cowmanagement november 2012

ED ITION U .S. V O LU M E 4 N O 5 NO VE MBE R 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

M A N A G EM EN T

Making a pledge to animal care commitment REPRO D U C TIO N

Improve heat detection with automatic activity systems C A TTLE FLO W

Cattle handling works best when you consider what bothers the animal cmus05-cover.indd 2

25-10-12 14:30

CMUS06_p02.indd 2

25-10-12 14:09

C ONTENTS

FEATURES

4 13 17 25 27 33

Cow talk Barenbrug grass news Trouw Nutrition news CRV breeding information Vet practice: colostrum Lely information HERD REPORT

10 River Valley – style and performance BREEDING

20 Longevity through innovation FEEDING

34 Grass in rations MANAGEMENT

18 Water quality 22 Hiring the right staff 28 Calf housing

Nic Sauder: “Our calf health is outstanding with less than .05 percent death loss” 10

Amy Ryan Focus on management and care

O

n a recent trip through Illinois, my family and I had the opportunity to tour River Valley, a beautiful Jersey operation in Tremont. With a mission of developing cows that deliver genetics for any dairy producer, they use embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilization extensively in their elite genetics herd.

Their investments in robotic milkers and automatic feed pushers in their 250cow production herd and automatic calf feeders in their calf barn are helping them further this goal as it allows them more opportunity to provide great animal care to the rest of the herd, while developing those genetics. Their story is on page 10.

This trip reminded me that understanding our cattle and creating a comfortable environment for them is invaluable. The cattle flow article on page 6 focuses on just that. It describes the best design and practices to keep animals calm during routine activities

like hoof trimming and examinations.

While we all have our own management styles, hiring employees that understand those styles and philosophies is a key to success. The hiring and management process is more important than ever as some candidates may have ulterior motives for seeking on-farm employment. Read more about this on page 22.

This issue’s reproduction section includes an article on improving heat detection, while the third article in the nutrient management series highlights the components and benefits of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. It also includes a producer experience on developing that plan.

We all strive to bring the highest quality products to consumers within and outside our industry. While there are different ways to achieve this, sound management strategies and solid animal care will always serve as a good basis for success.

Management Cattle flow

Farming abroad South Africa

Series Nutrient management

6

30

36

Cattle handling works a lot better when you grasp what bothers the animal.

Crossbreeding and grazing are popular in South Africa.

Nutrient management planning improves profits.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-contents.indd 3

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

3

26-10-12 14:07

C O W

TA L K

NMPF discusses initiatives at WDE

Top managers from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) visited World Dairy Expo to talk about the various programs that are helping the dairy industry market more products, take better care of their animals and assure consumers that they are purchasing ‘real’ dairy products.

Jim Tillison, COO of the CWT within NMPF, said that it is one of the ‘shining lights’ of the association that is now concentrating on helping export dairy products. The CWT program has helped its member cooperatives with export assistance of 96 million pounds of cheese this year, he said. The program also helped export 58 million pounds of butter and other products.

Tillison said if all the products that were exported were reduced to their milk equivalent, it amounted to 2.2 billion pounds of milk produced by U.S. farmers or the same as the annual milk production of 102,700 cows.

The export assistance program helps reduce dairy product inventories that can ‘overhang’ the marketplace, depressing cheese and butter prices.

It also helps the NMPF’s member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farmers’ milk that produces them, he said. This export assistance program is funded by voluntary contributions from dairy cooperatives and dairy farmers.

National Milk has also signed a fiveyear deal to take charge of the ‘Real’ seal. Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of NMPF, said his group was frustrated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) looking the other way when other commodities like soy and almond called their products ‘milk’.

The ‘Real’ seal lets the dairy industry enhance the value of real Americanmade products and educate consumers about what real dairy is, he said.

Tillison said that the timing for this ‘Real’ seal campaign is good since many industries are pushing their ‘made in America’ products and consumers

seem to be receptive to it. The ‘Real’ seal got started as a push-back to imitation cheese and continues today under the stewardship of NMPF, he said. There are 10,000 products being marketed with the ‘Real’ seal and Tillison said the organization plans to expand its use to dairy ingredients.

As American consumers grow more concerned about how their food is produced and become further removed from farm production, NMPF is involved in a program that assures animal welfare called ‘Farmers Assuring Responsible Management’ or FARM. The issue partly arose because of tail docking, a dairy farm practice that has come to prominence through several high-profile cases. In California a law was passed to make it a misdemeanor to dock tails. Kozak said the FARM program provides an alternative of switch trimming.

The program is also being driven by developments in corporate American like McDonalds dictating how hogs can be raised if their meat is to be sold in a McDonalds restaurant. The FARM program includes guidelines and principles intended to educate farmers and utilizes the field staff of dairy co-ops and second-party evaluations recorded into a database.

Source: www.wisfarmer.com

Final tallies from World Dairy Expo World Dairy Expo has released its attendance figures for 2012 and show officials say this year’s event was one of the biggest and best of all time. WDE Spokesperson Janet Keller announced that 2,385 head of dairy cattle were exhibited by 1,234 exhibitors at the Alliant Energy Center in early October.

Exhibitors from 41 states and Canada came to Madison seeking the coveted Grand Champion and Supreme Champion titles. The show’s supreme champion, Holstein RF Goldwyn Hailey came from Quebec, Canada and was

4

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-cow talk.indd 4

november

shown by Gen-Com Holstein Ltd. Another Holstein, Siemers Goldwyn Goldie exhibited by Jordan and Whitney Ebert of Wisconsin was named Supreme Champion of the Junior Show.

Total attendance for World Dairy Expo was 71,788 visitors, with 2,950 registered international guests from 95 countries. The trade show also set new records with 863 companies from 28 different countries having displays. The theme for 2013 World Dairy Expo is ‘Center of the Dairy Universe’ and it will be October 1-5 of next year.

20 1 2

26-10-12 15:35

Dairy margin outlook improves Since the beginning of October, quarterly dairy margins have improved for the next three quarters (Q4 2012, Q1 and Q2 2013), flattening out in Q3 2013, according to Commodity & Ingredient Hedging’s (CIH) Margin Watch report.

The profitability outlook for dairy producers continues to be quite favorable over the next four quarters, with margins above the 85th percentile of the last 5 years through Q3 2013.

Milk prices have been flat to higher over the past two weeks, while feed costs continue to slide.

USDA’s NASS recently updated its corn production forecast, dropping production by 21 million bushels, to 10.706 billion bushels. However, USDA lowered its forecast for corn exports by 100 million bushels, to 1.15 billion bushels, acknowledging the slow pace

Possible new antibiotic legislation Representative Henry Waxman of California says he plans to introduce new farm animal antibiotic legislation in the House of Representatives. He says his bill would improve the data that the FDA collects regarding antibiotics used in animal agriculture.

Specifically, it would require drug manufacturers to provide comprehensive information to the FDA on how their drugs are used on farms.

Currently, drug makers only report their total sales without distinguishing which species the drugs are intended for or indicating what portion were used exclusively for food animals. The bill would also, for the first time, require reporting by feed mills.

Waxman says the legislation will help expose antibiotic overuse on farms and allow the FDA to take action. Waxman’s colleague, New York Representative Louise Slaughter continues her push for a phase-out of certain antibiotics in farm animal production.

Source: www.dairyagendatoday.com

of sales and shipments to date and increased competition from South America.

Soybean stocks were estimated up 15 million bushels from September, to 130 million bushels. This increase coupled with the larger beginning stocks from the Quarterly Stocks report put total supplies up 265 million bushels from September. USDA offset the supply increase by raising demand forecasts for exports.

September milk cow inventories were lower in August. This coupled with a decline in production per head, helped support milk prices.

Exports for butter were weaker in July, while cheese exports were relatively stronger. Cold storage for cheese and butter were down in August from July.

Source: www.cihmarginwatch.com

CDCB charts new course Following extensive industry discussion and planning, The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) is moving forward ensuring the future leadership position for the U.S. dairy industry in genetic evaluations and management benchmarks. Through collaboration within the U.S. dairy industry, CDCB’s plan will uphold the U.S. gold standard in developing and delivering high quality dairy genetics and management tools.

Meeting discussions centered on the proposed business plan and cooperative agreement, which was previously available to the industry for comment. The proposed business plan and comments were presented to CDCB for discussion. CDCB endorsed the proposed business plan as a roadmap for the new structure, while agreeing to a conference call in late October to review the refinements and changes.

The latest draft of the cooperative agreement with the USDA-ARS and

industry comments were presented to the CDCB. The Council’s directors authorized Chair Ole Meland to work with USDA-ARS on the final version and sign the cooperative agreement as ARS has indicated they are intending to do before the end of December 2012.

After in-depth discussion by CDCB, there is broad industry agreement for the new structure and direction to serve the best interests of U.S. dairy producers.

Source: CDCB

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-cow talk.indd 5

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

5

26-10-12 14:49

M A I N

A RT I C L E

Single-file alley with curved path enco

Observe, understand, mak Cattle handling works a lot better when you grasp what bothers the animal and set up a system to take advantage of what comes instinctively. The ‘trick’ is to develop a path in which cattle think they are going back to where they came from.

by JoDee Sattler

J

ordan Matthews of Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Watertown, Wis., recalls his frustrations moving cattle to the veterinary chute when it was time to perform routine tasks, such as trimming hooves. “Cattle didn’t want to go to the chute and they didn’t want to be in the chute,” he says.

How do you create an environment where cattle ‘want to’ go to a cattle chute for health care treatments? The ‘trick’ is to develop a path in which cattle think they are going back to where they came from (comfortable stalls and feedbunk). Sort and treat cattle to take advantage of their natural instincts – for the animals’ and caretakers’ safety.

According to the Dairy Animal Care & Quality Assurance guide, curved, single-file working alleys (see figure 1) are especially recommended for moving cattle into a truck or squeeze chute. Why? First, this design prevents animals from seeing to the end of the chute until they are almost there. In the round crowd pen, provide enough space so cattle can see a minimum of three body lengths up the single-file alley before the curve begins.

Fill the crowd pen less than one-fourth full; cattle need room to turn. The ideal radius for a round crowd pen is 12 feet.

