Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, February 27, 2016
ConƟnued from FROM OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE | Page 15
What are some of the preventive measures you currently do that you feel are critical in keeping your SCC low? Boesl: Regular vacuum level checks, keeping cows clean and being diligent on vaccinations. Keeping routines consistent and reducing stress on cows is also key. Gehl Acres Farm: We use dry cow treatment and Orbeseal at dry off. We vaccinate with J-Vac. We have a sound dry cow nutrition program, making sure of good levels of trace minerals and vitamins in the diet. We keep dry cows well bedded with straw. When cows freshen, we use a strip cup to check milk quality. DHI testing is very important for managing our milk quality. The SCC reports are usually the rst reports we look at. We also use a CMT paddle to check for abnormal milk. We also have used DNA-PCR testing to culture cows. We may use this in addition to traditional culturing, to get good answers as to what pathogens are causing mastitis. If we suspect a Staph cow, we milk her last, and we are happy when she is culled. We also make sure our feed quality is high and our rations are well balanced to keep good immune function in our cows. Leiding: We have a tiestall barn, so we make sure cows are scraped behind several times each day. We make sure they have clean straw under them and when they go out. The freestall barn has clean, fresh sand bedding also. We use lime to keep the stalls dry and clean. We CMT problem cows often. Merdan: We CMT all fresh cows and heifers before putting their milk in the tank. We also CMT any cows and heifers that we feel are questionable. There are many times when a cow will not visibly show mastitis, but the CMT test will pick it up. We also receive texts from AMPI with each milk pickup showing the SCC and other information. This alerts us if there is a sudden increase in the SCC. We also look at DHIA records identifying high SCC cows. All cows are dry treated with Spectramast Dry Cow and Orbeseal. Schumacher: There are many things to keep our SCC low. It is important that the cows are clean and healthy. We provide quality feed for them from the time they are born. The bedding for the freestalls stays clean and well groomed. Milking equipment must be clean and working correctly. Consistency of the milking processes is also important, as well as a good quality pre and post dip. We also dry treat the cows and heifers before they calve. Because I do most of the milking myself, I know the cows and
what pathogens you are dealing with and develop an effective treatment protocol. Cull the cows that When your SCC starts to go up, what are the are chronic problems. Make sure you have a sound milking routine and cows are calm and clean. Regrst things you do to keep it in check? Boesl: It is usually just one cow that can throw ularly service your milking equipment by someone the numbers quickly. Extra attention is given to the who is knowledgeable and experienced. Don’t be stripping step in udder prep to nd the problem afraid to ask questions. We like the UW-Madison milk quality website and use UW-Extension people cow. Teat ends are also examined. Gehl Acres Farm: If SCC starts to creep up, to gain information that will help our farm. Leiding: We pay attention to details and the we start looking to see who is causing the problem. We will check cows with the CMT paddle and use hard work pays off when we see it in our milk DHI testing to nd the high SCC cows. We work check. The extra $.80 to $1 for a milk quality prewith our vet on a treatment plan when needed. We mium helps with today’s low milk prices. It means may end up culling the cow if she is a persistent the difference in making a prot or breaking even. Merdan: I would advise them to rst make sure problem. Leiding: We pay attention to details and the that they have a consistent milking routine. Look at hard work pays off when we see it in our milk your recent DHIA tests and identify problem cows check. The extra $.80 to $1 for a milk quality pre- and then CMT them. It is often just one quarter on mium helps with today’s low milk prices. It means a cow that is causing an extremely high count. You the difference in making a prot or breaking even. then have to decide whether you want to treat that Merdan: If our SCC goes up, the rst thing we cow, quarter milk that cow, or cull it. I also feel try to do is really focus on each and every cow we that it is very important to CMT all fresh cows and are milking. We make sure there is absolutely no heifers to identify any problems right away. The swelling or hard quarters – especially on cows that CMT test is a very cheap and quick way to identify have one quarter that nishes before or after all of a problem cow. You also need to make sure that you the other ones. Also, we focus on cows that have are making it a goal to produce quality milk. Schumacher: Start with the basics. Most of it had issues in the past, and look at a recent DHIA test. We CMT any cows that we have concerns is common sense – keeping the cows clean and doing a thorough job. Don’t take short cuts to try to about. Schumacher: The rst thing I do is to nd out save time. It comes back to haunt you later and can what cow is causing the problem and then I decide become a bigger problem than you had before. what action I should take to care for the cow. If it is a repeating factor of many cows, I like to make sure Why is it important for you to have a low SCC? Boesl: We take pride in having healthy animals. my equipment is working correctly. Sometimes all you can do is blame the weather and ght your way The SCC count is one way for us to know that what through it. I can have months where I am be treat- we are doing is working. We want to know that we ing a lot of cows for mastitis and I can have months are doing our part in giving the consumer a high when I have no cows to treat. It can be a roller- quality product. Gehl Acres Farm: It is important for our farm coaster ride. to have a low SCC because the milk check premiWhat advice do you have for someone who is um is so very important to protability. With tight margins we need to focus on doing a great job on trying to lower their SCC? Boesl: Take a look at how many band-aids you milk quality and production. Leiding: It’s a good feeling to know that your have on your farm. There are hundreds of products out there that are supposed to x the problems. hard work is paying off and you’re producing a Sometimes taking a step back and simplifying quality product. Merdan: The most important reason to have a things can result in healthier animals. It could be as simple as a small adjustment in timing of vaccines low SCC would be to receive the quality premiums or reducing use of some additives that can go a long for milk. Schumacher: I feel that it is important to proway. Gehl Acres Farm: My advice to anyone trying duce the best product that I can for the consumer. to lower their SCC would be to DHI test to nd what The extra money for making a better product helps, cows are causing the problem. Use culturing to nd too. I can tell which ones need extra attention.
