Eastern Dairy Grist - Summer 2024

PO Box 726, Cambridge ON, N1R 5W6

Dairy Grist

CENTRAL & ATLANTIC EDITION

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER PRODUCED BY GRAND VALLEY FORTIFIERS

SUMMER 2024

Dear Milk Producing Friends,

As official summer rapidly approaches, we are pleased to provide you with a copy of our Dairy Grist – Summer Edition. Across the country, the planting season weather and moisture levels have been “all over the map” with many parts of the Prairies being dry after experiencing less than normal snow fall and spring rains. In Ontario, parts of the province had difficulty getting seed into the ground while other parts were relatively dry for three weeks in May, making for easy planting. Regardless of the start, we pray for a bountiful, high-quality harvest of forages, grains and oilseeds for dairy producers this year – especially in the Prairies and Western Canada.

Through the reading of this edition of the Grist, you will be introduced to our newest recent graduate team additions, Hannah Simpson and Emily DeKlien, but also Gennadii Bondarenko and Ciaran Murphy through their respective articles,

Summer Feeding Strategies - Are you Ready for Summer 2024?

by: Brian Nelson, M.Sc. Ruminant Nutritionist

Although we are off to a slow start for spring planting, summer is right around the corner and it's time to start thinking about summer feeding programs.

The first thing to keep in mind is the seasonality of components. Dairy cows respond to increasing day length in the spring and summer and naturally reduce their daily fat and protein concentrations in milk. This is typically by 0.2 – 0.25%, and this is just a result of cow biology. Cows are already starting to shift towards this annual change, with the lowest components to be expected in July.

“Why Inflammation Matters” and “With Stress Comes Resilience”. Gennadii is a Ruminant Nutritionist who immigrated to Canada from Ukraine, working out of our Cambridge, Ontario office while Ciaran has joined our team, working out of Vancouver, BC after immigrating from Ireland. It is wonderful to witness the fresh ideas and perspectives that come from team members who have joined Grand Valley Fortifiers after being born, raised and attaining industry experience in other parts of the world.

We trust that you will find this edition of the Dairy Grist informative and helpful as you prepare for the growing and feeding season of summer 2024!

Wishing you a productive, profitable and enjoyable summer season.

Sincerely, Ian

Ross President & CEO, GVF

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Our summer strategies need to focus on the factors that are in our control and give the cow the tools she needs to thrive in the summer. In this article I’ve put together a list of management and nutritional factors that everyone should consider as part of their summer feeding strategy. At the end of the day, our summer goal is to simply create and maintain a healthy and consistent rumen environment.

Bunker Management

Forage makes up the majority of our dairy rations and ensuring high quality haylages and corn silages, free from wild yeasts and molds, is an important part of good rumen health. Maintaining silage faces, ensuring adequate feed out rates and the use of inoculants helps to maintain stability of the TMR and promote dry matter intakes. If feeds are prone to heating, products like FeedCURB® from Kemin® are available to add to TMRs to inhibit the growth of wild yeasts and molds.

President & CEO

TMR Management

All rations balanced by the GVF Nutrition Direct Team will check all the boxes on paper… but a cow doesn’t always eat the ration as balanced. We need to take steps to reduce opportunities for sorting and encourage dry matter intake. It's important to maintain enough effective fiber in the TMR, but too many long particles encourage sorting. We should be targeting 3-8% of particles on the top sieve of the Penn State Particle separator. We also need optimal moisture in the TMR (Target 45-50% DM) to encourage intakes and reduce the potential for sorting. Water should be added when needed. The basics like frequent feed pushups, and twice a day feeding also help encourage intakes and reduce sorting. Additionally, we should also be ensuring adequate space at the feed bunk, ideally 24” per cow.

Water Management

We need to remember that milk is 87% water and so water availability and quality is important! Trough space in the barn should allow for 4” per cow. If not, additional waterers should be considered. We should also consider water availability and flow rate. Most cows are going to drink after milking, consuming up to 60% of their daily water intake immediately after milking. Some farms would benefit from a water holding tank, when wells struggle to keep up during peak usage, or dry months.

