CowManagement US september 2013

ED ITION U .S. V O LU M E 5 N O 4 SE PTE MBE R 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

M A N A G EM EN T

Consider the benefits of precision dairy farming FEED IN G

Shredlage increases digestibility and milk production M ILKIN G

The ideal balance of milking speed and teat health CMUS04_Cover.indd 2

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Bo W J ot orl oin h d AR Da us 46 iry at 1- Ex 48 p 3, o TM I

flexible fresh feeding At Lely, we realize how much time you spend feeding your cows. Let the Lely Vector automatic feeding system take over so you can focus even more on the well-being of your cows and the management of your farm. Hungry for more? www.flexiblefreshfeeding.com.

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evolve.

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innovators in agriculture 29-08-13 09:22

CO NTENTS

FEATURES

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Cow talk Beyond the barn: marathon runners Barenbrug news Lely information Vet practice: Q-fever CRV breeding information FARM REPORT

10 North Florida Holsteins BREEDING

26 The influence of components MANAGEMENT

30 World Dairy Expo preview 36 Grazing: Low cost milk production

Don Bennink: “You need the best people to make it all work”10

Amy Ryan Dedicated to milk quality

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s dairy producers, milk quality is a top priority. According to the National Mastitis Council, this dedication is evidenced by the continual decrease of somatic cell count (SCC). In fact, SCC has dropped from 276,000 average in 2007 to 200,000 average in 2012. While impressive, there is still room for improvement.

This CowManagement features a special section on milking equipment focusing on improving milk quality. In the article “Balancing milking speed and udder health” researchers share their findings on what can influence milking performance.

Automating specific tasks in the milking parlor can improve consistency in the milking routine. On page 20 learn more about automated milk prep systems and their benefits.

A third article in the section highlights a dairy in Minnesota that has incorporated automatic milking

systems (AMS) into its operation. The Lingen family shares their keys to successfully using AMS. Precision dairy farming (PDF), which includes AMS, is a growing industry worldwide but adoption rates remain low in the U.S. “The possibilities are endless” on page 6 takes a look at PDF with one expert from here, and one from the Netherlands, discussing the most important considerations regarding PDF technologies.

The September farm report on page 10 highlights North Florida Holsteins, which focuses on people, practicality and adapting technologies to remain profitable.

Finally, World Dairy Expo is right around the corner and as usual, this issue contains a preview of the event and highlights some of the new products, faces and companies that you can expect to see this year in Madison, Wisc.

Management Precision farming

Feeding Shredlage corn

Special section Milk equipment

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Look beyond costs when considering precision dairy farming.

Tearing corn silage longitudinally helps increase digestibility.

Discover the many factors that impact milking performance.

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USDA announces recent animal welfare act enforcement actions

APHIS highlights response to AWA and HPA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) continues to move swiftly and consistently to take enforcement action in response to animal welfare violations.

In particular, APHIS is highlighting enforcement actions taken in response to violations of the Animal

Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA).

Copies of documents related to these actions, as well as copies of official warnings, are available in the APHIS FOIA Reading Room at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/foia/ enforcement_actions.php.

Source: www.aphis.usda.gov

USDA forecasts record-high corn production U.S. corn growers are expected to produce a record-high 13.8 billion bushels of corn in 2013, according to the Crop Production report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The forecast production is up 28 percent from drought-hit 2012.

U.S. soybean production is forecast at 3.26 billion bushels in 2013, up 8 percent. NASS forecasts 76.4 million acres of soybeans for harvest this year.

If realized, this will be the second largest harvested acreage on record.

This USDA report included the first production forecast for U.S. cotton.

NASS forecasts all cotton production this year at 13.1 million 480-pound

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bales, down 25 percent from last year.

Wheat production is forecast down from 2012. According to the report, all wheat production is expected to total 2.11 billion bushels this year, down 7 percent from 2012.

NASS interviewed more than 24,000 producers across the country in preparation for this report. The agency also conducted field and lab measurements on corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton in the major producing states, which usually account for about 75 percent of the U.S. production.

The Crop Production report is published monthly and is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.

Source: www.nass.usda.gov

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Virus will help rule out mad cow disease A new virus that causes neurologic symptoms reminiscent of mad cow disease has been identified and its genome sequenced by a team of researchers including scientists at the UC-Davis.

While this new virus is unlikely to pose a threat to human health or the food supply, the new findings are important because they provide researchers with a relatively simple diagnostic tool that can reassure ranchers and consumers by ruling out mad cow disease (BSE) as the cause of neurologic symptoms when they appear in cattle.

Results of the study appear in the September issue of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers analyzed brain tissue from a yearling steer with neurologic symptoms of unknown cause. Through this analysis, they discovered a new virus that belongs to the astro-virus family.

Cattle that have neurologic symptoms are vigilantly screened to safeguard the human food chain from disease-causing microbes and toxins. These diseases include rabies, salmonella, listeria, chlamydia and mad cow disease. BSE became a major public health concern after a connection was discovered between the disease in animals and a similar rare, human ailment called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Early and rapid recognition of the causes of neurologic disease in cattle is therefore of the utmost importance; diagnosis is labor-intensive, costly and challenging because of the large number of microbes and disorders that can cause neurologic diseases.

Source: www.news.ucdavis.edu

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Newly-revised animal care reference manual available The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has released a newlyrevised animal care reference manual, containing the guidelines that comprise the core of the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program. The new manual is at www.nationaldairyfarm.com.

The FARM program was created four years ago to establish a national, voluntary dairy animal care program to bring consistency and uniformity to America’s dairy farm practices.

The original reference manual was used to guide animal care practices on farms that have enrolled in the program

since 2009; this new manual will now be provided to those both currently enrolled, and those who will become part of the program going forward.

A variety of industry stakeholders provided input into the revision process, NMPF COO Jim Mulhern said, and the end result includes findings from the third-party verification process that began in 2011.

In addition to a revised streamlined on-farm evaluation process, the manual includes key changes in the areas of medical procedures, animal observations and housing. Other areas such as feed and water have also been

streamlined to make the evaluation more effective.

An order form for hard copies of the animal care reference manual or the quick reference user guide can be found on the FARM website.

The new guidelines were implemented in the on-farm evaluation process this summer.

The National Dairy FARM program currently has participant farms producing 70% of the nation’s milk supply.

More than 8,000 on-farm evaluations have been completed.

Source: www.nmpf.org

Agricultural exports will reach $140 billion in 2013

Agriculture exports on track for new record

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade today. USDA projects that Fiscal Year 2013 agricultural exports will reach $140 billion, which if realized would be a new record. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement on the news about the new record: “Driven by the productivity of U.S. farmers and ranchers, we have achieved five years of positive momentum for agricultural exports and today’s forecast is another promising development.

Agricultural exports have a real impact on Main Street and beyond, supporting more than one million good jobs here at home. We’re counting on Congress to

help keep up this momentum. With just a few weeks left before expiration of many Farm Bill programs – including trade promotion programs that return $35 in economic benefits for every dollar invested – producers and rural communities need passage of a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible. This would enable USDA to continue trade promotion, and carry out a wide variety of additional efforts to support a productive U.S. agriculture sector.

At the same time, America’s farmers and ranchers need a reliable and stable agricultural workforce to keep up production. Passage of the commonsense immigration reform measure, which

was already approved by a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate, would further strengthen American agriculture and help put our nation on solid footing to maintain strong exports in the years to come.

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture we intend to build on the record agricultural trade already achieved in the Obama Administration. We will continue breaking down barriers to U.S. products and working toward new agreements to expand exports, including a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union and a Trans-Pacific Partnership with Asian nations.”

Source: www.nmpf.org

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Look beyond costs when cons ideri

The possibilities Computers, smart phones, tablets… technologies that drive the world daily. The challenge is not whether to use these evolving technologies, but to decipher which best fit your operation. Experts say understanding the systems and analyzing indirect benefits help you make that differentiation.

technique, data interpretation, integration of information and decision making. Development and description of equipment that measures one or more parameters is encompassed in the technique.

Data interpretation is a critical step that transforms data into usable on-farm information. The ability to combine information obtained from the system with other on- or off-farm data will also improve the value of the system. Decision making based on system data is the final stage.

The second success factor of PDF is cost-efficiency,

by Amy Ryan

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recision dairy farming (PDF) commonly describes the technologies that are available to dairy producers to assist in daily on-farm management.

More specifically, Jeffrey Bewley, assistant professor of animal and food sciences at the University of Kentucky defines PDF as, “the use of automated, mechanized technologies towards refinement of dairy management processes, procedures and information collection.”

During the Precision Dairy Conference held in Minnesota, Bewley discussed the evolution of PDF, the opportunities and what the future may hold.

Bewley cites the following factors as driving the demand for these technologies: animal well-being; consumer demands; environmental pressure; labor challenges; and economic competition.

According to Henk Hogeveen, with Wageningen University and the Department of Farm Animal Health at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, PDF technologies for the dairy industry began in the 1970s with individual cow ID and have progressed today to complete PDF systems for milking, heat detection, feeding and other on-farm applications.

“With a worldwide trend of fewer farms that are larger in size and increased milk production per cow, per labor unit and per farm comes an increasing need for efficiency and the ability to manage cows on an individual level,” Hogeveen says. “PDF systems are designed to meet that need, but utilizing them successfully depends on several factors.”

Factors for success System specifications are keys to success, which Hogeveen says can be further categorized into

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cons idering precision dairy farming

ities are endless which is dependent on the type of application.

“Many new developments are aimed at improved disease situations, thus, the cost of disease is an important first element as it holds the potential economic value of the PDF system,” Hogeveen says.

“As many endemic dairy cattle diseases cost estimates are not available, the benefits of improved management because of PDF applications are often unknown.”

Finally, there are non-economic factors affecting success says Hogeveen, which include things like

size effects, risk preference, variation in labor availability or capital and operation goals.