If you notice animals balking, look for distractions.

These distractions may be as simple as a shadow or piece of clothing hanging alongside the alley or chute. Also, think about where people are standing. The best place for an animal handler to work is on the edge of an animal’s flight zone (see figure 2).

Second, the curve design takes advantage of cattle’s natural tendency to circle around a handler moving along the inner radius. The curved alley should have an inside radius of 15 to 16 feet for best handling of cattle.

If the single file race is bent too sharply where it joins

the crowd pen, cattle may refuse to enter because it looks like a dead end.

And third, create a system so animals cannot see people and other moving objects at the end of the chute.

Animals may be discouraged from entering the chute if the entrance is too dark or it contains distractions, such as dangling loose chains. Cattle often move more easily in buildings equipped with translucent skylights or translucent panels in the walls. These panels provide bright lighting and no shadows.

Temple Grandin, world-renown animal behavior specialist and animal science professor at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., credits her insight into the minds of cattle for her success as a humane livestock facility designer. She says that a single-file

Cows move seamlessly to the chute via a single-file working alley

6

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-cattle flow.indd 6

n o v em b er

2 0 1 2

26-10-12 10:38

ath encourages cattle to move forward

make informed decisions blind spot shaded grey

alternate entrance edge of flight zone

16 (4,86 m)

layout line squeeze

this fence must be straight

60º mangate

180º this cow can see two body lengths up the chute

entrance 12º (3,65 m) B

A handler position to stop movement

45º

handler position to stop movement

layout line 90º

180º

point of balance

12º (3,65 m)

Figure 1: Animal behavior experts recommend curved, single-file working alleys for moving cattle into a truck or squeeze chute

Figure 2: Animal handlers should work at the edge of an animal’s flight zone.

alley is very efficient if it has a single, 180-degree or 90-degree curve. Multiple curves do not improve efficiency.

Additionally, she says to never build a crowd pen on a ramp. If a ramp is required, put it in the single-file alley. Livestock will pile up if a crowd pen is built on a ramp. Also, install solid shields so that approaching animals do not see the people up ahead.

Move cattle efficiently Does the curve design work? Is it practical for today’s modern dairy operations? The simple answer is, “yes.”

In the search for a better way to conduct herd health tasks, Matthews turned to a college friend, Kurt Vogel, who was studying under Grandin. Vogel recommended adding a single-file alley with a curve (as described), which was used successfully in several beef corrals and slaughterhouses.

In Rosy-Lane’s new facility, they added a straight palpation rail (single-file alley), 180-degree loop and veterinary care chute. “Without any encouragement, cattle move through the alley and curve, and onto the chute,” says Matthews. “They can see the holding area, which is a familiar environment, and they think they’re heading back to their stalls and feed.”

Trim hooves safely, quickly Matthews says this design works so much better than before, when employees strongly nudged cattle along and cattle displayed uncooperative actions in the chute.

Previously, Matthews would spend an entire afternoon “fighting cattle” to trim just 10 cows’ hooves. Now, he can get 40 done in the same amount of time. Much of the

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-cattle flow.indd 7

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

7

25-10-12 13:56

M A I N

A RT I C L E

time savings comes from minimizing chute load time. That was a very timeconsuming task before implementing the new design. “Cow flow is so seamless and I’m ‘still alive’ after an afternoon of trimming hooves,” he says.

Vogel, now at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the animal and food science department, focuses on livestock behavior, welfare and management, and animal physiology.

He says it’s important for animals to see up the alley, so they know they have a place to go. Then, they move around the curve and into the veterinary care chute. He also recommends providing some fresh feed to the animals in their home pen to train them to expect a positive experience after spending time in the veterinary chute.

Even if you think you have great animal handling facilities in place, such as the single-file working alley and curve design, Vogel encourages dairy producers to step back and evaluate how animals react to various situations.

“Events such as falling during handling and struggling in the veterinary chute should be very rare. It is important to think about the cause of each individual occurrence of these events and take corrective action. Taking action sooner – rather than later – will help save time in the long run and improve animal welfare.

Without improving an animal’s veterinary chute experience, it’ll be even more difficult to move that animal the next time she needs care.”

He also emphasizes that it is important to resist the temptation to simply label a cow that will not enter the veterinary chute as “stubborn.” There is typically a cause for her resistance to enter; and in some cases, the cause can be identified and fixed.

Friendly tools For safety and welfare reasons, minimize the use of electric prods.

Instead, Vogel recommends using nonelectric driving aids, such as plastic paddles, sorting sticks, flags or

streamers affixed to long handles, to quietly guide and turn animals.

Properly trained dogs, which do not bark and aggressively bite the heels of cattle, are effective and humane tools for handling cattle.

Vogel says that some cattle vocalize more than others. If more than 5% vocalize displeasure, after being squeezed but prior to procedures being performed, this may indicate that cattle handlers should take a closer look at chute operation.

When setting standards for animal welfare on a livestock operation, the key is consistency. “It’s not a sometimes thing, it is an all-the-time thing,” says Vogel. He recommends setting clear rules and expectations for proper cattle handling. Take time not only to educate new cattle handlers on how cattle should be treated but also retrain existing employees regularly. “Perhaps most impactful in teaching others is for producers themselves to demonstrate care and concern over their animals’ well-being.” l

Additional resources: Pennsylvania Dairy Animal Care & Quality Assurance: http://vbs.psu.edu/extension/ resources-repository/ publications/DACQA022309. pdf Sample designs of cattle races and corrals: http://grandin. com/design/blueprint/ blueprint.html Dr. Temple Grandin’s Web page: www.grandin.com

8

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-cattle flow.indd 8

NO VEMBER

20 1 2

25-10-12 13:56

CMUS06_p09.indd 2

25-10-12 14:11

H E R D

River Valley The Sauder family works to develop cow families to fulfill global genetic needs and continually embraces new technology.

Number of cows: Amount of land: Rolling herd average: Cell rate:

R E P O RT

Tremont, Illinois

250 5,000 acres 60 lb daily ave; 5.0F; 3.8P 160.000

The Sauder family. Front: Ben, Andy, Blessing and Grace. Back: Jeni, Nic, Cindy, Greg and Tim

Calves are raised in a state of the art calf barn featuring Lely automatic feeders

Investing in genetics and technologies furthers growth and marketability

River Valley – style and performance are standard Nestled in the rolling hills of Tremont, Illinois with pastures outlined in picturesque white fences, River Valley Dairy is home to breed-leading Jersey genetics and cutting edge technology.

While developing cows that deliver genetics for all producers is their main focus, investing in technology allows them more time to focus on animal care and develop those genetics.

of diversifying their genetic offering.

Nic serves as the herd manager, manages the day-to-day operations of the dairy, namely the 250-cow production facility and the heifer facility. The production herd is housed in an eight-row freestall barn. The freestalls are lined with pasture gel mats and bedded with sawdust. This facility is equipped with four Lely Astronaut 3 robotic milkers, 52

by Amy Ryan

T

he evolution of River Valley has progressed quickly in the past six years. “At the beginning of 2006, we were milking just nine cows with a vacuum pump and today, the dairy is home to nearly 250 cows with plans for continued growth in the future,” says Gregg Sauder.

“Our facility is designed with expansion in mind and every year, we have added a new building to the dairy.”

River Valley is a family affair, owned and operated by Gregg and Cindy Sauder and their seven children, Tim, Nic, Jeni, Ben, Andy, Blessing and Grace. Prior to starting their dairy business, Gregg and Cindy owned Precision Planting, a company with a long history of

10

innovations that optimize planter performance and increase yield potential, which earlier this year was sold to Monsanto.

Embracing technology Each family member has a special role in the operation. Gregg enjoys construction and crops, and so he manages any design and building projects and overseeing the 5,000 plus acres that the family crops.

Cindy is a major driver behind the success and attention to detail at the farm. Tim, the eldest sibling, is most involved in developing new investment opportunities. He sources high-indexing bull mothers to meet the dairy’s vision

C OWC MO AW NA MGAENMA EGNE TM JE AN NT U NA O RV Y /E FMEBBERRU A 2 0 R 1Y 2 2 0 1 0

cmus05-farm report river valley.indd 10

26-10-12 14:31

lf

Heifers enjoy a compost bedding pack in their facility. The heifer barn is a compost bedding pack of solids from the on-farm digester

inch fans, sprinklers above the headlocks and automatic scrapers.

Installing robotic milkers in December of 2011 was multi-faceted decision. “We love to embrace new technology,” says Nic Sauder. “It seemed a logical fit for us as this system is more ‘cow friendly’, allowing the cows to be milked on their schedule. Finding labor is challenging and we have found it easier to manage technology than people.”

River Valley utilizes the Lely Juno Automatic Feed pusher and the cows receive a partial mixed ration (PMR).

“Our PMR consists of dry hay, baleage, corn silage, cotton seed, soybean meal, corn, distillers a mineral mix and a pellet from the robot,” says Nic. “The robot allows concentrate to be fed depending on a cow’s stage of lactation and milk production, allowing cows to be kept in one group for an entire

Lely Astronaut 3 robotic milkers were installed in December 2011

lactation and eliminating the need for separate rations.”

The heifer barn is a compost bedding pack of solids from the on-farm digester.

It holds animals from 3 months old to 60 days pre-fresh and includes a dry donor pen. The pack in this barn is well maintained and stirred three times per week.

Nic also takes a very hands-on role in the care of the high type herd, which is housed in an immaculate 20-cow boxstall barn and milked in their own parlor.

Jeni is responsible for all calf care. The River Valley calf facility is state of the art with 18 cozy crib calf stalls where calves are kept from day 1 to 10 days of age.

They are then moved to one of four group housing pens where two Lely Calf Calm automatic feeders make milk replacer available up to 6 times a day.

Calves remain in this tunnel ventilated

facility until 3 months old when they move to the heifer facility.

“Our calf health is outstanding with less than .05 percent death loss in 2012,” says Nic. “With our focus on genetics and showing, this statistic is incredibly important to the livelihood of our operation.”

