Revista El Lechero

Serving Dairymen Nationwide | October 19, 2015 | Vol. 29 No.
17
Eeny, meeny,
miny, moe ...
Take the guesswork out of choosing

which replacement heifers to sell
and when to do it. PG. 75
Plus
Privacy and comfort

Be sure youre providing both when designing or
improving a cow maternity area. PG. 36
A second home for transition cows

Learn how one Indiana dairyman made it work
for his herd. PG. 38
No heat? No problem!
New research sheds light on why cows dont cycle
and what to do about it. PG. 72
Secrets of reproductive success

Find out what three dairies do to get cows bred.
PG. 57
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From the desk of a deer hunters widow

The chill in the air here in
northeast Wisconsin marks the fall
season, and at my house, that means it is
time for deer hunting.
Between bows and guns, deer
hunting is much more than a nine-day
event. For weeks already, my house has
been transformed into a hunting blind.
There is a trail of camouflage attire and
crunchy, dead leaves leading from the
garage to the living room, accompanied
by the musty, earthy aroma of the great
outdoors. A crossbow sits on my kitchen
counter, conveniently located for an
impromptu round of target practice in
the backyard, and my regular weeknight
Bravo programming is replaced by the
Outdoor Channel. Watch where you
step and sit, as there may be a stray
rattling antler laying around.
Little did I know when my husband
and I met nine years ago, this annual
big buck fever would consume him for
the better part of September, October
and November. I specifically recall the
day he looked deeply into my eyes as
if peeling back every layer to my soul
and said, I have a very important
question to ask you how do you feel
about hunting?
My casual response: Well, I dont
hunt. My family doesnt hunt. But I
think there are a lot of things that need
to be shot.
Though I had passed his test with
flying colors, it took a few years for me
to get the hang of being a hunters

wife. I had unknowingly signed up
to learn skills like cooking venison,
removing cockle burs and trimming
deer carcasses. My vocabulary has
expanded to include words like drop
tine, brow tine and atypical. Ive
also gotten pretty good at whipping
out the spotlight from under the seat of
the truck to shine deer on a drive home
as they munch on corn stubble in the
fields.
Over the years, I have learned how
to be a supportive hunting spouse.
For example, I quickly figured out
that comments like, Maybe this just
isnt your sport and All the cavemen
needed to kill a deer was a rock and
a stick were not well received when
my hunter came home empty-handed.
Washing hunting gear in lavenderscented laundry detergent did not go
over well either.
These days, I send my hunter out
into the wild with a kiss, words of
encouragement and snacks to nourish
his body as he sits through the cold,
wind and rain in the name of feeding
our family. I say a prayer for his safety
and cross my fingers that when he
returns there will be a 200-pound
carcass on the tailgate and a 16-point
rack in his hands. I admit, I do this
in part because his victory means the
hunting gear could get packed away
early, but more importantly, this is my
husbands passion. It is the one thing

that will get him out of bed at 4 a.m.
Each year, he dreams of shooting that
trophy buck worthy of hanging on the
wall. He lives and breathes for this
challenge, and nothing would satisfy
him more than luring a big buck to his
stand and respectfully ending its life
with a dignified kill shot.
Deer hunting is a passion that
involves both luck and skill but, after
all, so is dairy farming. Both can be
humbling reminders that we are at
the mercy of Mother Nature, and
sometimes she is just smarter than
we are. There can be volatility, ups
and downs, bad timing and outside
forces beyond our control. But there is
something about the hunt that keeps
you coming back for more. Perhaps its
a brush with that brute of a buck or
hitting that 100-pounds-of-milk-percow mark. A taste of victory keeps you
hanging on to your hopes and dreams.
Similarly, being a deer hunters
widow is not unlike being a dairy
farmers wife. During the height of the
harvest, you know not to call to ask what
time he will be home for dinner; you
just know to have a warm plate ready
when he walks in the door. There are
times when you attend social functions
without him and politely respond to
the enquiries of his whereabouts by
reassuring people that you are not
getting divorced; it is just that time of
Peggy Coffeen
Midwest Editor
Progressive Dairyman
peggy@progressivepublish.com
the year. Though deer hunting is only a

seasonal hobby, and dairy farming is a
year-round career, supporting my hunter
gives me a glimpse of what it is like to
be the better half of a dairyman. It also
fills me with admiration for the many
wives, better than I, who not only hold
down the fort but also hunt or farm right
alongside their husbands.
So to the hunters and the dairy
farmers, may you have a bountiful
harvest this fall, and dont forget there
is a special someone at home who loves
you and supports the pursuit of your
passion. PD
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October 19, 2015 Issue 17
www.progressivedairy.com
Providing the best quality, most efficient, and most

competitive service in the Southwest.
A Cooperative managed by dairymen

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Contact us at:
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Advanced milk testing
47
Today, sophisticated automated scanning processes are used to

test milk, allowing technicians to do more with less.
Photo by Sherry Bunting.
m
Da ore Lea
ir at r
EH y Ex the n
35 po Wo
11 Bo rld
-35 ot
13 h
NEWS & BUSINESS

News.......................................................................................................... 4
Prigel Family Creamery plays African Serengeti.............................................. 6
Market Watch.............................................................................................. 8
Working with NFL advances dairy farmers goals.......................................... 18
Checkoff Watch......................................................................................... 19
Progressive Event: World Dairy Expo............................................................ 23
ISSUE FOCUS: MANAGEMENT
DIFFERENTIAL VALVE
& reservoir valve
Dairying in Lebanon: Milk for health and wealth............................................ 24

Pounds vs. percent: Shifting the mindset about components......................... 26
Who is the CEO of your dairy?.................................................................... 28
The phrase that pays.................................................................................. 30
Forget the ghosts: Beware of failing to back up............................................ 32
For BIG tanks

choose a valve
with BIG flow
Enormous flow 400 US gpm
at 175 psi
Increase pump life
Save electricity
No water hammer
ISSUE TOPIC: DRY AND TRANSITION COWS
NZ MADE
Distributed by AgVet Associates LLC

Ph: 817-326-2699
www.agvetassociates.com
Tips for designing your maternity pen around cow behavior........................... 36

How to troubleshoot difficult calvings........................................................... 41
Economical ways to improve dairy heifer efficiency....................................... 43
Logistics of setting up a basic on-farm mastitis culture lab............................ 45
Proper nutrition and management of transition dairy cows............................ 50
Preventing milk fever with anionic salts........................................................ 52
ISSUE TOPIC: A.I. AND BREEDING
Buy the Best!
For more information about our products, visit apexvalves.co.nz
5 Things I Cant Do My Job Without Featuring Pagels Ponderosa Dairy.... 54

5 criteria for breeding robot-ready cows....................................................... 55
Nutrigenomics: Understand B vitamins to improve reproduction..................... 56
Using genetic data to make decisions for the future...................................... 60
Improving embryo quality, herd fertility with trace minerals............................ 68
Improving anovular cow treatment and management.................................... 72
Should you create extra heifers?................................................................. 75
Why should I have two groups of dry dairy cows?......................................... 77
Methods of managing precision dairy farming technologies........................... 78
Putting genomics and embryo transfer to work on-farm................................ 80
DEPARTMENTS
Lightning
High temperature
Cheating
Rust and
corrosion
Cold, ice
Radio and
Electromagnetic
Flood, punctures & abuse

Rodents
New hires: Kevin Buttles............................................................................. 82

Yevet Tenney: Check your heart................................................................... 83
Mechanics Corner: Different fuel additives to consider.................................. 88
Herd management: Keeping your cool when things get heated...................... 90
Puzzle....................................................................................................... 92
Industry News............................................................................................ 94
New Products............................................................................................ 95
Ryan Dennis: Silo City................................................................................. 97
Baxter Black: Another good man gone....................................................... 100
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
Marketplace.............................................................................................. 84
Calendar................................................................................................... 98
Advertiser index......................................................................................... 99
Issue 17 October 19, 2015
58 Effective breeding
Three dairies from across the country share what they
are doing to blow past reproductive benchmarks.
Photo provided by Walnutdale Farm.
PROUD NATIONAL MEDIA PARTNERS WITH:
Successful transition
38
Contact Information
Tackle time thieves
The Minichs of LaPorte, Indiana, knew they needed a better

transition facility. Their investment is paying off. Photo by Kimmi Devaney.
Contact Information
(208) 324-7513
66
One herd, many

management needs
editor@progressivedairy.com
Main office
238 West Nez Perce (Physical)

or PO Box 585 (Mailing)
Jerome, ID 83338-0585
FAX: (208) 324-1133
Rumination monitoring technology helped

one dairy uncover a bottleneck in their
transition cow program.
33
Stop wasting time with these tips.
Michelle Dilsaver sent us this darling

picture of her daughter, Jaylin, who is
devoted to the dairy industry. Michelle
explains:
Illustration by Kevin Brown.
ON THE COVER
Her whole heart and soul is the dairy

industry. She works very hard for her
goals. She wants to go to school to be
a vet, so when she owns a dairy she
will already be ahead of the game.
Serving Dairymen Nationwide | October 19, 2015 | Vol. 29 No. 17
Heifers near
Hagen Brothers
Dairy in
Waterville, Iowa.
Eeny, meeny,
miny, moe ...

How to Subscribe
Plus
Privacy and comfort
Photo by Amy Hagen.
Be sure youre providing both when designing or

improving a cow maternity area. PG. 36

Learn how one Indiana dairyman made it work
for his herd. PG. 38
New research sheds light on why cows dont cycle
and what to do about it. PG. 72
Upload your dairy photos to

www.proudtodairy.com

PG. 57

PG. 72
PG. 38
Learn
for
hishow
herd.one Indiana dairyman made it work

PG. 36
Be sure youre
improving
a cowproviding
maternity
both
area.
when designing or
Privacy and comfort

Plus
17
18
Progressive Dairyman: 25,667
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Download a PDF version of our subscription form at
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Edition
Go to progressivedairy.com/subscribe and complete the form.

