North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service
Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2000
Editors Note
Calf Development
Animal Health
Nutrition
Reproduction
Forages
Business Management
Miscellaneous
The first spring of the new millennium is on its way. Certainly current economic prospects with low milk prices and high fuel costs don't project high levels of optimism. Nonetheless, we all move forward in the quest for success. With this greeting, I hope each of you have a promising year.
And, as we look over the events for the coming months, be reminded that the State Dairy Show has been moved one week later to June 30 to July 2, the week after the Red River Valley Fair. However, the State Dairy Princess Contest is still on June 21-22 in Jamestown. Be sure to mark your calendars as you block out time for the many all-class reunions being held this summer.
J.W. Schroeder, Ph.D.
Extension Dairy Specialist
The keys to disease prevention in newborn calves are passive transfer of immunity and exposure to pathogens. We place a lot of emphasis on the former and too little emphasis on the latter. Minimizing the calf's exposure to pathogens is one of the surest, easiest, and most cost effective methods of improving calf survival. And it doesn`t take too much effort.
Pathogens that cause calfhood diseases (rotavirus, Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, ect.) are usually passed to the calf through the calf's environment. Bedding and manure that contain organisms or oocysts are a ready source of contamination. The mother can also harbor organisms that can infect the calf — be it through the colostrum and milk (e.g., Johne's) or from manure on the dam's body.
Newborn calves are at a real disadvantage when it comes to fighting disease. Not only are they highly stressed, but their immune defenses are minimal until the calf begins to consume colostrum. In addition, the animal has an opening into its circulation — the umbilical cord. Infection of the cord can result in rapid disease (septicemia, or "bacteria in the blood") and death. It is very important to minimize the potential infection of the navel cord by disinfecting the navel. Unfortunately, a recent USDA (NAHMS) study revealed that only about 47% of calves have their navels dipped. Studies have shown that calf mortality is reduced when the navel is dipped shortly after calving. Therefore, it should be a consistent management practice for all dairy producers.
Be sure to use a strong tincture of iodine to dip the navel (at least 7% iodine) and not dilute iodine solutions such as teat dip. This will inhibit microbial migration into the calf's body. Tincture of iodine also contains alcohol, which will help seal and dry the cord. Dip the navel, don't use a spray. Sprays don't cover well enough unless you really work at it. You can purchase inexpensive devices designed specifically for navel dipping. They're well worth it.
According to Dr. G.A. Donovan, University of Florida, you should dip the navel as soon as possible after birth, when you move the calf to the hutch or pen, and again 12 to 18 hours later. Remember, dipping the navel is one way to reduce an animal's exposure to disease causing pathogens. It's easy, inexpensive, and pays great dividends in terms of reduced calf mortality, morbidity, and treatment expenses.
The hair on cows' udders needs to be kept short. Short hair is easier to keep clean and dry. The end results include: Easier to prep cows for milking and takes less time, somatic cell counts are lower and less mastitis, better milk quality because of lower bacteria and coliform counts. Long hair is difficult to clean and dry, and wet teats are often milked.
Many herds are finding it easier and faster to burn the hair on the udder rather than clip. Using a propane torch to singe the hair off is quick and painless. When done correctly, burning the teats and udder doesn't occur. We have done it three years in our herd.
Rub loose sawdust, dirt, and manure off the udder. Slowly pass the flame 6 to 8 inches below the udder. Wear a cotton or leather glove on one hand to wipe off the black singed hair tips or to put out any flareups. Quickly pass the flame between the rear legs and along each side of the udder to singe the hair. Singe again if necessary. Do this in an area where there are no flammable materials such as bedding (shavings, straw, paper, etc.), hay, or other combustible materials.
You can purchase a commercial unit or make one from a hand-held propane torch but you will need a tank, a rubber hose, a regulator, and a metal neck and tip. The tip should be flattened and all air holes in the neck and tip must be taped shut to give a cool, yellow flame rather than a hot, blue one. A commercial unit has a long hose and a burner wide enough to cover the entire udder floor with one pass.
There continues to be much debate about the value of using anthelmintics (dewormers) to treat internal parasites in adult dairy cattle. Over the years numerous studies have attempted to settle this debate. However, many of the studies conflict in the method and timing of the treatment and, most importantly, in their conclusions about the benefit of deworming mature cattle.
