American Dairymen July 2018 by Twin Rivers Media

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

American ®

In This Issue Vol. 44 No. 7 • July 2018

Columns

6 Publisher Statement 10

Industry Features Selective Dry Cow Therapy; Is your Dairy Good Enough to Enjoy the Benefits? By Michael Cox for American Dairymen Magazine

Selective Dry Cow Therapy, (SDCT) involves identifying and treating only certain high-risk cows/quarters at dry-off, and while the process has seen only moderate uptake among dairymen, many early adopters are finding positive outcomes.

10 22

Keeping Step With Dairy Chillers, Plate Exchangers and Coolers

By Bruce Derksen for American Dairymen Magazine

As I considered the topic of dairy chillers and coolers, I thought I had a firm grasp of the subject. I mean, how much can there be to it? You cool the milk, put it in a tank just like dairy farmers have been doing for decades and the wheel just keeps on spinning. Nothing to see here, right?

14 34

July 2018

By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Dairymen Magazine

Health traits and their genetic selections are a hot topic and growing interest across the dairy industry. Due to their low heritability, they can be tricky to work with but have a high payoff in economic value because of their potential cost savings.

Sponsored Features

18 14

The Real Cost of Outdated Raw Milk Sampling Techniques

Cool Roof: The Cooler the Roofs, the Cooler the Cattle

22 4

The Growth and Evolution of Health Traits

By Steve Weisman for American Dairymen Magazine

A hot metal roof can be one of the main culprits of excessive heat. Of course, a metal roof keeps the sun’s rays off the cattle, but when you can literally cook an egg on the roof’s hot surface, that heat transfers down to the livestock. Optimizing ways to keep your cattle cool is important in the dairy industry.

www.americandairymen.com

Publisher Statement American

A Reminder

Products and Services

Vol. 44 No. 7 • July 2018

Wow, I don’t know what it was like in your neck

President/CEO Gale McKinney

of the woods Memorial Day weekend, but here in

VP/CFO Audra McKinney

Central Iowa temperatures reached record highs. I know about seven to eight weeks ago we were

Group Publisher/COO Patrick McKinney

complaining and whining about the snow. Shoot,

Publisher Dustin Hector

three weeks ago we sat at my daughter’s soccer game in coats, gloves and

Controller Robert Reedy

stocking hats. Now we are complaining about the heat. But honestly, 100 degrees in Iowa in May is a little ridiculous wouldn’t you say? Not only is it

Office Manager Dawn Busse

hot, but those little pesky black bugs and gnats are out in swarms. Between the heat and those pests it has literally been a killer.

Art Director Brandon Peterson

So with summer rolling in with record breaking temperatures I want to

Graphic Designer Teri Marsh

remind you of a couple tips to help keep your herd healthy and stress free. The first thing, and possibly most important, is make sure there is plenty of fresh/clean water available. Like humans, there is no such thing as too much water. Another thing you can do to help keep your cattle cool is make sure your ventilation system is working efficiently. Another thing you can do is set up sprinkler systems. This too will help keep the body temperatures down and keep your herds stress level down, hopefully increasing their

Advertising Account Executives Lissa Baker Kathy Davidson Mary Gatliff Lori Seibert Irene Smith Wendy Mills Joyce Kenney Ed Junker Kendra Sassman

productivity levels.

Circulation Coordinator Shawna Nelson

You will also need to make sure you have your pest management systems set up. Those little black bugs and gnats are not only annoying and pesky to us, but they can wreak havoc on your herd. As you know there are multiple forms of pest management and everyone provides something different. So

for American Dairymen

Contributing Writers Bruce Derksen, Michael Cox, Jaclyn Krymowski, Steve Weisman, Aly McClure

please do your research and find the one that fits your operation best. We are also entering the severe weather season. Like you do for your family, make sure you have your emergency plan put into place in case Mother Nature rears her ugly head. Make sure everyone that works on your operation knows and understands the plan because you may need to act quickly. You can never be too prepared. As always, we hope you enjoy this issue of American Dairymen. If there are topics you would like us to cover please let us know. We are here to serve you and help anyway we can. Enjoy your summer. Stay cool and keep those pesky bugs away. Best Regards, Dustin Hector Publisher – American Dairymen

July 2018

Livestock Media Group 4685 Merle Hay Rd • Suite 200 Des Moines, IA 50322 877-424-4594 www.americandairymen.com FEMA

©Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2018. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recorded or otherwise without the prior written permission of Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2018. The information and advertising set forth herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2018 (“Publisher”) however, does not warrant complete accuracy of such information and assumes no responsibility for any consequences arising from the use thereof or reliance thereon. Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement or space reservation at any time without notice and for any reason. Publisher shall not be liable for any costs or damages if for any reason it fails to publish an advertisement. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their respective advertisements appearing in this publication and Publisher is not responsible or liable in any manner for inaccuracies, false statements or any material in such advertisement infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others. Advertisements appearing in this publication are not necessarily the views or opinions expressed by Publisher.

www.americandairymen.com

You feed the world. We nourish your business. Milc Group is a Ca lifor nia based company founded in 2017 by Manuel Soares, CEO. Manuel grew up in the dairy industry and has been involved in dairy software for 25 years. Milc Group includes a team of industry leading experts that follows the model of “You Feed The World, We Nourish Your Business. Through an innovative and universal approach Milc Group empowers, stimulates, and educates Dairy owners as well as their entire staff. At the core of Milc Group’s model is the ability to provide dairies worldwide with technology, consulting, and education in all facets of a dairies daily work schedule. “One of Milc Group’s main goals is to provide a universal platform that allows for all facets of a Dairy operation to f lourish from top to bottom.” shares Soares.

Technology

Leading the way is Milc Group’s new ground breaking product

called One™, which is a cloud based platform that will be home to multiple modules for dairy management. The modules can connect to every aspect of a dairy operation, including animal, facility, feed, and people. The first module introduced is a pioneering yet affordable feeding program called One™Feed. With One™Feed dairy operations and their team can streamline and standardize the feeding process. Our f lexible platform allows for on-the-go adjustments so you can be in control.

Consulting

Every Dairy is different and there is no “one size fits all” solution. Dairies are run by people and to get lasting change, it’s important that the leadership on a dairy is established in a positive and constructive way. Focusing on people and ensuring they are well trained and know the overall goals of a Dairy leads to employee engagement, better

productivity and a healthy Dairy business. Milc group works with Dairies to define their next goals, and comes alongside them to guarantee they reach them.

Education

An educated workforce is safer, more engaged and productive. Milc group is adressing education in 2 ways: Train trac ™ is an online training platform that will enable Dairies to effectively on-board and continually train their employees. Train trac ™ will be available September 2018. Milc group is also proud of their education collaboration with Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo Animal S cienc e Depa r t ment. We w i l l provide classroom courses at Cal Poly San-Luis Obispo dairy facility and on-site training in spring of 2018. We are focusing on the current dairy workforce, dairy science students and allied industry staff. *The information above was provided by Manuel Soares, CEO and Founder of MILC Group.

Dry Cow Therapy

Selective Dry Cow Therapy;

Is your dairy good enough to enjoy the benefits? By Michael Cox for American Dairymen Magazine

ntibiotic use at dry-off is common practice across dairy farms. USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System surveys suggest that over 90 percent of operations use antimicrobial products at dry-off, with blanket treatment of all cows most common. Selective Dry Cow Therapy, (SDCT) involves identifying and treating only certain high-risk cows/quarters at dry-off, and while the process has seen only moderate uptake among dairymen, many early adopters are finding positive outcomes. The rewards of lower labor costs, lower product costs, decreased risk of antibiotic resistance and stable somatic cell count levels in subsequent lactations are enticing more dairymen to consider SDCT, despite it’s ‘risky’ perception. Although the advice from experts is still relatively mixed, as seen from the varied opinions from the National Mastitis Council symposium earlier this year, there is still scope for well-managed dairies to make huge savings and maintain current milk quality standards through SDCT. Dr. Andy Johnson, dairy consultant based out of Wisconsin and past-President of the National Mastitis Council, believes that a change in mindset is needed before more dairymen take-up SDCT. “In my 40 years in the dairy industry we’ve been used to the mantra of blanket cow therapy at dry-off, but we’re in a different place now and

SDCT is showing some wonderful results,” Johnson says. Strep and Staph borne mastitis cases may have been more prevalent in past decades, but modern animal health and facility standards have greatly reduced clinical cases in well-managed dairies, resulting in less requirement for blanket cow therapy today.