Benefits While these technologies change daily, their main objectives stay the same, namely maximizing individual animal potential, early disease detection and minimizing medicine use through preventive measures. Bewley says benefits are numerous including: improved animal health and well-being, improved farmer well-being, increased efficiency,

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technology

parameter(s) measured

SmartBow VelPhone Alanya AfiLab Pedometer Plus HR Tag Track-a-Cow Mastiline CowManager Sensoor IceQube Anemon TempTrack FeverTag AccuBreed CowScout

position, movement calving time, vaginal temperature temperature, lying time, activity, locomotion, behavior fat, protein, lactose lying time, steps rumination time, neck activity lying time, time at feedbunk somatic cell count rumination time, feeding time, ear skin temperature, activity lying time, steps, locomotion vaginal temperature, estrus reticulorumen temperature tympanic temperature mounting activity leg activity

Table 1: Summer 2013 UK Coldstream Dairy Monitoring Capabilities

reduced labor costs, improved product quality, minimized adverse environmental impacts and more objectivity due to less observer bias and influence.

“The ideal PDF technology explains an underlying biological process that can be translated into meaningful action with information readily available to the farmer and a reasonable return on investment,” says Bewley. “The best technologies are cost-effective, flexible, robust and reliable, and these characteristics are demonstrated through research and commercial demonstrations. Furthermore, good systems allow for continuous improvement and feedback loops.”

Bewley continues to say that some of the most common PDF systems available are automated milking, automatic calf feeding and precision feeding systems.

“The adoption rates of automatic milking systems have increased in North America recently and the inclusion of robotic milking components into rotary parlors will help increase milking mechanization in larger operations in the near future,” he says. “Well-managed automated calf feeding systems are creating a paradigm shift in calf raising and precision feeding is helping to improve how lactating animals are fed (intake and utilization), which is becoming more important amid increased feed prices, dairy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Bewley adds that PDF technologies are readily available, and due to the development of technologies and their support-

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ing applications, are becoming more feasible. Many standard technologies possess the ability to measure basics such as daily milk yield recording, while newer technologies include more advanced monitoring like biological components, odor and respiratory rates.

Specific technologies available are inline sensors for monitoring things like milk production and components, various estrous detection systems, behavior/physiological monitors and imaging which pinpoints locomotion, thermography, body condition and feed intake. Bewley and his team at the University of Kentucky are currently using numerous PDF technologies to quantify physiological and behavioral changes associated with events such as estrus, mastitis, metritis, lameness, respiratory diseases and metabolic diseases (see Table 1).

PDF technologies monitor various cow characteristics and offer an abundance of data to aid in decision making. However, this information is only valuable if interpreted and used correctly. “The industry must establish guidelines for producers to follow to assist in data handling and utilization,” Bewley says.

Obstacles for adoption Bewley states that adoption rates are still low and to investigate, Kentucky surveyed dairy producers. The survey found the top three factors influencing adoption rates included: familiarity with available technologies, undesirable cost

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to benefit ratio, and information overload without knowledge of how to use it.

To address the economic concerns with PDF technologies, Bewley recommends producers do an investment analysis. He adds that the information obtained from these technologies should be used for economic benefit and utilizing multiple parameter systems helps spread the economic risk.

Provide clear information PDF technologies are a good fit for dairy operations, but Bewley offers the following advice to dairy producers.

“Keep in mind that many technologies are in infancy stage and not all are good investments depending on varying situations,” he says. “Economics must be examined and human factors considered when evaluating which systems may work best in your operation.”

Bewley further emphasizes it is important to remember that some technologies are not fully developed and enter the market too quickly. Thus, some software may not be user friendly and producers must be prepared for things to go wrong. “While data integration may be challenging and take a few months to learn how to use, we are entering a new era of dairy management with many new exciting available technologies.”

Hogeveen adds that making PDF technologies work and pay at the farm is dependent on the following: providing clear information; providing information associated with management; enhancing cost efficiency; and keeping it simple.

“When considering PDF technologies, producers need to look further than the costs as some benefits are more indirect, like improved udder health and less antibiotic use,” says Hogeveen. “While adoption rates are low now, they will continue to change and grow as the industry changes.”

Bewley says technology will continually grow and impact the industry.

“Dairy producers with good ‘cow sense’ will benefit the most from adoption, while those who view technologies as a way to do something they don’t like to do will struggle,” he says. “All-in-all, PDF won’t change cows or people, but will change how they work together to improve farmer and cow well-being.” l

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One of Florida’s largest dairies thrives on personnel development and practical breeding

People, practicality, profits As a pioneer in the Florida dairy industry, North Florida Holsteins has seen much success through innovation. However, when asked specifically about which tools or strategies have contributed most to that success, managing partner Don Bennink says it all comes down to developing people, adapting technologies and practical breeding.

by Amy Ryan

North Florida Holsteins North Florida Holsteins prides itself in enriching their employees and providing job security while adapting new technologies.

Number of cows: Number of heifers: Amount of land: Rolling herd average:

Bell

4,700 4,000 2,400 acres 24,500M 880F 720P

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eing home to 10,000 head of cattle (4,700 cows; 4,000 heifers; 350 bulls and 350 steers) on 2,400 acres of land in Bell, North Florida, Holsteins is one of the largest dairies in the state and their website sports the tagline “Quality Milk from Comfortable Cows!”

Managing and developing this type of operation is no small task, and Bennink says he relies on great people. “As a producer, you can have the best cows, machinery and land, but need the best people to make it all work,”

Don Bennink with By-My Rudolph Sally-ET EX-90 at the time she broke 350,000 lb of milk

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NO-FLA Oman Heidi 20611 VG-87

says Bennink. “Procuring, educating and training staff is very important as you get larger and I am extremely lucky to have tremendous team members.”

North Florida Holsteins employs 100 full-time, part-time and trainees with a management team of seven in various roles on the farm. With underlying objectives of supporting the welfare of employees, animals and the environment as well as providing employees with opportunities for growth and enrichment, Bennink sets the overall operation goal of remaining an ongoing entity that provides employees plenty of job security. To help achieve this goal, it offers numerous on-farm training opportunities.

students to see large dairy management and take that knowledge back to their home countries,” says Bennink. “We have on-premise housing and require that no two individuals from the same country or who speak the same foreign language live together, so they have the opportunity to learn other cultures while improving their English.”

For Bennink, the most rewarding part of the program is seeing participants go home and succeed or recommend people to enroll. “Through my world-wide travels, I have connected with many past students,” he says. “It is gratifying to see them do well and talk with parents who are extremely grateful for the program.”

International exchange

Although Bennink was born in Florida in the early 1940s, it took years of farming and practicing law in New York to lead him back to his birthplace.

“Ironically, I was born in Florida. Shortly after losing my father in World War II, my mother decided a move back to her home state of New York was going to be the best fit for us,” says Bennink. “She taught there and I worked for many dairy farmers until I finished college and rented a place for my cattle.”

Bennink’s busy schedule as a lawyer often conflicted with his farming

In addition, it is open to researchers from the University of Florida and an international student program mandated by Ohio State University. This program, which began in 1991, has brought over 200 students from every inhabited continent to the farm. Eight to ten students are on the farm at any time. They reside there for one year and spend that time learning how each department operates before breaking into their specialized areas of study.

“The program was developed to allow

Florida beginnings

schedule. While traveling to Florida for a case, he says he saw a real opportunity there. After reassigning his cases, he purchased a feedlot property in June of 1980, the groundwork for what has now become the home of North Florida Holsteins.

Their first construction project was a double-10 parallel milking parlor and

by September, they were milking 125 cows. Just five years later, the herd had grown to around 1,000 cows and a double-12 parlor was added. In 1990, a mere five years later, 3,600 cows called North Florida Holsteins home and they were being milked in a newly added double-40 parallel parlor.

Bennink feels that the operation has differentiated itself in Florida by emphasizing cow comfort and genetics.

This is where adopting technologies, namely tunnel ventilation and genomics have been very important. “In Florida, there are three major problems facing dairy producers: heat and humidity, mud, and producing quality forages,” he states. “To address the heat and humidity, we were the first dairy to have tunnel ventilation and worked on perfecting it with sprinkler systems and evaporative cooling.”

Growing through cow families How did Bennink grow the herd so rapidly? This is another area where the people part of the industry comes into play. He grew through buying whole herds of cows that good dairy producers had developed over the years.

“We were contacted by breeders looking to sell their herds because they preferred to keep their whole herd together as opposed to dispersing to various herds around the U.S. and knew our interest in developing good cow families,” says Bennink. “We also had the reputation of offering flexible payments, which assisted with tax implications.”

Bennink attributes much of the success of the North Florida Holsteins breeding program to the acquisitions of these herds. Namely, he says their approach of purchasing whole herds to sometimes secure one cow family has afforded them the opportunity to work with some of the best cow families and

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International trainees receiving a seminar on milk proficiency

consistent breeding lines to further develop their herd’s genetic potential.

Embryo transfer (ET) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) have also boosted herd growth and genetic development.

Some of the herds and breeders that Bennink mentions as great contributors to North Florida Holsteins growth and success include: Joe Dell and DeWitt Head from New York; Dick Wheeler from Pennsylvania; Brian Young, CV Vincent and David Greene from Tennessee; Ted Olsen in Kentucky; and the Newberry family from Georgia.

Cows that pay bills The North Florida Holsteins’ breeding philosophy has always centered on developing the most profitable cow for the commercial dairyman. In a nutshell, Bennink sums this up as “good, practical, long-lived commercial cattle that pay the bills.” That is where the outstanding transmitting cow families mentioned earlier, along with some of the key cow families that made the trek with Bennink from New York, have contributed most.

