American ®
In This Issue
Vol. 44 No. 12 • December 2018
Columns
6 Publisher Statement 8 Industry News
Trending news from around the dairy world.
Industry Features
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Dairy Calf Winter Tips
By Jenna Fletcher, The Crazy Calf Lady
When the temperature starts to drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, calves can start to struggle health and growth wise. Keeping calves warm and comfortable is a priority! Here are a few tips and tricks I do or have seen to give calves the best start to life when born in the winter.
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Stay Informed of Technology Advancements By Bruce Derksen for American Dairymen Magazine
Computers have become commonplace throughout all walks of life including the dairy operation’s milking parlors, barns and pastures.
Breeding Decisions: IFV or ET?
By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Dairymen Magazine
Every dairy farmer would like to maximize there breeding potential. Careful sire selection is only one of the many tools at your disposal to accomplish that.
Cattle Mats: A Cow Comfort Option for Dairy Barns By Michael Cox for American Dairymen Magazine
Bedding and flooring are key areas of cow comfort, as producers should aim to make resting areas as attractive as possible for the milking string.
Sponsored Features
Acumen Detection Industry Innovation
Article and photos courtesy of Acumen Detection
Mastitis causes every dairy some economic losses that can be frustrating at the best of times, even more so in trying times in the milk market. Now, a new technology originally conceived to save lives on the battlefield, is making great strides in reducing costs associated with mastitis.
Poly Dome Business Profile
Article and photos courtesy of Poly Dome
PolyTank, Inc., has developed a division of products under the name PolyDome that have been helping dairy producers improve the health of their dairy herd by offering a range of products specifically designed to produce stronger and healthier calves. www.americandairymen.com
Publisher Statement
Staying Resilient!
American ®
Products and Services
Vol. 44 No. 12 • December 2018
Like many of you, the staff of the American Dairymen recently attended
Group Publisher/COO Patrick McKinney
the World Dairy Expo in Madison Wisconsin. This event, along with the many other trade shows we attend, provides an excellent opportunity for us
Field Editors Bruce Derksen Michael Cox Jaclyn Krymowski
to communicate with a broad spectrum of the industry; including Producers, Vendors and service providers alike. We even get to rub elbows with our media competitors. This has been a challenging year for the American Dairy
Art Director Brandon Peterson
Industry and to be honest we were not sure what kind of atmosphere we would encounter.
Graphic Designer Teri Marsh
What we encountered would best be stated as resilience. That resilience showed through in the numbers for the 2018 World Dairy Expo. Consider this: • There were over 65,100 attendees at this year’s event, down only slightly from 2017. • 94 different countries were represented. • There were 1,773 Dairy Cattle Show Exhibitors.
for American Dairymen
Advertising Account Executives Lori Seibert Kathy Davidson Mary Gatliff Irene Smith Wendy Mills Sherry Gilbert Pegge Hutchinson Joyce Kenney Ed Junker Kendra Sassman Office Manager Dawn Busse
• 2,338 head of Dairy Cattle were entered in the show.
Office Administrator Donna Mobley
• $1.7 million Dairy Cattle sold at auction. Great results, but a better measure of the resilience of the American Dairy Producer came from the conversations we participated in with the hundreds of people who stopped by The American Dairymen booth. Yes, there were some tough stories and as an industry we must be wary of the economic and social factors that we face as we move into 2019; but hope did abound in Madison.
Livestock Media Group 4685 Merle Hay Rd • Suite 200 Des Moines, IA 50322 877-424-4594 www.americandairymen.com
Please check our newest Field Editor Jenna Fletcher’s (The Crazy Calf Lady) article on winter dairy calf management tips in this issue. Jenna brings a fresh new perspective and writing style to The American Dairymen! This issue brings us to the close of 2018, a year of challenges for sure, but we believe hope and promise will overcome!! The staff of American Dairymen wishes you a peaceful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!! Best Regards, Gale McKinney
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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.