Ventilation

I’ve never heard a dairy producer complain that they have too many fans. Regardless of the setup, we should be targeting a windspeed of 2.0 m/s, especially during periods of heat stress.

Forage Quality

We’ve done a good job of introducing highly digestibility grasses (rye, triticale, etc.) into our crop rotations. Summer is the time to feed them to capture the greatest value. Feeding forages with higher NDF digestibility (NDFd 30hr) and lower undigestible NDF (uNDF240hr) allows for higher forage rations to promote rumen health, without sacrificing intakes. We can always add additional fibre to a ration with chopped straw or hay, but we can’t make poor quality forages more digestible.

Starch Sources

High moisture corn and cobmeal are economical starch sources but can provide too much rapidly digestible starch in the summer once they have reached peak fermentation. Swapping out some fermented starch for dry corn, or soluble fibre sources (soy hulls, wheat shorts, beet pulp) can have a positive impact on summer fat test.

RUFAL Levels

Rumen health can be greatly impacted by levels of fat in the ration, particularly unsaturated fats. When there is too much unsaturated fat in the diet, ruminal biohydrogenation (process occurring in the rumen where bacteria converts unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids) is impaired, resulting in milk fat depression. In herds that are prone to milk fat depression, swapping out high RUFAL feeds like raw beans, roasted beans, corn distillers' grains, bakery meal, etc. for lower RUFAL alternatives (canola meal, bypass soy, Nova meal) can remove the barrier to milk fat synthesis and produce a nice butterfat response in the bulk tank.

Additives

There are many options when it comes to ration additives for summer. The two essential additives are sodium bicarbonate and yeast. Sodium bicarbonate should be added to the summer ration at a rate of 150-200g per head per day. This helps to provide rumen buffering and will maintain sodium levels in the cow. Sodium bicarbonate and salt offered free choice at the bunk is also a good visual indicator of potential stressors, or dietary changes experienced by the herd. Live yeasts or yeast fermentation products also have a role in improving rumen pH and improving fiber digestion and overall health. During periods of heat stress, it can be beneficial to feed a higher rate of yeast. The next group of additives are more farm specific. Palm fat is the most common additive, but also the most costly ($0.40 - $0.60 / hd / day depending on feeding rate). Some additives that you may wish to consider are MHA, Natural Edge, Chromium, Kelp, and Agolin. These additives have various modes of action but generally result in either improved energy extraction from the diet, or increased butterfat synthesis. The cost of these additives ranges from about $0.07 - $0.20 / cow / day.

Summer Premix – DCAD

Milk cows respond to higher dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) diets during periods of heat stress. Heat stressed cows lose potassium through sweat and milk production. Increasing total potassium in the ration has been shown to

increase fat corrected milk. The EcoLac DC premix lineup has been designed to provide additional potassium during summer months. This change should be made in May, prior to any heat stress.

Don’t forget about the dry cows!

Late gestation dry cows are most susceptible to heat stress. The developing calf has large nutritional demands in the third trimester, and the close-up period is marked by a reduction in dry matter intake. Keeping dry cows cool, and an optimal ration in front of them will help keep the milk tank full, and vet bills down.

Take Home Message

Summer success requires a multi-disciplined approach. Focusing on factors that keep cows comfortable, while maximizing dry matter intake and also feeding optimal ingredients goes a long way towards keeping rumens healthy, and farmers happy. We encourage you to reach out to your GVF Dairy Specialist if you would like to review your strategy for managing heat stress on your operation this summer.

With stress comes resilience

by: Ciaran Murphy, B.Sc. Ruminant Nutrition Consultant

The current economic environment presents significant challenges to the established narrative. Before joining GVF, I had limited knowledge of the Canadian dairy industry, knowing only about its division between East and West, the impact of extreme weather on crop production, and the continued existence of quotas, which had been abolished in my home country of Ireland in 2015.

However, after eight months in the industry, it's clear that I entered during a pivotal time, especially for BC dairy producers. They are facing abnormally high debt per kilogram of butterfat (kgbf), soaring production costs, and interest rates, along with increased dairy imports due to unfavorable trade deals with the USA, leading to unpredictable milk prices. Factor in extreme weather events, and one can't help but question the rationale behind milk production in BC. Yet, driving through Fraser Valley and Okanagan reveals modern dairy facilities nestled in breathtaking landscapes, displaying the beauty and viability of dairy farming in these regions. It reassures me that dairy farming is a way of life for people here, and they really love the work they do.