Among Johnson’s client base, eight large dairies have transitioned away from blanket cow therapy recently. “Over the past two and a half years I’ve been working with eight big dairies that started using SDCT and have had excellent success, with no increase in clinical mastitis cases in the next lactation,” Johnson says. Half of the eight dairies have average bulk tank somatic cell count levels of 125,000 cells/ml or less, with the other four dairies regularly achieving 100,000 or less. All eight herds have a rolling average of 90-100lbs of milk per cow. It is possible that SDCT is best suited to ‘good’ herds with less than 150,000 cell counts, as these herds pose less clinical case risk compared to herds with 400,000 or greater bulk-tank cell counts. Low cell count herds usually have only environmental and gram negative caused mastitis cases, which respond well to treatment during lactation. Selection of the correct cows/ quarters to treat, and which not to * Continued on page 12

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

Dry Cow Therapy treat, is a vital component of SDCT. “The word is ‘selective’, not ‘none’ Johnson says, “we still need to treat at-risk cows in the herd.” The eight dairies in question follow a three step criteria for selecting cows not to treat with antibiotics at drying off; The cow must not have had a clinical case of mastitis during the lactation, she must have a somatic cell count of 150,000 or less and she must have healthy teat ends. Regardless of whether a cow is to receive antibiotics at dry-off or not, cleanliness is key during drying-off. “It’s got to be a well-managed procedure, it’s absolutely crucial that a good dry treatment protocol is followed, and everything is as hygienic as possible,” Johnson says. Apart from the three criteria mentioned above, Johnson also believes it is important that a cow’s production levels are reduced before she is dried off. “I like to see cows down to under 60lbs of milk per day in the week before dry off,” Johnson says. Cows should be transitioned from

July 2018

a milking-cow diet to a dry diet, high in fiber and lower in energy so as to reduce milk yield pre dryoff. If cows are producing large volumes of milk at dry-off, there is a greater risk of leaking teat ends, and the antibiotic being leaked out of the teat canal. For Johnson’s group of eight dairies, dry cow tube usage has decreased by 70% since the introduction of SDCT. There is anecdotal evidence that many dairymen have found no difference in seasonality, summer heat stress, parity of cows or bedding material (sand, manure, mattress etc.) in the success rates of SDCT. The savings gained through less antibiotic product being purchased and used, is also complimented by the huge associated time savings for staff; as less cows are treated than under a blanket approach. For cows that are selected not to receive antibiotics, it is recommended that a teat sealant is used to reduce the risk of infection during the dry period. “Teat sealing maiden-heifers works great

too,” Johnson says, “having heifers calving-in clean makes life easier and it’s great for the bulk tank too.” For dairies looking to adopt SDCT, the main barrier to overcome is accurate information on the herd. Herd tests should be carried out every 4 to 6 weeks to help build up a picture of a cow’s performance and somatic cell count history over the lactation. It is also crucial that staff maintain accurate records of clinical mastitis cases during the year. Although blanket dry cow treatment will remain the best method for curing existing infections at dry-off and helping to prevent future infections, SDCT has a significant and growing role to play in dairy operations, particularly well-managed dairies. With the growing discussion of antibiotic resistance and associated human health implications, progressive dairies could gain a competitive advantage by being ahead of the curve on SDCT.

www.americandairymen.com

Partnering with Producers for Success

The real cost of outdated raw milk

sampling techniques A

s early as 1933 the Milk I n d u s t r y Fo u n d a t i o n’s Laborator y Manual for Methods of Analysis of Milk and Its Products stressed the challenges of collecting accurate samples due to inconsistent agitation. The publication went so far as to break out the considerable cost to dairies of improper agitation to encourage extending agitation times. Eighty four years later, many businesses are still faced with this problem. While gone are the days of 10-gallon milk cans, some farmers and milk haulers are still using dippers and agitation to gather samples for testing of everything from butterfat content to milk quality and potential contamination. Unfortunately, the challenges of dipper sampling experienced in 1933 have not only not gone away, but today have been magnified to expose farmers and haulers to much

July 2018

more serious risks of financial losses and regulatory violations.

The modern solution to today’s sampling needs.