While more than half of the studies indicate an improvement in performance (milk yield) in treated cattle, the range of responses is quite large. This means that even if treatment improves performance it may not be economically justifiable to use anthelmintics in this group of cattle. The use of strategic spring and summer deworming programs (rather than treating at dry-off or freshening, for example) may result in a more predictable response to treatment.
Given the unpredictable response to anthelmintic treatment (some studies actually showed a drop in milk production after treatment!), one recommendation would be to work with your veterinarian to assess the level of internal parasitism in your mature herd, especially if they are on pasture during the spring and summer. If fecal egg counts indicate the presence of a large number of `worms' in the animals, a deworming program could be put in place. Although this approach couldn't guarantee that treatment would be economically justifiable, it would increase the chances of observing a positive and worthwhile response in milk production.
Source: Ernest Hovingh, Extension Veterinarian, VA-MD Regional College of Vet Medicine
Limiting feed to lactating dairy cows will adversely affect milk production compared to feeding for ad libitum intake. For example, balance a ration for 17% protein and .77 Megacolories of net energy, similar to many 1 group TMR mixes fed on dairy farms. If 40 lbs. of dry matter is consumed per cow per day there is enough protein to produce 70 lbs. of 3.5% milk and energy to produce 68 lbs. If that 1300 lb. cow consumed 50 lbs. of dry matter she could produce approximately 90 lbs. of milk.
A rule of thumb is that for each extra pound of dry matter a cow consumes she will produce an extra 3 lbs. of milk. Therefore, it is worth the effort to get the extra feed into cows especially those that are relatively fresh and capable of producing more.
Feed intake may be limited by inadequate feed bunk space, especially in herds that are confined. For higher producing herds, 2 linear feet or more bunk space is often available. Remember as herd production increases, so does need for feed. Many herds have added cows and production to the point that bunk space may be an issue. Overcrowding can be a major concern and attention to feeding management and intake is important to ensure no depression in consumption. Having palatable forages and other feeds present in the proper amounts is important in maximizing intake. Poor quality forages will likely result in depressed intakes.
Remember that an extra pound of dry matter or 2 lbs of 50% dry matter TMR can product an extra 3 lbs of milk. Don't forget to push it up three to five times a day. Considering the feed has been delivered, encouraging cows to eat it seems like cheap insurance.
Source: Charles C. Stallings, Extension Dairy Scientist, Nutrition, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Proper semen handling procedures from locating the semen in the liquid nitrogen tank to
entering the cow's reproductive tract need review periodically. Everyone establishes a
routine for handling frozen and thawed semen that hopefully does not injure sperm cells
and lower conception rates. Usually, errors made in the handling of frozen, thawed semen
and the equipment used for artificial insemination are small.
However, mistakes in semen handling are frequently additive, meaning their effects on
semen quality will be magnified.
One common mistake that we all make is not concentrating on the task presently being performed. A check list to review and evaluate semen handling procedures includes 22 individual steps where errors can occur. Listed below are the five areas most often observed as semen handling errors on the farm:
Source: Ray L. Nebel, Extension Scientist, Reproductive Management, Virginia Cooperative Extension
This past year several producers saw white blotching of alfalfa leaflets. Reports were from minor infestations to very severe. The blotching is caused by the alfalfa blotch leafminer. The adult fly looks like a house fly with a humped back. It feeds on the underside of the leaflet causing a shot-hole effect. The best way to determine if the adult is active is to select several leaflets and hold them up to the sun. The shot holes show up quite well this way. During feeding, the female will lay an egg in one of the shot holes near the base between the epidermis layers. The larvae that hatch mines toward the leaf edge and then turns inward causing the characteristic comma-shape blotch. When mature, the larvae break the epidermis and drop to the ground where they pupate.
Most damage is caused by the larvae mining through the leaflet, but some is caused by the leaf loss during harvesting and feeding by the adult. Most insecticides are ineffective and yield loss is generally minor, so treatment is not recommended. Early harvest is recommended to expose young larvae to high soil temperatures. Last year for the first time treatment for alfalfa blotch leafminer with Warrior resulted in significantly higher yields. If you had problems last year and see extensive shot holing, I recommend you experiment with Warrior. Maybe try treating half of a field to see whether it is effective for you. The alfalfa blotch leafminer can have three to four generations/year, but they seem to be more active during cooler temperatures. I say this based on severe infestations in the fourth harvest of 1998 and first harvest of 1999, but minor to no infestations in the second, third, and fourth harvest of 1999 at Fargo. Yet, Kenney Gross had major infestation in his third harvest in 1999 (maybe others also, I did not inquire).