“We don’t market to fads; our ultimate goal is breeding cows that net the most revenue for commercial dairymen,” he says. “We choose the highest production and highest health trait sires available and always look for outcross

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bulls that meet our second goal of keeping matings below 3.5 percent inbreeding.”

Furthermore, Bennink credits genomics on both the paternal and maternal sides with rapidly advancing the genetic pool in the North Florida Holsteins herd. “We are using 100 percent genomic sires and have a new rotation of bulls within one month of sire summary. If you look at the current top five on the gTPI list, we have daughters of each of the sires and we would have very likely used few if any of these sires if it weren’t for genomics.”

The dairy has been genomically testing all heifers for the last two years to identify animals to genetically develop further. While Bennink states many of the higher genomic individuals usually hail from their key cow families, this method helps identify outliers and starts new cow families of interest.

Once identified, these animals undergo intense ET and IVF programs. In fact, two-thirds of the pregnancies carried by heifers and 10 to 20 percent of the pregnancies in the milking herd on the dairy are IVF pregnancies from the top three percent (genetically) of the herd.

One of the most influential cow families for North Florida Holsteins is NO-FLA Oman Heidi 20611 VG-87, who’s nine dam was a Pebble Beach

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Prince of Wayne daughter that Bennink purchased from a neighbor in New York.

He says that a high percentage of his genomic offspring are coming from this O-Bee Manfred Justice-ET daughter or other branches of her family, with many of them being in the 850 to 900 net merit range.

While Bennink says North Florida Holsteins doesn’t actively market their genetics, they are doing business with all the major A.I. companies as their cow families are consistently producing high value offspring. They sell about 100 bulls to these companies a year as well as 1,100 to 1,200 bulls to commercial dairymen.

Stability and security With a strong dedication to people, innovation and breeding, Bennink’s vision for North Florida Holsteins is creating an on-going entity with continued growth opportunity for the future and stability of workforce.

“I expect to add working equity partners who share the same goals and are committed to growing the business by investing in employees and new technologies while developing good cow families,” concludes Bennink.

“Ultimately, I want the business carryon for many years after me and ensure employees have plenty of job security.” l

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Name: Location: Herd size: Hobby:

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Dennis and Kirsten Areias Los Banos, California 330 Registered Holstein cows Half-marathon runners

Chocolate milk is their recovery drink

Half marathons: a family affair

by JoDee Sattler

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rowing up, Dennis and Kirsten Areias spent a fair amount of time running up and down country roads. So, it’s only natural running became a lifelong hobby of theirs. Yet, they only started competing in half marathons in the last decade.

Often, the Areias family combines half marathons with vacations. Kirsten ran her first half marathon in 2006, with her sister-in-law Julie Areias, at Disneyland.

Dennis ran one marathon – the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego – several years ago. “A friend of mine asked me to train with him. If I was going to put the time and effort into training, I thought I might as well run in it,” Dennis says. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was hard on my body and required a lot of training time.”

To prepare for half marathons, Dennis runs different lengths and does conditioning exercises, along with drinking joint juice and taking joint supplements. “I’m high energy and like to run long distances,” says Dennis. “It’s not unusual for me to run to town from home, which is 7 miles away.”

Kirsten is a little less rigid. Their daughter, Sarah van Loben Sels, develops the training programs. “She really pushes me!” says Kirsten. Sarah and their son, Sam, are avid cross fitters, so they are eager to offer advice in helping their parents prepare for races. Basically, their training includes short runs, long runs and timed runs, as well as using conditioning machines.

“To be honest, I know I can complete a half marathon without a rigid training program; the activities in my life get in the way of a strict training program. I’m not very competitive about improving my time. At 53 years old, I feel a real sense of accomplishment if I run a couple half marathons a year.”

Also, Kirsten and Dennis give a lot of credit to milk for their successful completion of half marathons. “Milk is always a part of our diets,” she says. “Chocolate milk is our recovery drink after condition training and runs!”

On pre-race day, Dennis and Kirsten eat protein for lunch, carbohydrates for dinner, drink lots of water and go to bed early. On race day morning, they eat a banana and yogurt, and drink more water. “I don’t dwell much on ‘pumping myself up’ for a race,” says Kirsten. “With operating a dairy farm, we are used to hitting the floor running first thing each morning.

Race day is just another day to hit the floor running!”

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Tearing corn silage longitudinally helps increase digestibility and milk production

Shredlage results look promising A new harvesting process that rips and tears whole-plant corn is taking corn silage to the next level. The increased surface area invites more rumen bugs to attach to the feedstuff – making the forage more digestible and pleasing to a cow’s rumen.

by JoDee Sattler

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eave it to farmers to take something “tried and true,” like corn silage, and make it even better simply by cutting it differently. The relatively new silage harvesting method, called shredlage, includes whole-plant corn the same as corn silage. The difference comes from the harvest method.

With a longer cut (about 1 inch), the plant is torn and ripped longitudinally as it passes through the chopper. The lengthways cut creates more surface area for rumen bugs to attach to and

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digest the feed. “Research shows this length promotes optimal digestibility of silage,” says Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois Extension dairy specialist.

Typically, a standard processor produces a 19-mm (0.75-inch) length of cut, whereas the shredlage processing rolls produce a 26-mm (1.03-inch) length of cut. “The specialized processing rolls are designed to allow silage to be harvested at a greater than normal chop length while improving kernel disruption,” says

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Roger Olson, Shredlage LLC technical director.

Olson adds that the process “annihilates” corn kernels. This helps prevent forage sorting and clostridial fermentation.

Hutjens says corn stalks’ pith tissue completely opens and corn kernels are smashed through the tearing and ripping process. Feed is softer and fluffier. He likes the corn grain’s finer particle size (compared with traditional corn silage) found in shredlage.

Harvest at lower moisture Olson says one of shredlage’s other benefits is that it can be put up with slightly lower moisture, offering a bigger harvest window. That said, he does not recommend dropping to less than 60% moisture. For high corn silage diets, he says 63 or 64% moisture is best.

By allowing kernels to more fully mature, starch value can increase by up to 10%. Mature plants processed conventionally would be spongy, sortable and less digestible. One of Olson’s goals in creating shredlage was to allow corn silage to be harvested at one-half (or more) milkline, rather than one-third to one-half milkline.

Visually, it’s easy to pick out shredlage from corn silage, as shredlage has a greater proportion of coarse stover particles, according to Kevin Lager, Iowa State University Extension dairy specialist. The coarse stover increases a

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ration’s physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content, which fosters proper rumen function, cow health and milk fat content.

UW trial results During the 2011 growing season, University of Wisconsin researchers compared shredlage and kernelprocessed corn silage (KPCS). (Shredlage trials planned for 2012 didn’t occur due to the drought. Research continues this year.) They found similar numbers for dry matter (DM), starch concentrations, pH and silo bag packing density between shredlage and KPCS. As expected, a larger proportion of coarse particles remained in the top screen (Penn State Separator Box) for shredlage (31.5%) compared with KPCS (5.6%). “For the total mixed rations (TMR) fed throughout the trial, the proportion of coarse particles was greater for TMR prepared with shredlage than KPCS (15.6% vs.

3.5%, respectively, retained on the top shaker box screen),” says Randy Shaver, University of Wisconsin (UW) Extension dairy specialist.

Luiz Ferraretto, a UW researcher involved in the trial, says that dry matter intake tended to be 1.4 pounds per day per cow greater for shredlage than KPCS, whereas milk yield and feed efficiency were similar. Yield of 3.5% fat-corrected milk and energy-corrected milk tended to be greater for shredlage than KPCS. Plus, ruminal and total tract starch digestibility improved with shredlage.

No sorting, production rises “Initially, cows fed shredlage produced 2 more pounds of milk per day,” says Ferraretto. “They held production and were up 4 more pounds of milk per day, compared with the control group, at 8 weeks into the trial (cows approaching 200 days in milk).” Then, the trial ended, because they ran out of shredlage.

Given the longer chop length, dairy producers wonder about feed sorting.

“Our measurements of weigh backs during the trial did not reveal feed sorting,” says Shaver.

Olson says he has not seen any sorting issues when the length of cut was 30 mm (1.19 inch) or shorter. Sorting does occur at 40 mm (1.58 inches) or longer.

Comments from the field Doug Knoepke, an owner and operator of More-To-Do-Farms, a 680-cow dairy in Durand, Wis., welcomes the opportunity to bump up the amount of forage in rations, without sacrificing digestibility, milk production or milk components.

Thus, he was an early adopter of harvesting and feeding shredlage.

“We strive for 80% corn silage in our rations, because corn silage is our most consistent feedstuff with the highest energy use – on a ton-per-acre basis,” says Knoepke. “If we suspect a ration issue, we check the haylage – not the corn silage – as haylage is more susceptible to clostridial issues.”

To get an objective opinion, Chr. Hansen evaluated Knoepkes’ shredlage.

Key results included: • No feed sorting • 1.6 fecal starch (nutritionists are generally happy if it’s <4) • No appearance of corn kernels Knoepke says the process just pulverizes corn kernels, which he believes improves bunker packing density. “You would think it’d be more difficult to pack shredlage tightly (due to its fluffy appearance) compared with typical corn silage, but we’re seeing better density in shredlage. By getting air out of the bunker, we’re minimizing feed spoilage.”

While not a “university trial,” Knoepke attributes a 3-pound (daily) milk production increase to shredlage.

The herd averages a 3.9% butterfat test and 3.26% protein test.

Paul Trierweiler of TDI Dairy in Westphalia, Mich., says they expected a bump up in milk production from feeding shredlage, but they weren’t expecting better cow health. “The incidence of DAs (displaced abomasums) and rumen acidosis dropped,” he says.

DAs fell to a 1.27% incidence rate.

To achieve the desired length of cut, Trierweiler removed every other knife on the cutter head. There were some feeding issues, so they switched to a different cutting head to get a more even length of cut.