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Industry News
Behind the Wheel: Making an impact in the community Article and photo courtesy of CNH Industrial Corporate Sometimes it’s the small, local community projects that make the biggest impact. Watch the latest episode of the Behind the Wheel series as we follow a team of volunteers from the Case IH tractor plant in Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.A. participating in an Impact Day service project. The episode shows the team working together to har vest fresh produce from the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin, Wisconsin. Watch the episode online: c n h i n d u s t r i a l . c o m / behindthewheel CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) has a demonstrated and proven commitment to sustainability, which includes a strong focus on community engagement. Through its “Impact Day” program, employees in North America can volunteer as teams in the communities where they work and live — promoting strong relationships between the company and community-based organizations. There have been more than 75 Impact Days since 2017 with thousands of employees donating their time and effort to volunteer. Teams
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of employees are able to select from dozens of different local and national philanthropic organizations to help. The current Behind the Wheel video features volunteers from Case IH, a brand of CNH Industrial, at the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin, Wisconsin. Hunger Task Force is a free, local food bank, which was first formed in 1974 to support a network of 70 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. All of the fresh produce grown on the farm is delivered to the food bank’s network partners. As the eighth-year Industr y L eader in the Machiner y and Electrical Equipment segment in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, World and Europe, CNH Industrial appreciates the fundamental importance of providing opportunities for its employees to impact local communities in a positive way.
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Industry News
A.I.Tags SMT Automated Dairy Cattle Estrus Detection System Launches at World Dairy Expo In Madison, Wisconsin, USA and Eurotier Expo In Hanover, Germany, European Union
Article provided by A.I.TAGS
Discoveries180 will formally launch its Internet Of Things and Machine Visionpowered A.I.TAGS SMT™ Automated Dairy Cattle Estrus Detection System in the United States at the World Dairy Expo (October 2-6, 2018) and launch internationally at the EuroTier Expo in Hanover, Germany (November 13-16, 2018). The launches will provide opportunities for dairy operators or potential strategic partners to examine the revolutionary offering in detail, in person. The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System offers busy dairy farmers a completely automated method to identify and segregate only those animals ready for insemination. The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System reduces labor, eliminates unreliable “gut instinct” identification, improves breeding cycles, and lowers animal stress. The system has patents pending. The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System works by using a UV sensitive Industrial Controller to identify dairy cattle in estrus by reading the amount of exposed UV reflective material on an adhesive tag on the animal. If the Industrial Controller senses a sufficient amount of reflected UV (meaning the animal has been mounted multiple times), the drafting gate automatically sorts that animal into a pen with other animals ready for insemination. “Most electronic systems are technical for technology’s sake,” said Discoveries180 President and CEO David Stampe. “They rely on intrusive collars and unreliable batteries. What’s more, they ‘estimate’ mounting activity rather than rely on direct evidence of contact. Competing systems look fancy, but don’t deliver results dairy farmers care about. Dairy businesses don’t need data, they need actions that deliver profits.”
The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System offers four distinct advantages: Advantage #1: Labor Reduction
The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System reduces labor by eliminating the need to
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identify dairy cows in estrus by sight. No matter what visual system is used, other systems rely on visual identification by humans. The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System requires no technical training. Simply apply the tags and watch the cows and heifers line up to be inseminated.
Advantage #2: Eliminate “Gut Instinct”
The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System eliminates gut instinct by removing the human from the decision process; the UV sensitive Industrial Controller makes a reliable, mathematical decision in a fraction of a second. That decision eliminates both false positives and false negatives. The Industrial Controller is also capable of expanding functions of the system in the future. Other systems use only cameras that cannot expand services.
Advantage #3: Improved Breeding Cycles
The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System improves breeding cycles by eliminating the chance that the dairy farmer will miss an insemination opportunity – even by a day. Each morning or evening, the farmer will find a pen of animals ready for service that are in the “12 Hour Rule” of breeding.
Advantage #4: Lower Animal Stress
The A.I.TAGS SMT™ System reduces animal stress by reducing the frequency of handling and examination by humans. This reduces the chance of injury to both the animal and the farmer, especially inexperienced farm hands. Discoveries180 has development and manufacturing partners in the United States and the European Union. www.americandairymen.com
Photo courtesy of Poly Dome 12
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W
inter months are tough on dairy calves. When the temperature starts to drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, calves can start to struggle health and growth wise. Keeping calves warm and comfortable is a priority! Here are a few tips and tricks I do or have seen to give calves the best start to life when born in the winter.