Call our circulation department between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MST.
Southwest
Edition
1. Online:
PG. 57
Newwhat
and
research
to dosheds
aboutlight
it. on why cows dont cycle
Progressive Dairyman is targeted to all

dairies in the western United States
and all 100+ cow dairies in the
Midwest and East.
Publisher Alan Leavitt

Publisher Emeritus Leon Leavitt

Editors Walt Cooley, Karen Lee, Emily Caldwell,

Peggy Coffeen, Jenna Hurty, Melissa Miller

Sales Glen Leavitt, Jeff Stoker, Sal Gomez,
Layne Whitby, Paul Marchant, Julie Brown,
Jo Dexter, Mike Christensen,
Ken Marshall, Matt Kear

Circulation Lynn Olsen, Laura Marlatt, Jackie Brown,
Melinda Amy, Dawnette Hutchison,
Amy Brown, Cindy Bingham

Administration Natalie Kite, Brina Norwood, Judy Hall,
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Production Kevin Brown, Ray Merritt,
Philip Warren, Fredric Ridenour,

Mikeal Dixon, Kristen Phillips, Julie Vasquez,
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E-media Diantha Leavitt, Alicia Nguyen,
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3
13

miny, moe ...

Eeny,7 meeny,
14
11
Publishers Statement
Serving Dairymen Nationwide | October 19, 2015 | Vol. 29 No. 17
20
12
15
16
9
6
19
2014 Top 20 Dairy States
(total pounds of milk production)
Midwest Edition
Vol. 29 No. 17 October 19, 2015

2015 Progressive Publishing
East Edition
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishing

company. Progressive Dairyman encourages reader comment.
Contrasting points of view from responsible individuals are
welcome. Liability for any errors or omissions in advertisements
shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error or
omission. Publication of any advertising or articles does not
constitute endorsement, guarantee or warranty of any kind by
Progressive Dairyman. Submission of letters implies the right to
edit and publish all or in part.
Copyright Notice:
All editorial content and graphics in Progressive Dairyman are

protected by U.S. copyright, international treaties and other
applicable copyright laws and may not be copied without the
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Postmaster:
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Please send address changes to: Progressive Dairyman, P.O. Box

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additional offices.
NEWS
VIRGINIA
NMPF commends USDA

for extending Margin
Protection Program deadline
Below is a statement from Jim

Mulhern, president and CEO of the
National Milk Producers Federation
(NMPF):
We appreciate the decision by
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to
extend the sign-up deadline for the
dairy Margin Protection Program
(MPP) until Nov. 20.
In his announcement, Secretary
Vilsack acknowledged that fall is a
busy time for dairy producers and that
the additional seven weeks for sign-up
will help the decision-making process
on using the MPP in 2016.
When we asked the secretary to
extend the deadline past September,
we expressed concern that the Sept.
30 deadline to enroll in the MPP
coincided with the fall harvest in many
parts of the nation, as well as with the
USDA ARC/PLC enrollment deadline.
This MPP extension is consistent
with Congresss goal in creating the
program a goal shared by NMPF
which is to maximize the opportunity
for dairy farmers to utilize this crucial

risk management tool.
A similar sign-up period extension
last fall greatly helped to boost
enrollment in the program in calendar
year 2015. We believe this extension,
until Nov. 20, will likewise enhance
participation in the MPP in the coming
year.
From National Milk Producers
Federation news release
VIRGINIA
Dairy industry commends

introduction of Safe
Trucking Act
The dairy industry welcomed the

introduction of the Safe, Flexible and
Efficient Trucking Act in the House of
Representatives. The bill would allow
states to increase the gross vehicle
weight limit on commercial trucks
if they are properly equipped with
six axles and meet the same safety
standards as trucks currently allowed
on interstates.
Known as the Safe Trucking Act,
the bill was introduced by Rep. Reid
Ribble (R-Wis.).
The dairy industry relies heavily

on commercial trucks to get milk
from the farm to plants and to move
dairy foods from the plants to grocery
shelves across the country. Because
the products are perishable, they
must move quickly and efficiently.
Unfortunately, outdated federal
transportation rules now force trucks
to leave plants when they are less
than full because the trucks reach the
current weight limit before they meet
the capacity limit.
By raising the federal gross vehicle
weight limit for trucks equipped
with six axles rather than the typical
five and giving states the flexibility
to utilize these trucks where they
see fit, the Safe Trucking Act would
safely modernize truck shipments on
interstate highways by allowing trucks
to carry more product and thereby
reduce the number of trucks on our
roadways. In a letter sent to members
of the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, IDFA and
National Milk Producers Federation
(NMPF) said the combination of
greater efficiencies and safer highways
makes a lot of sense.
CONCERNED ABOUT MILK QUALITY?
Dr. Allan Britten
Udder Health Systems is

dedicated to helping dairymen
and processors efficiently
produce high-quality milk from
healthy dairy cows.
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In June, the U.S. Department

of Transportation (DOT) released
its technical findings in connection
with its comprehensive truck size and
weight limits study.
Among its findings, DOT
concluded that more productive trucks
lower congestion costs, fuel costs and
carbon and other emissions. They also
found that vehicle stability and control
are virtually unchanged on heavier
six-axle vehicles. Truck weight reform
would also reduce pavement costs
significantly.
From International Dairy Foods
Association and National Milk
Producers Federation news release
WASHINGTON, D.C.
USDA commits $2.5M

to expand new farmer
education
Agriculture Deputy Secretary

Krysta Harden announced that $2.5
million in grants is now available
for projects to educate new and
underserved farmers about more
than 20 USDA Farm Service Agency
programs that can provide financial,
disaster or technical assistance to the
agricultural community.
The grants will be awarded to
nonprofits and public higher education
institutions that develop proposals to
improve farmer education on topics
such as financial training, value-added
production, record-keeping, property
inheritance and crop production
practices.
We want to partner with
nonprofits, colleges and universities
who share the USDAs priority of
helping more Americans enter farming
as a profession, whether they are new
or underserved farmers, returning
service members, minorities, women
and urban producers, or those who sell
their crops locally, said Harden.
The USDA will conduct four
evaluation periods to review
applications, with the deadlines of Nov.
20, 2015; Jan. 22, 2016; March 18, 2016;
and May 27, 2016. Awards between
$20,000 and $100,000 per applicant
will be available.
To learn more about the funding
solicitation and the related Farm
Service Agency programs, details
can be found at www.grants.gov
with the reference number USDAFSA-CA-2015-001.
Additional information is posted
at the Farm Service Agency website.
From USDA news release
NEW JERSEY
New training video modules

focus on calf care
Merck Animal Health introduced

two new Dairy Care365 animal
handling training video modules
during World Dairy Expo that focus
on caring for calves the lifeblood of
any operation. The first video module
covers care and handling of the
newborn calf from birth through the
first two weeks of life, while the second

video module addresses handling and
stockmanship from weaning to the
mixing pens.
All dairies should develop
protocols for handling newborn
calves, as the care a calf receives
has significant, long-term effects
on its adult health and well-being,
says Elizabeth Adams, M.S., DVM,
technical services manager for Merck
Animal Health.
The newborn calf care training
video was developed by Merck Animal
Health with the assistance of Jim
Reynolds, DVM, MPVM, DACAW, a
professor at Western University.
This video module includes
navel dipping, feeding colostrum
and vaccination, along with other
management practices to ensure the
calf gets a healthy start.
The second calf care training video
module addresses proper management
of weaned calves from the hutch to
the group pens. It was developed with
the assistance of Fred Muller, DVM, a
private practitioner from Sunnyside,
Washington, who teaches calf care
techniques to his clients and their
employees.
This video module covers
youngstock handling, moving calves
out of the hutch, loading, unloading
and trailer safety, moving into the new
group pen, pressure zones, socializing
in the mixing pen, and moving and
sorting groups of calves.
When calves are weaned and
moved into mixing pens, its like their
teenage years, Muller says. They
have a lot of energy, are exploring
their new surroundings and want to
socialize with new herdmates. Just like
teenagers, calves need to be taught how
to properly behave in a group, and its
our responsibility to build their trust
and confidence so we can work with
them effectively.
Dr. Adams adds, Calves will
remember the training you give them
at this age. The lessons they learn
from their interactions with humans
at this stage will be remembered as
they become adults. Practicing good
stockmanship and handling when
calves are small will make it safer and
easier for animals and employees in the
future. This requires a commitment
from dairy herd owners and managers
to continually train and support
employees in proper animal handling.
The animal handling video
modules are designed to help dairy
producers and veterinarians train
employees to provide the best animal
care at every stage of life. The video
modules feature real on-farm settings
to provide a realistic representation
of how cows behave and react to their
surroundings.
In addition to the two new calf
care video modules, the training
series includes: Introduction to Dairy
Stockmanship; Low-Stress Handling
of Dairy Cows and Heifers; Moving
Cows to the Parlor; Handling NonAmbulatory Cows; and Euthanasia.
1
3 2
The training is offered in English

and Spanish, and each video module
concludes with testing to gauge
employee understanding of the
material.
Also, part of Dairy Care365,
the Dairy C.A.R.E. booklet includes

customizable templates for developing
animal care protocols, policies and
standard operating procedures.
For more information, contact
your local Merck Animal Health
representative, visit the website (www.

dairycare365.com) or email info@
dairycare365.com PD
From Merck Animal Health news
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NEWS
Bobby Prigel, owner and

manager of Prigel Family
Creamery Inc., says his family
operation tries to mimic the
African Serengeti with their dairy
grazing practices.
Photo taken from the Prigel Family Creamery Facebook
page with permission. Photo by Heather Grace
Photography.
Prigel Family Creamery plays African Serengeti

Paige Nelson for Progressive Dairyman
For years now, the Prigel Family
Creamery has been trying hard to
mimic Serengeti-type grazing with its
180 milk cows in Glen Arm, Maryland.
Well, it must be working because in
May 2015 the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) called. They wanted to use
the farms pastures and cattle to test
brand-new anti-poaching equipment,
soon bound for the African savanna.
We are a grass-based dairy,
Bobby Prigel, owner and manager of
Prigel Family Creamery Inc., says.
What we try to do, in a sense, is
mimic the Serengeti.
We move our cattle constantly, so
theyre not overgrazing. They go in just

like a herd of wildebeest. They go in,
they eat, and they move. What we are
doing is trying to simulate nature.
When the WWFs Wildlife Crime
Technology Project director, Colby
Loucks, showed up with state-ofthe-art thermal imaging technology,
the farms holistic goal of simulating
natural grazing events got upgraded
to roleplaying. Quiet milk cows played
the part of rhinos. The rolling hills of
Maryland became an African grazing
ground.
According to a Washington Post
article, the WWF received a grant
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from Googles Global Impact Award

to address the intensifying poaching
problem in Africa.
The article cites numbers like an
average of 1,215 rhinos were poached
in South Africa alone in 2014. From
1980 through 2007, South African
rhino poaching averaged only nine
animals per year.
The forest elephant population in
central Africa saw a 62 percent decline
from 2002 to 2011.
By using special thermal cameras,
the WWF plans to better monitor the
wild herds and notify park rangers
immediately, via text or email,
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ATTENTION DAIRYMEN
Planned Topics:
Idaho DHIA Annual Meeting

Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
11:00 AM 2:00 PM
LaQuinta Inn
539 Pole Line Road, Twin Falls
Lunch will be served.
Genomics and Fertility in Heifers and Cows

by Joe Dalton
Ample evidence exists that fertility of lactating dairy
cows has declined. New management tools are being
investigated to increase the fertility of dairy cattle.
Genomic loci associated with fertility have been
identified in Holstein heifers, and research is underway to
determine loci associated with fertility in lactating Holstein
cows. Early research results provide hope that genomic
selection for fertility will be a reality on farms in the future.
Practical Usage and Application

by Dr. Kevin Crandall
PLEASE RSVP BY
October 28th to:
Susan Lee, Manager
208-539-4104
or
208-733-6372 ext.104
when suspected poachers approach.