The value of truly representative samples for the dairy industry can’t be overstated. Inconsistent results indicate a problem, but w ithout a reliable sampling process identifying the cause of the variations, it basically comes down to guessing, which is a dangerous way to run a business. It’s also no secret that farmers get paid based on sample quality. Inconsistent or incorrect butterfat content and quality testing can have a devastating effect on a business’s bottom line. As Lindsey Dimond, Idaho Manager of Member Services

for Dair y Farmers of A merica stated, “If dippers are not properly maintained and sanitized before each location’s use you can easily taint a sample or even worse literally contaminate the entire production.” Thirty five years ago QualiTru Sampling Systems, then known as QMI, identified the need for accurate, aseptic sampling for the dairy industr y. The resulting QualiTru sanitar y por t and septa combination made getting reliable samples for testing a simple process. To d ay, Q u a l i Tr u’s on - goi n g c om m it me nt to the science of accurate sampling has turned what was once an unreliable process into one that consistently delivers truly representative samples in every stage of the dairy www.americandairymen.com

Sampler allows samples to be drawn and the needle removed, leaving you with a sealed container for storage or shipping to a testing facility. The TruDraw also offers a tamper-evident feature and provides easy sample tracking for added security. After Ole Johnson, an owner of Dairy Ventures, a 2800-head dairy farm in Kansas converted his operation to the QualiTru Sampling System he said “We just don’t see the sampling errors we used to. From my point of view, QualiTru is the only way we can get the sample accuracy we rely on.” industry, including on dairy farms, milk tanker trucks and dairy processing plants. One of the key features of the QualiTru Sampling System is that it is a closed system. The system consists of stainless steel sanitary ports that can be attached anywhere in the process, including milk lines, silos, tanks and tanker trucks. This ability to use the sanitary ports throughout the process provides statistically identical results because the same sampling technique is used. The next component is the sterile septa that are placed within the sanitary ports. The septa are made from food-grade material and are available in seven- or twelve-channel configurations. The QualiTru TruStream septa feature a label over the channels so it is easy to identify the ones that have been used. This prevents the reuse of channels and virtually eliminates the risk of external contamination. QualiTru’s latest development is a new 12-channel septum that is a single-piece unit with a permanent, thermal aluminum label making it stronger and even more secure from outside contaminants. The new aluminum label also makes it even easier to clearly see which channels have been used. The final part of the QualiTru Sampling System is the sterile, disposable collection units with i n s er t ion ne e d le a nd t ubi ng www.americandairymen.com

attached. These are available in a variety of bag sizes for every sampling need. The latest collection unit inno-

Today, QualiTru’s on-going commitment to the science of accurate sampling has turned what was once an unreliable process into one that consistently delivers truly representative samples in every stage of the dairy industry, including on dairy farms, milk tanker trucks and dairy processing plants. vation from QualiTru is the new TruDraw Single Sampler. As the name implies, the TruDraw is a sterile container with an attached needle designed for drawing a single sample at a time. The configuration of the TruDraw Single

Removing doubt from direct load sampling.

A s more a nd more d a i r ie s convert to direct load systems, the QualiTru Sampling Systems become even more integral and convenient for accurate sampling. T h e Q u a l i Tr u Tr u S t r e a m Sampling System can be installed in various locations, such as after the receiver, after the balance tank, near the sock filter or chiller. These multiple locations provide the operator with a fast and easy way to locate and isolate any problem. Steve Mur phy of t he Dair y Practices Council said, “Having the ability to strategically place QualiTru sampling ports to isolate sections of a dairy processing stream is very important from the standpoint of trouble-shooting microbial problems. Utilizing appropr iate laborator y tests,

July 2018

Partnering with Producers for Success these strategic “line samples” can be critical in identifying potential contamination sources so they can be dealt with quickly and effectively.” A peristaltic pump utilized with the TruStream system will continually draw a measured amount of samples throughout the process. Because you are getting a true representative sample of the entire load, there is no need to agitate the load to get a clear picture of the milk quality. This approach also mitigates the risk of cross contamination that is inherent in dipper sampling, because the entire TruStream sampling system is a closed sterile system.

Reducing employee and hauler risk.

For decades, the most used tank and trailer procedure for sampling required a person to climb up a ladder and insert a dipper to gather a sample. This approach has many downsides. The first is the challenge of keeping the testing equipment free from contaminants. Sanitizing the dipper before each use is vital, yet the number of variables to accomplish this can seem almost insurmountable. Is the sanitizing solution kept consistently at the right strength? Is the time in the solution for proper sanitation adhered to every time? Is the dipper stored or transported in a sterile fashion? The next challenge involves a combination of sample integrity, product exposure and worker safety. Safely climbing a ladder while carrying a dipper and vial makes maintaining aseptic practices virtually impossible. Once the top of the tank or trailer is reached, the entire load is then exposed to possible contamination by both the dipper and the surrounding environment when the access hatch is opened.