Warm/dry environment for newborn calves:
Calves arrive toasty warm inside the cows at 101.5 degrees. When the calf hits the ground, it’s important to get them into a warm and dry environment ASAP. Where they calve in is important as well. Our calves are born on a bedded pack with corn stalks which is re-bedded typically every other day. We personally use calf warmers to dry off and warm up our calves providing a blue dome that the calves lay in. There is a
Other ways to warm & dry off newborn calves: – Heat lamps – LOTS of straw – Place a couple 5-gallon containers (with lids) of 160* water inside a hutch. (cover hutch with old blanket or door) – Put socks on calves back feet – Some people put calf jackets on their calves at birth. I personally don’t. I believe it makes the calf colder, and I think they stay wet longer than they would without a
If the weather is extremely cold, I will keep my calves on milk longer. Sometimes it’s just a few days, maybe a week. Depends on the weather and how the calves are growing and eating their calf starter. heater attached on the bottom right side which blows warm air directly inside the PolyDome. Calves typically can be dry in 4-5 hours. All depends on the size of the calf and if the cow licked them off a bit prior to being put inside. They are easy to clean which I love. www.americandairymen.com
jacket. (I could be wrong.) Our calves get jackets AFTER they are all dry. Which leads into the next tip…
Calf Jackets (blankets):
When the temps drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, jackets are December 2018
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Dairy Calf Winter Tips
Photo courtesy of Poly Dome
essential for keeping your calves warm. Calf jackets are placed on my calves once they’re completely dry. Then they are kept on till the calves are roughly 4 weeks old. After that, they are taken off (on a warm day) and washed and dried. We buy ours through Nasco.
Lots of fresh bedding:
“Mom, that’s enough.” I bed my calves up a few times every week with wheat straw. It not only keeps them dry, but it keeps them warm. Adequate bedding will give you a bigger calf at weaning. The more heat they can keep in, the more energy they will use to grow rather than to stay warm. A bigger calf at weaning time could result in a higher producing cow in the future (more milk!). Not sure how much straw is enough? To see how your calves’ bedding materials, compare: • A nesting score of 1 is given when the calf lies on top of the bedding with his legs exposed. • A nesting score of 2 is allocated when the calf nestles slightly into the bedding, but part of the legs is visible above the materials. • A nesting score of 3 is assigned when the calf appeared to nestle deeply into the bedding material,
and its legs were not visible.
Doors for hutches:
I have about 90+ calves on milk at a time. When snow/wind storms hit or when we have a newborn calf, we want the hutches to keep the snow/ wind out and the heat in. We purchased 50 doors for our hutches from Genesis Enterprises at World Dairy Expo 2 years ago and use them all the time. All of our newborn calves receive a door when they are moved to the hutches and the door stays on for at least 3-4 days when its below 30 degrees out. *Doors fit different hutch styles and are easy to clean too**If you do not have doors for your newborn calves, a barrel works
Photo courtesy of Poly Dome * Continued on Page 16
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Dairy Calf Winter Tips
Photo courtesy of Smucker Manufacturing
to cover the fronts of the hutches to keep those new calves inside. Have questions about that?
Extra feeding of milk:
We personally don’t feed an extra feeding of milk during the day, but some farmers do and they find it helpful.
Offering warm water:
I offer warm water 365 days a year, but some farms do not. Calves will drink warm water a lot better than they will drink cold water, especially in the winter (even in the summer). Calves enjoy water at the same temperature as they’d receive their milk at. Offering it as soon as you can will also increase the amount that they drink. The faster it gets to them, the better. Dr. Neil Michael with Arm & Hammer taught me that calves will consume their calf starter better if they have water to go with it.
Leave calves on milk longer:
If the weather is extremely cold, I will keep my calves on milk longer. Sometimes it’s just a few days, maybe a week. Depends on the weather and how the calves are
growing and eating their calf starter.
Insulation panels:
Adding insulation panels to individual calf pens to try and lock in heat in her calf barn is a good idea. Insulation panel is located on the back of the pen in the picture to the right.
Double calves up in hutches or pens:
Dogs work too, right? I personally don’t double up calves because it’s not possible with my set up, but I have seen farmers put two calves in a hutch in the winter to keep them warmer. Doubling up calves has also been known to increase growth in those calves. The competition with the other calf in the hutch, makes them want to eat more. Eating more will result in a bigger calf. Anything I missed? Please go to the American Dairymen Facebook page and share your thoughts in the comments. Hope these winter tips help you care for your calves! Jenna, Crazy Calf Lady
Photo courtesy of Smucker Manufacturing
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Industry Innovation
Acumen detection -
Saving farmers thousands with early mastitis detection and ongoing surveillance.