Nevertheless, it's disheartening to note that British Columbia has seen a decline of 109 dairy farmers since 2009 (Figure 1), with over twenty leaving in the last eighteen months due to inflated input costs. Each farm's decision to exit varies, but the common thread is the inability to turn a profit amidst rising expenses and tight margins, causing understandable mental strain for producers.

Dairy farming was once more profitable and less financially burdensome, but things have changed, and today's landscape is marked by tighter margins, hefty interest payments, and milk prices that don't align with costs. These factors, beyond a producer's control, necessitate finding efficiencies elsewhere in the business.

Control the Controllables

While most dairy operations feel the financial squeeze, some have adapted well, maintaining profitability, or at least servicing debt efficiently. Key themes emerge among these successful farms that drive operational efficiency. Below

are pillars of the business that producers should know in order to stay successful in today's operation.

Understanding the Numbers

Producers who grasp their actual production costs can pinpoint areas for improvement. Knowing the cost per kg of quota enables a detailed assessment of business expenses, highlighting avenues for cost reduction or investment with assured returns, which is crucial during economic downturns. Farming is a labour-intensive profession, and some may be unsure when it comes to numbers. If producers are unsure about where they can make changes to improve efficiency, a fresh pair of eyes is a great place to start. Talking things out with a trustworthy person can make a big difference when unsure.

Future Goals

Armed with accurate financial insights, it's time to realign farm objectives. Assessing current strategies against profitability goals can unveil alternative approaches and revenue streams. For instance, let's examine this scenario; ‘A producer is anticipating increased quota availability in the coming months/year. More quota means more profit, but the farmer hasn’t got the capacity for more cows, and extending the barn isn’t an option financially.’

• Nutrition - Can they get more from their cows? Do they have optimal rumen function to produce more?

Nutrition – Will they push the cows too hard and run the risk of making them unwell? Does the ration make economic sense?

Management – Can they alter the youngstock rearing program to improve the milking output?

Herd Management

Considering the cow is the focal point of the whole dairy business, it seems obvious to start with the cow when chasing efficiency. There are many considerations (breed, milking potential, feed efficiency, genetics, etc.), but the easiest thing producers can control is how the animals are reared. Efficient herd management, especially in rearing youngstock for optimal milk production potential, is paramount. Research indicates specific weight targets for young stock/heifers that correlate with improved milk production, emphasizing the need for meticulous attention to herd nutrition and growth metrics.

To be specific, research shows that heifers should be bred at 55-65% of mature body weight (MBW) and should be 85% of MBW after first calving. During 2023, GVF tested this within their own herds across Canada to compare and contrast with other research, and to show that they have the producer's best interest in mind when it comes to nutrition.

The results show that the herds who hit the target weights have better milk output than they did before they tried to reach the targets. It challenges the current narrative of breeding by age, or by eye. Most producers measure their stock by eye, which can be inaccurate and misleading when trying to find areas of improvement. To put it straight “you can’t count what you don’t measure”.

From the results, we can see cow size is bigger in Canada compared to the cows in the Northeast United States, which may be something to consider if feed shortages become an issue. In each case, it shows that the numbers may vary, but the targets remain the same. Real efficiency can be found with how early you can hit those targets.

References: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/sector/animal-industry/canadiandairy-information-centre https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/knowledge/economics/2023-dairy-outlook-update-july

The Power of Proactive Feed Ordering

by: Lindsay McDonald, M.Sc. Customer Service Manager

Managing all the aspects of running a business can be challenging and managing a feeding program just adds another layer of complexity. What is the name of the feed that you should be ordering? When did you order it last? Did you remember to place the order? At Grand Valley Fortifiers

we understand that our customer’s time is limited, and sometimes ordering feed falls off the radar.

We also recognize that customers are always looking for ways to keep costs down, while also trying to increase efficiencies on farm. As a result of these realities, we are always looking for diverse ways to provide the best customer service experience possible. One way of doing this, is through our proactive ordering services.