July 2018

Having employees off the ground for this function obviously adds the risk of injury through falls. To understand the inherent financial and employee health ramifications as it relates to businesses, you only have to look at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) top 2017 violations. For the sixth year in a row, fall protection general requirements were the top violation. These violations resulted in more than 6,000 citations being issued. The risk of falls is naturally increased for haulers when you take into consideration that they are often sampling outdoors during inclement weather. Finally, improper agitation of tanks or trailers can result in stratification leading to incorrect results and reduced payments based on erroneous butterfat content readings. The QualiTru Sampling Systems virtually eliminate all these challenges through better design and the benefits of being a closed system. With the sanitary port and septa feature, the entire load is never exposed to outside contamination. Additionally, the sampling location of the QualiTru port is placed at ground level on tanks, silos and trailers. This placement removes the need to climb ladders, thus removing the risk of accidental falls. Bob Fradette, Transportation Coordinator for Agri-Mark for over 30 years, had this to say about QualiTru Sampling Systems, “One of our biggest goals is to keep drivers from having to climb up trucks and the QualiTru Sampling Systems keep them on the ground. Another benefit we’ve seen is that sampling in this fashion reduces wait time at processing plants. Both of these things are of real value to us.”

Sampling integrity, security and safety is of paramount importance.

As the dairy industry continues to adapt to new regulations, safety requirements and quality expectations, the sampling technology of the past is no longer a viable solution. Today’s sampling technology needs to combine ease-of-use, reliability and repeatability for dairy farms and processing plants to compete and thrive in today’s heavily regulated and competitive marketplace. Mark Schwab, president of QualiTru Sampling Systems, clearly defined his company’s commitment by saying, “For decades, very little has changed in how liquid samples are taken. Today, food safety is a primary concern for processing facilities, regulators and consumers. QualiTru Sampling Systems is improving liquid sampling through innovations that make the sampling process simpler, more accurate and brings real accountability to the sampling process.” Mr. Schwab’s statement is proven by QualiTru’s ongoing investment in research and development to answer the needs of liquid processors. The company’s scientific approach to creating innovative sampling tools and techniques has made them a leader in the liquid sampling field and has brought true accountability to sampling throughout the dairy industry. QualiTru sampling products are FDA approved and 3A Certified and are available worldwide.

www.americandairymen.com

Business Profile

Cool Roof:

The Cooler the Roofs, the Cooler the Cattle By Steve Weisman

oday’s dairy producers work extremely hard at optimizing the conditions in which their herds are housed. Realizing that keeping cattle cool means less heat stress, improved milk production and higher birth weight during calving season, producers spend a lot of money on fans, misters and extra ventilation. Unfortunately, a hot metal roof can be one of the main culprits of excessive heat. Of course, a metal roof keeps the sun’s rays off the cattle, but when you can literally cook an egg on the roof’s hot surface, that heat transfers down to the livestock. Optimizing ways to keep your cattle cool is important in the dairy industry. There is a better solution that many dairy owners are cashing in on: energy efficient roofing systems. Many producers are turning to WaterTight Roofing (WaterTightRoofingInc. com) to explore options specific to 18

July 2018

their dairy operation. Since 2011, co-owners Cole Garrison and Mike Slaughter have built their company based on the mission of providing the highest quality commercial, energy-efficient roofing systems, to

honor their warranties and be available to all customers for services or repairs. Furthermore, their team has resources to get these roofs at very little cost to the building owners. After several years of experience working in the roofing industry, Garrison and Slaughter accomplished this mission by deciding to start WaterTight Roofing. “We saw that a lot of roofing companies work on new construction, re-roofing and patchwork, but we’re the roofing company that focuses on white, reflective roofs,” Slaughter states. “Even though we build lots of metal roofs, when it’s a priority to control the temperature underneath the roof, www.americandairymen.com