Ben works in the main production barn, where he is familiarizing himself with the robots and their maintenance. While Andy enjoys the crop end of the operation, he also helps in the show barn cleaning pens and breaking animals to lead for the show string.

Blessing and Grace are always around the farm and most thoroughly enjoy working with the calves for the show season.

The Sauders also employ a full-time veterinarian, Justin Powell, who manages the operation’s ever growing

Those who visit River Valley in Tremont, Ill. are welcomed by this sign and beautiful white fence that surrounds the facilities

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-farm report river valley.indd 11

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

11

26-10-12 14:32

H E R d

re p o r t

reproductive program and oversees herd health. David Jordan, their marketing manager, handles A.I. and industry relationships, negotiations when acquiring cattle, works with the show string promotion and directs all marketing efforts. River Valley has three part-time employees who assist with general labor.

Focus on animal care The Sauder family has faced challenges along the way, namely the dairy economy making it harder to invest in a volatile market. However, they feel their focus on delivering global genetics and building a genetic base to make sons that any producer can appreciate, has differentiated them from others in the industry.

“We strive to work with cow families that can excel in different venues – in the barn, on global index lists or on the colored shavings,” says David Jordan.

“Cows are different shapes and sizes and serve different purposes. For us, genetic marketing is focused on the male side of the business and so the most important thing is tapping each individual’s potential to generate a return through her sons.”

Embryo transfer (ET) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are management tools and technologies that drive their

business. Nearly every calf born is an ET result, which assists them in multiplying their genetic base quickly. Currently, 20 donor dams are being flushed each month and this number will increase to close to 50 in the near future.

Their investment in robotic milking and calf feeding allows them to focus their efforts on animal care in their genetic herd. Namely, raising healthy calves that develop into healthy cows is a key to success. Finally, developing relationships with others in the industry assists in marketing their genetics.

Success in many venues What breeding philosophy develops these cow families? On their higher indexing females, they focus on economic drivers like Cheese Merit, Jersey Performance Index™ (JPI), Jersey Udder Index and Productive Life. They use a mix of proven and young sires focused on udder and frames in their show herd. Most importantly, they use sires that develop and differentiate their genetics offering.

This philosophy has produced great successes for River Valley in a short time frame. Forty of the breed’s top gJPI females on the October list hail from the farm and fifteen of their home-bred bulls have entered A.I. The most influential of these females is Heartland

Artist Salina E-91%, who has in the psat two years had 13 daughters on Jersey top 500 list and 11 bulls in A.I. On the tanbark trail, they have been Premier Exhibitor of the International Jersey Show twice and last year’s U.S. National Grand Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion of World Dairy Expo, Pine Haven SSM Marmie E-94 graces their show barn. She has been on an extensive flush program and has 25 daughters and 3 sons being born in the near future. The winning Jr. Two-YearOld, Avonlea Iatola Victoria VG-89, and Reserve Grand Champion of the Junior Show, Lormiere Fusion Christine at this year’s International Jersey Show, also call River Valley home.

Since River Valley is in growth mode, they do not actively market their female offspring, but rather focus on exporting embryos and developing male genetics.

River Valley’s goal is the same as back in 2006 – work with cows that deliver genetics to believe in. “Cows of impact leave a lasting impression in the breed and industry,” David concludes. “They garner admiration for their individual greatness and become household names for the impact of their sons and daughters. Whether it is genomics, type or the best of both, we hope producers will turn to the cows of impact found at River Valley.” l

The boxstall barn which houses River Valley’s elite genetic herd. This group includes six EX-95, four EX-94 and thirteen EX-93 cows

12

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-farm report river valley.indd 12

n o v e m b er

20 1 2

26-10-12 14:32

FORAGE GRASS NEWS

Innovation in dairy nutrition promoted in California

Nutrition workshops for California farmers, dairymen, and nutritionists detailed new analytical procedures offered exclusively through Rock River Laboratory and Rock River Laboratory West. These meetings were produced by Barenbrug USA.

Total Tract NDF Digestibility (TTNDFd), developed by Dr. Dave Combs (University of Wisconsin), integrates three Neutral

Detergent Fiber digestibility (NDFd) time-points (24, 30, and 48 hours), calculates the NDF digestion rate (NDF Kd), and produces a single index of fiber passage – TTNDFd. TTNDFd is then used in a ration monitor to predict TDN and forecast the results of ration change in dairy herds.

TTNDFd provides an improved estimation of the value of grass in the dairy ration. Improved cool season grasses, such as Barenbrug’s Green Spirit Italian Ryegrass blend, can provide high levels of effective fiber (digestible NDF) which promotes proper rumen function in high-production dairy cows and improved animal health. In addition, Barenbrug grasses can help with nutrient management issues. Green Spirit Italian ryegrass blend and Matua prairie grass can, for example, utilize multiple applications of manure and sequester significant quantities of applied nutrients in harvested forage.

For more information, contact Zachery Meyer zachery_meyer@rockriverlab.com at Rock River Laboratory and Rock River Laboratory West

Barenbrug acquires Seedmark in Australia The Royal Barenbrug Group has announced the acquisition of Seedmark in Australia. “This acquisition reinforces our long term commitment to the Australian pasture and forage seed industry and delivers even greater improvements in farmer productivity,” said Bastiaan Barenbrug, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Barenbrug Group.

Seedmark currently produces in excess of 90 individual proprietary seed varieties.

The company successfully markets these not only in Australia, but also in over 70 other countries. They realize over 25 million Australian dollar turnover and have one of the most substantial, professional and dedicated teams of seed growers globally. The origin of Seedmark dates back to 1964 with the formation of Seedco, the South Australian Seed Growers Cooperative.

“The product portfolio of Seedmark is

very complimentary and enables us to offer a complete range of seeds for pasture, forage and field crops,” concluded Peter Young, CEO of Heritage Seeds, the

Australian subsidiary of Barenbrug. “This acquisition also gives access to valuable breeding programs and will strengthen our seed production network.”

Grazing is populair in Australia

For more information on BARENBRUG products and services contact customer services: Tel. 800.547.4101 BARENBRUG web address: www.barusa.com • BARENBRUG email address: info@barusa.com COW

cmus05-barenbrug news.indd 13

MAN AG E ME N T

no v e m b er

2 0 1 2

13

26-10-12 13:47

F E RT I L I T Y

Improve heat detection with AAM

Breeding strategy changes with new technology Automated Activity Monitoring (AAM) systems are an effective tool for 24/7 monitoring of cow reproductive and health status.

With the aid of this information, breeding programs show improved pregnancy rates and overall herd health.

by Ben Smink

D

airy producers observe their herd to monitor if a cow is in heat and check animal health. To maximize reproductive performance, producers are taking advantage of a new technology that allows them to measure a cow’s activity, determine health problems and monitor heat in the earliest stages.

Automated Activity Monitoring (AAM) systems provide accuracy for 24/7 monitoring of cow reproductive and health status. This proves useful for producers because most silent heats occur at night and high-producing cows tend to have short heat periods that are not easily picked up visually. With AAM, producers also obtain indicators of individual animal health. For example, a sudden drop in rumination activity, compared to a cow’s normal rumination time, indicates that a cow is either in heat or ill.

Chad Kieffer: “Our pregnancy rates increased to 23 percent, despite the warm weather”

Dairies that transition to robotic milking often opt for automatic heat detection systems, using identification and cow activity measurement tags. In

the early stages of transitioning to robotic milkers, many producers continue to use Ovsynch programs only to discover that the cow is unable to have a natural heat cycle. Producers then adapt their timed-breeding program to only those cows not showing a natural heat.

Chad Kieffer, Kiefland Dairy in Utica, Minn., changed the breeding program on his dairy after the introduction of Lely’s Astronaut robotic milking system in April 2011.

Prior to 2008, Chad observed heats and bred cows using minimal Ovsynch programs, resulting in a pregnancy rate of 15 to 16 percent. Between 2008 and April 2011, before the installation of robotic milkers, Chad had a technician chalk cows with a full PresynchOvsynch program, a protocol that “presynchronized” cows, and saw pregnancy rates increase from 16 percent to 19 percent. “This change happened because we had better heat detection and a strict injection program,” Chad said. “Since the introduction of the robots with the automated activity monitoring, our pregnancy rates have increased once again to 23 percent and

Figure 1: Activity and rumination of a cow five to 54 days in milk (DIM)

Adapting a breeding program Automatic heat detection eliminates the need for widespread use of Ovsynch programs, a commonly-used hormone treatment protocol to synchronize ovulation so cows can be inseminated at a specific time. By reducing the need for timed breeding, producers experience cost savings not only on hormones, but also the additional labor necessary for injections.

14

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-Lely feature.indd 14

NO VEMBER

20 1 2

26-10-12 14:36

never dropped this past summer, despite the warm weather.” Chad says he expects numbers to improve more in the future.

Every Kiefland Dairy cow is enrolled in a PreSynch program with carefully recorded heats. A cow at 35 to 42 days in milk (DIM) receives its first Lutalyse (dairy prostaglandin) injection but will not be bred immediately in case the cow shows heat. If the cow does not come into heat after the first injection, the cow receives a second Lutalyse injection two weeks later and, if the cow comes into heat, is bred at that time. Cows are not enrolled in an Ovsynch program until 90 DIM. “We are trying to take full advantage of the activity system with this change,” Chad said. “As a result, we will keep saving more money on injections and

Reproductive performance A recent field study conducted by the University of Guelph comparing the reproductive performance of systems using AAM to synchronized breeding programs revealed the following results. Activity-based heat detection works equally well and, at times, more effectively than synchronized breeding programs.

Using the same identification and

cow activity measurement tags as those used in Lely milking robots, two out of three herds showed better conception rates, fewer days to first service and decreased days to pregnancy. The results of the study are published in the Journal of Dairy Science (Neves R.C., August 2012).

continue to see more natural standing heats.”

related to finding and treating cows.

Hormone injections are still useful, but with the help of new technologies, such as AAM, producers can improve heat detection and herd health while lowering costs and reducing labor. l

Lower costs Reducing the use of an Ovsynch program saves on the cost, as well as on time

More info: bsmink@lely.com

New technologies, such as Automated Activity Monitoring, can improve heat detection and herd health

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-Lely feature.indd 15

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

15

26-10-12 14:37

CRV’S JERSEY BREEDING PROGRAM

EFFICIENT BULLS FOR EFFICIENT PRODUCTION ALL LYNNS REGION VENDOR-ET

Region x Paramount x Abe Milk: 1263 lbs.