Attached to each thermal camera is
a small computer, which is powered
by solar panels. The computer uses
software to identify moving objects.
Using an algorithm, the software can
distinguish humans from animals
and eventually ignore movements like
swaying grass.
Thus, someday on the African
savannah, a camera trained on a herd
of elephants will distinguish a human
walking toward the herd, rather than
another animal, and alert park rangers
to the disturbance.
But the technology is young and
needs more identification practice.
Enter Prigel Family Creamery. A
neighbor of Prigels associated with
WWF called and asked if they could
set up some equipment for testing on
the farms hill. Happy to oblige, Prigel
agreed.
With the camera and computer set
up on the hill looking down at Prigels
herd, WWF researchers walked
among the grazing cattle testing the
cameras ability to properly identify
human versus nonhuman and the
cameras accuracy in relation to
distance.
Although he wasnt sure at first
why people were walking among his
cattle, Prigel was happy to help the
cause.
Obviously, any kind of poaching
is bad and needs to be controlled. If I
can have any involvement with that,
the more, the better, he says.
The cattle may not have even
realized they were playing a part in
such important science. Prigel says, for
his cattle, it was just a regular day on
the farm.
[The researchers] would walk
around in the midst of [the cattle].
[The cattle] werent disturbed or
anything. They took it in stride, he
says.
Prigel doesnt have any future
plans with the WWF but says he is
happy to help again if the occasion
arises.
Why spend money to go to Africa
to test it when we can test it here and
work some bugs out and fine-tune it?
he says.
As for any public perception
benefits from the project, Prigel says,
Anytime that we can get non-farm
people on the farm, its a plus. PD
Paige S. Nelson resides in Rigby, Idaho,
and is an agricultural freelance writer.
Automated
Dairy Systems
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Material containing limited chopped bedding,
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The ADS culture of service leads the

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Southern Idaho
(208) 324-3213
Jeff Grigg, Sales

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GEA Farm Technologies

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Evans, CO
(907) 330-1870 (800) 440-4333
Randy Sorensen, Owner
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Turlock, CA (209) 668-5350 20035 West Bradbury

Merced, CA (209) 722-7452 891 Beechcraft
Dale Finegan, Sales (209) 202-4393
San Joaquin Valley Dairy Equipment

a division of GEA Farm Technologies
Tulare, CA (559) 688-2888

Bakersfield, CA (661) 827-8494
Rick Mayo, General Manager (559) 358-0244 cell
Dave Sandlin, Sales (559) 358-0243 cell
Standley & Company
Jerome, ID (208) 324-3341 642 Farmore Road

www.standleyandcompany.com
Pat Hartzell Manure Equip. Manager (208) 280-1167
Kurt Standley Sales (208) 280-1166
Paco Romero Service Manager (208) 280-3599
Tanner Bradshaw Sales/Parts Manager (208) 280-0300
GEA Farm Equipment | Houle
GEA Farm Technologies - The right choice.
HOMINY A BARGAIN
MARKET WATCH FEED

In this column, I track down
six different feed markets using
the Sesame software. Results using
market prices as of Sept. 21 are
summarized in tables specific to your
region of publication. The Northeast
region is centered in western New
York. The Southeast market is for a
location somewhere between Atlanta
and north Florida. The Midwest
market is for central Wisconsin.
The Southwest market is for the
Texas Panhandle and eastern New
Mexico. The West market is for feeds
delivered in the San Joaquin Valley
of California. Lastly, the Northwest
market would be centered in Idaho.
The feed table reports bracket
prices for each feed. The low and
Item1
NEL (/Mcal)
MP (/lb)
e-NDF (/lb)
ne-NDF (/lb)
Normand St-Pierre
Dairy Extension Specialist
Ohio State University
st-pierre.8@osu.edu
Southwest
3.4
62.0
17.1
0.4
West
9.0
47.5
7.5
-5.9
Northwest
11.6
46.0
10.1
-17.5
5.97
12.2
8.52
5.89
12.0
8.41
6.55
13.3
9.35
Nutrient costs ($/cow per day)2

Nutrient costs (/lb of feed DM)
Nutrient cost ($/cwt of milk)
NEL = Net energy for lactation; MP = metabolizable protein;

e-NDF = effective neutral detergent fiber; ne-NDF = non-effective NDF.
2
1,400-lb cow producing 70 lbs/day at 3.7% fat, 3.1% protein and 5.7% other solids.
1
high values delineate the 75 percent

confidence range for a feed. If you
can buy a feed at a price less than the
low, then it is a bargain. If the market
price exceeds the high, then it is
overpriced. If your price is between
the low and high, then the feed is
priced approximately for what it is
worth.
The status column provides
you with a quick indicator of a feed
status: A H indicates a bargain feed; a
n denotes an overpriced feed; a blank
entry indicates that the feed is priced

about right. Lastly, a few feeds carry
a special status symbol: A is shown
if we are in no position to judge a
feed status because we lack sufficient
market price information.
Every market has some bargain
feeds and some overpriced ones, and
most trade places from month to
month. Many byproduct feeds are in
search of an animal belly, so much

so that there are many great buying
opportunities now and in months to
come. This column should help you
gauge what these opportunities are in
your area. Whether a feed deemed a
bargain fits your feeding program is
another question best discussed with
your nutritionist.
Sesame determines the
nutritional worth of feeds through the
determination of the economic values
of the nutrients. Because nutrients
required for milk production are
well-known, we can calculate the
cost of providing these nutrients to
dairy cows. Beware that the resulting
feed costs do not include the costs
of feeding the dry cows and the
replacement herd. PD
COMMODITIES
Corn* (in tons)
Sept. 30 Price
(in bushels)
3-week
change
Price
3-week
change
CA
$191
$14
$5.35
.14
ID
$188
$1
$5.26
.04
NM
$173
$5
$4.84
.03
*Price quotes contributed by Western Milling,

J.D. Heiskell and independent sources.
Soybean meal* ($/ton)
SPECIALIST IN LARGE PULL-TYPE VERTICAL MIXERS
Sept. 30
Price
3-week
change
CA
$383
$27
ID
$375
$15
NM
$368
$13
Cottonseed* ($/ton)
Best fuel economy
Best Mix
RDO Equipment
Hermiston, OR 800-357-7925
Sunnyside, WA 800-745-4027
Lawrence Tractor Co.
Mike Lorenzo
Hanford, Visalia, Tipton, CA
559-901-9267 559-752-4251
Linn Benton Tractor
Tangent, OR
541-926-1811
Mixer Center
Stephenville, TX
Friona, TX
Dalhart, TX
Roswell, NM
Burks Tractor
Twin Falls, ID 208-733-5543
Caldwell, ID
208-466-7875
Harsh International
Eaton, CO
800-227-1702
www.trioliet.us
8
254-965-3663
254-965-3663
254-965-3663
254-965-3663
Kern Machinery
Bakersfield, CA 661-833-9900
Buttonwillow, CA 661-746-6363
Delano, CA
661-725-3841
Best value
Alan Brandmeyer
Sales Manager - Western USA
661-303-3626
albrandmeyer@hotmail.com
Scholtens Equipment, Inc.

Lynden, WA
800-433-5480
Burlington, WA 800-726-8081
N&S Tractor
Merced, CA
Stockton, CA
Turlock, CA
Trioliet YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/Trioliet2011
209-383-5888
209-944-5500
209-634-1777
Trioliet. Invents for you.

Sept. 30
Price
CA
$415
3-week
change
N/C
ID
$385
$10
NM
$280
$5
Supreme hay ($/ton)

Sept. 30
Price
Central CA
$245
$5
3-week change
UT
$150-$170
$15-$20
WY
$290-$200
$6-$16
WA/OR
$190
$20
CO
$200
$20
NM
$180-$210
$20
TX
$270-$280
$40-$80
Source: USDA National Hay, Feed & Seed Summary
MOLASSES OVERPRICED
Southwest
Feedname
West
Low
High
Low
High
Alfalfa hay, supreme (190 RFV) $265
$301
$259
$304
Alfalfa hay, premium (170 RFV) $251
$287
$245
$290
Alfalfa hay, good (150 RFV)
$230
$266
$210
$255
Alfalfa hay, fair (130 RFV)
$212
$248
$186
Alfalfa hay, low (110 RFV)
$194
$230
$160
Almond hulls
Status
Northwest
Status
Low
High
$274
$310
$260
$296
$211
$247
$231
$194
$230
$205
$166
$202
$142
$177
Bakery byproduct
$143
$173
Barley feed
$158
$182
$191
$211
$211
$227
Beet pulp
$190
$216
$163
$187
Blood meal
$845 $1,015
$985
$1,140
$905
$1,038
$261
$277
Canola meal
$274
$289
Citrus pulp
$157
$184
Corn grain, ground

