CentralStar News - June/July

News June - July 2019

New SCC View Analysis Report adds Convenience to Management

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airy farms that rely solely on individual cow or bulk tank Somatic Cell Count (SCC) scores are leaving money on the table.

To really manage SCC’s impact on herd performance and profitability, multiple data points must be monitored, which is why CentralStar Cooperative developed the SCC View Analysis report.

Developed in collaboration with Dairy Records Management Service (DRMS), the SCC View Analysis report is a convenient way for producers to get a comprehensive snapshot of a herd’s SCC infection rates by days in milk and stage of lactation. It allows herds to establish goals and highlights key areas such as dry period cures and infections at calving, against established goals.

“Producers don’t have time to dig up and analyze multiple data points to manage SCC, so bulk tank and individual cow information ends up being the norm when it shouldn’t be,” said Doug Moyer, Director of DHI Services for CentralStar Cooperative.

“Recognizing this challenge we created the multi-point SCC View, making it convenient for producers, veterinarians and consultants. The report does a great job of stratifying SCC averages by lactation and stage of production, allowing a dairy to easily zero in on groups that might otherwise be overlooked.”

Available in early 2019 to producers using CentralStar’s DHI testing services,

users have found that the SCC View pinpoints segments of the herd that are higher than their self-determined goal.

Once identified, management changes can be made for a particular segment and positively impact milk quality for the entire herd. The two-page SCC View report can be emailed FREE to herds using CentralStar’s DHI services that are processed through DRMS. “There is significant research showing a strong relationship between SCC and key profitability drivers on a dairy,” said Moyer. “The interconnectedness of SCC, reproduction, production and

Establish goals with veterinarians and consultants to allow for quick and easy assessment each test day. Providing convenient feedback to your herdsperson, parlor managers and farm employees is a great way to ensure SCC remains a focus.

The Days in Milk Table stratifies the herd by lactation, showing areas of opportunity a bulk tank average will mask. Test day trends for new infections is one of the best leading indicators of a looming SCC challenge or recovery.

Talk with your CentralStar DHI Specialist to begin receiving the SCC View FREE via e-mail.

culling means the insights SCC View can provide are wide reaching.”

“While bulk tank SCC are important measures of the quality of milk that is marketed, they don’t give us the total mastitis picture of the herd,” said Ronald Erskine, DVM, PhD, Professor & Dairy Extension Veterinarian, Michigan State University. “In fact, with herds that actively cull or dry off high SCC cows, treat clinical cases or milk cows with three quarters, the extent of mastitis can be underestimated. You can’t track the effects of management changes without tracking new infections based on individual cow SCC.”

Scholarship applications due July 1 CentralStar Cooperative is offering seven $1,000 scholarships this year -- two of which are designated to technical-school or short-course students. Those interested can find the application at www.mycentralstar.com/scholarship. Don’t delay, deadline is July 1, 2019.

Even in the toughest dairy economy...

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undreds of millions of doses of Select DTX™ are fed to cows from coast to coast. Why? DTX has proven it works time and again in the toughest testing environments of all… real cows on real dairies across the United States and Canada.

A unique direct-fed microbial, DTX is more effective than other DFMs because of the presence of L-form bacteria designed specifically for feed challenges caused by molds and their metabolites. DTX is not a binder, but is more effective as it works from the biological approach treating the cow, not the feed. A broad spectrum solution, DTX works to neutralize the damaging effects of many different types of toxins, while helping to improve immune function and gut health.

Learn more about DTX and FREE mycotoxin testing at 800.631.3510.

MASTITIS DETECTION Unlike Culture, DNA TESTING Provides:

Convenience through the analysis

of routinely collected DHI samples.

"There are always mycotoxins. We try to minimize them by doing the best job possible putting up forages, but they are a fact of life. As a member of the NorthStar board I had seen how DTX sales continued to grow in spite of poor milk price and it made me curious. At that time we were using a clay binder and were frustrated with the results. Our SCC and abortion rates were rising, and our repro wasn't as good as it could be, so we gave DTX a try. Since staring on DTX, the overall heath of the cows is better. They have a healthier immune system which leads to lots of benefits. In particular SCC dropped significantly, allowing us to switch processing plants and take advantage of greater milk quality incentives. Along with that, our repro has improved and production is up. In this dairy economy we are all trimming out extra expenses, but DTX is not one of them."

Lee Jensen Five Star Dairy LLC, Elk Mound, 1,100 cows "Working with our nutritionist and Tom (Adams, NorthStar A.I. specialist) we made the decision to add DTX in our ration after discovering toxins in our corn silage.

Since adding the product, we have seen a reduction in retained placentas and more milk per cow. DTX helps cows come through calving cleaner and healthier and gives us healthier cows – and heathier cows make more milk and more money! Without it we would be leaving money on the table."

Sally Nielsen, herdsman Fergs White Clover Dairy, Manawa, 600 cows

It doesn’t get any easier than this!

MILK PREGNANCY TEST

Tell your DHI Specialist which cows you want tested.

800.631.3510 • mycentralstar.com