The alfalfa blotch leafminer should be just a problem for only a few years and then disappear. The leafminer normally is held in check by a parasite (Dacnusa dryas (Nixon)), at least it has been in the northeastern areas of the United States. Unfortunately, it has not been detected in Minnesota or Manitoba up to 1999.
Source: Dr. D.W. Meyer, Professor, Plant Sciences, NDSU
Justification
Dairy numbers dwindled at the rate of 3 to 13% per year for the last decade of the 20th century. As a result, milk processing plants are running far below capacity, putting the state's dairy infrastructure at risk. Our program is designed to focus on existing dairy farm retention, growth, and modernization to sustain this all important segment of our animal industry through enhancement of dairy farm family income and lifestyles.
All advisory teams are required to prepare and record a set of attainable goals and design a mission statement. It is estimated that if the 20 pilot farms were to attain the goals set for the first year, they could derive an additional $2.1 million of additional gross revenue. These farms represent less than 2.5% of the dairy farms in North Dakota. Some of the actual success stories documented during the pilot year follow.
Farm A. Increased cash flow $7,200 in the first month without any additional expenditures by applying new technology while using existing farm resources. Balancing herd rations, feed bunk management, and monitoring production helped increase annual income over $86,000.
Farm B. Two months of ration changes and timely nutrition monitoring resulted in 7 pounds per cow per day of additional milk adding $1,800 per month income to this dairy herd.
Farm C. Poor quality forages limited this farm's income potential, so the team redesigned the farm's cropping system to improve milk production and efficiency of land and labor use.
Farm D. Adding a new partner to this operation decreased fixed costs for an underutilized facility and helped a younger dairy person get his start in the industry. This change further enabled the owner to increase his herd size while improving his weekend lifestyle.
Farm E. By analyzing and adjusting the milking herd ration this farm realized a $0.69 feed cost per cow per day savings equivalent to $20,000 increase in annual dairy income.
Farm F. Milk production increased 4 pounds per day per cow after implementing team advise, generating an increase of $14,000 in farm revenue.
Farm G. Financial analysis of the total farming operation by the advisory team provided farm management with the knowledge to initiate business changes that justified additional financing to purchase 40 more cows. This farm expansion and adjustment in time management for the dairy herd increased production from 56 to 70 pounds per cow per day on a herd expanded to 200 cows.
Farm H. The average daily milk production for this herd rose an additional 1,800 pounds in one year due to technology and management changes in cow nutrition, herd handling techniques, implementation of a herd health program, and improvements in the cow reproductive program.
Farm I. Changing their feeding system to a total mixed ration increased daily milk production 11 pounds per cow over a six-month period.
Farm J. This dairy farm family's rolling herd average increased 5,000 pounds in one year. Improved production was attributed to adjustments made on many aspects of the total farm business, i.e. financing, herd nutrition/feed bunk management, cropping systems, labor and family time management, and calf raising options to better utilize existing facilities to implement a dry cow program.
The program's intent is to not only analyze dairy farm enterprise(s) through teamwork, but provide training on communication and facilitation skills for both the farm family and the supporting team members. At a recent public form, (Market Place of Ideas, January 6, 2000, Bismarck, N.D.) volunteer members from several teams and a dairy farm family shared their growth experiences before a diverse audience. Key outcomes from this panel presentation that are often intangible, but nonetheless valuable were expressed. Some examples included: the value of setting goals and monitoring progress, developing trust between the farm and it's providers, reducing professional barriers among advisors, learning to communicate more effectively, the value of hearing others acknowledge success, and synergism through team efforts. The dairy farm family must make the final decisions, but with the help and consensus of a team, the quality of the decision is enhanced.
The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from one generation to the next, says that when you discover you are riding a dead horse the best strategy is to dismount. However, in modern business other strategies sometimes have to be tried with dead horses:
Dairy Connection, Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2000
NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied
Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director,
Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June
30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or sexual
orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with
disabilities upon request, 701/231-7881.
North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service