Corn grain, steam flaked
$205
$226
$207
$231
$71
$87
$73
$85
$99
$162
$271
$307
$286
$350
$299
$351
$192
$225
$163
$199
Status
Corn silage (32% DM)
$77
$90
Cottonseed hulls
$158
$214
Cottonseed meal
$350
$374
Cottonseed, whole
$294
$352
Distillers dried grains
$238
$273
Feather meal
$447
$495
$811
$888
Fishmeal, Menhaden
$753
$845
$756
$822
Gluten feed
$200
$221
$191
$209
$186
$205
Gluten meal
$237
$397
$364
$595
Hominy
$149
$173
$180
$199
$195
$213
Linseed meal
$274
$301
Meat meal
$386
$419
$375
$410
$342
$385
Molasses
$85
$109
$117
$137
$138
$157
Rice bran
$176
$205
$216
$238
$125
$158
$172
$193
Safflower meal
Sorghum grain, rolled
$161
$184
Soybean hulls
$141
$193
$158
$195
$142
$193
Soybean meal, expeller
$488
$537
$482
$522
$430
$468
Soybean meal, 44%
$314
$342
$341
$363
$330
$351
Soybean meal, 48%
$378
$413
$395
$424
$370
$399
Tallow
$248
$344
$460
$546
$588
$658
$143
$171
$182
$204
$157
$179
$157
$185
Wheat bran
Wheat feed
$148
$175
$135
$168
Wheat middlings
n Overpriced
U UNIVERSAL
B R BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCH
L LABORATORY
Livestock Diagnostics
Unknown H Bargain
FUTURES
$4.25
$4.15
Corn (dollars per bushel)
High: $4.17
Low: $3.75
$4.05
$3.95
High
$3.85
Settle
Low
$3.75
Dec
2015
May
Mar
2016
July
$3.85 0.10
$3.96 0.10
Dec 15 contracts
Mar 16 contracts
Corn
October 5
Soybean meal
$320
$306.69 $6.39
$306.37 $4.73
Dec 15 contracts
High: $319.80
High
Avg. 3-week settle
Oct 15 contracts
Low: $294.60
$315
Dec
Sept
$3.89/$3.77
$4.00/$3.89
High/Low
$316.30/$298.50
$315.40/$301.20
Genesis Feed Products is 100% made in America. We manufacture USDA

Certified Organic Rumen Bypass Fat and USDA Certified Organic Bypass
Choline. We also produce Conventional Rumen Bypass Fat and Bypass
Choline. GFP is strategically located in the Mountain West in the heart of
southern Idahos thriving dairy industry in order to serve all Western and
Southwestern states. We are also aligned with key industry companies to serve
the Eastern and Southeastern United States. The Organic industry is growing
fast and we produce the only Certified Organic Bypass Fat along with a
Patented Bypass Choline for Conventional and Certified Organic Dairies.
NRG Organic Bypass Fat Guaranteed not less than 82% crude fat.
NRG Organic Bypass Choline 60 not less than 60 grams of Choline per pound.
Genesis Fat Guaranteed not less than 82% crude fat.
Genesis Bypass Choline 60 not less than 60 grams of Choline per pound.
208-733-3377
Soybeans (dollars per ton)
$310
208-7FEED77
$305
$300
Low
$295
Settle
$290
Oct
2015
Dec
Info@genesisfeedproducts.com
Jan
2016
Mar
May
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
www.GenesisFeedProducts.com
Source: Chicago Mercantile Exchange data
FEED MARGIN IN $5 to $6 PER CWT RANGE
MARKET WATCH Margin

$26
Patrick French
RP Feed Components
patrick.french@
feedcomponents.com
$22
$18
To gauge the economic health of

the California dairy industry, we have
calculated margin based on mailbox
milk price and an estimate of the
market cost of a ration.
Because feed prices change
constantly, and no one single feed is a
good indicator of total feed cost on a
dairy, a ration was standardized to 10
percent rumen-degradable protein, 6
percent rumen-undegradable protein,
32 percent neutral detergent fiber, 40
percent non-fiber carbohydrates and 5
percent fat.
Nutrient costs are derived
using the nutrient composition and
monthly average market prices for
a basket of 25 feeds available in
the region. Income over feed cost
(IOFC) is calculated as the mailbox
milk price less the feed cost of
producing a hundredweight (cwt) of
milk assuming a feed efficiency of
1.45. Operating income is IOFC less
non-feed operating costs that are
published biannually by the Economic
Research Service.
$14
$10
Milk Price, Feed Costs

and Returns from
2012-2015 ($/cwt)
California
High: $7.83
Low: -$0.46
Mailbox milk price

Ration Cost
Income Over Feed Cost
$6
$2
$-2
Operating Income
Jan
2013
Mar
May
July
Sep
The accompanying graph shows

the mailbox milk price, ration cost,
IOFC and operating income for
California over the last five-plus
years. Margins reached a historical
high during the latter half of 2014,
peaking near $7.50 per cwt, which
is substantially higher than the
long-term average of $2.73 per cwt.
The record-high margins of 2014
were mainly attributable to higher
milk prices, but lower feed costs also
helped push margins higher.
Now that were entering the last
Nov
Jan
2014
Mar
May
July
Sep
quarter of 2015, dairy margins are

considerably off the highs experienced
last year, with margins down $6.50
per cwt, which is near a 12-month
record change. Since milk price is a
major driver of dairy margins, the
drop in margins has followed the
decline in milk price.
September data is preliminary, but
it appears that feed margin has settled
in the $5 to $6 per cwt range. This is
17 percent lower than the long-term
average of $7.29 per cwt. For several
months now, feed cost has remained in
Nov
Jan
2015
Mar
May
July
Sep
the $9.50 per cwt range or about 13.5

cents per pound dry matter.
Operating margins, slightly
more than $1 per cwt, are well off the
September 2014 high and running
below the long-term average of $2.73
per cwt but have improved since
spring. This improvement is due to
the combination of lower feed costs
and higher milk prices. Feed margin
percent continues to run just below 40
percent, meaning that 40 cents of each
milk revenue dollar is left after feed
expense has been covered. PD
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The right choice.
2010 GEA Farm Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
San Joaquin Valley

Dairy Equipment
A division of GEA Farm Technologies

830 Commercial Avenue Tulare, CA
559-688-2888 Bakersfield: 661-827-8494
MatTec1@aol.com
T.L. Dairy Center, Inc.
1873 South K Street Tulare, CA

559-688-3622
tony@tldairy.com
Mid State Surge
1436 Main Street Escalon, CA

209-838-3581
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Toll Free: 1-855-REV-FANS (1-855-738-3267)

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10
MARKET WATCH MARGIN

$16.00
$14.25
$12.50
$10.75
$9.00
$7.25
$5.50
$3.75
$2.00
July/Aug 2015: $7.70
High: $15.52
Low: $2.86
National dairy margin

May/June
2010
Sep/Oct
Jan/Feb
2011
all-milk price
$16.70 cwt
May/June
] [(
Sep/Oct
Jan/Feb
2012
May/June
Sep/Oct
Jan/Feb
2013
May/June
Sep/Oct
Jan/Feb
2014
May/June
Preliminary dairy production margin (August 2015) = $7.92

price of corn x 1.0728
) + ( price of soybean meal x 0.00735 ) + ( price of alfalfa
$3.68 bu
$360.65 ton
Sep/Oct
x 0.0137 )
$159 ton
Jan/Feb
2015
May/June
The margin graph above assumes

several factors:
Prices for corn, soybean meal, alfalfa
and all-milk used to calculate the margin
shall be determined as the monthly
revised commodity prices published by
USDAs National Agricultural Statistics
Service.
smooth operation on rough terrain
The margin indicated in the

graph above will be closely watched
by those producers who sign up for
new government-sponsored margin
insurance.
This national income over feed cost
margin, known as the Actual Dairy
Production Margin, will be calculated
monthly. Insurance payments will be
triggered by the two-month average
margin for consecutive pairs of months
(i.e., Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., etc.). For
example, in May/June of 2015, the
national margin average was $7.98 per
hundredweight (cwt).
Dairies who are insured for free
on their first four million pounds of
annual marketed milk will watch for
when the two-month average margin
dips below $4. Times when these
payments would have been made in the
past are highlighted in red on the bar
graph above. PD
sr 600 series speeDraKes WHEEL RAKES
12-, 14- and 16-wheel models 28' 31' raking widths
Smith Valley Garage
Bob Lowe Machinery
Belkorp Ag
Marble Mountain
Machinery
Grissoms
Standridge Equipment
Fall River Mills, CA
Fort Jones, CA
Fernbridge
Tractor & Equipment
Fortuna, CA
Valley Truck and Tractor
No, no my son. As I have stated many

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never looking back.
Used in PD
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KuhnNorthAmerica.com
Pap Machinery
Calistoga, CA
Merced, CA
Modesto, CA
Patterson, CA
Santa Rosa, CA
Stockton, CA
Ukiah, CA
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Torrences
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Heber, CA
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Ada, OK
Checotah, OK
McAlester, OK
Muskogee, OK
Prague, OK
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Pettit Machinery
Ardmore, OK
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Tulsa, OK
Johns Tractor
Works & Equipment
Vinita, OK
Mixer Center Dalhart

Dalhart, TX
Visit your local Kuhn Dealer today!

11
MARKET WATCH
MARKETWATCH
CATTLE
Top
Springer
Top
Average
Medium
Holstein
Springer
Shortbreds
Open
Heifers
Light
Open
Heifers
Heavy
Heifer
Calves
Bull
Calves
Breeding
Bulls
Empire Livestock Burton Market

Vernon, NY (800) 257-1819 (sale 9/28/15)
$2,000
$100
$1,600
$150
$1,400
$150
$1,500
$200
$700
NC
$900
$100
$200
NC
$150
$100
$1,600
$100
Mammoth Cave Dairy Auction, Inc.