Written by Jamie Hutchinson
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astitis causes every dairy some economic losses that can be frustrating at the best of times, even more so in trying times in the milk market. Now, a new technology originally conceived to save lives on the battlefield, is making great strides in reducing costs associated with mastitis. Acumen Detection’s on-farm test detects the presence of mastitis-causing pathogens (including mycoplasma, staph, strep and others) in milk samples in less than 3 hours. Armed with knowledge of early-detection, producers can proactively manage mastitis and significantly reduce associated costs. Screening for infectious pathogens on the farm reduces the risk of outbreaks, as disease can be stopped before it spreads. Over time, improved herd health improves milk quality, production and profitability.
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Take the case of Ag Oasis who runs four open-lot dairies in Kansas and Oklahoma, with a total of 12,000 milking cows. The dairies have a somatic cell count of 120,000—an impressive statistic for an open-lot operation. Their success is not due to luck. The team at Ag Oasis takes a very proactive approach to herd health. One example is their contagious mastitis surveillance program. The program initially involved sending bulk tank and string samples to an out-of-state www.americandairymen.com
lab for culture, but the team was disappointed with the turn-around time of results. It could take up to three weeks to receive Mycoplasma culture results, during which time all cow movement was halted to prevent the possible spread of disease. The team had growing concerns about the impact of overcrowding on cow health. They wanted to eliminate the stressful conditions that reduced production, delayed breeding, and caused lameness. In 2017, Ag Oasis decided to establish their own in-house mastitis testing lab. Rather than sending samples to an out-of-state laboratory www.americandairymen.com
once a week, Ag Oasis wanted to test samples in-house on a daily basis. The team selected MasCow Dairy in Stevens County, Kansas as their centralized lab location. The team, led by consultant Ron Fehn, DVM, considered several testing options. They had two major criteria: the testing must be both fast and simple. It was important for the testing and results to reinforce their simple and straightforward management style. Their goal was to test all fresh and clinical cows—approximately 700 samples a month—for the two major contagious
mastitis pathogens in their region: Mycoplasma and Staph aureus. They needed results as soon as possible to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the stressful conditions created while waiting for results. The team considered tri-plates, but they decided that the system was too complicated for their management style. Tri-plates are designed to guide targeted treatment, an approach that didn’t align with their strategy. Ag Oasis wanted to avoid multiple treatment protocols that could create confusion. Ag Oasis began by culturing all
Acumens Portable Unit
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Industry Innovation fresh and clinical cows for Staph aureus. They found the plating process to be a simple task, and they had results in less than a day. After experiencing a high rate of false positive results using the plates, they started looking for a confirmatory test. They settled on coagulase testing, which confirms the presence of Staph aureus by the next day. In late 2017, Brian Hemann, a partner at Ag Oasis, came across the Acumen Detection on-farm pathogen detection system. He was very interested in receiving Mycoplasma results in less than 3 hours. Instead of waiting weeks for results, they could know a cow’s status before the next milking. Their consultant, Dr. Ron Fehn, contacted Acumen’s midwestern field sales rep, Maggie Faulkner, and arranged for training and support for several employees. Ag Oasis decided to purchase two Acumen Detection systems to test all fresh heifers and clinical cows for Mycoplasma. An average day in the lab involves testing 48 samples using the Acumen Detection system. They begin by preparing all the samples for testing using the Milk Prep Kit. The entire process is guided by a user-friendly software application that provides step-by-step instructions. Up to sixteen samples can be tested at a time. Lab staff are able to complete other tasks, such as culture plating, while the Acumen tests are in progress. Within three hours, the results are reviewed at the end of the test run, enabling the team to make decisions before the next milking. While establishing an on-farm lab and implementing a contagious mastitis surveillance program can be a big undertaking, Dr. Fehn says it
was worth it. Without a surveillance program, “Three cases could easily become three-hundred.” Producers and veterinary clinics across the country are finding positive results implementing early detection
with they can address them and reduce their incidence in the future. Acumen’s Founder and Chief Strategist, Tim Moshier, grew up on and around his grandparent’s and aunt and uncle’s dairy farm. During
of mastitis-causing pathogens as a first step in improving herd health. Once a farm has determined which mastitis pathogens they are dealing
his 21 years of service in the US Army, Moshier envisioned an early detection system that could save troops’ lives when under chemical or biological attack. After retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel, Moshier spent the next several years and millions of dollars developing the solution Acumen sells to dairy producers and veterinarians today. “Acumen Detection is 100% committed to helping dairy producers and veterinarians improve and maintain the health of their herds and thereby improve the bottom line,” Moshier says. “Our mission is to help those who feed us.”