NDS scholarship applications due April 15 The National Dairy Shrine is again looking for applications for its annual scholarship program. Applications are accepted from March 1 until the deadline of April 15. Ofcial scholarship application award forms are available on the NDS web site, www.dairyshrine.org under scholarships. The National Dairy Shrine Student Recognition Program recognizes and rewards graduating seniors planning a career in the dairy industry. There will be a $2,000 cash award given to the winner, a $1,500 reward for second place, and three to seven $1000 cash awards depending on the number and quality of applicants. The National Dairy Shrine/Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) Milk Marketing-Dairy Products Scholarships are available to encourage students to pursue careers in the marketing or development of dairy products. The winner receives a $1500 scholarship while the other winners receive $1000 scholarships. Up to ve winners are recognized annually. The National Dairy Shrine/Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) Education & Communication Scholarships are available to encourage students to pursue
careers in the education or communication of the value of dairy products and the dairy industry. The winner receives a $1500 scholarship while the other winners receive $1000 scholarships. Up to ve winners are recognized annually. The Kildee Scholarships are offered in two categories. Graduate study applicants may include the top 25 AllAmerican contestants in one of the past three National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Contests plus the First and Second Place teams in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge National contests. These students are eligible to apply for two $3000 graduate school scholarships. Undergraduate students may apply in their junior or senior year of college for one $1000 Kildee Undergraduate scholarship. Applicants for this scholarship must have been one of the top 25 contestants at the National 4-H or FFA Dairy Judging Contests. The National Dairy Shrine Junior Merit Scholarship recognizes and rewards current college juniors planning a career in the dairy industry. There will be a $1,500 cash award given to the winner and two to ve more $1000
cash awards depending on the number and quality of applicants. The National Dairy Shrine Sophomore Merit Scholarship recognizes and rewards current college sophomores planning a career in the dairy industry. There will be a $1,500 cash award given to the winner and two to ve more $1000 cash awards depending on the number and quality of applicants. Two NDS/McCullough scholarships of $2000 and $1,500 are awarded annually to high school seniors intending to enter a four year college or university and major in: Dairy/Animal Science with a Communications emphasis or Agriculture Journalism with a Dairy/ Animal Science emphasis. Up to two NDS/Iager Dairy Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 to second year college students enrolled in a two-year agricultural college. This scholarship is sponsored by a fund created by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Iager of Fulton, Maryland. There will be two NDS/Maurice Core Dairy Scholarships awarded in the amount of $1,000 to a freshman college student in a four year agricultural college. This scholarship is sponsored from a fund created in honor of Mau-
rice E. Core long-time industry leader and past Executive Director of National Dairy Shrine. There are three NDS/Klussendorf scholarships given in the amount of $1,500 to students in their rst, second, or third year at a two or four year college or university. Applicants need to major in Dairy or Animal Science with intentions to enter the dairy cattle industry. There are four NDS/McKown scholarships given in the amount of $1,500 to students in their rst, second, or third year at a two or four year college or university. Applicants need to major in Dairy or Animal Science with intentions to enter the dairy cattle industry. If you would like to apply for any of these scholarships, please visit the NDS website at www.dairyshrine.org to download the applications. If you have any questions, please contact the NDS ofce at info@dairyshrine.org. Winners of these awards will be announced this summer, with the presentation of awards to be held at the annual NDS awards banquet in Madison, Wisconsin on Thursday October 6, 2016.