In July, Nedarand Dairy, Homedale, Idaho, started feeding shredlage. “It’s feeding exceptionally well,” says Mike Ball, one of the dairy’s managers. Both

feed intake and milk production rose, whereas cow health improved.

Improves rumen function Chad McEathron, with Prairie Ag Supply and dairy nutritionist for the Knoepke herd, says shredlage helps with rumen function – its primary virtue.

“When you feed a fair amount of corn silage, you need to make sure it’s highly digestible. The increased surface area (of shredlage) helps increase digestibility.

You can feed a lot more corn silage when it’s shredlage due to its larger particle size.”

Visual evaluation via a four-tier shaker box shows that 41% of the shredlage remained in the top tier. “Usually, 3 to 8% is ‘normal’,” says McEathron. What lies in the top tray looks like chopped straw. The second tier holds 40% (shredlage); third tier, 13%; and the pan, 6%.

Shredlage also gains some popularity in the field. Knoepke says shredlage opens up a bigger chopping window.

“Moisture can vary from 63 to 64%, with no milk production loss. This is important to custom choppers as they contend with weather delays.”

McEathron agrees. “You don’t have to chop shredlage as wet as corn silage.

This ensures good starch laydown in the kernel.”

Packing density advantage Additionally, McEathron says shredlage has a packing density advantage over corn silage. At More-ToDo-Farms, they achieved 18 pounds of dry matter per cubic foot. “That’s exceptional! Usually, 14 to 16 pounds is the target. Knoepkes were at 16 pounds with corn silage, so they gained 2 pounds.”

Trierweiler is extremely pleased that they realized a 1.9-pound improvement in packing density with shredlage compared with corn silage.

“We really like how the shredding process left the feed,” says Ball. “There are minimal fines and the feed wasn’t ‘chewed’ as bad. The kernels just ‘exploded.’ It worked much better than the other kernel processors we’ve used.”

The forage packed exceptionally well in the feed pit. l

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Research uncovers milking performance bottlenecks. Page 18 Milking equipment automation reduces labor, improves consistency. Page 20 Tips for successful transition to robotic milking. Page 22

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Milk harvest involves two competing goals: milking quickly and gently

Balancing milking speed and teat health New research now uncovers the many factors that impact milking performance and teat barrel congestion – from vacuum level to pulsation rate to liner design to teat size.

Milking equipment researchers share their conclusions.

by JoDee Sattler

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icture a three-legged milking stool – one leg represents milking quickly, one leg represents milking gently and one leg represents milking completely.

Effective milking is definitely a balancing act of these three objectives.

Wisconsin and U.K. researchers studied the interactive relationship among milking vacuum levels, liner shape and venting, and teat and liner dimensions, and how they affect performance, primarily milking speed and teat tissue congestion (blue color or ringing at the teat base). They evaluated several liners, venting, milking vacuum levels and teat diameters.

One U.S. study used a high producing herd, milked 3 times a day with a rotary milking parlor fitted with several different liners.

Researchers assessed teat condition after milking the 1,026 cows and calculated the odds of developing teat barrel congestion. Previous research showed that adding a mouthpiece chamber (MPC) vent to a liner significantly reduced MPC vacuum during peak milk flow and especially during low milk flow.

Thus, they also evaluated the impact of MPC on teat barrel congestion.

Sonia Maria Areas-Gomez, a graduate student at the University

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of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), says they came to four main conclusions: • Liners with vents fitted to the MPC were 1.9 times less likely to be associated with teat barrel congestion than unvented liners.

• The odds of developing teat barrel congestion were 1.6 times greater when milking at vacuum 46 kilopascal (kPa), compared with 38.6 kPa. • Small diameter teats (<0.787 inch) had 1.6 times greater odds of developing teat barrel congestion than large diameter teats (>0.906 inch).

• Each 20-second increase of unit attachment increased the association with teat barrel congestion by 1.2 times.

Teat size and liner affect speed In a 470-cow study, researchers evaluated the interaction between teat size and liner type on milking speed.

Cows were milked twice daily in a low level milkline milking parlor.

“Venting increased milking speed for both round and triangular liners on wide and medium teats, with the most pronounced effect for the round liner and wide teats,” says Gomez. “MPC venting had no effect on milking speed for the round liner on narrow teats and reduced milking speed slightly for the triangular liner on narrow teats.”

The UW milking equipment research

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team also explored the performance of a narrow bore triangular liner with a MPC vent, compared with a narrow bore round liner without a MPC vent.

“The average milk flow rate for the narrow bore triangular liner was slightly less than for the round liner across a range of vacuum levels,” says Doug Reinemann, UW professor of machine milking and rural energy issues. Another experiment using a wide bore triangular liner with a MPC vent resulted in a similar difference in milking speed, compared with the narrow bore round liner.

U.K. studies liners Ian Ohnstad, milking equipment specialist with The Dairy Group, Somerset, United Kingdom, worked with research teams that looked at various vacuum levels and pulsation settings, and liners. “Generally, teat barrel congestion increased as vacuum level increased, probably because of increased MPC vacuum,” says Ohnstad.

“The exception to this trend is that the lowest vacuum setting appeared to produce more teat barrel congestion than the middle vacuum setting for the round liner. This may have been due to the effects of slower milking and a prolonged low flow period.”

“For the wide bore liners, teat barrel congestion was lowest for the triangular liner fitted with a MPC vent,” says Ohnstad. The unvented triangular liner produced the greatest teat barrel congestion, whereas the round liner produced intermediate congestion.

Narrow bore triangular liners produced low levels of teat barrel congestion, which was similar to the wide bore vented triangle liner. The effects of venting were not as pronounced as for the wide bore triangular liner. “Our

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at the teat base indicate high MPC vacuum during milking. “If you observe teat barrel congestion, measuring MPC vacuum during peak milk flow and low flow periods on cows with a range of teat sizes is a useful diagnostic tool.”

Additionally, assess claw vacuum during the low flow period if you see signs of teat barrel congestion. Gomez says teat barrel congestion develops most rapidly during the low flow period. Thus, you can reduce teat barrel congestion by reducing the low flow period of milking duration by increasing detacher flow thresholds and decreasing the detach delay setting on automatic cluster removers (ACR).

Add vent to prevent damage

Teat barrel congestion increased as the vacuum level increased

studies indicate that the increase in the prevalence of teat barrel congestion with milking vacuum is more pronounced for wide bore liners than for narrow bore liners.”

The milking machine researchers concluded that liner dimensions, shape and venting had little effect on milking speed (for the same vacuum and

pulsation settings). However, they saw substantial effects on the visual signs of teat barrel congestion.

“Observation of teat condition after milking is a powerful tool that can be used to assess the adequacy of a liner and appropriateness of the vacuum level being used,” says Gomez. Blue color in teat barrels and swollen rings

Based on several studies in various countries, signs of teat barrel congestion became more apparent with increased liner bore diameter and MPC depth across all teat sizes and for narrow teats across all liner types, with elevated MPC vacuum. Adding an air vent to the MPC reduced signs of teat barrel congestion considerably for wide bore triangular liners and to a lesser degree for narrow bore liners.

As expected, researchers saw a trend of increased teat barrel congestion and increased milking speed as milking vacuum levels increased. This is a classic illustration of the competing goals of milking quickly and gently.

“Increasing milking vacuum levels and the corresponding increase in milking speed has a small influence on number of cows milked per hour in a milking parlor,” Reinemann says. “Both research and field experience indicate that a mean liner vacuum within the range 32 to 42 kPa during peak milk flow ensures that most cows will be milked quickly, gently and completely.”

Reinemann adds that the effects of ACRs and/or setting a maximum cupson time have a far greater influence on the number of cows milked per hour than milking vacuum levels. Plus, they do not increase teat tissue stress. U.S., Denmark, Australia and New Zealand studies indicate that early unit removal does not produce a measureable reduction in milk yield or increase in mastitis risk. l

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Milking equipment automation reduces labor, improves consistency

Automating milking tasks Cows like consistency – whether it’s their diet or milking routine. Automating tasks in the milking parlor, rather than relying on human variables, often improves consistency on dairies and can reduce labor costs.

by JoDee Sattler

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ue to its labor-intensive nature, countless hours have been invested in developing automated milking systems and automating various milking procedures. We’re featuring two automated milking procedure technologies recently introduced to the United States.

Wash, disinfect and stimulate Last year, GEA Farm Technologies introduced the FutureCow Prep System, which uses a mechanical brush unit to consistently wash, disinfect, stimulate and dry teats to prep cows for milking. Three rotating, bi-layered brushes gently clean the sides and bottom of each teat. “It can effectively and reliably do these steps on teats of all sizes and shapes,” says Chad Buchanan, vice president of sales and marketing for GEA Farm Technologies Inc. “Prepping cows with the FutureCow Prep System accomplishes all of the necessary pre-milking procedures in one easy step,” says Buchanan. “Cows receive a consistent prep procedure, no matter who is milking.”

The chlorine dioxide solution used to wash and disinfect is a combination of an activator, base and water. The blending device pumps activator, base and water into the ready-to-use tank to blend the product for use. This tank refills automatically. When needed, a float signals the controller to blend more solution and notify the operator that the tank is full.

Brush units are mounted to a cable in the milking parlor. The cable allows the operator to move the unit from cow to cow. Before attaching the unit, GEA’s Keith Engel, who has worked with the FutureCow Prep System in commercial settings since June 2012, recommends stripping foremilk to look for clinical mastitis – just like what is recommended in “manual” milking prep routines.