Acumens Desktop Unit
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he days of the average dairy farmer sitting on their homemade 3-legged wooden stool and hand milking their way through a dozen cows, is long gone. Computers have become commonplace throughout all walks of life including the dairy operation’s milking parlors, barns and pastures. We are fully connected to search engines, data processors, research studies and clouds with the potential goal of improving profitability, milk quality, animal welfare and the lifestyle of today’s producers with just a few clicks of a mouse. Not all dairies make use of every advancement, but the list of possibilities grows longer. All aspects of a cow’s life can be tracked using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag or a computerized collar that identifies each animal, monitors their activities and location, collecting data that provides insights on their health, heat stress, feeding, efficiency, and estrus cycle. Rumination sensors track abnormal activity which can be an early warning sign of illness or infec t ion. A nk le at tached www.americandairymen.com
pedometers monitor exercise activity and structural health. And the technology is not only
want to be milked with only limited human interaction. Upon entering a robotic milking stall, they are identified and fed while a robotic arm disinfects their teats and attaches and holds the milkers in place gently milking with vacuum systems that mimic the movements of a calf. Milk yield recordings provide individual animal data including the amount produced, trends and milk components such as protein. Computerized refrigeration units chill the milk for safe storage while Time Temperature
The basics of doing everything we can to provide the cow with a comfortable, minimal stress environment still hold true. It’s important to remember that a technology only tells us what is wrong. confined to the cows but extends to the equipment as well. Some operations have the cows moving freely about the barns deciding when they
Recorders (T TR’s) do an automatic temperature check every 15 minutes. Robots maneuver their way through the alleys pushing December 2018
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Technology Advancements
feed closer to the bunk fence-lines. Some operations have incorporated t he use of d rones in monitoring the health and activity of their cow herds. Surveillance can prompt action in the case of emergencies and assess moisture levels of pasture lands and crops. Facial recognition sof t ware is available to identify cows using the
required to handle cows increasing the quality of life through improved efficiency. When milk prices become volatile, efficient dairy farmers will have a better probability of staying financially stable. Technology benefits the animals by reducing health issues through the monitoring of body tempera-
Technology advancements will keep coming to the dairy industry whether we are ready or not, but on an operational level it must be economical, reliable, easy to use and backed by excellent customer service. spots, markings and shape of face. Barn computers send text messages when a check on a cow or piece of equipment is necessary.
Technology benefits are multi-faceted.
For the producer, automated milking systems reduce the labor
tures, rumination patterns and activ it y levels. Sick and lame cows are treated earlier resulting in lower disease losses, increased longevity and improved animal well-being. The cow’s comfort is enhanced by items such as back scratchers, swinging body brushes, misters and fans to keep them itch * Continued on Page 30
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Technology Advancements
free and cool on the hottest days. Advancements also promote a twofold consumer confidence that milk is of the highest quality and
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animals are being properly cared for. The increasing use of solar panels is reducing energ y
c on s u mpt ion g i v i ng g r e ater control over greenhouse gas emissions. Methane digesters turn waste, manure and leftover feed into energy using large heated t a n k s w her e bac ter i a br e a k down the components producing methane, which in turn produces electricity and heat. But as is the case w ith all potential technologies, there may be negatives and shortcomings. Dr. Jef frey Bewley, A ssistant Professor at the University of Kentucky and expert in precision dairy farming stated, “The basics of doing every thing we can to provide the cow with a comfortable, minimal stress environment still hold true. It’s important to remember that a technology only tells us what is wrong. It’s up to skilled herds-people to decide on how to react to an alert. Good cow people w ill always be an asset to a dairy farm and prevention is always more effective than treatment.” Technology advancements will keep coming to the dairy industry whether we are ready or not, but on an operational level it must be economical, reliable, easy to use and backed by excellent customer service. The dairy industry needs to continue to assure the consumer that the goal and result of technologically advanced production benefits the animals as well as the producer.