we’re the company that specializes in this. We love the continued benefits our owners receive from these roofing systems, and we focus on excellent customer service.” On a warm sunny day, the temperatures are dramatically higher and a metal roof becomes too hot to even touch. These WaterTight roof systems can turn a hot metal roof into a white, cool roof that’s cool to the touch. Both Garrison and Slaughter grew up involved in the Texas cattle industry. With a special passion for the agricultural industry in general, they truly believe they’ve carved out a special niche in WaterTight Roofing. According to Garrison, “Instead of only trying to treat the symptoms of a hot roof with fans, misters, etc., we address the source of the problem – a hot roof. This is the very reason we install energy-efficient roofs. It cools the roof, therefore, everything under the roof is cooler – whether it’s people or animals.” He explains, “At the end of the day, everything is about protecting and cooling what’s underneath the roof.” The options offered by WaterTight Roofing are

www.americandairymen.com

energy-star rated roofing systems with high solar reflectivity. Garrison adds, “An elastomeric roof coating or single-ply membrane is a cost-effective way to get a cool roof out of an existing hot roof, and these options do not require a tearoff of the current roof system.” These energy-efficient roofs have also shown that cooling fans can be used

industry.” He continues, “At the same time, our goal is to work closely with the customers, offer free inspections and assessments, and offer solutions for their specific needs.” And don’t just take their word for it. Listen to what their customers say about WaterTight roofing: Dyke Rogers, owner of Clauss Dairy Farms located in the Texas

less often, which conserves energy, leading to savings. Over the past eight years, the word has continued to spread. Garrison says, “Because of the solution that actually treats the source of heat, our business has grown exponentially within the agricultural

Panhandle notes, “This was a very clean operation. They did exactly what they said they would do and there was no disruption to my daily operation. I would recommend WaterTight Roofing without a doubt.” Will Collier, owner of T&K Dairy in West Texas, adds, “The team and crew were efficient throughout the entire process. They did an excellent job, and I am very pleased with the overall production and capabilities of WaterTight Roofing.” WaterTight Roofing has different roof options from metal replacement to cool roof systems, depending on what’s right for you. Simply stated, Garrison adds, “Give us a holler, and we’ll do a free assessment and provide you with options.” July 2018

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

Dairy Chillers

Keeping Step With

Dairy Chillers, Plate Exchangers and Coolers By Bruce Derksen for American Dairymen Magazine

s I considered the topic of dairy chillers and coolers, I thought I had a firm grasp of the subject. I mean, how much can there be to it? You cool the milk, put it in a tank just like dairy farmers have been doing for decades and the wheel just keeps on spinning. Nothing to see here, right? But as I researched the subject, I learned that the old saying is truethe more things stay the same, the more they change. In the days of the average dairy farm existing almost in a vacuum, r el at ively s t able i n si z e a nd numbers, the milk was generally pumped from the four or six cow

parlor to a refrigerated collection tank where it was cooled over time and later picked up at regular intervals by the dairy truck. Almost every dairy had a similar number of cows and it was very close to a one size fits all mentality. The tank that was installed twenty years ago to match the forty cow herd stayed

in use until it fell apart, barring a major equipment malfunction. But a s life ma kes a habit, things are constantly changing. The severely depleted number of overall producers are adapting by installing larger variable sized robotic milking parlors that can service as many as eighty cows at one time in extremely large operations. Imagine all that milk rushing from that many cows into a lowly collection cooler tank. The math to quickly cool such large amounts of product safely simply does not * Continued on page 24

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

Dairy Chillers

compute, forcing companies to step up their technologies of efficient chillers, plate exchangers and coolers. Interviewing some very knowledgeable people in the field, I learned of numerous and varied ways that this problem is being attacked- first and foremost being an updated and computer controlled cooler tank. It is an accepted fact that having the cooler and refrigerant system doing the majority of the work bringing the milk to the proper temperature and holding it there, is still the most energy efficient way to proceed, but depending on the size of the dairy operation, taking into account the amount of cows milked in total and at specific times, plus the amount of production from those cows, further help may be needed in getting the milk cooled properly. A s da ir ies ex pa nd, beyond upgrading their coolers, many producers are adding combinations of chillers or thermo- plate heat exchangers, run either by water or glycol and water mixtures. For those with a sufficient amount of cold well water available, a plate heat exchanger can be added to use this supply, pre-cooling the warm milk before it reaches the milk cooler, thereby easing the energy required by and work load placed on the cooler, cutting the operating time of the refrigeration unit by as much as fifty percent. Depending on the size required, these units can be wall or 24