Smiths Grove, KY (800) 563-2131
$2,200
$200
$1,800
$50
$1,450
$50
$1,625
NC
$650
$35
$950
$110
$300
$140
$310
$170
N/T
$2,000
$600
$1,875
$325
$1,650
$100
$1,675
$250
$825
$25
$1,150
$25
N/T
N/T
$1,675
$25
Central Livestock Association

Zumbrota, MN (877) 732-7305 (sale 9/22/15)
$1,985
$25
$1,900
NC
$1,875
$175
N/T
$930
$395
$1,150
$250
N/T
N/T
N/T
Equity Co-op Livestock

Stratford, WI (715) 687-4101
Rocky Olsen (608) 434-4037 (sale 9/28/15)
$2,800
$550
$2,250
$300
$1,700
$100
$1,650
$300
$800
$50
$1,350
$75
$350
$150
$430
$120
$2,100
$250
Lake Odessa Livestock/Ravenna Auction LLC

Lake Odessa, MI (616) 374-8213
$2,300
$2,000
$1,800
$1,200
$400
$1,600
NC
$1,600
NC
$1,000
NC
$600
$100
$100
$200
September 30, 2015
(sale 9/28/15)
New Holland Sales Stables

New Holland, PA (717) 354-4341
(sale 9/30/15)
(sale 9/22/15)
$300
$500
$200
Springfield Livestock Marketing Center

Springfield, MO (417) 869-9500
Doug Thomas (417) 840-9316 (sale 9/23/15)
$2,150
NC
$1,800
$200
$1,400
$325
$1,835
$50
$8005
$105
$1,310
$200
$410
$90
$380
$50
N/T
Topeka Livestock Auction

Topeka, IN (206) 593-2522 (sale 9/29/15)
$2,200
NC
$1,810
$5
N/T
N/T
$150/cwt
$30/cwt
$147/cwt
$11/cwt
$360
$70
N/T
$1,575
$325
United Producers, Inc.

Marion, MI (517) 294-3484 (sale 9/18/15)
$2,350
$2,100
$100
$1,700
$100
$1,600
NC
$700
$200
$1,275
$25
$400
NC
N/T
$1,400
$100
N/T
N/T
$1,500
NC
N/T
$160/cwt
$120/cwt
$170
$10
N/T
N/T
Producers Livestock
Jerome, ID (208) 324-4345 (sale 9/16/15)
$2,350
$100
$2,300
NC
$2,080
$180
$1,550
$182/cwt
$56/cwt
$150/cwt
N/T
N/T
N/T
Smithfield Livestock Auction

Smithfield, UT (435) 563-3259
(sale 10/1/15)
$2,360
$185
$2,300
$300
$2,200
$400
$1,800
N/T
N/T
N/T
N/T
N/T
Toppenish Dairy Replacement Sales

Toppenish, WA (509) 865-2820
(sale 10/2/15 )
$2,050
$220
$1,800
$350
$1,700
$240
$1,700
$200
$185/cwt
$55/cwt
$150/cwt
$65/cwt
$250
$200
N/T
Sulphur Springs Livestock & Dairy Auction

Sulphur Springs, TX (903) 885-7739
(sale 9/17/15)
$1,875
$25
$1,600
$100
$1,575
$75
N/T
$800
NC
$1,275
$355
$330
$10
$350
NC
N/T
Farmers Livestock Market

Oakdale, CA (209) 847-1033
(sale9/24/15)
$2,300
$150
$1,900
NC
$1,700
$50
$1,800
$100
$185/cwt
$50/cwt
$155/cwt
$20/cwt
$300
NC
$290
$60
Chehalis Livestock Market

Chehalis, WA (360) 748-3191 (sale 9/25/15)
$200
Contact Judy about being included in Progressive Dairymans Market Watch! judy@progressivedairy.com (208) 324-7513
NC = No change N/T = No test Decrease in price
$1,500
NC
Increase in price
Log on to www.progressivedairy.com/marketwatch to get auction reports from more locations!
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PD EAST MAIN
MARKET WATCH
Evan Disher
85,000
Dairy Adviser
Stewart-Peterson Inc.
edisher@stewart-peterson.com
75,000
CULLING
Dairy slaughter - 3 years
High: 72,500
Low: 41,600
65,000
45,000
2013
2014
2015
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
35,000
2012
2013
2014
Nov
Sample
October 19,
September
2015 Issue
20, 2010
17
55,000
Oct
Sep
Dairy slaughter for the week

ending Sept. 5 was 57,400 head, which
is a 3,500-head increase from the prior
week and a 6,100-head increase from
the same week last year. Year-to-date,
dairy slaughter is 1,953,500 head,
79,000 head greater than the same
time period last year. In the Sept. 18
milk production report, the USDA
reported U.S. dairy herd size for
August 2015 at 9.321 million head,
which is unchanged from July. Year-todate, the U.S. dairy herd has grown by
17,000 head.
The U.S. average price for
dairy cows in July was $113 per
hundredweight, unchanged from June
but down $2 per hundredweight from
July 2014. The seasonal pattern calls
for prices to remain firm to lower
throughout the next few months
before trending higher into the end of
the year.
On the Sept. 22 USDA cold
storage report, August total beef stocks
increased roughly 2 percent from July
and were up 36 percent from the year
prior. On Sept. 18, the USDA cattle
on feed report put Sept. 1 inventory
at 9.986 million head. This is down
0.16 percent from August but is up 3
percent from Sept. 1, 2014. The report
also put August feedlot placements
at 1.632 million head. This is up 5.5
percent from July but down 5 percent
from August 2014. Finally, cattle
marketed in August totaled 1.588
million head, which is down 8 percent
from July and down 6 percent from
August 2014.
Heavy selling pressure continues
to lower the price of both live cattle
and feeder cattle futures. The market
has been trending lower for weeks as it
continues to make new lows. Concern
around economic conditions for U.S.
dairy producers that could indicate an
increase in the number of dairy cows
culled has the market on edge.
Compared to a year ago, Class III
milk prices for the third and fourth
quarter of 2015 have been significantly
lower than 2014 levels. This could
induce more cull cows coming from
dairies into the end of the year, an
occurrence which is already taking
place. So far this year, 57 percent of the
U.S. federally inspected cow slaughter
has come from dairy cows. This
compares to 52 percent in 2014 and a
five-year average of 46 percent.
If Class III milk prices remain
low and the expected increase in dairy
cow slaughter does in fact take place, it
could continue to pressure cattle prices
lower. Producers should consider
having a plan in place to protect their
cull prices now in case the market
continues to weaken. PD
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Commodity Tracker 13
13
PD EAST MAIN
MARKET WATCH
MILK
4,439
NC
-1.2%
-0.4%
1,694
1,547
100.4%
NC
-1.4%
-2.8%
97.8%
Idaho
585
2,090
1,223
California
9,444
1,510
NC
-3.3%
-3.4%
96.9%
6,368
104.3%
1,280
1,940
2,483
19,353
NC
+4.0%
+4.8%
Michigan
409
2,120
867
104.3%
6,837
NC
-0.2%
+0.8%
3,259
144
1,805
260
Colorado
145
2,220
322
104.1%
2,502
NC
+1.3%
+2.2%
101.8%
323
2,010
649
5,314
2,151
NC
+4.0%
+3.9%
NC
-0.3%
+0.4%
103.9%
NOTE: The colored bar represents cumulative year-to-date

milk production for 2015. When it does not surpass the
dotted line at the center of the box, it indicates state production
is below the previous years total (2014). When it does surpass the
dotted line, it indicates production is above the previous years total.
2,686
Illinois
104.8%
1,285
107.2%
NC
+0.5%
+1.5%
530
1,685
893
7,325
Texas
6,940
9,416
NC
+1.8%
+2.5%
102.6%
NC
+0.3%
-1.4%
100.4%
NC
+0.3%
+0.3%
102.2%
103.5%
NC
+2.2%
+2.0%
266
1,750
466
3,693
NC
+1.7%
+1.7%
Virginia
101.4%
91
1,595
145
102.5%
1,202
U.S. Total
462
1,790
827
619
1,950
1,207
Ohio
94
1,600
150
NC
-4.3%
-4.3%
96.7%
181
1,840
333
Kansas
104.7%
New Mexico
Arizona
195
1,940
378
Indiana
101.6%
NC
NC
NC
New York
NC
+0.2%
+4.1%
Pennsylvania
NC
+2.4%
+3.9%
3,240
96
1,990
191
27,904
NC
+2.7%
+13.3%
NC
+4.8%
+4.7%
111.0%
211
1,900
401
Utah
1,778
1,875
3,334
460
1,740
800
Iowa
Oregon
121
1,700
206
107
1,905
204
Wisconsin
Minnesota
South Dakota
Washington
274
2,035
558
NO CHANGE IN MONTHLY MILK COW NUMBERS
9,321
1,863
17,366
NC
-1.6%
-1.6%
140,625
101.5%
NC
+0.9%
-1.4%
100.1%
Vermont
132
1,700
224
Florida
125
1,560
195
1,804
NC
-0.3%
+1.6%
1,793
NC
-1.4%
-1.7%
100.3%
102.9%
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14
PD EAST MAIN
AUGUST INCREASE IN MILK PRODUCTION A MODEST 0.8 PERCENT FOR THE 23 STATES
Robert Cropp
The USDAs
Professor Emeritus
release of milk
University of Wisconsin Madison
production
for August showed the smallest increase this
year at 0.8 percent compared to 1.3 percent for July. Milk
cow numbers have held at 9.321 million for the past three
months, down 3,000 from the peak this year in May but still
0.6 percent higher than a year ago. Milk per cow continues to
show only a modest increase at 0.3 percent. Milk production
January through August is up 1.5 percent from a year ago.
Californias production continues to run well below a year
ago, with August production down 3.4 percent. Cow numbers
were down only 0.1 percent, but milk per cow was 3.4 percent
lower. Of the 23 reporting states, New Mexico had the biggest
decline in production at 4.3 percent, all due to less milk per
cow. Texas production was also down 1.4 percent due to 1.7
percent fewer cows and just 0.3 percent more milk per cow.
Idahos production was up just 0.8 percent due to 1 percent
more cows but 0.2 percent less milk per cow. PD
Legend
Texas
Number of cows
(in thousands)
462
1,790
827
Milk per cow