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Business Profile
PolyDome calf huts protecting today’s calves for tomorrow’s future By Steve Weisman
S
ince 1972, PolyTank, Inc., which is located in Litchfield, MN, has been a prominent name in the rotomoulding world. Over that time, PolyTank, Inc., has developed a division of products under the name PolyDome (www.polydome.com) that have been helping dairy producers improve the health of their dairy herd by offering a range of products specifically designed to produce stronger and healthier calves. Cornerstone of their products is the series of calf huts that help reduce the impact of cold stress on nursery calf growth and health. Tony Robertson, who has been with PolyTank for 35 years and manager for the past 25 years, notes that dairy producers both large and small across the country believe in the benefits of the PolyDome calf huts. “We have one facility with 2700 huts to take care of their calves.” To provide research data to show the positive impact of the calf huts, PolyDome has worked with several university studies over the years that show calves housed in Poly Dome huts were healthier and grew faster than calves housed in modified wood hutches. One such study conducted by Noah Litherland, an assistant professor of dairy cattle nutrition at the University of Minnesota Dairy
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Research Center, analyzed the average daily gain of nursery calves over a several year study (20092012). Litherland attributed part of the success of the nursery calves with
producer in northeast IA, also sees the benefit of using PolyDome products. “We began using the Big Foot nurseries about seven years ago. We now have about 800 of these and find that their bigger size makes it more comfortable for the calf and easier to handle the bedding.” Moeller utilizes the nurseries after the newborn calves have spent their first five weeks in a large heated building. At that point, the calves spend their next four weeks in the Big Foot nurseries where they are
Another popular product has been PolyDome’s series of Bulk Bins. Bulk Bins are the perfect choice for handling high-moisture corn, soybeans, and other granular materials. the use of the Big Foot Calf Hutch. “The hutch had the adequate room for nursery calves to grow and develop, along with being rugged, durable and easy to sanitize between calves. The hutches are heavy duty, but lightweight enough for an individual to move them by hand. We also used the new born calf warmer and several super huts for newborn calves and weaned calves respectively.” Meanwhile, Dr. Kenny Moellers, a veterinarian and longtime dairy
enclosed, protected and dry. “It is much easier to handle them in an individual nursery. During this time, we transition them from a milk diet to a high protein calf diet. By the fourth week, they are feeding well. We also give three vaccinations during this time frame.” After this time period, Moellers will transition the calves to the Super Hut that can handle up to six calves per hut. With 84 of the Super Huts, Moellers keeps the calves in these
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huts for another two to three weeks.
Product choices: PolyDome Calf Nurseries
PolyDome Calf Nursery – The perfect choice for the newborn calf. It is considered the warmest hut on the market and the perfect choice during the colder months. During the day, the bed pack absorbs sunlight so that this stored heat keeps the calf warm at night. Unlike open huts, temperature change is controlled over a longer time to reduce stress on the calf. It’s perfect even in variable climates and stops snow and wind penetration, thus preventing frozen ears and tails. The calf stays dryer and cleaner and there is no snow to shovel out or mud tracked in. No more re-bedding after snow and rain. Made of high-impact UV stabilized polyethylene, it measures 86” in diameter and 60” high. It weighs about 100 pounds and is easily stackable. Poly Square Calf Nursery – This square hutch is wide enough and long enough for a calf to lie in the center, away from the cold radiation of the walls. The Poly Square has inverted ribs for better wind resistance and a wider stance for better stability, along with the Center Roof Vent, the leading vent system on the market today. Peter Leonard from the Vermont Technical Institute asserts, “The point that seems to differentiate these hutches from others on the market is the rotating air vent at the peak.” Poly Square Big Foot Calf Nursery is 12” longer (7’ 6”) than the Poly Square. It is constructed of opaque material to eliminate the solar effect, blocking out the sun’s heat but not the sunlight. It has the biggest sleeping area (38 square feet) than any calf hutch on the market today. Conver t ible Indoor Ca lf Nursery – This whole new approach to calf hutches is meant to be used indoors to keep calves separated to prevent disease and promote healthy growth. Works well in colder climates where outdoor hutches do not stay warm enough in the winter. 50” wide x 89” long and 41” high, it is stackable
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The one piece super hut
and weighs about 80 pounds. One-Piece Super Hut – The newest member of the Poly Dome line of shelters, the One-Piece is 8’ x 9’ x 6’ tall. Totally free standing that allows several door size openings to accommodate for animal size. Up to six calves can be held comfortably. Several options are available. Poly Dome Calf Warmer – This provides a comfortable environment for newborn calves for the first few hours after birth. The top section is hinged and can be removed for calf entry. The floor is raised and slotted for easy heat circulation of the entire unit. A vent/peep hole at one end allows for proper ventilation and viewing the calf without the opening the unit. Comes complete with a high performance, 110-volt heater with three heat settings and two fan settings. 24” wide x 50” long x 45” tall. Another popular product has been PolyDome’s series of Bulk Bins. Bulk Bins are the perfect choice for handling high-moisture corn, soybeans, and other granular materials. They are made of high density polyethylene, which will never rust or corrode. PolyDome Bulk Bins will always remain clean and attractive. At the same time, the interior surface is very smooth to reduce bridging, and since they are just two-piece construction, there are no rivets and grain-cogging seams to contend with. The translucent polyethylene allows the producer to visually check material line from the outside. In addition, the Bulk Bins have a 22” top opening with a hinged, vented filler cap and a pull rope that allows ground control for filling. Bulk Bins come in several sizes ranging from .5 ton to 8.5-ton capacity.