Fat: 67 lbs, 0.05% Protein: 44 lbs, 0.00% JPI: 204

ALL LYNNS VALENTINO WRANGLER

Vendor’s Dam: D&E Paramount Violet EX-90 5-02 3X 305 27,600M 4.2 1167F 3.5 953P Vendor maternal brother to CRV bull: ALL LYNNS LEGAL VOCATION-ET

Valentino x Impuls x Hallmark Milk: 1151 lbs.

Fat: 42 lbs, -0.05% Protein: 42 lbs, 0.00% JUI: 4.16

CRV, 2423 AMERICAN LANE, MADISON, WI 53704, P 608 441 3202, F 608 441 3203, TF 1 800 400 CRV4ALL

BETTER LIFE | BETTER COWS 538-12 CM US Jersey.indd 1

CMUS06_p16.indd 2

CRV4ALL.US 17-10-12 15:18

25-10-12 14:18

T RO U W N U T R I T I ON NE W S

DNMC shows appreciation to clients at their 5th Annual Dairy Summit!

Dairies from Texas, New Mexico and Colorado were represented at the 5th Annual Dairy Summit held at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Amelia Island, Florida. The Summit is a gathering of Dairy Nutrition and Management Consulting (DNMC) clients as well as industry sponsors. The purpose of the event is to show appreciation to clients of DNMC while providing educational information that they can take back to their dairies. The idea is to learn and have a little fun along the way.

The technical meetings covered current

trends in the dairy industry that help improve efficiency and productivity to maximize profitability. Among the speakers were: Dr. Michael Swanson, Ag Economist for Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Dr. Alois (Al) Kertz for ANDHIL, and Dr. Chris Ashworth representing Animal Ag Alliance. The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists recognized the meeting for accredited CEUs. Trouw Nutrition (a Platinum sponsor) was a critical part of this year’s Dairy Summit success. Trouw Nutrition USA’s marketing team worked with DNMC to plan and organize this event. Both companies were proud of this year’s program and look forward to the next Dairy Summit.

For more information please go to: www.dnmcmilk.com

World Dairy Expo Trouw Nutrition was a proud sponsor of this year’s World Dairy Expo. This event is where the industry meets to give guests a chance to visit with peers, while learning from fellow producers and industry experts about different ways to make their dairy operation more profitable.

World Dairy Expo 2012 was a great event; if you missed the fun, visit http://www. world-dairy-expo.com/ to learn more.

Knut Nesse

A new era for Nutreco Knut Nesse has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer for Nutreco on August 1st 2012.

Wout Dekker stepped down as CEO after 30 years in the company and 12 years as the chief executive, during which Nutreco has passed through significant changes and development.

He can certainly be proud of what he and his colleagues achieved. For the past six years, Wout has been Knut’s boss and has been able to guide him with his experience and wisdom.

We are all very excited and proud to offer congratulations to Knut Nesse in his new position.

Moldy Grain As the USDA continues to revise 2012 corn production down, current high grain prices continue to rise.

In addition to these record high prices, corn quality has been diminished due to the excessive heat and corn diseases commonly seen when drought conditions are prevalent. Corn contaminated by

molds (in the field, in storage and in your feed) can reduce the quality (nutritional value) of your feed and potentially produce mycotoxins.

Here is a link where you can find more information about the drought to see the areas that have been affected: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

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

CMUS05_TrouwCompPage.indd 17

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

17

25-10-12 13:45

M A N A G E M E N T

Properly functioning milking and washing systems create desirable standard plate counts

Who knew? Water makes a clean-in-place system hum Water quality is the biggest influence on how well chemical products used in a milking center cleaning system will work.

Reinemann, Grea M.V.H. Wolters, Pierre Billon, Ole Lind and Morten Dam Rasmussen.

Bacteria can thrive if the milking system doesn’t clean properly

Chemicals based on water

and, ultimately, how well the system is cleaned will affect standard plate count and milk quality premiums.

by JoDee Sattler

B

ecause proper cleaning is so important, Rick Watters, Quality Milk Production Services, Cornell University, recommends testing grains per gallon (gpg) of hardness and parts per million of iron in the water supply every six months. A water hardness evaluation is always a necessary first step in determining the proper cleaner to use and in what concentrations.

“When water hardness exceeds 10 gpg, it may be necessary to increase detergent concentration,” says Jerry Jones, Virginia Tech professor emeritus of milk quality, milking management and mastitis control. In very hard water (30 gpg or more), use a water softener.

“And while you’re at it, test water for bacterial quality and determine if it needs to be chlorinated.”

Meet 6 CIP requirements While evaluating the water supply, also evaluate the six requirements for proper clean in place: contact time, water temperature, water volume, chemical balance, solution velocity, and rapid drainage. “With any one of these elements missing, the entire cleaning system may fail,” says Watters.

“If cleaning and sanitizing procedures

18

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-water qual+milksyst.indd 18

n o v embe r

are inadequate, bacteria can multiply on the inner surfaces of pipelines and storage units, and become major contaminants of raw milk, resulting in high standard plate, preliminary incubation, lab pasteurized and coliform counts,” he adds.

Not only does water play a major role in the effectiveness of milk cleaning systems, it is also the major constituent of most cleaning and sanitizing compounds.

When water hardness, due to components such as iron and silicates, inhibits the performance of cleaning systems, a water treatment can remove components to produce adequate cleaning and sanitation.

Increasing chemical concentrations is one way to adjust for some water hardness but more chemicals cost more money. In many cases, it’s more economical to treat the water used for cleaning and sanitation, rather than adding more chemical.

Detergents’ cleaning effectiveness improves as water temperature increases and water hardness decreases, as explained in the “Review of practices for cleaning and sanitation of milking machines,” prepared by Douglas J.

If water hardness is a challenge, phosphates and chelating compounds can keep minerals and soils in solution, and prevent their redeposition. The main water hardness chemicals are salts of calcium and magnesium.

Unfortunately, they can accumulate in water heating equipment and reduce capacity to less than adequate, says Jones. Furthermore, buildup in water pipes can restrict the flow of hot water to cleaning tanks or sinks. Cleaning agents can actually make matters worse if they are not compatible with water hardness conditions or are used in concentrations or at temperatures contrary to manufacturer recommendations.

In addition, the bicarbonates, sulfates and chlorides of calcium or magnesium present in hard water can neutralize detergents, decrease rinsability and create films on equipment. Jones says to use compatible cleaners, according to manufacturer directions, in relation to cleaner amount and concentration, cleaning solution temperature and cleaning solution contact time and surface being cleaned. Measure the correct amount of water used in the cleaning cycle. “Simply stated, read the label,” says Jones.

Prevent milkstone Alan Monken, DeLaval senior documentation specialist, offers one more element to consider when striving to market milk with a low standard plate count. Water-borne minerals can

20 1 2

26-10-12 14:40

combine with milk components to form a buildup of material called milkstone. Built up in successive layers, milkstone can form a tough deposit that provides a good location and environment for bacterial growth and possibly cause milk quality problems.

Remove milkstone by repeated cleaning with alternating caustic and acid solutions.

All system-cleaning programs rely heavily on time, temperature, chemical concentration and physical cleaning action. When standard plate count

challenges arise, they can usually be traced back to deficiencies in one or more of these areas.

Take time to conduct regular milking system evaluations to prevent cleaning system issues that may contribute to bacteria problems in raw milk. l

Water is the major constituent of most cleaning and sanitizing compounds

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-water qual+milksyst.indd 19

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

19

25-10-12 14:04

BR E E D I N G

With 138 years experience, CRV has grown from a small farmer-owned cooperative to one of the largest breeding organizations in the world

Longevity through innovation

These three nice examples produced each over 200.000 lb

Most consumers and customers think what makes a company

services offered so much of a benefit to its customers.

looking forward to seeing how the heifers turn out as cows.” For Jen and Theo, having a representative who listens to their dairying needs and wants is a necessity, as well as using a company with a strong genetic program. “We like CRV bulls opposed to other bulls because they tend to have a few key components we look for, such as higher fat and better feet and legs,” agree Jen and Theo.

by Kayla Dolan

Innovation

great is its products. However, what sets the products apart is the organization in which they are coming from, and the knowledge and experiences they have learned from. For CRV, it is the 138 years of experience that makes the products and

S

ince its start in 1874, CRV has remained a customer focused organization. According to Bertil Muller, head corporate communication CRV, “our company has a cooperative base, so farmers are our reason of existence.” With advancements in technology a farmer is able to go straight to the experts, for example, through the internet. By taking into consideration input from farmers,

20

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-crv bull fertility.indd 20

NO VEMBER

and listening to their ideas, problems, and concerns, CRV is able to develop tailor-made products for every type of production circumstances.

Jen and Theo van der Meulen, van der Meulen Dairy, of Alma, Ontario have experienced the benefit of using CRV genetics and services in their herd firsthand, “we have only used CRV for a couple of years now, but we are seeing nice strong, healthy heifers and we are

For any organization, staying on the forefront of innovation is a necessity.

The industry as a whole is research driven, and companies are always looking for new ways to improve.

Statistics from the National Science Foundation released in 2010 show that in the period from 2006-2008, 22% of companies introduced new product innovations, and about 22% introduced process innovations.

CRV keeps innovation high among its standards. With the global push for a

20 1 2

26-10-12 14:43

n

healthy environment, CRV has begun researching ways to help decrease the carbon footprint of its products and services. CRV also has the advantage of being able to share scientific projects and develop new breeding traits by collaborating with other breeding organizations from other species such as Topigs, Hendrix Genetics, and Cobb Europe. This collaboration, entitled “Breed4Food”, allows the companies to reach a higher scientific level by joining forces. On top of that, CRV has access to the world’s largest reference population for genomic selection through the cooperation called “Eurogenomics,” with a number of other European, bovine breeding companies. This larger reference population for genomic selection creates a head start over the competition and is also important to farmers. Van der Meulen is experimenting with the use of genomic bulls for the first time in their herd and is excited to try something different.