(month)
(lbs.)
Total milk
production
(month)
(in millions of lbs.)
Annual percent
change
Annual percent
change
AUG 15
95%
Year-to-date milk
production (total)
(in millions of lbs.)
Monthly change
(in thousands)
NC
+0.3%
-1.4%
6,940
100%
105%
100.4%
Percentage of year-todate production versus

previous year-to-date
U.S. HERD STATS

9,325
9,295
Milk cows (in thousands)
9,265
August 2015: 9,321

High: 9,324
Low: 9,198
9,235
9,205
2014
2013
9,175
Sept
2014
Oct
Nov
Dec
1,925
1,900
1,875 (in pounds, 30-day equivalent)
1,850
August 2015: 1,803
1,825
High: 1,911
Low: 1,719
1,800
1,775
1,750
2013
1,725
1,700
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
2014
Jan
2015
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Milk per cow
18,000
17,750
17,500 (in pounds, 30-day equivalent)
August 2015: 16,806
17,250
High: 17,800
Low: 15,831
17,000
16,750
16,500
16,250
2013
16,000
15,750
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
2014
2014
Jan
2015
Milk production
2014
Jan
2015
Feb
Mar
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15
PD EAST MAIN
MARKET WATCH
DAIRY PRICES
$26
CA Class 1
price
$24
Cheese markets soften

Mike North
October 2015: $15.84 $17.64

High: $24.47 $26.36
Low: $15.50 $17.21
Fluid milk prices (in dollars)

No data
available
$22
$20
$18
$16
$14
Federal Class I price

Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct
2012
2013
2014
2015
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16
President
Commodity Risk Management Group
mike@crmg.us
The days that followed Sept. 11

created a growing disparity between
Class III and Class IV markets. CME
spot butter ran an unprecedented
$0.575 in 14 days from the Sept. 11
settlement to its new record high of
$3.14 per pound before declining $0.39
just two days later to finish at $2.75 per
pound.
Non-fat dried milk spot trade
followed a similar, but less dramatic,
course. Prices on Sept. 11 were $0.87,
well above the August lows. Trade took
prices to their peak on Sept. 24 at a
level of $0.9825. Cash trade settled at
$0.94 on Sept. 29.
Meanwhile, CME block and
barrel cheese trade moved generally
lower. Blocks, in the same period,
saw their highest price at the start of
it with a settlement price on Sept. 11
of $1.695 before moving to their low
for the period on Sept. 23 at a price of
$1.59 per pound. From there, prices
rebounded to $1.63 on Sept. 29. Like
butter, the greatest reversal came on
the very last day of the period. Barrels
followed suit with a $0.13 trading
range, which began at the high of $1.59
and settled on Sept. 29 at $1.55. The
low of $1.46 was posted on Sept. 23 as
well.
With Fonterra further shortening
their forecast for milk production in the
coming season and previously limiting
their offering of product, buyers have
made an ongoing grab for product while
prices are at some of the lowest levels
seen in more than five years.
In the most recent GDT auction
(Event #148, held Sept. 15) the weighted
index of product pricing ballooned 16.5
percent to return to values not seen
since mid-April. This was the third
consecutive higher trade. However,
aside from powder prices, there is
still a long way to go to bridge the gap
between the Oceania offering and
current U.S. markets.
Whole milk powder was traded
at an average price of $1.13 per pound
(up 20.6 percent) with contract
period (March 2016) showing the
greatest strength. Skim milk powder
shared similar results, moving 17
percent higher to finish at $0.905 per
pound. With Chinese stockpiles still
measuring around 400,000 tons, they
continue to be absent. However, other
buyers are taking advantage of lower
prices to build their own stockpiles.
Powder prices have consequently
grown by 40 percent in skim milk
powder and 57 percent in whole milk
powder since its record-low price on
Aug. 15. Following along, cheese and
butter also moved higher. Cheddar
finished at $1.46 per pound, up 10.7
percent from the previous event. Butter
posted a final price of $1.38 per pound
(80 percent butterfat), up 13.3 percent.
On Sept. 22, the USDA released
PD EAST MAIN
BUTTER PRICES BOTH RISE AND FALL

$26
Class III (in dollars)
$24
September 2015: $15.82

High: $24.60
Low: $15.46
$22
$20
$18
$16
2015 MAI Animal Health
Futures
2015
2016
$14
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept
2013
2015
2014
$3.25
$3.00
$2.75
$2.50
$2.25
$2.00
$1.75
$1.50
$1.25
Butter (weekly average in dollars)

October 3, 2015: $2.07
High: $3.06
Low: $1.54
2014
2013
Dr. Larsons Dehorning Paste

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$2.80
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$2.60
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10/2/15
10/1/15
9/30/15
9/29/15
9/28/15
9/25/15
9/24/15
9/23/15
9/22/15
9/21/15
9/18/15
9/17/15
9/16/15
9/15/15
9/14/15
Additional Calf
Care Solutions
October 3, 2015: $1.67

High: $2.42
Low: $1.48
$2.25
$2.05
Easy To Use
Less Invasive
(daily close)
$2.45
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Feeder Bags
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HANDIGRIPTM
Cheese
(weekly average in dollars)
2014
$1.85
2013
9/5/15
8/1/15
7/4/15
$1.78
Since Sept. 11, cheese markets have

maintained a generally softer tone. Block
prices fell from $1.695 to close the period
at $1.63 per pound. Barrel prices retreated
from their high of $1.59 to their current
price of $1.55 per pound.
$1.74
$1.70
$1.66
$1.62
$1.58
DONT
AVOID THE
(daily close)
10/2/15
10/1/15
9/30/15
9/29/15
9/28/15
9/25/15
9/24/15
9/23/15
9/22/15
9/21/15
9/18/15
9/17/15
9/16/15
9/15/15
9/14/15
$2.20 No data
$2.06 available
$1.92 2013
$1.78
$1.64
$1.50
$1.36
$1.22
$1.08
$0.94
$0.80
Oct
Nov
2014
6/6/15
5/2/15
4/4/15
3/7/15
2/7/15
1/10/15
12/6/14
11/1/14
10/12/14
$1.45
Less stress, less mess.
$3.20
$2.20
$1.65
9/5/15
8/1/15
7/4/15
6/6/15
5/2/15
4/4/15
3/7/15
2/7/15
1/10/15
12/6/14
11/1/14
10/11/14
Butter prices both rose and fell dramatically

on low volume in the last two weeks. Trade
at the start of the period was at $2.565 per
pound and finished at $2.75 after reaching
a high on Sept. 25 of $3.14 per pound.
ELEPHANT
2014
October 2015: $0.91

High: $2.19
Low: $0.87
IN THE
RUMEN
Non-fat dry milk

Dec
Jan
2015
Feb
Mar
the August cold storage report, which

revealed yet again that inventories have
grown substantially. Butter stocks,
while declining seasonally, dropped by
a little more than 45 million pounds.
This was larger than normal for August
but helped to offset the very small
decline in July.
Cheese inventories were even more
interesting. Most years would show a
seasonal decline of inventory during
the month. This August, inventories
grew by 5.514 million pounds. In the
previous five years, inventories fell by
anywhere from 12 million to 46 million
pounds. With the growth in inventory,
natural cheese in warehouses now rests
at 1.168 billion pounds a level not
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Oct
seen since 1984.

Product inventory cannot grow
very easily without a solid milk
supply. The USDAs release of August
milk production revealed another
0.8 percent growth year-over-year.
Producers continued to show gains
in efficiency as dairy cow numbers
leveled off at 9.321 million head.
While expansion efforts wrap up for
the year, cow numbers are likely to
remain near current levels as milk
prices toe the line and hopes of better
days anchor production. The trap of
strong production, record inventories
and softer world markets should have
dairymen on high alert as we head into
the normal seasonal peak. PD
Simply put, Sub Acute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA) is an occupational hazard

for todays dairy cows. When rumen pH drops below 5.8 and SARA occurs,
rumen function isnt optimized to make the most out of any feed ration.
SARA can:
Lower fiber digestion
Lower milk production
Lower feed efficiency

Cost an estimated $1.12 per cow per day*
Learn more at SaraTheElephant.com
Text HAZARD to 25827

for a message from Sara!
Not all products are available in all markets nor are all claims allowed in all regions.
2015. Levucell is a registered trademark of Lallemand Animal Nutrition.
LALLEMAND ANIMAL NUTRITION

Tel: 414 464 6440 Email: LAN_NA@lallemand.com
*Enemark, J.M.D., 2008.

Kleen, J.L., et. al., 2012.
www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com
17
PD EAST MAIN
checkoff
WATCH
Your Dairy Checkoff in Action The following update is provided by Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which
manages the national dairy checkoff program on behalf of Americas dairy producers and dairy importers. DMI
is the domestic and international planning and management organization responsible for increasing sales of and
demand for dairy products and ingredients.
Working with NFL advances dairy farmers goals

When the checkoffs National
Dairy Council partnered with
the National Football League to
create Fuel Up to Play 60, it was
understood the programs biggest
impact would occur through local
schools.
Since 2009, Fuel Up to Play 60,
which is supported by the USDA,
has become the premier in-school
initiative that delivers more dairy
and other nutritious foods and
physical activity to students. More
than 73,000 schools are enrolled
in the program, and 12 million
students are actively engaged.
The NFL is by far this countrys

favorite sports league and
attracts many young fans and
the checkoffs partnership with the
league has helped get Fuel Up to
Play 60 through the doors of many
schools.
On the national level, the NFL
provides the checkoff with funding
and opportunities to partner with
NFL stars at events that raise the
exposure of Fuel Up to Play 60 and
bridge connections with league
sponsors and partners that can
help dairys cause. The checkoff
also shares the powerful and
instantly recognizable NFL shield

with processors and others to help
market dairy products.
The checkoff has hosted events
with the NFL that bring together
students, school advisers, partners,
government and influencers to
spread the word about how dairy
farmers are improving the lives of
children and communities. These
efforts help ensure farmers freedom
to operate in schools.
In the 2013-2014 school year,
the NFL contributed $840,000
in grants to Fuel Up to Play 60
schools to support dairy farmers
goals. Checkoff partners, including

Quaker, Dannon, Topps and others,
invested more dollars and other
resources. The PepsiCo Foundation
also invested to enable Fuel Up
to Play 60 to reach more students
through the development of
resources produced in Spanish.
The impact being made on the
local level is just as impressive.
Every school customizes Fuel Up
to Play 60s tools and goals to fit its
needs, all in the name of helping
kids live healthier lives through
better nutrition (including dairy)
and more activity. PD
On the web
Test your answer
Fuel Up to Play 60 The redesigned www.fueluptoplay60.com is

better than ever.
Where is the greatest impact of the checkoffs NFL

partnership and Fuel Up to Play 60 being made?
Dairy.org Visit www.dairy.org to learn more about your checkoff

and find links to your local promotion organizations.
18
ANSWER: At local schools. Contact your local dairy promotion

organization through www.dairy.org to find out more about
whats going on in your area.
Dairy Good Click on www.dairygood.org to find the many ways

the dairy checkoff is building and reinforcing consumer trust in you
and your products.
PD EAST MAIN
Local spotlight
Your state and regional promotion organizations work with partners to showcase dairy locally, recognize the value of dairy farm families and move more
product. Here are some highlights:
Denver Broncos player David