To start the rotating brushes and dispense solution, the operator pulls a trigger, with the unit on each teat for a few seconds. (Length of time varies by teat cleanliness, with the operator leaving the device on “dirty” teats longer than “clean” teats.) The operator releases the trigger to stop dispensing the solution. Brushes continue rotating to wick away moisture from the teats. The

Potential benefits of automating milk prep • Reduce labor in milking parlor • Improve parlor throughput • Enhance milking stimulation • Increase milk flow rates • Decrease milking time

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• Boost milk quality • Lower iodine use • Better teat end health • Cut towel and laundry costs

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operator then moves to the next cow and repeats the process. After using the device on eight cows, the milking attendant goes back to the first cow and attaches the milking machine. This allows enough time for teats to dry and adequate lag time – 90 seconds from initial contact to machine attachment.

“Cleaner, healthier teats are less prone to mastitis,” says Engel. The system’s durable, yet soft, multi-layered brush set ensures that teat ends are properly cleaned before the operator attaches the milking unit. “Brush speed and pressure have been optimized for maximum stimulation, contributing to less unit ontime and improved teat end health.”

Reduce labor costs Badger Pride Dairy, Valders, Wis., installed the system last summer. This 900-cow dairy experienced about a 50,000 SCC drop in a year’s time. Cows and people quickly adjusted to the new system, which has eased the physical demands of milking on employees and improved milking routine consistency, teat health, milk letdown, unit on-times and peak flow rates.

System maintenance is simple and manageable. An iodine wash runs through the unit after each milking to clean and sanitize the brushes, with brush heads being replaced every 10,000 to 12,000 milkings.

In addition to lowering iodine costs, dairy producers can potentially reduce labor and operating costs. “With this system, you eliminate towels and laundry costs,” says Buchanan.

Engel notes that FutureCow can be used in non-GEA milking parlors. He has worked with FutureCow in Germania herringbone, GEA parallel, BouMatic parallel, DairyMaster rotary and WestfaliaSurge rotary parlors.

Alpha Technology USA manufactures the FutureCow Prep System, which is exclusively distributed by GEA Farm Technologies.

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Other milking automation tools available outside U.S. borders • The Scott Milktech system provides complete automated cupping. This system was designed for New Zealand’s pastoral farming models. www.scott.co.nz/scott-milktech • ADF offers an automatic teat dipping and cluster flushing system in the Untied Kingdom. The system shaves off milking times and contributes to a

more relaxed milking parlor atmosphere. www.farm-smart.co.uk • Onfarm Solutions heralds Teatwand Automatic Teat Sprayer, which has a pneumatically driven moving arm equipped with a spray nozzle that completely covers all four teats with teat spray. www.onfarmsolutions.com • AgriLac Dairy Technology offers the

In February, DeLaval unveiled the teat spray robot (TSR), which automatically sprays each teat before or after milking.

“Eliminating this vital but timeconsuming task reduces labor,” says Robert Jensen, business development manager at DeLaval International.

In addition, TSR consistently manages teat dip consumption and coverage, says Mark Futcher, DeLaval North America marketing manager for automated milking systems. “This positively contributes to farm profitability,” says Jensen. While teat dip consumption varies by product, its viscosity and

chosen spray pattern, the system’s accuracy and uniformity help support optimal udder health.

Enhances milking environment Jensen adds that TSR keeps cows calm through its consistent operation “We know from our experience with the voluntary milking system that cows like a predictable barn environment.

Farmers can create a good environment for their cows by using TSR.” A stand-alone unit, TSR may be used with external milking rotary milking parlors. When used for post dipping,

Sanicleanse Teat Scrubber. It washes, sanitizes and dries cows’ teats in one operation. The manually operated system moves from cow to cow on a stainless steel wire. www.agrilac.com This is not considered an all-inclusive list of automated milking innovations.

TSR sprays cows’ teats just prior to the cow exiting the milking platform.

“Increasingly, producers are looking to automation for efficiency gains. TSR can serve up to 400 cows per hour. This system can improve milking consistency – what cows like.” Available in limited numbers this year, DeLaval will fully launch TSR to the U.S. market in 2014.

If you don’t want a complete automated milking system, automating a milking procedure, such as those noted in the story and colored box, may help improve labor efficiency and milking routine consistency. l

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Producers share experiences following the addition of AMS on their farms

Tips for a successful switch to milking robots For many dairy professionals, automatic milking is a new technology, yet for thousands around the world; automatic milking systems (AMS) are now part of the daily routine.

by Ben Smink

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n the fall of 2012, the Lingen family built a new facility on their Balaton, Minn., dairy to boost production and efficiencies. The new facility, combined with the installation of an automatic milking system (AMS) has proven extremely successful.

“I was first involved with robots five or six years ago when a couple of our friends installed them,” says Josh Lingen. “That’s when I knew we needed them on our farm.”

Prior to transition, the Lingens took careful consideration of what

AMS would mean for their management.

They knew robots would take a central place in the new facility and that management needed to adapt.

“We visited several dairies with robotic milking,” recalls Josh. “It helped to talk to farmers who were actually using the technology to learn about how the system works and also to finalize our barn layout.”

Implementing AMS In January 2013, the Lingen family began milking their herd of 110 cows with two Lely Astronaut robotic

milking systems. Despite the extreme cold temperatures in the days of startup, the family saw extremely good results in just two weeks; pushing almost 11,000 lbs. of milk in the tank with two robots from day one.

“Because of our setup, we were able to let our herd become comfortable with the robots before they even started milking in them,” says Josh. “They could walk around them, sniff them, lick them and really get familiar with them being in the barn. Within a week of actually using the robots, all the cows were milking on their own.”

The Lingen’s herd continued to do well and, after seven months in the new facility, milk production hasn’t dropped below 90 lbs. per cow since startup.

“I believe our success is due to a combination of things, but primarily our focus on pre-training the herd,” says Josh. “Startup was so successful; the cows were so calm.”

Josh and Randy Lingen: ‘The startup was successful because of the pre-training period’

In January 2013, Lingen Dairy installed Lely’s Astronaut robotic milking system

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Take home message: preparation is king

Modern AMS measure more than 100 values per cow, per day. With enhanced software algorithms, the data is transformed into practical, hands-on information. For the Lingens, this farm-specific data is generated by Lely’s T4C (Time for Cows) management program which allows the Lingens to get quick, short overviews of attention cows only.

“Our farm management support (FMS) advisor has been a great resource to help us maximize efficiencies,” says Josh.

“They teach us how we can get the most out of our robot, harvesting the most milk in the shortest amount of time.”

AMS success factors In a 2011 study, 57 North American Lely Astronaut users shared their

Proactive farm management support is critically important, especially before the AMS arrives on the farm.

Current AMS users recommended future AMS users to: 1. Change daily management and use AMS precision dairy management tools.

2. Have an experienced AMS

nutritionist, because the feed ration is crucial to AMS success.

3. Visit other AMS farmers and learn from them.

4. Prepare yourself. Take time to listen to Lely specialists, they have experience.

5. Prepare the herd for the transition: health, feeding, feet and cow comfort.

results and success factors following the transition to AMS. A total of 104 North American farmers who implemented the Lely Astronaut between 2008 and 2010 were invited to take part in a survey regarding the 1) setup of their dairy, 2) milk production and quality results three months prior to and one year after implementation, 3) intensity of FMS during transition, and 4) advice to farmers starting AMS. The study concluded AMS tools allow producers to be proactive and solve cow health problems before they become visible. In general, the 57 respondents witnessed increased milk production and indicated a better handle on milk quality, reproduction results and culling decisions.

Aside from the expected yield increase, farms with a high SCC prior to installation reported improvement after the transition to AMS. Keys to successful AMS implementation: 1. Proper barn layout with a focus on cow comfort, ample space and open access to AMS. 2. Precise feed ration to encourage cows to AMS. 3. Professional guidance during AMS transition.

4. Proper use of Precision Dairy Management tools. l

References Smink B., P. Kool, R. van der Tol, 2012, Critical success factors transitioning from conventional to automatic milking in USA. Proc. National Mastitis Council, 51st annual meeting: 227-228.

Inside Lingen Dairy’s barn

Lingen Dairy, Balaton, MN

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Milk Pricing • Plant Contracts • PPD hedging • Futures • Options

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FORAGE NEWS

Barenbrug broadens its forage portfolio The Royal Barenbrug Group and Dow AgroSciences continue their global strategic relationship.

The companies have agreed to terms for the transfer of research, production and primary marketing for clovers, and teff grasses to Barenbrug.

These products are a great fit with

the Barenbrug portfolio and add to Barenbrug strengths in servicing the clover and grass markets while increasing Barenbrug’s strengths in servicing markets in North America and worldwide.

“Domestically products like Tiffany Teff and Regal Graze Ladino Clover already have a strong presence. This is a

very exciting time for Barenbrug USA as we continue to invest in providing quality products to our customers,” says Justin Burns, National Sales Manager. “We have added forage depth and scope to our forage portfolio with the addition of quality clovers and teff grasses from Cal West.”

Research and development will continue to be a focus for the Barenbrug forage program. Demonstration plots and performance trials will be ongoing.

Barenbrug will publish this data allowing producers to continue making informed decisions to meet their forage needs.

For more information about these products and others from Barenbrug, please visit our website at www.barusa.com or visit our social network a sites at www.facebook. com/BarenbrugUSAForage or www.twitter. com/BarenbrugUSA

The secret is service

Joe Schmidlen

It’s true, you can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy. Northeastern Territory Manager Joe Schmidlen is proof. Joe was born and raised on a dairy farm in northern West Virginia, and with his extensive background in forage management he feels at home on the farm. However, Joe’s career path has an interesting twist. He left

agriculture for an opportunity to protect heads of state as a United States Secret Service agent. Joe is proud to have served his county and was honored to do so as a Secret Service agent. “It was a very enjoyable time in my life, but you know… there is nothing quite like agriculture,” states Joe Schmidlen.