What is proactive ordering, and how will it help me?

Proactive ordering works by keeping track of inventory levels on-farm and ensuring that orders are placed in a timely fashion so the feed bin or feed room, never run empty. The Grand Valley Fortifiers Customer Service team can take away the worry of ensuring you order product on time, by keeping track of inventory levels for you. By engaging in proactive ordering, our customers can enjoy the advantages of grouping products together and capitalizing on volume discounts based on total tonnage. The more you order at once, the larger the available discount. Both our customers and Grand Valley Fortifiers benefit from proactive ordering as it enables our dispatch team to optimize the routes we send our trucks on, while also ensuring that customers receive nutrition products on time. Although we work hard to provide best in class biosecurity via our GVF trucks and drivers, proactive ordering can limit the number of times a feed truck enters your property – which will help reduce your biosecurity risk Currently, Grand Valley Fortifiers offers 2 different proactive ordering programs to help take the burden of feed ordering off your plate.

01. Bin sensors: A sensor is mounted within the lid of an outside bin using magnets (no holes), and readings are taken every 4 hours producing a 3D image of the feed in your bin. Feeding rates are calculated based on how much is consumed daily, weekly, and monthly. Based on those rates, a predicted empty date is generated by an algorithm running in the background. The Grand Valley Fortifiers Customer Service team will monitor the bins and arrange for a feed delivery when you are running low. There is no cost for the sensor, so it truly is a win-win for everyone.

02. Reoccurring orders: Do you have a bulk product that is not in a bin? Do you need a certain bag order on a regular schedule? Our reoccurring order program is a good option if you purchase product that falls under either category. The customer service team will set up an order cycle based on a product use rate and will reach out based on when our calculations predict you will need feed. Since we cannot see what is in your bin or feed room, we can adjust the order quantity or delivery date based on your needs. This program is also offered at no cost to the customer.

If you are interested in signing up for one of our proactive order programs or would like more information, please reach out to the customer service team using the contact details below.

Phone: 1-800-567-4400 | Text: 519-239-6859

Email: customerservice@grandvalley.com

Why Inflammation Matters

by: Gennadii Bondarenko Ruminant Nutritionist

Recent research demonstrated that systemic inflammation, which occurs in all cows and heifers in the transition period (2-3 weeks before, 2-3 weeks after calving), is the main cause of metabolic disorders of fresh cows (Barragan et al., 2020, 2021, Baumgard et al, 2021). It has been proven (B.Kuhla, 2020) that increased concentration of proinflammatory molecules in the blood around calving activates the “satiety center” in the brain, so the cow thinks she is already full and stops eating. This triggers mobilization of fat reserves in the body, that may result in fatty liver, ketosis and other metabolic issues.

What should we do to reduce inflammation in transition period?

To reduce the negative impact of inflammation, our first priority should be maintaining a low stress environment for the cows around calving through improved cow comfort and management: avoid overcrowding in the transition period, assure comfortable resting places, adequate ventilation and cooling, properly balanced rations and consistent feed bunk management. Low stress, happy cows have increased endorphin concentration in their blood (“hormone of happiness”), that stimulates appetite. However, there are also additional tools available that can help us to efficiently modulate inflammation in the transition period, such as non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) – aspirin (ASA), meloxicam, flunixin meglumine. Recent research from the Penn State University demonstrated very high efficiency of aspirin (ASA) boluses in transition period, that resulted in reduction of health problems, improved milk production and fertility, lower somatic cell count in milk (Barragan et al., 2020).

Should primiparous and multiparous cows be treated in the same way?

Hannah Simpson Ruminant Nutritionist

We are pleased to welcome Hannah Simpson as a new Ruminant Nutritionist on our expanding team. Hannah is a graduate from the University of Guelph where she completed her BSc in Animal Science before moving onto her MSc where she studied Effects of Feeding Liquid Whey in Total Mixed Rations with Dr. Katherine Wood.

Hannah is no stranger to the industry and has been working within the dairy industry and actively involved in 4H and Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario for many years. She worked with GVF last year as a summer intern under the leadership of Kathleen Shore and Sarah Robson, and is thrilled to come back to join us full time.