Bruton tries to keep up while
cooking dairy-friendly recipes
with a Fuel Up to Play 60
student ambassador.
Former Patriots player Jermaine

Wiggins joins cheerleaders, Pat
Patriot and students to celebrate
Fuel Up to Play 60.
New England Dairy Promotion
Board
Western Dairy Association
The Western Dairy Association

(WDA) was involved in the first
Denver Broncos Health and
Wellness Expo, where checkoff
staff showcased Fuel Up to Play 60
success stories. WDA distributed
Dannon coupons and promoted
the Golden Bongos contest.
Denver Broncos player David
Bruton appeared in a cooking
demonstration with a Fuel Up to
Play 60 student ambassador to
highlight game-day recipes featuring
dairy.
The New England Dairy and Food

Council (NEDFC) and New England
Patriots collaborated on a GenYouth
Massachusetts Youth Empowerment
Town Hall, encouraging community
leaders to support school wellness
efforts. NEDFC also was at the
Patriots training camp promoting
healthy foods such as dairy. Former
New England Patriots player Jermaine
Wiggins, a Fuel Up to Play 60
ambassador, visited summer meal
programs to inspire students to make
healthy choices such as dairy.
Former NFL player Anthony

Newman pledges his support
for Fuel Up to Play 60 to schools
across Oregon.
Oregon Dairy Products
Commission
Former NFL player Anthony

Newman shares the Fuel Up to Play
60 message throughout Oregon.
Speaking at school assemblies and
community events, Newman inspires
students to eat school meals, do their
best in and out of school, and to be
physically active daily. He often puts
his words into action with a relay race
and milk chug with teams of students
and staff.
Toro, the Houston Texans

mascot, shows off one of
the new Fuel Up to Play 60
playground stencils.
Dairy MAX
Dairy MAX, in partnership

with Fuel Up to Play 60, the Dallas
Cowboys and Houston Texans, are
ramping up recess. These partners
have teamed up to help schools
add interactive Fuel Up to Play
60 playground stencils to several
schools. The stencils, funded by the
NFL, engage students with healthy
messages and encourage physical
activity. Research shows elementary
school children spend more of their
recess and activity time in active
play when schoolyards are enhanced
with playground markings.
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PD EAST MAIN
BEYOND PRINT
Visit us online at:

You may be missing useful dairy information that is web-exclusive. Find a few
snippets of recently posted online-only information on this page and then visit
www.progressivedairy.com to get more.
New look
for the website!
If you havent visited the website lately, check
it out today! Theres a new design and updated
categories to get ssyou to the info you want
quicker.
Photo slideshow:
Featured video:
Minich transition cow barn
Proper semen handling techniques
Check out the article on pg. 38 to find out why Indiana

dairyman Luke Minich manages two dairy locations for
his 1,000-cow herd and see more photos online.
This video was uploaded by University of Missouri

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Indiana Dairy Producers e-newslet ter.
www.progressivedairy.com/minich-photo-slideshow
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The wild ride begins

Editors note: The following is an
excerpt from Lee-Rae Jordan-Olivers
memoir, Chainsaw Mama: Life
on a Northern Maine Dairy Farm.
Jordan-Oliver farms with her
husband, Matthew, and shares
stories of their experiences as firsttime dairy farmers and raising their
three children on the farm. The book
is available for purchase at
www.maineauthorspublishing.com
The fact he used the word we

meant he was counting on my
support.
We had just moved into our
house, we had a new baby, and now
we were going to build a dairy farm
from scratch? My first thought:
Youve got to be kidding me.
I could have protested mightily,

claiming we were crazy to start on
a venture we knew nothing about.
After 14 years of marriage, I knew
when Matthew had an idea planted
in his head, nothing would stop him.
I had to decide if I was going to
jump on for the ride of our lives or
be a lead sinker. Maybe my sleepdeprived baby brain made me do it,

but I jumped on that wild ride, and
Ive been holding on for dear life ever
since. PD
Share your favorite dairy stories with
us at www.proudtodairy.com
Our dairy farm, perched on top of

Westford Hill, overlooks Canada to the
east and Mt. Katahdin to the west. The
first time my husband, Matthew, and I
scouted our land, I discovered we could
see Mt. Katahdin.
As Id be able to admire one of
my favorite places on earth every day,
I knew the land for sale was a good
match. Our first parcel of land included
125 acres of woods and fields.
Having been educators for
more than a decade, we now had the
opportunity to explore other options.
Our fondest memories as a young
married couple were of renting a camp
in Haynesville, Maine, for the summer
and working with Matthews parents on
their vegetable farm.
We thrived on the physical labor,
being outside every day and working
together side by side in the vegetable
patch. When summer ended, we
reluctantly returned to our classrooms,
promising ourselves someday wed have
a farm of our own.
Now our time had come. I helped
Matthew clear the land for our house in
the spring of 2006.
My father picked the spot for our
house, telling us if we cleared a swath of
land right here we would have a clear
view of Mt. Katahdin.
Using a chainsaw, our Chinese
Task Master tractor and a choker cable,
we cleared an acre of woods, cutting
one tree at a time. Our labors were
rewarded with breathtaking views of
the mountain.
We moved into our modular
home two weeks before our second
child, Anna, was born on Oct. 4,
2006. Throughout the winter months,
Matthew schemed about how to use
our land.
Not wanting to compete with his
familys well-established vegetable
business, he turned his focus to raising
animals.
Seemingly out of the blue, he set
his mind on dairy cows. Neither one of
us knew one thing about dairy farming.
One of our early conversations about
the idea went something like this:
Matthew, we dont know anything
about cows or dairy farming, I said.
Well, he replied, well have to
learn, then, wont we?
21
PD EAST MAIN
Give her the energy she needs,

in the form she needs it most
During early lactation, it can be a challenge for cows to consume enough energy to
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Use an economical saturated fat technology

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Inclusion of Propel Energy
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diet contained Propel Energy Plus
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supplement. Total unsaturated
leading to an increase of
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fatty acid levels were 551 grams/
a greater economic return1.
9.9% in milk fat yield 2.
day in the control and 320 grams/

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Purina Animal Nutrition LLC // Macro-Encapsulation is a trademark of Purina Animal Nutrition LLC // Rumensin is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.
PD EAST MAIN
ProgressiveEVENTS
7
4
1
Photo provided by Shannon Endvick.
8
5
Cool stuff we saw at World Dairy Expo 2015
Photos by staff, unless otherwise noted.
Progressive Dairyman editorial staff

Progressive Dairyman editors
Walt Cooley, Karen Lee, Peggy
Coffeen, Lynn Jaynes, Jenna Hurty
and Emily Caldwell had their eyes
peeled at World Dairy Expo this
year to bring you another round of
cool stuff we saw. Here were their
observations and some new products
that caught their attention.
1. Milksource Genetics claims

three breed champion titles
and supreme champion honors
After claiming grand champion

honors in the Holstein, Red &
White and Jersey shows, Milksource
Genetics of Kaukauna, Wisconsin,
went on to sweep the World Dairy
Expo when Lovhill Goldwyn
Katrysha was tapped Supreme
Champion and her herdmate
Musqie Iatola Martha-ET was
named Reserve Supreme Champion
of the international competition
during the Parade of Champions on
Saturday. Pictured from left to right
are Strans-Jen-D Tequila-Red-ET
(champion Red & White cow);
Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha (Supreme
Champion and champion Holstein
cow); and Musqie Iatola Martha-ET
(Reserve Supreme Champion and
champion Jersey cow).
Editor Peggy Coffeen
2. Automatic bedding dispenser
As more and more barn tasks

are being automated, the newest
item on the block is the Astor stable
straw system. This robot runs along
a rail positioned above the stalls
and dispenses small amounts of
bedding as it travels. It can handle
multiple types of bedding and can
run different routes at programmed
times. After years of performance
in Europe, AMS Galaxy USA is
bringing this technology to the U.S.

Editor Karen Lee
entered in the companys daily cash

prize drawing.
Editor Jenna Hurty
3. Calf brushes
We know that brushes keep cows

clean and content, and now calves can
use them too. DeLaval introduced a
mini swinging brush, perfectly sized
for groups of young calves. FutureCow
also had its first release of a calf brush
on display. Like with adult cows, calf
brushes reduce rubbing on gates,
fences and other things that make a
good scratching post. In addition, it
has a calming effect on the calves and
helps to stimulate hair growth in the
winter and exfoliate their skin in the
summer. Each brush is adjustable,
so it can grow with the calves and is
recommended for calves more than 3
months old.
Editors Peggy Coffeen, Karen Lee
and Jenna Hurty
4. Calving detection device
These small devices were

stopping the flow of traffic, as many
passersby wanted to know what they
were. Just released in the U.S., the
VelPhone is part of Medrias line of
sensor technologies. It is a vaginal
thermometer that is capable of sending
a text alert when calving is expected
within 48 hours.
Editor Karen Lee
5. Purina tests attendees baseball

skills at World Dairy Expo
Attendees old and young took

turns at Purinas pitching game during
World Dairy Expo this year. Those
18 and older won a copy of the movie
The Ivy League Farmer, if they threw
the baseball into the target hole three
times in a row. Participants were also
6. New forage contest
The World Forage Analysis