CRV’s global influence has also played a key role in the longevity of the company. Although CRV’s roots are located in Arnhem, Netherlands, it has expanded with offices and bull barns all over the world. This allows genetics and services to be offered that fit the circumstances of the farmer and

country, rather than a uniform product.

Each country has access to all of CRV’s genetic offerings, and can be tailored to fit each country, whether it is grassland genetics, Holsteins, Jerseys, Angus, or Fleckvieh. In a number of countries, these products are supported by management services, milk recording, and breeding services for every farmer and farming style.

With these 138 years of experience, CRV has established itself as the expert in lifetime efficiency, and has kept focus on this topic. CRV wants its farmers to make a living without having to sacrifice the social aspects of life. This includes supplying reliable and economical genetics that create trouble free cows that will produce easily and live longer. “We want our farmers to make a living by not only increasing production, but by reducing costs and labor, and increasing longevity as well,” says Muller.

Keys to success With such a wide portfolio of offerings, it is easy to see what has made CRV such a long lasting organization. But what are the keys to success?

Conversation with farmers is number one. The customer ultimately holds the keys to success for any organization. By

Heifer calf from Kodak and Jen, Charlotte and Theo van der Meulen

listening to the customer wants and needs, you can offer a reliable and attractive product, that has been researched and proven to be most beneficial for the customer, and is marketed in an appealing way. As anyone can see, every aspect of a company is customer driven. It is important for companies to listen to what the customer needs and apply these to their product. This is especially important in the AI industry and to CRV, as the variety of products and services offered by competitors is quite large. l

History of breeding organization CRV

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-crv bull fertility.indd 21

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

21

25-10-12 13:38

M A N A G E M E N T

Include animal care practices in employee handbook and employee training

Making a pledge to animal care commitment

Potential signs of employees with a hidden agenda • Befriending or mingling with upper management, and asking questions about operations, including security matters or time schedules.

• Volunteering for jobs before or after normal business hours.

• Volunteering for jobs that are less

22

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-hiring practises.indd 22

NO VEMBER

desirable but would provide them access to animals, often before or after normal business hours.

• Seeking employment in jobs below their skill or their education level, or demonstrating previous jobs or experiences out of character

for the job that they are seeking.

• Seeking employment with no pay so they can learn more about the business before committing to livestock agriculture – either with regard to their education or possibly before starting their own business.

20 1 2

26-10-12 13:43

Beware: some job applicants may have ulterior motives in seeking farm employment. Dairy producers need to hire competent employees and make sure employees are not bringing an agenda to their dairy farm business.

by JoDee Sattler

W

hile many immigrants are dependable and hardworking, determining their legal work status can be overwhelming and potentially set employers up for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid. And, now, there’s another hiring hurdle hovering over livestock owners. Do potential

employees have ulterior motives, such as capturing video of animal abuse, for working on a livestock farm?

Thanks to animal welfare extremists, the hiring process for livestock operation owners has become a lot more complicated. Dairy producers need to hire competent employees and make

sure employees are not bringing an agenda to their dairy farm business.

Recent history has produced some unflattering images of animal agriculture. In most cases, where undercover videos of animal abuse were taken, employers discovered that former undercover employees came with a hidden agenda. Once these videos hit TV screens and the Internet, livestock agriculture’s image took a severe beating.

After the fact, livestock owners recognized many “red flag” behaviors and/or actions that these undercover employees demonstrated that allowed them to have access to animals and produce videos of animal mistreatment, whether real or staged. The Animal Agriculture Alliance shares some lessons learned from past undercover videos of animal abuse (see colored box).

While in hindsight there may be some obvious (and not so obvious) signs of hiring an animal welfare extremist (or an individual fulfilling the request of an animal welfare extremist organization, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA] or Humane Society of the United States [HSUS]), what should owners do to prevent employees from abusing animals or recording animal abuse? Don Tyler, a business management coach and adviser, recommends adding language to employee handbooks that addresses behavior, particularly as they relate to animal welfare.

When working with employers and their employees, he warns them that there are people who desire to make those involved in animal agriculture look bad. “They don’t have our (livestock agriculture) best interests in mind,” he says.

Outline expectations

Employees must take personal responsibility for their actions when working with animals

Consequently, Tyler suggests that employers include animal care in their employee training and ask employees to agree to an animal care pledge. The pledge achieves four primary objectives.

First, it emphasizes the need for employees to be fully aware of their animal care responsibilities. Second, it increases employees’ awareness of activities and intentions of antiagricultural/anti-livestock groups. Third, it outlines specific animal care expectations. And fourth, the pledge can

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-hiring practises.indd 23

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

23

26-10-12 13:43

m a n a g e m e n t

unscrupulous people who take advantage of those who have consumed too much alcohol. Tyler shared a story of how an animal welfare extremist befriended people in taverns – trying to gain access to livestock operations.

Basically, this person was trying to find a drunk livestock farm employee who was ticked off at his employer.

Fortunately, word got out in Oklahoma and Southern Kansas, regarding this individual’s motives. “It’s nothing for PETA or HSUS to offer $10,000 (or more) to gain access to a vulnerable livestock operation,” Tyler says. “I don’t want to scare people who are involved in animal agriculture, but animal terrorist threats are real.”

Day in and day out, employees should handle all animals in a way that is safe for the employee, animals and co-workers

be shown to media and others interested in the livestock operation’s animal care policies. “This is an excellent way to show consumers that these are the lengths you go to ensure quality animal care. You can tell others, ‘The proof is in our animal care policy’.”

Employers make sure employees take responsibility for animal care actions.

Tyler’s recommended animal care pledge asks employees to agree to 16 animal care practices. He shares a few examples.

• I (employee) will not do anything that assists the objectives, missions or activities of any individual (or group) who is aligned with an organization that is anti-livestock or anti-agriculture.

• I (employee) will not allow others access to the farm for any reason, in any way, without the owner’s approval.

• If I (employee) witness any person, including vendors, truckers or other employees, handling any animal of the operation in an unsafe or abusive manner, I will report that behavior to the owners or my supervisor.

What are the consequences? People who commit, witness or assist in animal abuse can be arrested and serve jail time.

“If you witness animal abuse and fail to report it, you can be disciplined as if you committed the crime,” says Tyler.

Address sharing farm stories Additionally, Tyler says some farm owners have addressed social media

24

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-hiring practises.indd 24

no vember

policies in their employee handbooks and employee training. “What you post on Facebook or tweet on Twitter can be taken the wrong way.” Thus, he encourages livestock owners to address what employees can and cannot communicate via social media.

Dairy producers may want to ask employees to not post any video, audio or other recordings through e-mail or on web sites, social media, Twitter, texts, blogs or any other digital or print media, without their approval. Furthermore, you may want to ask employees to not discuss daily procedures or business activities through these outlets, without your approval. Some businesses do not allow employees to comment about their work or workplace via social media.

Several “facts of farm life” can be misunderstood and thus it’s probably best to not share some animal care practices with consumers. That said, make sure science-based research supports your dairy operation’s animal care standard operating procedures.

Tyler also says that some farm owners spell out expectations about representing their farm business in public through a behavior policy. For example, some farm owners do not allow employees to wear farm clothing in taverns. “They don’t want a drunk employee (wearing a work shirt with the farm’s logo) damaging the farm’s/farm owner’s reputation.”

On a similar note, taverns can attract

Proactive communications To address this concern, the Animal Agriculture Alliance recommends proactively communicating with customers, legislators, employees and neighbors. Let people know you’re engaged in animal welfare issues.

Take a close look at who you’re hiring and provide training on animal welfare and security, so you’re not a victim.

You’re less likely to be a victim of animal welfare terrorists if you have a proactive animal welfare plan.

Be really careful; animal terrorist activity is increasing. Take proactive steps, such as providing animal care training, making employees commit to an animal care pledge and conducting background checks on potential employees, to prevent an animal abuse case being recorded on your farm. l

Additional resources Animal Agriculture Alliance, phone: (703) 562-5160, e-mail: info@animalagalliance.org, website: www.animalagriculture. org.

Don Tyler, Tyler & Associates, phone: (765) 523-3259, e-mail: don@dontyler.com, website: www.dontyler.com.

20 1 2

26-10-12 13:43

CRV

B R EEDING

NE W S

CRV at World Dairy Expo The 2012 World Dairy Expo was an event to remember for all of us here at CRV. This year at WDE, CRV USA was host to several foreign visitors, enjoyed meeting new friends at our trade show booth, and sponsored youth activities.

CRV sponsored several different activities throughout the show.

On Monday October 1st, CRV sponsored a leadsteam for the 4-H Judging Contest.

The leadsteam was composed of students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, as well as Iowa State University. CRV was also excited to sponsor two speakers for the 4th annual Grazing Seminars held at WDE.

With topics consisting of pasture irrigation, robotic milkers, and dealing with high feed costs.

World Dairy Expo is a gathering of dairy enthusiasts from all over the world. This year international CRV representatives from Brazil, Canada, and the Netherlands came to join us for this worldly event, along with US staff from Michigan, New York, and here in Wisconsin.

We met with hundreds of fellow dairy industry friends and were able to offer them the opportunity to speak with our representatives that were available on our booth.

Thank you to everyone that stopped by to make WDE a success for CRV!

CRV sponsored several activities during the World Dairy Expo

The Hunt is over During World Dairy Expo CRV held a contest, the Hunt for the Hottest Hunter, encouraging customers from all over the country to submit photos of their favorite Cookiecutter MOM Hunter-ET calves. Hunter is a Man O Man son out of Cookiecutter Shthollerwood (VG-88). He is a tremendous improver for milk production with breed leading components in the USA. Hunter has continued the legacy of his father Man O Man as a components improver and will add profitability to his daughters. He is currently 28 on the list of the top 100 GTPI Sires from August 2012.