Dick Johanneck started Polytank, Inc. in 1972 doing custom rotomoulding. In 1977, he began making calf hutches, which became known a s PolyDome C a l f Nu r ser ie s. The agricultural products division of PolyTank was later named PolyDome. Since that time, Polytank and PolyDome have added over 200 products to their line with dealers located across the United States, Canada, and 10 foreign countries. The rotomoulding process uses hollow metal moulds and powdered polyethylene plastic that become a semi liquid under high heat. The moulds with the liquid plastic inside are spun on both vertical and horizontal axis to form a uniform thickness, or skin on the outside walls, thus the name rotomoulding. The mould is removed from heat and allowed to cool under controlled conditions to avoid shrinkage or warpage. The resulting polyethylene plastic product is resistant to impact, most corrosive chemicals and temperature extremes. The slippery surface makes it very easy to clean. Polyethylene is also environmentally friendly because it can be recycled. Most PolyDome products are one piece with no seams or sharp edges. The light weight of polyethylene makes even large units easy to lift and move. PolyDome has their own metal fabricating shop for frames, stands, and supports used with their agricultural products. All metal parts are powdercoated for corrosion resistance. PolyDome provides a 10-Year Prorated Warranty on all Animal Shelters and Bulk Bins.
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hat constitutes “elite cows” differs from herd to herd. For some it comes down to genomic merit, for some its production traits and profitability, yet others it’s all about type. Regardless of what category your elite animals fall into, they share the same common ground. This where you’d like to maximize your breeding potential. Careful sire selection is only one of the many tools at your disposal to accomplish that.
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) technologies are both major options that can amplify the impact of each and every breeding. Deciding on which one to use and how can make the www.americandairymen.com
difference between lost opportunity and time or fasttracking to new replacements. For these reasons, b ot h opt ion s c ont i nue to b e increasingly common in the show and commercial worlds.
IVF vs. ET
Both of these technologies have the same end goal in mind. That is, they help to increase the rate of an animal’s genetic gain and her reproductive efficiency by increasing the number of calves she can have or introducing outside embryos to the herd. Both techniques may be done using either fresh or frozen embryos and have varying degrees of success. An experienced technician, in some states this must be a licensed veterinarian, is necessary to perform either procedure. December 2018
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Breeding Decisions
Embryo transfer, which involves flushing a super-ovulated bred cow with the resulting embryos being transfer to recipients either immediately or frozen for later. This method has a higher collection rate in comparison to its counterpart, producing five to six viable embr yos per successf ul f lush. Pregnancy rates are also higher, studies report as high as 60-70% when the transfer is done fresh and around 50% when frozen. Economically, this factors into an overall lower average up-front cost. A bonus to ET is that it is accessible to most farms due to its wide practice and relative simplicity. This is because these embr yos are fairly hardy and not environmentally sensitive. However, this procedure can only be done every 45-60 days. For obvious reasons, it is also best done with sexed semen which can add to the cost and take more units to procure a pregnancy. Some estimates show that ET will cost at least $250 per viable pregnancy, variable to the price and amount of semen used. Sometimes this is justified by the value of the resulting calf. Some operations set an X value that the offspring of a
particular animal must have to be worth the investment in additional reproductive technology.