Hannah’s love for cows and passion for the dairy industry makes her a wonderful addition to our Nutrition Direct Team. Hannah is based out of Cambridge and will be formulating dairy rations alongside our other nutrition team members. She will also provide leadership for our summer intern, Emily Deklein and is available to visit farms for troubleshooting and support.

Please join us in welcoming Hannah to the team.

If you have any questions for our team, please feel free to contact Hannah at: hannahsimpson@grandvalley.com

Emily DeKlein

Ruminant Nutritionist Intern

We are pleased to announce that Emily DeKlein, a student from the University of Guelph, joined the Ruminant Team as a summer intern from May until August 2024. Emily is from Mossley, ON, where she grew up on a small farm, and has shown great interest in the dairy industry from a young age. She just finished her undergrad this April, obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, and will be returning to Guelph in the fall to begin her Masters in Ruminant nutrition under Dr. Trevor DeVries.

Emily has previously worked in research and sales positions for Bayer Crop Science in past summers of her undergrad. She has shown passion for the dairy industry and for example has been showing dairy cattle for the past 13 years.

It has been shown that multiparous cows responded best when ASA boluses were administered within 2 days after calving (Barragan et al., 2020, 2021). Multiparous cows that received ASA produced 1.45 kg/d more milk during the first 60 days in milk than untreated cows, became pregnant 20 days sooner and had 5% less pregnancy loss at first service. At the same time, the best timing to apply ASA boluses for primiparous cows was about 14 before expected calving date. The reason to make this treatment of heifers earlier is that at the time of calving, heifers tend to have much higher inflammation as compared to the older cows, thus ASA boluses may not be potent enough to decrease inflammation if applied right at calving. Amazingly, heifers treated with ASA 2 weeks prior to calving produced 750 kg more milk within the first 150 days in milk (5 kg/d of milk yield improvement)!

What are requirements to the boluses?

01. The bolus should contain acetylsalicylic acid

02. The single treatment should provide 124 grams of ASA

03. If the bolus concentration is 31 grams of ASA per bolus, then the single treatment should include 4 boluses

04. If your supplier provides lower ASA concentration in the boluses, adjust the number of boluses per treatment to reach 124 g of ASA. For example, apply 8 boluses per treatment, if ASA concentration is 15.5 grams/bolus.

When to apply ASA boluses?

01. Multiparous cows: 2 applications (124 g ASA per treatment) within 2 days after calving: first application should be done within the first 12 h after calving and the second treatment 24 h after the first application.

02. Primiparous cows: 1 application (124 g ASA per treatment) about 14 days (2 weeks) before expected calving date.

Have questions? Contact your local Grand Valley Fortifiers representative for more information.

Reference: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17966, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20330

Emily is excited to join the Grand Valley Fortifiers team this summer as our Dairy Nutrition intern. She will be conducting a Butterfat Audit project, working on some farms, collecting data to better understand the relative importance of the complex factors that impact butter fat content in milk. The idea is to create a large database and develop a diagnostic tool for milk fat depression risk assessment so that proactive changes can be implemented to lower the risk of butterfat test depression to benefit many dairy producers. Emily will also work as a nutrition assistant during her office days.

Please join us in welcoming Emily to the team.

If you have any questions for our team, please feel free to contact Emily at: emilydeklein@grandvalley.com

Thought of the Day!

“In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.” –

Ecclesiastes 7: 15

When we read these words of Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, we can easily become frustrated as we’ve likely all seen this play out in our modern day lives. Sometimes good people die young and evil people live to a ripe old age. So how do we respond to the fact that the world seems unfair? When you read all of Ecclesiastes 7, you will find that Solomon is suggesting two things in this passage:

1. Don’t try to put God in your debt. This is often referred to as the religious response.

2. Don’t choose to live your life as if your actions don’t have consequences. This is the rebel’s response.

VS. 18 – Do focus on who God is. Remember, He loves me, and He is just. He will wrap his arms around me and carry me through; and one day He will judge all things. You see, YOLO (You Only Live Once) starts with a wrong assumption – you actually live twice. The question is, will you only die once?