CRV customers who submitted a photo were sent complimentary CRV hats to thank them for their participation. The photos were compiled and posted on CRV’s Facebook page during World Dairy Expo, and were also on our booth for WDE visitors to vote in person, and choose the calf in which they thought was the cutest. Sandy-Valley Farms, Scandinavia, WI took home a $100 semen certificate for their submission of the winning photo of Sandy-Valley Hntr Dayle-ET. Voters were also entered in a drawing for a CRV coat for participating in the contest. Our prize winner was Kanika Haley, a student at Washington State University.

We would like to thank everyone for their participation in the contest on our Facebook page or at our booth.

The winning picture of Sandey-Valley Hntr Dayle-ET

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-crv news.indd 25

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

25

25-10-12 13:42

DECEMBER 15 DAIRY STAFF Book your advertisement now!

Deadline for reservation: November 25

MBER NO 4 SEPTE . VOLUME 4 EDITION U.S

2012

Would you like to make reservations for your advertisement in CowManagement, don’t hesitate and book now!

Please contact our advertisement team:

Bock & Associates, Inc. Tom Bock Phone: 952-905-3210 E-mail: tom.bock@bock-assoc.com Lindsay Boelter Phone: 952-905-3204 E-mail: lindsay.boelter@bock-assoc.com Alison Johnson Phone: 952-905-3216 E-mail: alison.johnson@bock-assoc.com

E IN THIS ISSU

C A L F H E A LT H

ders offer Automatic calf fee more flexibility BREEDING

shapes future New technology of genetics

‘The best choice for dairy producers’ IAL FEEDING SPEC FORAGE AND

grasses and Focus on grazing, robotic feeding

31-08-12 16:46

CMUS04-cover.indd

2

CMUS05_p26.indd 26

25-10-12 15:53

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 discusses the importance of feeding high quality colostrum, its immediate health impact and its impact on future productivity.

Develop a plan to ensure cleanliness and proper colostrum storage

Importance of colostrum W

hile scours and pneumonia aren’t preventable, there are several areas of opportunity in the management of pre-weaned calves. The positives of a well managed colostrum program include immediate health benefits and future productivity.

A newborn calf’s immune system is fully functional, but antibodies are not transferred across the placenta so the immune system cannot fight off pathogens. The calf can absorb protective antibodies through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream or passive transfer. The window for passive transfer is small. To get the most immunity from high quality colostrum you feed it as soon as possible to the newborn. After this time the gut closes and antibodies cannot be absorbed. The goal is to deliver one gallon (3 quarts in Jerseys) of colostrum to the calf within 2-4 hours of birth.

High quality colostrum is high in antibody content, low in bacteria count, and free of specific pathogens. The cow’s immune system produces antibodies which are deposited in the udder 4-6 weeks prior to calving. Since dairy cattle are bred and managed for high milk production, colostrum dilutes with milk relatively quickly after calving. Milking the cow as soon as possible after calving (within 2 hours) is critical to harvest colostrum rich in antibody content.

The milking units, buckets, storage containers, and feeding

equipment must be spotlessly clean. Even the highest level of antibodies won’t be absorbed properly if the bacteria levels are too high. Develop a plan to ensure cleanliness and periodically send colostrum samples for bacterial culture.

Several indirect ways measure antibody content. The colostrometer is useful to classify colostrum into good, intermediate, and poor quality. This method depends upon the measurement temperature; the lower the temperature the better the colostrum will appear. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for reading your sample at various temperatures.

The Brix refractometer is less temperature dependent and will give an accurate measurement at various temperatures.

Either will help determine colostrum quality and what to feed, discarded or supplement with colostrum replacer.

If colostrum is not fed immediately store it – cool quickly and store cleanly. Preservatives will help inhibit bacterial growth and extend refrigerated storage life. Several manufacturers offer small batch pasteurizers to fight pathogens. Colostrum can be stored up to three days refrigerated (non-preserved), a week refrigerated (preserved), and six to twelve months frozen. Label containers with date, dam ID, and quality before storage. To warm colostrum, use a warm water bath below 102° F. Warming up too quickly will denature antibodies and result in failure of passive transfer.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-veterinarian.indd 27

N O VE MB E R

2 0 1 2

27

26-10-12 14:05

H e a l th

Think before expanding calf rearing facilities

Old barn creates new headaches

Daily cleaning of all automatic feeding systems will also include the inside and outside of the nipples

Using an existing building often looks like a great way to save some money but making old buildings work for something new is a challenge. What was once good for pigs may not work so well for raising young holstein calves.

by Richard Ernsberger

Ventilation first

T

he project looked good at the start.

The former swine nursery barn had a slatted floor over a manure pit, vented with a 16 inch exhaust fan. Each room in the nursery was 26x26 feet, vented with a 22 inch wall fan, and five air inlets (20 x 10 inch). So in the fall of 2010, the 500 cow dairy decided to purchase an automated feeding system and install it in the swine barn to raise their heifer calves on site.

In six months time, the morbidity for respiratory and enteric disease rose

28

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-Trouw feature.indd 28

Work began in earnest to change the situation. Dr. Rebecca L. Brotzman, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Dairyland Initiative, Associate Outreach Specialist was consulted on the project. Working with the producers and the farm veterinarian a plan was put in motion.

no vember

from 20% to more than 75%, with mortalities of 20-25%. Both morbidity and mortalities followed a seasonal pattern with the worst problems occurring during the heat of summer followed by some relief from autumn through winter and into spring.

Diagnostic work consistently showed Escherichia-coli and Arcanobacterium pyogenes isolated from respiratory tissue. Corona virus and Rotovirus were also isolated from calves under two weeks of age.

Ventilating the barn required four air exchanges per hour for cold weather, fifteen air exchanges per hour for moderate temperatures (spring and fall weather) and sixty air exchanges per hour for hot summer weather. A positive pressure ventilation system seemed the best way to achieve adequate air movement most of the time. But during hot weather, it was difficult to move enough air to achieve the sixty air exchanges per hour requiring an alternative way to cool calves.

20 1 2

26-10-12 14:14

Avoid overcrowding at an automatic feeding system

The other major concern was animal density in the barn; thirty to thirty five square feet per calf is required, limiting the barn to 18 to 20 calves per room.

With the size of dairy, room for 60-70 heifer calves at all times is needed.

Density in the barn is reduced by using only four calf pens with an automatic feeder in each pen and a limit of nine calves per pen.

Since there is only room for thirty six calves in the barn, the dairy decided to return to using calf hutches for the over flow of heifers and bull calves before being sold to market. To maintain growth on calves fed in the hutches, they’ll be fed three times per day, matching the amount of feed provided with the automatic feeders of 5 liters per day for first ten to fourteen days, and 7-7.5 liters per day until day forty five.

Weaning will be determined as starter grain increases to two pounds per day.

The dairy plans to continue to use a good quality seasonal (more energy for cold weather) milk replacer.

Calf management Other changes include making sure all calves get four liters of fresh colostrum from the dam, (collected from cows with good udder prep practices) within four hours of birth. Calves receive a second feeding of colostrum when it’s available. Navels are disinfected when calves are removed from the maternity pen to reduce potential naval infections and septicemia.

Daily cleaning of the outside of all automatic feeding systems will also include the inside and outside of the nipples. All nipples are evaluated for wear and replaced when signs of roughness and cracking are observed.

Automatic cleaning of the internal parts of the feeding system is done morning and night. A monitoring

program will check both the quantity of feed being dispensed (machine calibration) and quality of the milk replacer (percent solids, 13-15% and a monthly culture for total plate count, <100,000 cfu/ml and coliform, <10,000 cfu/ml).

New facilities Finally, the dairy has decided to work with Dr. Brotzman to draw up plans for a new calf facility. A new facility will allow for maximum use of the automatic calf feeders without overcrowding. The new facility may also include a pasteurizer to utilize the non-salable milk on the dairy.

The moral of the story is if you are planning to use automatic feeders, or tackle any other major management changes, be sure to include a calf consultant and your herd veterinarian before digging in. l

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-Trouw feature.indd 29

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

29

26-10-12 15:23

br e e d i n g

Many dairy cows in South Africa are kept outside all year

Grazing in South Africa 30

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-South Africa.indd 30

no vember

20 1 2

26-10-12 10:23

Since February 2011, the Dutch breeding organization CRV has been running an AI business in South Africa. And during the past year a third of all the bull semen sold here came from New Zealand CRV Ambreed and that share is rapidly increasing.

by Inge van Drie CRV’s Tineke Dekker

I

t is one of the newest branches of the CRV business tree. Since February 2011, the South African firm Xseed Genetics – in the meantime renamed CRV Xseed – became part of the Dutch breeding organization CRV. The company does not have a long history.

Xseed began trading a few years ago when employees of the South African AI cooperative, Taurus, started up on their own. They conquered the market very quickly. CRV Xseed is currently the market leader in South Africa, says deputy general manager Tineke Dekker. “In 2011 we sold about 200,000 straws. Beef cattle account for about 10%, while Holstein and Jersey both make up 45% of sales.”

Together with the South African general manager Roy Dixon, one of the five founders of CRV Xseed, Mrs Dekker is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company. In addition to an administrative assistant the organization has just another 15

employees. They are all representatives who go out on the road every day.

Business-like approach There is no network of inseminators in South Africa. The rate of DIY AI is close to 100% and all farms inseminate their cows themselves. Every month the representatives top up the nitrogen tanks.

“It’s a good way to bond with customers,” says Mrs Dekker. “The representatives always have a reason to drop by a farm and the producer can also readily use the nitrogen. If you are ever at a farm a producer may well buy some straws from you.”

An average farm in South Africa has 209 cows, but the differences per region are huge. The average farm in the Eastern Cape has approximately 500 cows and due to the size of these farms, those running them are more business orientated. “South African producers are real entrepreneurs. Some of them

are very much geared to milk prices. If they don’t like the price they will quickly go to the competitor. At the same time the product and also emotions play a big part.

“Producers do not have much faith in a bull advisory program or the knowledge of the representative, but place more value on their own opinions,” says Mrs Dekker.

There is another reason for their business sense. They have to draw on all their resources in order to make a decent living. In 2011 the average milk price was about 22.5 ppl and South African producers cannot rely on support from their government.

That has led to a substantial shift. Many producers have given up working in the sector during the past few years. In the period from January 2009 to June 2011, around 900 producers left the industry.