July 2018

floor mounted. The basic principle of these plate exchangers is to run cold water through channels on one side while the warm milk does the same through channels on the other side of the exchanger. Depending on the capacity required, milk can be cooled through single or multiple passes before it is directed to the cooler tank. The water supply, now warmed from the heat of the fresh milk, can be re-circulated back as drinking water for the cows. Another option for expanding operations is to install a pre-cooler or chiller along with a plate exchanger. These compact chillers cool a glycol water solution that is circulated through the plate heat exchanger thereby cooling the milk quicker, again saving energy usage on the tank refrigeration unit. The warmed water is directed back to the reservoir tank to be re-chilled and used again in the process. All of these options are computer controlled energy efficient units that can be used alone or in combination before the milk reaches the tank cooler. Technology changes and advancements are inevitable, driven by the requirements of the dairy industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supply and demand. As dairy farms grow in size to meet these demands, the need for more adaptable, reliable, and cost effective energy efficient coolers, chillers and plate heat exchangers become paramount, offering todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s producer many viable choices to fit their ever changing operations. www.americandairymen.com

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

Health Traits

The growth and evolution

of health traits By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Dairymen Magazine

ealth traits and their genetic selections are a hot topic and growing interest across the dairy industry. Due to their low heritability, they can be tricky to work with but have a high payoff in economic value because of their potential cost savings. In days gone by, a 1998 study in the Journal of Dairy Science noted a negative relationship between production and health/ fitness traits, largely due to the impact of genetic selection exclusively focusing on production rather than wellness at the time. However, the economics around the cost of treatments have changed dramatically since then making the correlation between production and wellness more positive and profitable. Why breed for health?

Health traits are a powerful tool against disease. Essentially, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a literal application of the old idiom â&#x20AC;&#x153;an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.â&#x20AC;? Animal welfare is an industry issue also fueling the widespread utilization and research of health as a

genetic component. From a practical view, the shortage of food animal veterinarians coupled with the growing cost of animal treatment makes prevention a very attractive avenue for producers everywhere. That aside, dairymen using health as one of their advantages must be mindful to keep

this breeding as one part of a balanced strategy that still includes things such as fertility, milk production, productive life, and the like. Even with favorable genetics, the environment is still a major factor in disease prevention. The lower the heritability of any given trait, the higher variability the environment has. The average genetic heritability for traits pertaining to health and wellness tend to be only 5% or less. Of the researched traits recently released to the public sire evaluations, the highest (mastitis) heritability is only 3.1% and the lowest (hypocalcemia) is 0.6%.

Increasing industry application

The Holstein sire evaluations * Continued on page 36

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

www.highgrademfg.com

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

Health Traits released in April of this year incorporated six different health traits. These were mastitis, metritis, retained placentas, hypocalcemia, displaced abomasums, and ketosis. Other breeds intend to also add this data in their upcoming evaluations when each has enough information collected. The Council for Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) selected these primarily because they were among the most costly and common health issues. They also considered things such as preliminary research, incidence rate, data reporting consistency, cost, and heritability. According to the CDCB’s recent “New Genetic Evaluations for Health Traits - Frequently Asked Questions” fact sheet, “The traits are defined as disease resistance. Health evaluations will be presented as percentage points of event resistance above or below the breed average, with evaluations of cows born in the base year averaging zero. Favorable values for resistance to the health event will receive positive values.” Producer

July 2018

record data was collected through DHI and taken from a variety of affiliates’ herds the U.S. The interest in exploring the genetic avenues of animal health isn’t just for cows. Other industry companies are looking to pave the way for young stock. Zoetis very recently announced they were adding three new calf wellness traits to their genomics service, Clarifide Plus. These are livability, respiratory disease, and scours. They also have developed their own index designed specifically for calves, the Calf Wellness Index which incorporates all three traits. Currently, the reliabilities of the CDCB traits are in the 40-49 range for young animals, and in the 44-56 range for progeny-tested animals, with variance among the different traits. As time goes on and more data continues to be collected, the reliabilities will increase. However, the CDCB indicates there are already strong correlations with the new health traits to already existing production and type traits.

Some notable ones include productive life, livability, daughter pregnancy rate, and cow conception rate. For example, the strongest known correlation is between somatic cell score and mastitis. The CDCB cites 2017 research that gives a direct cost estimate for the treatment cost of each trait on a per case basis. That broke down to $34 for hypocalcemia, $197 for displaced abomasums, $28 for ketosis, $75 for mastitis, $112 for metritis, and $68 for retained placentas. These cost estimates do not factor in other costs included in the Net Merit index, “such as declines in production or fertility.” This new launch hopes to focus on the data analysis and widespread industry education on the impact of each individual trait. The CDCB states that no date has yet been determined on when these new traits will be incorporated into the lifetime Net Merit index.