Embryo transfer, which involves flushing a super-ovulated bred cow with the resulting embryos being transfer to recipients either immediately or frozen for later. In-vitro fertilization is an excellent option for heifers too young to yet be traditionally bred, spring boarding their productive life and
genetic impact on the herd. In this procedure, the cow is not bred prior to f lushing and the aspirated oocytes (unfertilized eggs) are fertilized in a lab. This can also be done far more frequently than ET, as much as weekly or biweekly. This method can be successful with animals that aren’t able to be a prolific ET donor. However, this option can also be/ more difficult to get a viable pregnancy out of. A successful f lush averages only four to five oocytes for fertilization. There is only a 50% chance of pregnancy when done fresh and 55-60% frozen. They are also much more
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Breeding Decisions
delicate and are very temperature sensitive and require a temperature-controlled room for aspiration. This means you will have to either find a nearby collection facility you can transport your animals to or find a farm that has on-site facilities available to use.
Selecting an option
Cows that aren’t having much luck getting live calves from transfers are worth trying in IVF. Some of the issues IVF can work around are oviduct blockages, abnormal ovulations, or issues with progesterone and corpus luteums. Heifers as young as seven or eight months old are also eligible for this procedure. However, IVF is not for all animals either. It will not be successful on donors that have low antral follicular counts and poor oocyte producers. If you are looking to get more embryos per flush, want the higher conception rates and the lower up-front cost obviously ET is your go-to option. If your cows are open and prolific ovulating donors, they should be good candidates. This method is primarily for your proven breeders. It doesn’t work well with virgin heifers, poor ovulators or impacted by other various reproductive issues. Of course, there are many extraneous factors that will vary from farm to farm. These may include budget, number of animals to breed, availability of trained technologies and equipment and other resources. Take a look and see where in your area these practices are being implemented.
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Photo courtesy of Marvin Meyers & ASsociates
R
egardless of mailbox milk price, providing excellent cow comfort is a non-negotiable for high performing dairy herds. Comfortable cows have the best chance of sustaining high physical performance, and in turn, leaving a positive net margin. Bedding and flooring are key areas of cow comfort, as producers should aim to make resting areas as attractive as possible for the milking string. Several bedding options are commonplace nowadays, one of which is rubber or foam cattle mats. Rubber and foam mats offer a great solution for stall bed comfort, while also serving a dual purpose of excellent loafing and walking surface to cows. Bedding
In free stall barn situations, a rubber mat of approximately two inches thick is installed on top of the concrete bed to provide additional comfort and cushion for lying. The matt can then be sprinkled with sawdust, lime, straw or paper to improve cow cleanliness and comfort. Mats provide a very simple and effective comfort option which can be quickly and easily installed and maintained. Mat options include flat solid rubber mats, rubber filled mats and also foam filled mats. Ly ing time in stalls can be increased by providing a deep bed of sawdust or similar material to make the stall as attractive as possible to the cow. Rubber filled mattresses offer a slightly different option than solid mats. The mattress is more flexible and molds under the cow’s body. Maximizing lying time has enormous benefits to the cow, through increased rumination, more blood flow to the udder and lower incidence of lameness. Quite simply, when cows are not on their feet, they have little opportunity to become lame. Mats also offer a clean and dry resting area
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for hooves and will reduce the time spent standing in damp conditions and the chance for bacteria growth around the hoof.
Flooring
Several research studies have highlighted the benefits of rubber and foam mats for use in alley ways.
Photo courtesy of Animat
The softer underfoot conditions provided by mats reduces physical injuries to the hoof compared to concrete floors, and therefore a reduction in lameness overall. If installing mats along the entire alleyway is cost prohibitive for producers, corners, holding areas and other areas where cows turn should be prioritized for mat use. Cows turning corners on concrete has the most effect on wear and tear on the
hoof, which can lead to bruising, ulcers and other lameness issues. The act of turning a corner can ‘grind’ the hoof against concrete; rubber and foam mats will reduce this issue. Research studies have shown alley mats can improve locomotion scores and cows take longer strides, indicating that they feel comfortable and assured of foot placement when walking on the mats. Many modern mats have a non-slip surface and this will improve cow’s confidence and willingness to move around regularly from feed to water to the free stall. Hygiene on mats can also be easier to maintain. Lameness issues such as digital dermatitis can be more easily controlled in an alley mat environment as hygiene can be improved. Mats have a wide array of benefits to offer the dairy cow, such as, better hygiene, improved cow cleanliness, improved locomotion, improved feed intake if headlock mats are installed, greater lying time and reduced physical abrasions and injury. Before installing mats either in alleyways or on stalls, producers should visit other dairies with experience of mat use and learn the pros and cons of the system.
Photo courtesy of Animat
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