This is around a quarter of the total number of herds. In January 2012, according to the South African Milk

South African dairy facts Total milk production in South Africa in 2011 was around 2.6 billion liters (1 liter equals .26 Gal.) from an estimated 600,000 cows.

On average, the cows produce 17.6 kg (39 lb) of milk per day. The dairy market has

a number of large, nationally operating players like Parmalat, Clover, Dairybelle and Nestlé, but also a substantial number of small dairy producers who work in particular regions.

Around 50% of the milk is processed into

pasteurised milk (52%), sterilised milk (28%) and yogurt (13%).

On balance, South Africa is not a net importer or exporter of dairy products.

South Africa exports but also imports dairy products from abroad.

Milk-producing landscape: New Zealand-style grass-based systems are popular with some South African milk producers

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus05-South Africa.indd 31

n o ve mb er

2 0 1 2

31

26-10-12 14:45

BR E E D I N G

30 dairy units (%)

25 20 15 10 5 0

0-50

51-100 101-200 201-300 number of cows/dairy unit

>300

Figure 1: Distribution of dairy units according to number of cows (source: SA Milk Producers’ Organisation)

Producers’ Organisation, South Africa still had some 2,500 farms.

Most of the milk is produced in the coastal provinces where rain fall tends to be highest.

South African producers run various systems. Some work with a TMR system, with cows housed all year round. The New Zealand-style grass-based system is being developed here and involves the cows being kept outside all year round.

Depending on grass growth, cows are also fed roughage and concentrates.

“We have noticed that there is great interest in New Zealand genetics. In 2011 a third of the semen we sold originated from New Zealand CRV Ambreed and that share is increasing.

Producers want cows that are not too big, calve easily and are fertile.

“The TMR-fed herds choose bulls that score highly for TPI. Cross-breeding is also increasing,” says Mrs Dekker.

A disadvantage for CRV Xseed is that the marketing of cross-bred bulls is not permitted in South Africa. There are also restrictions on the use of genomic bulls. “The breed societies see genomic bulls as test bulls. So we may only import 1,500 straws per bull.”

AI station CRV Xseed does not have its own breeding program. “We do test a number of bulls from South Africa. We do this in order to be able to offer a quality product and it is also good to show interest in the market and to be able to meet customers’ requirements,” says Mrs Dekker.

“South African producers prefer a mixture of foreign and domestic products. It isn’t easy to obtain official breeding values because fewer than 20% of producers milk record.”

Growth in the South African market is one of the most important aims of CRV. “South Africa is a growth market. That was one of the most important reasons why CRV invested in this market, as well as, for example, the relatively stable political and economic situation in the country,” says Mrs Dekker, who is now working hard to ‘professionalize’

Good employer: agriculture is the main provider of work in South Africa

the organization. “I would like to make it more structured. If we wish to grow further that is one of our main requirements.”

An AI station is also on the organization’s wish-list. “We are now stabling bulls at a private bull stud. Our own bull stud would provide more opportunities, for example in the field of exports. Southern Africa is much bigger than South Africa. There is also cattle in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. It would be nice if we could also market our bulls there.” l

Tula Gildenhuys: “Pasture management is an art”

Even though it is winter, the sward at Lourens and Tula Gildenhuys’ unit looks healthy. In Kareedouw, in the Eastcape province, the two brothers milk 800 Holstein cows. The herd is averaging 8,000kg (17,000 lb) at 4% fat and 3.35% protein, or 600kg (1,323 lb) solids per year. No housing is provided and grass is a major part of the herd’s ration. In the

32

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-South Africa.indd 32

n o v e m ber

milking parlour – a 20:40 swing over – the cows are fed concentrates and close to the parlour they are also fed extra forage, as required. “We aim for 55% of dry matter intake coming from grass, 15% from grass silage and maize silage and 30% from concentrates,” says Lourens.

At the moment the milking platform – the area used by the herd – comprises 192 hectares (420 acres). Every week Tula does a farm walk to monitor grass growth. It takes him five hours to measure the grass cover in the 143 paddocks, each of them between 1.2 and 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres). “Pasture management is an art. It’s not exact sciences. You have to do a lot of observation. If the cows start eating on

their way to be milked, you know you have to give them more.”

The cows are divided into three groups: heifers, early lactation and high yielding cows, and late lactation. “The fresh cows are closest to the dairy unit, the heifers and late lactations cows can walk further.”

Lourens and Tula manage a split calving season. Around 45% of the herd calves in the autumn and 55% in the spring.

Lourens and Tula have a permanent staff of 22 people. “Bailing, planting and fertilizing, as well as fixing the fence and building property – we do it all ourselves. The agricultural industry is the main employer here and we feel we have a social responsibility to create work.”

20 1 2

26-10-12 10:24

L E LY I N F O

Celebrating 20 years of robotic milking Twenty years ago, Lely, the originator of robotic milking, installed the world’s first milking robot on a dairy farm in the Netherlands. For the first time, cows were milked without manual labor; a historic milestone for what would later be called “the most important invention of the 20th century for dairy farmers.”

“As ‘innovators in agriculture,’ Lely is proud to have offered solutions to producers for 20 years and considers continued innovation key to the future,” said Peter Langebeeke, president of Lely North America.

Today, more than 15,000 Lely Astronaut milking robots have been sold around the world.

Lely makes room for further growth in highly promising market In Maassluis, the Netherlands, Lely is building an industrial complex for innovation and achievement; the Lely Campus. Employees now working at the various locations in Maassluis and Rotterdam soon will be located under one roof. This new location will considerably reinforce the Lely feeling, as Maassluis is where CEO Alexander van der Lely’s father and uncle started the company over 60 years ago.

The new building is essential for Lely to address a strong growing market demand, which in turn has led to a

considerable increase in the number of employees. Furthermore, Lely wants to develop and manufacture its products in a sustainable environment. The Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC) has granted the new building design certificate BREEAM-NL to Lely.

“Sustainability is not an empty slogan for Lely, but a strategic choice. We are active in the agrarian sector and their success depends on how well you can work hand in hand with nature,” said Alexander van der Lely, CEO of the Lely Group.

Commissioning of the new premises is scheduled for 2013.

Juno 100 automatic feed pusher

Lely has extended its automated dairy solutions with the Lely Juno 100, an automatic feed pusher that moves along the feed alley, pushing feed toward the feed fence without disturbing the cows. Because the Lely Juno is a stand-alone machine, barn modifications are seldom required; it can be used in almost any type of barn. The Juno 100, featured at this year’s World Dairy Expo, creates continuous feed availability at the feed bunk, resulting in increased dry matter intake and milk production.

The Lely Juno 100 is a more compact version of the Juno 150 model. Because of its smaller diameter, it is well-suited for barns with a smaller feeding alley.

The 100 offers constant feed availability, more frequent use of a milking robot (if available), improved animal well-being and significant cost savings.

The Juno runs the desired feed route which is programmed into the E-link control unit on the machine and afterward returns to a charging station located at a convenient point in the feed alley between each run. The Juno operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information on LELY products and services, call 1-866-LELY USA. LELY web address: www.lely.com, LELY email address: usa@lely.com COW

cmus05-lely news.indd 33

MAN AG E ME N T

no v e m b e r

2 0 1 2

33

26-10-12 13:45

F E E D I N G

Forage from modern grass can replace half of the corn silage in the ration

Grass roots cost control The cost of too much grain isn’t just limited to inflated feed costs. Diets high in non-structural carbohydrate and deficient in effective fiber promote rumen acidosis. The cost of acidosis, both acute and sub-acute, are significant. With today’s critical need for effective cost control in the dairy industry, highquality grass can be a significant factor in your dairy’s success.

by Peter Ballerstedt

T

he perceived TMR (total mixed ration) make-up characterized in Figure 1 illustrates what appears to be a good ration.

It is a common misconception that corn silage constitutes high quality forage.

Corn silage, when harvested, is a combination of high quality grain and very poor quality forage. The corn plant without the corn is high in fiber and very low in digestible cell walls. Corn silage definitely has its place in a dairy ration, but it does not provide the desired high quality forage component.

It does, however, increase the grain in the ration which can lead to acidosis.

Figure 2 illustrates the “Real TMR,” reflecting the total grain component from both the grain mix and corn silage. This ration contains too much grain and not enough forage.

The dairy cow’s rumen is filled with symbiotic bacteria that break down the forage, making the microbial protein and volatile fatty acids that the cow absorbs. Proper rumen pH is essential for normal rumen function and animal health. Rations too high in watersoluble carbohydrates (sugars), starch (grain) and over-processed feed lower rumen pH (more acidic), impair rumen function (less rumination, slower digestion, lower dry matter intake), and numerous negative health effects (see below).

34

C OWM ANAGEMENT

CMUS07-Barenbrug feature.indd 34

november

feeding high quality forages. How can you introduce high quality grasses into your dairy ration? High quality grass can be added to the dairy ration by mechanically harvesting it as hay, silage, or green chop, and feeding as part of the TMR. Alternatively, pasture can be utilized to provide a portion of the ration. In addition, modern, latematuring grasses can be planted with alfalfa in new stands or seeded into thinning alfalfa stands.

As if all that weren’t enough, there are significant advantages to adding modern grasses to your cropping

A lack of fiber plus rapidly fermenting grains and sugars will cause chronic lactic acidosis in dairy cows and other ruminants. Low quality forages, such as mature alfalfa, headed-out KY-31 fescue, or corn stalks can provide the necessary fiber but they lack the energy to allow for high production. Forages that are only high in protein or sugars are not high quality. However, plants that have highly digestible cell walls – and which also contain a balanced ratio of protein and sugar – are truly high quality forage. Such high quality forage from modern grass can replace half of the corn silage used in the ration shown in Figure 1. This would produce the “High Quality Grass Alternative” TMR shown in Figure 3, a better balanced TMR.

Acidosis “Acidosis is the most important nutritional problem that feedlots face daily and is a major challenge for dairies as well,” according to Dr. Clell V. Bagley, D.V.M., Utah State University Extension Veterinarian. Acidosis can manifest itself in dairy herds in a number of ways: hoof problems, milk fat depression, high cull rates, transient diarrhea, unexplained death loss, clostridia infections or liver abscesses.

