publishing

COMING UP

N u t r i t io n m an ag em en t p lan an d calf h eal th

Chief editor’s address P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem The Netherlands Phone 0031 26 38 98 829 Fax 0031 26 38 98 839 E-mail veeteelt@crv4all.com

September 2012 – In our September issue we will explore some new innovations in calf care. Also, in our series about nutrient management we focus on the monitoring of nutrients.

Subscriptions Cow Management is available free of charge to customers of CRV, 2324 American Lane, Madison, WI 53704.

If you want to ask for a subscription or to cancel a subscription send an email to info@crv4all.us

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Illustrations/pictures Photographs by CRV Publishing Photography, Becky Mills (10,11,12), VES Environmental and Solutions LLC (22).

Disclaimer CowManagement does not necessarily share the views expressed by contributors. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made by advertisers. No responsibility can be accepted by CRV Holding BV for the opinions expressed by contributors. Whilst every effort is made to obtain reliable and accurate information, liability cannot be accepted for errors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher.

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BETTER COWS, BETTER LIFE With better cows comes a better lifestyle. This can be achieved through healthier animals that save you money and hassle; cows that produce more, garnering higher milk checks; or give a more nutritious product for your family and community to enjoy.

It all comes back to quality of life.

That’s why CRV is here.

Whatever a better life is to you - CRV has the people, genetics, services, programs and unique solutions to help you achieve it.

CRV, 2423 American Lane, Madison, WI 53704 P 608 441 3202, F 608 441 3203, TF 1 800 400 crv4all www.crv4all.us

better cows | better life

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INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MATING TOOL FOR DAIRY FARMERS SIREMATCH FOR EVERY FARM AND FARMER CRV ’s mating program can be used everywhere and anytime. SireMatch has three levels and there will be one that suits every dairy farm.

STANDARD BREEDING GOALS In every version of SireMatch the user can use one of the six standard breeding goals or create a customised breeding goal, so corrective mating is made easy!

Contact us at 1-800-400-CRV4all to find out how it could work in your herd!

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SIREMATCH • Web based • Multiple cow groups/farm • Works with crossbreeding • Minimize breeding risks • Unbiased matings CRV, 2423 American Lane, Madison, WI 53704 P 608 441 3202, F 608 441 3203, TF 1 800 400 crv4all www.crv4all.us

better cows | better life

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