Joe’s heart is in agriculture and he’s made a wonderful career in the seed business. He began in the corn and crop business. Joe smiles as he recalls the great relationships he has developed with his customers. For the last five years Joe has served as the Northeast Territory Manager for Barenbrug USA. “My joy as a territory manager is based on three things,” comments Schmidlen, “great products, great customers, and great service. Barenbrug is recognized as having the best quality forage products

in the industry and that gives me incredible pride. Customers want a good product that provides consistent results, and good service and that’s my favorite part.” Joe’s enjoyed introducing new products to the market like E2, a grassalfalfa mixture and BarOptima PLUS E34®, a beneficial endophyt-enhanced soft leaf fescue.

Every day Joe is in his territory telling the story that Barenbrug is “Great in Grass” and the message is echoing throughout the Northeast. Detrick Westfall of Virginia comments, “Barenbrug gives me high yields and very good quality; I can always depend on good quality seeds from Barenbrug.”

When asked about the secret to his success, Joe thinks a moment, cracks a smile and says: “The secret, well… the secret is service.”

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

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Protein continues to drive milk prices, both domestically and internationally

Better than butterfat If you’re looking to add protein to your bulk tank, genetics is one of the best ways to do it. With a 0.51 estimated heritability for protein percent in Holsteins, it’s one of the few traits that transmits and also shows an instant payback.

by Lucas Sjostrom

I

t hasn’t been all that long since milk and butterfat pounds were the primary drivers of the on-farm milk price. Until just 30 years ago, the milk price mostly rose and fell with the support price decided by the government. Today, due to a bit of a rebellion by part of the U.S. industry, we have a price with an emphasis on protein. And although it’s still complicated, most would call a much more equitable way to pay for milk.

Paying the right price A joke tells that only four people know how U.S. milk is priced, but no one knows which four. If we were placing bets, many would put their money on one of those four being Bob Cropp.

Cropp is a University of WisconsinMadison professor emeritus of agricultural economics. He was there when protein pricing started.

“It goes back to the National AllJersey Association,” Cropp explains.

National All-Jersey is a subsidiary of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA). Cropp says the support program changed when an ocean of butter appeared.

Table 1: Holstein estimates

trait

heritability

somatic cell score productive life lifetime milk yield ME milk, fat and protein protein percent

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0.10 0.13 0.15 0.30 0.51

“We were drowning in butter,” Cropp recalled. “So, the government made a major change to go off parity in 1981 and continued to ratchet down the support price. And the colored breeds, particularly the Jersey Association, started screaming, saying ‘Hey, we’ve got other stuff in our milk besides butterfat, like protein.’”

Working with economists like Cropp and colleague Ed Jesse, also now a professor emeritus, the AJCA successfully lobbied many plants and dairy producer organizations. Both professors recently received the Award for Meritorious Service from AJCA. In 2000 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) were amended to incorporate multiple component pricing, that is to test for and pay producers for each pound of butterfat, protein and other solids marketed. “We demonstrated, quite clearly,” Cropp explains, “that not all farmers with the same butterfat test also have the same protein test. Two farmers could have the exact same butterfat test, but much different protein results. And if you’re making manufactured dairy products out of that milk, particularly cheese, the yield of cheese per hundred pounds of milk is particularly affected by the protein content.”

selection, it’s possible for any producer to select for more protein.

If you’re looking to add protein to your bulk tank, genetics is one of the best ways to do it. With a 0.51 estimated heritability for protein percent in Holsteins, it’s one of the few traits that transmits and also shows an instant payback. Comparatively, heritability for somatic cell score, days of productive life, and lifetime milk yield are an estimated 0.10, 0.13, and 0.15, respectively. Estimated protein mature

If you’re looking to add protein to your bulk tank, genetics is one of the best ways to do it

Data holds answers At the time, according to Cropp, it was a breed issue. Jersey and Guernsey showed much higher protein yield than Holstein. But today, through genetic

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equivalent yield heritability in Holsteins also matches that of milk and fat, at 0.30 (0.35 in all three for Jersey milk).

Using this data, there’s an opportunity for producers to take advantage of the situation insists Brett Haines, North American Managing Director for CRV. “Now that exports are becoming a more important part of the U.S. dairy economy, breeders should pay a lot more attention to solids production, and particularly protein. Protein drives the bus on our ability to become an international player for exports.”

Knowing this, Haines and the team at CRV are continuing to direct their breeding program efforts towards that thought and efficiency. Breeders that agree with them are seeing an instant effect in the bulk tank.

“We believe we have the data to promote the accurate selection of the protein trait,” Haines says. “With other traits, the more genomic data you use, the farther away you get from being able to select for the trait.”

That being said, protein shouldn’t be the only goal. Haines explains, “As much as we talk about protein, we still need to use indexes and a balance to meet your herd goals. But is the index you’re using meeting your herd goals, and your milk market, for component production?”

Pricing still not perfect While it’s pretty clear in genetics, in milk pricing there’s still some controversy. Cropp explains that most pricing is still done using protein’s value to cheese, while the popular whey

Exports rising Protein, led by dry whey, is pulling the export market with it. “Whey is $0.60 per pound today because of the export market,” notes Cropp.

“It used to be about $0.25 a pound.

Since you get 6 pounds of whey per 100 pounds of milk, every penny the whey price increases adds $0.60 to your milk check.”

protein is mixed in with the pricing of other solids. If that changes, protein’s value to milk could be even greater.

Does Cropp see protein’s value continuing to rise?

Answering immediately, he exclaims, “Absolutely!” l

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THE BENEFITS OF BEDDING WITH SAND! 2013 SAND SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE November 19 & 20 | Bloomington, MN November 19 - System Tours Gar-Lin Dairy, Eyota, MN | Daley Farms, Lewiston, MN

November 20 - Presentations Dr. Nigel Cook, University of Wisconsin–Madison | Curt Gooch, P.E., Cornell University Andrew Wedel, P.E., McLanahan Corporation | Bob Komro, Komro Sales & Service Rob Plank, P.E., McLanahan Corporation | Renee Schrift, McLanahan Corporation A Block Of Rooms Is On Reserve At Bloomington’s Best Western Plus Near Mall Of America And Downtown Minneapolis!

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L E LY I N F O

Introducing the Lely Vector automatic feeding system

Let’s connect

Feeding your cows is an important daily routine, which is why this October, at World Dairy Expo, Lely continues to innovate with the first U.S. public showing of its highly anticipated new product – the Lely Vector automatic feeding system. The Lely Vector is the next step in automated methods within dairy farming and it matches the impact of the milking robot.

The Lely Vector ensures that correct rations are fed to cows consistently and on time, allowing farmers to achieve greater efficiency in milk production. The Lely Vector is an efficient feeding system that allows modern dairy farmers to control their business the way they want to; while saving money, labor, time and energy.

With the Vector, Lely has developed a unique economic concept that allows for 24/7 flexible and fresh feeding of cows. The Lely Vector automatic feeding system is a state-of-the-art concept, developed in close cooperation with our customers, allowing for optimal results while maintaining maximum respect for your cows.

For more about the Lely Vector, visit www.lely.com

Lely Vector automatic feeding system

No one offers more knowledge and experience in robotic milking than Lely and its Lely Center dealer network. When customers purchase Lely products, they receive the service and experience that comes from the company that pioneered the world’s first robotic milking system. To stay connected with the most up-to-date information on dairy innovation, visit us at World Dairy Expo in booth AR 461-483, TM I or scan the QR code below to register online at http://www.lelylife. com/lets-connect/.

Scan to connect with Lely:

World Dairy Expo Virtual Farm Tour For more than six generations, the Maxwell family, including brothers John and Edwin, and John’s daughters, Amy and Kara, has been farming in Iowa. During that time, Cinnamon Ridge has seen growth, adaptation of new technology, including the Lely Astronaut robotic milking system, and diversification. The farm is named for the “Cinnamon” color of the Jerseys and “Ridge” is for the elevation of the farm. In 1997, John Maxwell was honored as the National Outstanding Young Farmer. Since then, with the installation of robotics, the farm has expanded to 260 Jerseys,

Cinnamon Ridge Dairy, Donahue, Iowa

with a rolling herd average of 21,234 pounds of milk, making them the seventh highest producing Jersey herd in the U.S. Milk is processed on the farm

into cheese, which is then sold in the retail store and a restaurant on site.

We invite you to join the Maxwell’s at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Oct. 3, at noon, where the family will share their robotic milking story as part of the 2013 Virtual Farm Tour line-up. The tour will include a 30-minute presentation of their operation, including general operation information and highlights of the farm’s management practices.

WHERE: WORLD DAIRY EXPO, EXHIBITION HALL, MENDOTA 1 MEETING ROOM WHEN: THURSDAY, OCT. 3, NOON

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

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wo r l d

da i r y

ex po

Travel to the Center of the Dairy Universe

WDE features industry ingenuity Join 70,000 dairy enthusiasts from 95 countries to see what’s new in the world of dairying at the 47th Annual World Dairy Expo, Oct. 1-5. New mastitis tests and an automated feeding system are a few highlights in Madison.

by JoDee Sattler

T

here’s no lack of ingenuity awaiting this year’s World Dairy Expo (WDE) attendees. From new products and new exhibitors to new cattle exhibition requirements, your thirst for new innovations, concepts and management systems will be quenched.

Making a big splash the past decade in the United States with its automated milking systems, Lely unveils its Vector automatic feeding system at the 2013 WDE. Feed is stored in the feed kitchen.

A feed grabber moves over the kitchen to select feed ingredients and loads them onto the mixing and feeding robot. The Vector knows how much feed is at the feed gate and determines when and where feed should be deposited.