Rations low in effective fiber are often the cause.

Okay, so acidosis can be avoided by

20 1 2

26-10-12 14:35

grain mix alfalfa hay/haylage

corn silage

alfalfa hay/haylage corn stalks and leaves

grain mix alfalfa hay/haylage

grain

high quality grass corn silage

Figure 1: Perceived TMR make-up.

The total mixed ration appears as well balanced

Figure 2: Real TMR make-up. The grain in the corn silage plus the grain mix supplies too much non-structural carbohydrate

Figure 3: High quality grass alternative.

High quality grass silage can replace half the corn silage in high producing dairy rations

system: less use of pesticides, compared to crops such as alfalfa or corn silage; manure can be applied before, during and after the growing season; young stock and dry cows can be grazed.

With the right high quality forages you can reduce costs, maintain milk production, and improve the health of the dairy herd.

Dairymen today are increasingly being

forced to reduce costs. Modern high quality grasses can improve productivity through lower feed costs, improved herd health and reduced involuntary culling. l

Cows donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be pastured to benefit from high quality grass

COW MAN AG E ME N T

CMUS07-Barenbrug feature.indd 35

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

35

26-10-12 14:35

SERIES NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Nutrient management planning improves profits

Success is found in the details While nutrient management regulations vary by state, one Nutrient management grows in value on dairy operations. Follow our series discussing some of the keys to success.

thing remains the same: their importance continues to increase.

This article highlights the components, considerations and benefits of comprehensive nutrient management plans.

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

by Amy Ryan

T

he real value of a nutrient management plan is turning it into a useful and effective management tool. Since you have to have the plan anyway, specialists agree it’s a good idea to apply the information you need to improve overall farm operations.

“Nutrient management planning is becoming more important due to the fact that many states now require plans and fertilizer and crop costs continue to increase,” says Karl Czymmek, nutrient management specialist with Cornell University’s PRO-DAIRY. “In addition,

top managers see that being more professional about nutrient management is an integral part of their overall farm management plan for economic reasons and community acceptance.”

CNMP benefits According to the UW Discovery Farms, a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) is a conservation/farm management assessment and planning tool for livestock operations with planning standards and minimum criteria defined and administered

by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“A CNMP considers nutrients and other potential pollutants that could be lost from the farmstead area as well as fields,” says Czymmek. “While it is often developed to meet Clean Water Act requirements, or possibly state regulations, a CNMP may also be for federal or state grant purposes or because a farm wants to be progressive in managing its environmental impact.”

Sue Porter is a nutrient management specialist with the Wisconsin

Nutrient management is an integral part of an overall farm management plan for economic reasons and community acceptance

36

C OWM A NAGEMENT

cmus04-serie nutrient3.indd 36

NO VEMBER

20 1 2

26-10-12 11:31

Producer perspective – Developing a CNMP This sidebar highlights a producer’s experience using SNAP-Plus, a Nutrient Management Planning software program to develop a CNMP. Clover Hill Dairy is a family dairy farm, owned by Joe, Chris, Sara and Brett Bonlender, where they milk approximately 1,700 cows. They own 1350 acres of land and rent 1300 acres.

“Our initial nutrient management plan was developed in 2000 and in 2008, we applied for EQUIP funding through NRCS,” says Sara. “We decided to develop the CNMP ourselves since we understand our farm and land goals better than an outside source.”

Their first plan using SNAP-Plus was

submitted in 2009. “Developing a CNMP provided cost savings and a better understanding of our farm,” Sara says.

“It keeps us current with regulations for our permit and provides up-to-date crop maps. It is a good management tool that helps us develop strategies and best practices for nutrient application.”

Sara offers this advice to producers regarding their own plan. “Don’t be afraid to give it a try! It has been a valuable learning experience and our CNMP serves as an important management tool. Be sure to attend training sessions and workshops and use DNR, NRCS and county resources.”

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. She works with county staff and certified crop advisors in Wisconsin and assists producers in developing their CNMPs using SNAP-Plus (see sidebar), a nutrient management software program.

“Federal funds are available to assist Wisconsin producers in developing CNMPs, but theses plans must comply with NRCS standards to be eligible for funding,” says Porter.

Many certified CNMP planners and many state and federal government cost sharing programs are available, but to qualify for this funding, a plan must be developed and certified to NRCS standards. Czymmek says producers should start by contacting their local soil and water conservation district, NRCS or extension office.

Quirine Ketterings also at Cornell University, is an associate professor of nutrient management, that initiated and now leads the Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program. “The greatest benefit nutrient management planning and creating a CNMP is making people aware of the challenges and engaging the industry in developing better management strategies while maintaining or even increasing production,” says Ketterings. “These plans offer tools to evaluate and adapt management based on data.”

Components and challenges There are several components to a CNMP, including: • Record keeping – amount of manure produced, spread, manure/soil tests • CNMP narrative – an introduction, emergency response plan, general information and plan summary • Feed management needs and evaluation – knowing what is in the ration, especially phosphorus and nitrogen content • Upland conservation plan – controlling soil erosion • Evaluation of existing waste management system • Nutrient management plan – nutrient needs and manure and fertilizer spreading plan for crop fields.

Porter says that the nutrient management plan component of a CNMP presents challenges and its priorities include collecting manure, using it to feed crops and reducing manure runoff.

With regards to spreading manure on cropland, Porter stress the importance of monitoring crop needs and the available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content to avoid overloading fields with manure or fertilizer. Proper land application of nutrients help to improve profitability while protecting ground and surface water. She also suggests developing manure application agreements with neighboring farms

Brett, Sara, Chris and Joe Bonlender of Clover Hill Dairy in Wisconsin

if land is limited or overloaded.

Czymmek cites both actual costs and time commitment to developing these plans as challenges. “CNMPs take a lot of time for discussions and data gathering,” he says. “Many managers do not have the time or patience to do this work efficiently, and find it is better to hire a service. However, even if contracting this work, managers must pay attention to the details in these plans and be actively involved in the process.”

Customize the plan While developing a CNMP is challenging, when correctly developed and implemented, it increases efficiencies and profitability. It must, however, be driven by farm data and needs. Porter stresses the importance of accurate farm data to this process including good soil testing and knowing where and when to spread to reduce runoff and improve profits.

“Work closely with your planner to make sure the plan meets the needs of the farm, and if it does not, fix it together,” concludes Czymmek.

“Producers should consider their nutrient management planner as part of the suite of professionals they work with to manage their operation. Keep in fairly regular contact and expect annual updates reflecting new information.” l

COW MAN AG E ME N T

cmus04-serie nutrient3.indd 37

n o ve mb e r

2 0 1 2

37

26-10-12 11:31

C O N TA C T S

SHOWS AND EVENTS

Young and curious calves in hutches looking at the visitors Picture: Harrie van Leeuwen

C O N TA C T S

November 8-9: November 13:

November 14-15:

December 12-13:

Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA Management Success with Robotic Milking Seminar, Ramada Plaza & Conference Centre, Abbotsford, BC, Canada Dairy Facility Design for Improved Cow Comfort, Care, Health and Longevity Conference, Ramada Plaza & Conference Centre, Abbotsford, BC, Canada Group-housed dairy calf systems symposium, Syracuse, NY

2013 January 16-17: January 27-29: February 12-14: March 11-13:

March 12-13: April 4-5: April 12-15: May 28-31:

June 25-27:

Pro-Dairy Operations Managers Conference, Henrietta, NY National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA World Ag Expo, Tulare, CA 2013 Annual Meeting of the ASAS Midwestern Section and the ADSA Midwestern Branch, Hy-Vee Hall, Veterans Memorial area in Des Moines, IA Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin Annual Business Conference, Madison, WI Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Conference, Lancaster, PA New York Spring Dairy Carousel, Syracuse, NY 25th DISCOVER Conference “New Developments in Immunity, Nutrition and Management of the Pre-ruminant Calf”, Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Itasca, IL Precision Dairy Conference and Expo, Rochester, MN

Cow Management is published six times per year by CRV Publishing

Editorial team Chief editor Jaap van der Knaap Contributing writers Peter Ballerstedt, Kayla Dolan, Inge van Drie, Richard Ernsberger, Amy Ryan, JoDee Sattler, Ben Smink Editing, design and production CRV Publishing

Chief editor’s address

COMING UP

F a r m tr an sit io n in g an d d air y st aff December 2012 – What are the steps to take when expanding your family farm into a larger dairy operation? We focus on transitioning the family farm and dealing with dairy staff. What are the keys for successful employee management?

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

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 e-mail to info@crv4all.us

Advertisements Bock & Associates, Inc.: Tom Bock, Lindsay Boelter and Alison Johnson Phone 952-905-3210 E-mail tom.bock@bock-assoc.com

Illustrations/pictures Photographs by CRV Publishing Photography

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.

Printer Schumann Printers Inc.

38

C OWM ANAGEMENT

cmus05-contacts.indd 38

november

20 1 2

25-10-12 14:09

CMUS04_p02.indd 2

30-08-2012 11:25:27

TWO LIFETIMES OF EXPERIENCE, UNMATCHED LONGEVITY IN CATTLE IMPROVEMENT

With 138 years of experience in the cattle improvement industry, CRV is the expert in lifetime efficiency, worldwide. We evolve and grow to meet the genetic, informational and service needs of our dairy farm members and customers.

As the expert in lifetime efficiency, CRV has remained on the forefront of innovation by implementing the latest tools and technologies, as well as researching strategies to help decrease the carbon footprint.

We strive to help dairymen be efficient through our innovation and from our selection of genetics worldwide.

VISIT WWW.CRV4ALL.US TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN YOUR DAIRYING LIFETIME AHEAD. CRV, 2423 AMERICAN LANE, MADISON, WI 53704, P 608 441 3202, F 608 441 3203, TF 1 800 400 CRV4ALL

BETTER LIFE | BETTER COWS 538-12 CM US 8,5x11.indd 1

CMUS05_p40.indd 2

CRV4ALL.US 12-10-12 12:02

25-10-12 14:27