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

MARKETPLACE 38

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

MARKETPLACE

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

MARKETPLACE 40

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

MARKETPLACE

BIG JOHN BIG DIFFERENCE

BIG JOHN MIST SPRAYER

LITTLE JOHN MIST SPRAYER

TURBO MIST SPRAYER

ECONO MIST SPRAYER

We have a safe and healthy solution to eliminate parasites, crop insects, gnats, flies, mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Safe for kids, pets, playgrounds and backyards. An ALL NATURAL economical solution for use in hand and power sprayers.

CALL TODAY! 800-658-4471 www.bigjohnmfg.com

www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

MARKETPLACE 42

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

MARKETPLACE

QUALITY PARTS-DISCOUNT DISCOUNT PRICED

These Green Parts will save you GREEN! We have the parts you need to keep you up and running. •Pickup parts •Tine Teeth •Wrappers •Bearings and Sprockets •Cutter Heads •Knives •Sharpening Stones

•Feed Rolls •Shafts •Roll Assemblies •Chutes •Blowers •Paddles •Liners •Spouts and Transitions

Order Online www.MaizeParts.com Maize Corporation now provides parts for 3000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 Series Choppers

John Deere® (Deere) is a registered name. We are not affiliated with nor are we representing our repair parts to be manufactured by Deere®.

Shipped The Same Day.

888-722-8710

20968 TR 51

LIKE US!

www.facebook.com/americandairymen www.americandairymen.com

July 2018

MARKETPLACE 44

July 2018

www.americandairymen.com

CALL TODAY TO ADVERTISE

800-682-3118 MISCELLANEOUS

DAIRY CATTLE

OVER 100,000 SCC? WE CAN HELP! Safe, Effective, Fast. No-withholding results nationwide for 45 yrs. Call today 1-800-876-2500 or 920-650-1631. Resellers wanted. www.alphageneticsinc.com

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS NE W HOLL AND BALE WAGONS: I sell and buy Self-Propelled & Pull-type two/three wide models — H9880, H9870, BW38, BW28, 1095, 1089, 1085, 1079, 1078, 1075, 1069, 1068, 1049, 1048, 1037, 1036, 1033, 1032, & other models, parts, tires, manuals. Can finance/trade/deliver. Call Jim Wilhite 208-880-2889 anytime. www.balewagon.com

H E AT S T R E S S Have You Holding the Bag? FORMULA M

Daily Vitamin and Mineral Supplement

VITAMIX

For Extra Nutritional Support

Frank Lampley’s PRODUCTS 800•327•0727

WANTED: Old barns or barn lumber or old city buildings/warehouses in WI, IN, IL and IA. Cell 309-253-1317 www.barns-nboards.com or email at Dndfox@aol.com. THE BEST RADIANT FLOOR HEAT WATER TUBING. A must for new construction. Call for a free estimate on a complete system. Volume discounts. Compare and Save! “GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES” www.mikesheating.com 1-800-466-4043

SILO DOORS: Quality Wood or Steel. Any Size Shipped Promptly to your farm. Hardware available. Landwood Sales LLC. 800-222-5726

Become Self- Employed with the high income of hoof trimming. We build stateof-the-art, fully automatic hydraulic layover chutes, furnish tools, equipment, oneon-one training from the best hoof trimmers in the industry. Financing available to qualified buyers. Since 1969. Call Bill at 806-798-9684 US Patent #5,669,332

www.rileybuilt.com

MILKING EQUIPMENT

Used Bulk Tanks Cooling Equipment Claws, Pulsators, Take Offs, Receivers

BUY • SELL • TRADE Website:

www.salvagehouse.net

1-800-844-5427

ADVERTISE HERE! For as little as $49 per issue. (that’s peanuts) 800-682-3118

www.americandairymen.com

Readers of

AMERICAN DAIRYMEN also like

AMERICAN CATTLEMEN www.AmericanDairymen.com www.AmericanCattlemen.com July 2018

American

Scan to Subscribe! ®

American Dairymen 4685 Merle Hay Rd • Suite 200 Des Moines, IA 50322 877-424-4594 www.americandairymen.com

Electronic Service Requested

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 152 Pontiac, IL 61764

US $3.95