Relatively new to WDE, Advanced Animal Diagnostics introduces Qscout Milk Leukocyte Differential Test (MLD), a rapid on-farm test that reliably diagnoses subclinical mastitis in

individual quarters. The MLD test is modeled after the blood leukocyte differential, which has been used in humans and companion animals. This is the only test on the market that gives a differential cell count on farm. MLD identifies, differentiates and provides the ratio of the three primary leukocytes in milk. Then, it automatically assesses information based on an index of infection to provide the diagnosis. iNovotec Animal Care launches pH Easy Control System, a ruminal pH and Temperature Monitoring System. The system reveals important insights on the effect of ration composition on pH and temperature in the rumen, allowing producers to check rumen pH quickly and easily, ultimately monitoring animal health. Detect any relevant changes and deviations from the norm, and then make adjustments to increase feed efficiency, increase milk production,

optimize herd management, prevent disease onset or treat initial disease symptoms.

Cardinal Scale offers Harvester LSC Series Stationary Group Livestock Scales, which feature concrete decks with high tensile strength and ridged surfaces for sure cattle footing. Platform sizes go up to 52.5 feet long by 10 feet wide, with 30-ton capacity, allowing an entire semitractor trailer full of livestock to be weighed accurately at one time. Integral wiring conduit throughout the farm scale ensures rat-proofing security for the stainless steel, shear beam load cells.

The scale arrives on site with the load cell mounts fully assembled and ready for installation.

Visual tags required In an effort to strengthen WDE’s biosecurity, and in accordance with the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule, WDE made changes to its dairy cattle health check-in process.

Cattle must have an accepted WDEdefined identification (ID) tag in the animal’s ear upon entering the grounds.

“World Dairy Expo recommends U.S. exhibitors with cattle that do not have

List of ID tags accepted at 2013 WDE • Canadian Cattle Identification Agency radio frequency ID device (RFID) tag – 15-digit number starting with 124.

• USDA 840 animal ID number (AIN) RFID Tag – 15-digit number starting with 840.

• USDA 840 AIN visual tag – 15-digit number starting with 840.

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• Manufacturer-coded, tamper-evident RFID tag – 15-digit number, starting with 900, 982 or 985.

• Manufacturer-coded RFID tags will be discontinued as official ID by USDA starting in 2015.

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New companies exhibiting at WDE* Activon, Inc. Wisconsin Teat dip, hoof treatment, sanitizer disinfectant www.activon.com

Advancewd Animal Diagnostics North Carolina Mastitis detection tests www.aadiagnostics.com one of the 15-digit-number accepted ID tags visit an approved 840 AIN tag distributor to secure 840 AIN RFID tags,” says Ann Marie Magnochi, WDE dairy cattle show manager. All breed associations offer 840 AIN ID tags.

The USDA ADT rule went into effect March 11, 2013. It requires that livestock moving within a state and across borders (state and country) be officially identified (as described) and accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection.

New staff members Scott Bentley started his new position as WDE general manager June 3.

Previously, he worked for ABS Global, DeForest, Wis., having served as global dairy product manager, district sales manager and in dairy sire acquisition. As general manager, Bentley leads the WDE staff in strategic planning and implementation of the largest dairyfocused event in the world. Bentley earned a master’s degree in business administration from Purdue University and bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Iowa State University.

On the WDE staff for four years, Susan Orth was promoted from sales specialist to trade show manager. She served as

the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin communications specialist from 2006 to 2009.

Crystal McNett completes the trade show team as trade show and project coordinator. She previously worked for Select Sires as the sales and communications specialist.

Ann Marie Magnochi joins WDE as dairy cattle show manager, managing WDE’s dairy cattle show. She was actively involved in Two Sisters’ Dairy, which is home to Magnaville Holstein and Buttercrest Brown Swiss prefixes.

Rounding out the new faces is Carrie Jo Leum, a 2013 University of Wisconsin-Madison dairy science graduate. As project specialist, she is responsible for WDE meeting room sales and on-site management, sponsorship fulfillment, signage placement and special projects and events related to WDE. Visit World Dairy Expo, Oct. 1-5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., in Madison, Wis. Daily admission is $10 per person and season passes cost $30 per person.

Parking is free.

Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com or call 608-224-6455.

Ag Int. Ltd. England Freestall bedding machines www.ag-products.co.uk

CID LINES nv Belgium Sanitary dairy supplies www.cidlines.com

DairyFlo New Zealand Milking liners and tubing www.dairyflo.co.nz

Farmeron Delaware Cloud-based dairy farm management software www.farmeron.com

iNovotec Animal Care Missouri Ruminal pH and temperature, monitoring system www.inovotec.com

Madero Dairy Systems Texas Milking equipment www.maderodairysystems.com

MarginSmart Wisconsin Dairy industry price risk, management software www.marginsmart.com

Quidee Germany Cow side tests, drenchers, obstetric tools www.quidee.de *This list does not contain all companies new to World Dairy Expo.

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IN THIS ISSUE

HOUSING

Fastidious management key to successful compost-bedd ed pack

ENERGY

Tom Bock Phone: 952-905-3210 E-mail: tom.bock@bock-assoc.com

Three producers share their experiences with solar energy

Lindsay Boelter Phone: 952-905-3204 E-mail: lindsay.boelter@bock-assoc.com

REPRODUCTION

Evaluation of new reproductive

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tools

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‘The best choice for dairy producers’

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F R O M

T H E

V E T E R I N A R I A N

D R .

R I C H

P R A C T I C E

V E E M A N

Dr. Rich Veeman from Veterinary Services of Oregon highlights an on-farm encounter with Q-fever, describes its symptoms, discusses the diseaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tie to abortions and the best ways to combat its impact on a dairy herdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s replacements and profitability.

Struggling with late-term abortions? Look for Coxiella burnetti

Analyzing Q-fever T

he case started with sporadic abortions; like the first drops of rain before a storm. Then it poured. Within three weeks, 13 percent of cows and heifers to freshen aborted a calf. Year to date, it accounted for 2.3% of a 3% abortion rate for the year. The cattle were between 6 and 7 months pregnant and none displayed any signs of illness other than the abortion.

Detecting the cause of abortions is difficult and unrewarding. Submissions of the foetus for testing generally yield the best results and are better if paired with serum samples from the mother. Blood results alone are often difficult to interpret depending on when the animal was vaccinated. In this instance, the aborting agent was found to be Coxiella burnetti, more commonly known as Q-fever.

Q-fever is caused by a gram-negative, intracellular bacterium and is endemic everywhere in the world, except New Zealand. It is zoonotic and carried by sheep, goats, cows, dogs, cats and other mammals. People are at risk of infection if particles shed from urine or vaginal secretions are inhaled; from drinking unpasteurized milk; and rarely from infected ticks. Usually the disease is asymptomatic or results in mild flu-like symptoms in humans. Pasteurization kills Q-Fever in milk and is the easiest way to prevent it.

In cattle, Q-Fever is also generally asymptomatic, but can cause reproductive disorders such as stillbirths, late term abortions, metritis and infertility. This was precisely what

we discovered in our case herd. No cows were ill, but many were sold after aborting. Decreased fertility only lasted a month and just as suddenly as it started the abortions stopped. To fight the disease, we removed all placentas and cleaned out pens between calvings. There is no vaccine available commercially and vaccinations under study only reduced bacterial shedding with no affect on abortion rate.

Testing for Coxiella burnetti is challenging and difficult to interpret. For example, 63% of the cows that aborted came up positive for Q-fever, yet we have no doubt they were all exposed (cows aborted and tested positive in all herds). Some research questions whether animals can fight off the infection without building up antibodies (this fits with cows showing no clinical signs). Currently, we can test for antibodies with an ELISA test or we can run a PCR test (at Cornell) and test for the organism itself. Even if no organism is found with the PCR test isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to say Coxiella burnetti was there to cause the abortion and is now gone.

How prevalent is Q-Fever? Bulk tank and serum titer studies in North America have shown a range of 19 to 84% of the cows to be positive. And, 67 to 98% of the bulk tank samples to were positive for Q-Fever. So it is very prevalent.

If your herd has late-term abortions, consider and test for Q-fever with your veterinarian. Keep calving pens clean to reduce possible exposure. Consult your veterinarian if you have questions.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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03-09-13 12:48

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CRV

B R EEDIN G

N E W S

CRV bulls have the components for a profitable breeding program The August 2013 sire evaluations for CRV presented bulls with genetics to increase fat and protein production. With an excellent line-up of Holstein and Jersey sires that showcase functional type, high combined fat and protein, and increased milk production; their daughters are sure to be long-living, efficient, and profitable producers.

Global star Chevrolet 097HO40927 (Freddie x Planet x Shottle) continues to lead the CRV line-up in fat and protein. With scores of 2253 lbs milk, 82 lbs fat, 71 lbs protein, and +878 CM$ crossed with 2411 GTPI, and over +2.00 for PTAT, Chevrolet can fit in to any breeding program.

Released in April, Rocky 097HO40892 (Shamrock x Goli x Goldwyn) has rapidly become a global star as well. At 1744 lbs M, 77 lbs F, 69 lbs P, and +942 CM$, he has excellent production numbers and will increase herd health with his positive DPR and a +5.9 PL. Danno 097HO40889 (Bookem x Bolton x O man) is a leading Bookem son. Danno

offers an excellent combination of production, health and type traits. He is +1721 M, 67 F, 69 P, +5 PL, and +865 CM$.

Newly released, Allstar 097HO41052 (Mogul x Planet x Shottle) is one of our highest GTPI bulls along with being +2.98 PTAT and +2.09 UDC. His production numbers fit well with his type at +1784 M, 82 F, 60 P, and 774 CM$.

Ali 097HO40908 (Armitage x Boliver x Shottle) is another type specialist at +3.22 PTAT, +2.61 UDC, and +2.08 FLC. Newly proven sires are also staring in CRV’s line-up. Leroy 097HO65353 (Bolton x O Man x Adam) is a breed leading Bolton son. With daughters in over 40 herds, his 1947 M, 64 F, 54 P, 3.22 RUH, and 2.96 RUW will produce well bodied daughters with very high and wide rear udders. Scarlet RC 097HO08656 (Canvas x Ramos) is a star from the Delta breeding program. A red carrier with over 140 daughters in 126 herds, Scarlet RC has phenomenal production numbers at 2756 M, 81 F, and 77 P. CRV’s Jersey program continues to produce outstanding sires. Rawls 535JE00002 (Valentino x Matinee x Khan) is a production specialist with

Rawls is a production specialist

+1849 lbs M, 91 lbs F, and 54 lbs P. Not only are his production numbers exceptional, he is +226 JPI and +2.82 JUI. Kindle 097HO00110 (Zuma x Jas Bungy x Jace) stars in the CRV line-up as a health and cheese production specialist. Kindle is +681 CM$ and +7.2 PL. Royalty 097JE00111 (Roy x Legal x Lirsk) offers breeders exceptional production with over +1300 lbs M, +130 lbs combined fat and protein, along with +582 CM$. He also improves type with +214 JPI and +2.10 JUI.

Spencer joins CRV as a sales manager in Colorado

Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer, Greeley, Colo., has joined CRV as an area sales manager. Coming to the

organization with more than 30 years of experience in the A.I. industry, Kevin has a strong working understanding of the dairy industry.

“Kevin has a strong relationship with his customers,” stated Brett Haines, managing director of CRV USA. “His strong sales experience, dedication to his customers, and dairy industry knowledge will ensure his success.”

As an area sales manager, Kevin will be responsible for developing distributor networks, service support teams, and reproductive management support for dairy producers to continue improving how they operate.

Working comprehensively, Kevin will identify and recruit the tools and people needed to provide better solutions to dairy owners and herd managers.

Being already familiar with CRV, Kevin has always been impressed with the outstanding genetics they provide.

“I’m excited to be working for a company that I already am familiar with,” Kevin said. “CRV’s direction and focus on components, friendly staff, excellent genetics and services, along with the opportunity to help the company grow is what excited me about CRV USA.”

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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F E E D I N G

Missouri grass-based dairy strives to match forage growth with milk production

Aligning forage supply and feed demand Low-cost milk production and matching feed supply from high quality pasture for 7,000 cows drive the seasonal and rotational grazing system. Gary Nolan: “We’re trying to get up to 80% of the cow’s diet on an annual basis directly from pasture.”

by Joann Pipkin and Peter Ballerstedt

“P

astured” is a trendy catch-phrase in today’s food industry, and pasture-based dairies are finding success in Southwest Missouri. Grasslands Consultants established its southern Missouri operation in 2005. The 7,000cow dairy runs 11 barns on 5,500 acres, with an additional 5,000 acres of support land. Chief Executive Officer, Gareth van der Heyden, states that the keys to Grasslands pasture based system is low-

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cost milk production and matching feed supply from high quality pasture with the cows’ feed demand are the primary drivers of the seasonal and rotational grazing system.

“We hope to be able to match grass growth with milk production,” says Gary Nolan, a partner in Emerald Dairy, and a share-milker for Grasslands. Nolan explains their approach to grass-based dairying focuses on maximizing feed

SEPTEMBER

Gary Nolan and Gareth van der Heyden

intake by cows on pasture; keeping imported feed costs down and encouraging cow health. But it’s not just about the grass. “We’re all about cow well-being,” he says.

Nolan describes the conversion of cropland and existing pastures to dairy

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n

pasture as a “battle.” A key strategy to winning that battle is finding pasture species and varieties that are new to him and to the region. “The challenge is in figuring out what works best and in what farm management system.”

Perfect for cool season grasses Nolan says Missouri has a significantly different climate from his native Ireland. “Missouri is in the tall fescue belt and on the southern fringe of the corn belt,” Nolan explains. “We can grow cool season grasses here.” While those cool season grasses are higher in feed quality than the warm season grasses grown further south in the United States, many of the varieties of cool season species common in Ireland don’t perform in the heat waves and droughts of Nolan’s new home.

Perennial ryegrass, the world-wide ideal for perennial dairy pastures, isn’t widely grown in Missouri.

Grasslands’ forage base includes both perennial and annual ryegrass as well as soft leaf fescue with beneficial endophyte. Barkant turnips have also made a home in the forage program the last couple of years. The dairy works closely with Barenbrug USA to identify which species and varieties provide optimal forage yield and seasonal

distribution of growth. Barenbrug’s BarOptima PLUS E34 and BG-24T perennial ryegrass blend are keys.

“We have to adopt different ways of making sure the plants survive the summer,” Nolan notes. “We have learned from our mistakes and with the help of Barenbrug we are getting better.”

They’ve learned to incorporate longer rest periods for their paddocks in hot weather. “We have started carrying heavier pasture cover into the fall to replace the carbohydrate reserves in the plants so they can better tolerate the winter and have less winter kill.”

80% of cow’s diet from pasture Barenbrug’s BG-24T gives the dairy the opportunity to produce high quality feed through the fall and into the spring, which, “…allows us to freshen our cows the first of February on high quality pasture,” a period that is critical for cow breed-back, Nolan notes. “It suits us absolutely perfectly. We’re trying to get up to 80% of the cow’s diet on an annual basis directly from pasture and the perennial ryegrass really fits that system quite well.”

Nolan is quick to point out that BarOptima PLUS E34 soft leaf fescue compliments perennial ryegrass because it is more heat and drought tolerant.

“It’s going to be a real winner for us in the future as well as we discover how to manage its grazing rotation to have quality from spring through midsummer. “It will become more prominent in our system as we drive on.”

In addition, Nolan says sowing Barkant turnips in April takes advantage of Missouri’s ‘honeymoon period’ of April and May when everything grows.

“We can stockpile feed for June and July when forage starts to decline a bit,” he says, adding that heavier nitrogen applications in spring also helps by boosting pasture growth in May. Nolan, along with share-milking partner Niall Murphy and van der Heyden, continue to make improvements through adjustments to the soil, and improvements in forage and cow genetics. “You only get one chance a year to do something,” Nolan states. “You have to really be looking ahead.”

“We’re all about cow health and cow well-being,” Nolan says. “If we can grow more highly digestible feed, it means that our cow health is going to be better.

And, our cows pay the wages.” he concludes. “We are a grass-based dairy, but basically at the end of the day, we are a cow dairy. It’s cows first.” l

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C O N TA C T S

SHOWS AND EVENTS

The heart of every dairy operation: the milking parlor Picture: Kristina Waterschoot

C O N TA C T S

September 19-21: American Association of Bovine Practitioners Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI September 17-19: Minnesota Nutrition Conference, Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel, Prior Lake, MN September 23-26: 26th DISCOVER Conference “Dairy Feed Efficiency”, Northern Illinois University

Conference Center, Naperville, IL October 1-3: 10th International Symposium on Milk Genomics and Human Health – “Milk Leading Life Sciences Research in the 21st Century,” Davis, CA

World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI October 1-5: 48th Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference, Coeur d’Alene, ID October 9-10: October 15-20: 11th World Congress on Animal Production (WCAP2013), Beijing, China November 1-10: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, Canada Dairyland Initiative Workshops, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Madison, WI November 6-8: North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, KY November 9-22: Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council Annual meeting, Indianapolis, IN November 7-8: November 12-13: Pennsylvania Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop, Grantville, PA November 21: International Dairy Nutrition Symposium 2013: Feed efficiency in dairy cattle, The Netherlands Basic Dairy Science & Sanitation Workship, Ithaca, NY December 3-5: January 13-15 2014: 40th annual Southern Dairy Conference, Atlanta, GA National Mastitis Council 53rd Annual Meeting, Ft. Worth, TX January 26-28:

Cow Management is published six times per year by CRV Publishing

Editorial team Chief editor Jaap van der Knaap Contributing writers Peter Ballerstedt, Joann Pipkin, Amy Ryan, JoDee Sattler, Lucas Sjostrom, Ben Smink Editing, design and production CRV Publishing

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

COMING UP

C a l f rear in g an d So u t h Af r ica November – In our November issue we will take a closer look at calf raising, namely, new developments in raising young stock, concerning feeding, housing and health. We will also have a farm report about a producer in South Africa.

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

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

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

Illustrations/pictures Photographs by CRV Publishing Photography, Karen Knutsen (11), North Florida Holsteins (12, 13), Joann Pipkin (36, 37), Nick Sarbacker (38).

Disclaimer CowManagement does not necessarily share the views expressed by contributors. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made by advertisers. No responsibility can be accepted

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

Printer Schumann Printers Inc.

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PHOTO: BETH HERGES

GENETICS WITH A PURPOSE TO IMPROVE PROFITABILITY Our premium sires produce the kind of cows that make milk containing more protein and butterfat, allowing producers to pocket more money with the same number of animals, and do it in the most responsible way.

HOLSTEIN TRAIT LEADERS MILK lbs.

SCARLET RC PREDESTINE CHEVROLET SNOWRUSH LEROY GREER KATANA ALLSTAR SAFFORD ROCKY

2756 2341 2253 2249 1947 1927 1807 1784 1769 1744

FAT lbs.

STANTON MAZ CHEVROLET ALLSTAR SCARLET RC O-ALEXMAN HAVOC SNOWRUSH LIGHT HUNTER

95 89 82 82 81 81 81 79 79 79

PROTEIN lbs.

SCARLET RC CHEVROLET ROCKY DANNO PREDESTINE SNOWRUSH LIGHT ALLSTAR HUNTER PALTROW

BETTER COWS | BETTER LIFE

332-13 Ad CM US-AUG-2.indd 1

77 71 69 69 66 63 62 60 59 59

CM$ ROCKY MASTER DECEMBER CHEVROLET DANNO PALTROW ALLSTAR GLEAM STANTON RACEY

942 891 879 878 865 835 774 763 761 757

CRV 2423 American Lane Madison, WI 53704 P 608 441 3202 F 608 441 3203 TF 855 CRV COWS

CRV4ALL.US

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