Superbowl introduced a new category:
Quality Counts Hay/Haylage. For the
first time, uNDF (undigestible neutral
detergent fiber) was recognized in a
stand-alone category. Winner of this
category in the hay/haylage division
was Joe Berney from Okanogan,
Washington. Berney sent a preliminary
sample of his low-lignin alfalfa
(Hi-Gest by Alforex) to a laboratory,
to see how it was testing before the
show, and said the lab refused to
release the results until they ran a
second test because the numbers were
unbelievable.
Editor Lynn Jaynes
7. Artist creates unique

masterpieces from feed
Casey Kasparek, an artist from

Alton, Illinois, entertained World
Dairy Expo attendees with his unique
feed art. He was commissioned by
Cargill as part of their Feed Your
Dreams campaign, launched shortly
before the show.
Each of the artists three designs
throughout the show took him about
six hours to create. An overhead
camera captured the process and
presented it on a monitor for attendees
to watch.
Editor Emily Caldwell
8. Daily special grilled cheese

flavors
Each day at the show, the

Badger Dairy Clubs grilled cheese
stand featured a different specialty
Wisconsin cheese in its traditional $2

sandwiches. Flavors included provolone
(Burnett Dairy), tomato basil cheddar
(Nasonville Dairy), gouda (Nasonville
Dairy), dill havarti (Klondike Cheese)
and pepper jack (Emmi Roth). The
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
sponsored the featured cheeses.
My personal favorite was the
provolone. However, Im not sure
any of them were any better than the
stands traditional American cheese
sandwich. Demand for a sandwich
was as high as Ive seen it in the past
decade. During the lunch-hour, one
could expect to wait 20 to 30 minutes
to order.
Editor Walt Cooley
9. Screening for feature film

about dairying
More than 400 people viewed The

Ivy League Farmer, a full-length feature
movie, during an after-show-hours
screening. The movie had a Hallmark
Channel feel and some laugh-out-loud
moments. It is a decent introduction
for non-ag consumers to the downhome challenges of modernizing
a family dairy in the U.S. The film
also introduces the reality of the
need to feed hungry children in our
communities.
As much as I hear producers
say their productivity gains feed the
world, the message that will impact
consumers more is to know that
dairymen are helping to feed those in
need at home. Producers easily rally
around productivity and efficiency.
If they can also rally around this
secondary theme portrayed in the
movie, I think it will give the industry
a strong one-two punch that hits hard
where consumers care most. PD
Editor Walt Cooley
23
PD EAST MAIN
In addition to the
Farmer-to-Farmer
program and Land
OLakes, there are other
efforts to improve and
grow the dairy industry
in Lebanon. Starting
in 2012, the FAO in
partnership with the
Lebanon Ministry of
Agriculture implemented
a program called Milk
for Health and Wealth.
Photo provided by Calvin Covington.
Dairying in Lebanon: Milk for health and wealth

Calvin Covington for Progressive Dairyman
When one thinks of the country
of Lebanon, dairying is not the first
thought that comes to mind. Most
people associate Lebanon with its
civil war, the suicide bombing of
U.S. Marines back in 1983, the 2006
war and being right next door to the
current conflict in Syria. Let me share
with you another side of Lebanon,
hidden from most people: its dairy
industry.
Recently, I spent time in
Lebanon as a volunteer with the
Farmer-to-Farmer program,
which is under the auspices of
the U.S. Agency for International
Development. The program provides
voluntary technical assistance
to farmers, farm groups and
agribusinesses in developing and
transitional countries. Land OLakes
oversees the Farmer-to-Farmer
program in Lebanon. They arranged
and coordinated my assignment,
which was spent working with two
plants to manufacture cheese. One
plant had a dairy herd for its milk
supply, and the other purchased farm

milk.
Before I discuss dairying in
Lebanon, let me provide some general
information about the country.
Lebanon traces its history almost
to the beginning of civilization. It is
home to the second-oldest inhabited
city in the world, Byblos. Byblos was
home to the Phoenicians, traders who
developed the basis of our current
alphabet. Throughout history, due
to its strategic geographic position
and natural resources, Lebanon
has been controlled by many of the
worlds powers Egypt, Assyria,
Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.
After World War I, France gained
oversight of Lebanon and did so until
Lebanon began its first steps toward
independence in the early 1940s. One
of the challenges facing Lebanon,
and a cause of its civil war from
1975-1991, is its religious make-up.
About 50 percent of the population
is Muslim, 45 percent Christian and
5 percent Druze, with the remaining
Celebrating over 65 years

of Service to the Dairy Industry
24
interest in dairy products primarily

soft, fresh, white cheeses and yogurt
and yogurt-like products. Some of the
cheeses included labneh (the Lebanese
version of cream cheese), ackawi
and halloumi, a cheese that is often
fried or grilled. Cheese was served at
every Lebanese meal I consumed. A
common breakfast food is manakish,
a pizza-like dough smothered with
cheese that is delicious.
Based on my observations, dairy
products are plentiful and readily
available. The major grocery stores I
visited had large dairy cases with an
abundance of cheese and yogurt. The
dairy cases were much larger than
those I am familiar with in the U.S.
In addition, I saw many stand-alone
stores selling dairy products.
The two dairy plants I worked
with sold most of their products
through their own retail stores. One
of the plants flagship stores is located
on the centuries-old Damascus
Highway, just a few miles from the
Syrian border. At certain times of
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5 percent practicing Judaism or some

other religion. As a compromise
among the various religious groups,
the countrys president is a Christian,
the prime minister a Sunni Muslim
and the speaker of parliament a Shiite
Muslim, with its parliament about
evenly divided between Christians
and Muslims.
Lebanon is a small geographic
country, about four-fifths the size of
the state of Connecticut. Its average
width is 35 miles, and it has 140 miles
of north-to-south coastline bordering
the Mediterranean Sea. Israel borders
Lebanon on the south and Syria on the
east and north. Almost immediately,
as one leaves the Mediterranean and
heads east, the Lebanon Mountains
start and reach a height of more than
10,000 feet. Then, on the eastern side
of the Lebanon Mountains, there is
the agriculture-rich Bekaa Valley. The
Anti-Lebanon Mountains and Syria
border the valley on the east.
One of my biggest surprises about
Lebanon is the strong consumer
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the day, the store was so filled with

customers it was difficult to get
inside. The retail price of the two
most common cheeses, halloumi and
labneh, was about $5 per pound and
$2 per pound, respectively.
The Lebanese also like their own
style of ice cream, which is chewy
and thick, and comes in a variety of
flavors and colors. I noticed numerous
stand-alone ice cream stores. It was
a common occurrence to see a car
pull in front of an ice cream store, a
passenger jump out of the car and rush
into the ice cream store and then come
out with a handful of cones, piled high
with ice cream in a variety of colors.
The extra chewiness and thickness of
Lebanese ice cream comes from the
addition of a thickening powder made
from orchids grown in Turkey.
Like many countries outside the
U.S., little shelf space in Lebanese
grocery stores was devoted to fluid
milk. The largest container of fluid
milk I saw was 1 liter (about a quart),
and the retail price was about $2.
There was both fresh, local fluid milk
and imported, ultra-high-temperature
pasteurized fluid milk.
Now to the dairy farm and plant
side in Lebanon. The United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) estimated there were about
25,000 dairy cows in Lebanon prior
to the 2006 war. Due to the war,
the national dairy herd declined to
about 18,000 head. One of the plants
I worked with had a dairy herd of
10 cows, which I was told was about
average size in Lebanon. The cows
were Holstein, Brown Swiss and some
Holstein-Swiss crosses. Based on the
farms records, I estimated annual
milk production per cow at about
15,500 pounds.
During the summer, the cows
graze. This particular farm grazed its
cows on ski slopes. Yes, there is snow
in Lebanon. There was a makeshift
stanchion barn with portable milking
machines. Milk was transported, after
each milking, directly to the plant.
Feed is expensive, with a purchased
dairy grain mix costing about $450
per ton. During the winter, cows
are fed alfalfa hay, which is also
expensive. The owner told me his cost
during the previous winter for alfalfa
hay was similar to the grain costs,
about $450 per ton. During July 2015,
farm milk delivered to a plant received
about $32 per hundredweight.
One of the plants I worked
with would easily pass inspection
in the U.S. The plant was modern
and followed stringent sanitary
requirements. Cheese and yogurt
packaging was done in air-controlled
rooms. In fact, a group from Land
OLakes had provided HACCP
training at the plant. The plant was
waiting on certification to export
cheese outside of the Middle East.
Besides cow milk, the plant also
manufactured cheese from goat and
sheep milk. Goat milk was paid the
same price as cow milk, but sheep milk
was about $45 per hundredweight.
In addition to the Farmer-toOctober 19, 2015 Issue 17
Farmer program and Land OLakes,

there are other efforts to improve
and grow the dairy industry in
Lebanon. Starting in 2012, the FAO
in partnership with the Lebanon
Ministry of Agriculture implemented
a program called Milk for Health and
Wealth. The program emphasizes
three benefits of the dairy industry:
it provides consumers with a healthy
and nutritious food; dairy farming
is one of the better ways for people
in rural areas to improve their
livelihood; and the ripple effect of
dairy farming provides economic
benefits beyond the farm.
Based on published reports, this
program is successful and continues
to provide assistance to hundreds
of small Lebanese dairy farmers.
It is gratifying to see the worlds
organization recognizing the
importance of the dairy industry and
that dairying provides both health
and wealth benefits. Maybe this
program in Lebanon can spread to
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated

there were about 25,000 dairy cows in Lebanon prior to the 2006 war.
Due to the war, the national dairy herd declined to about 18,000 head.
Photo provided by Calvin Covington.
other parts of the Middle East.

The next time you read or
hear about Lebanon in the news,
remember its people are large
consumers of dairy products, and it
has a viable dairy industry which is
striving to grow and expand. PD

Calvin Covington is a retired dairy
cooperative CEO and now does some
farming, consulting, writing and
public speaking.
FOR SALE
2 Dairies Calf Ranch Office +/- 2,300 Acres

Calf Ranch
Office
Dairy #2
Dairy #5
Areas in yellow are dairies, office and calf ranch. Areas in red are farm land.
Total Size:
+/- 2,300 acres
Location:
Wendell
Gooding County, Idaho
Farm:
#2 Dairy:
+/- 2,000
farmed acres
+/- 2,000 milking

2,200 self-locking stations
Shades & open corrals
#5 Dairy:
Water:
Deep wells
Canal shares
+/- 4,000 milking

5,400 self-locking stations
2,500 Freestalls
2,900 shades & open corrals
Calf Ranch:
+/- 8,000 heifers

+/- 80 acres
Selling price
without cows
& heifers:
55,000,000
Buildings:
Office
2 Mechanic Shops
Potato Cellars
7 Homes
Scale
Greenhouse
Contact: Kurt McLaws ~ (208) 732-3994 ~ kurt@aardemagroup.com

25
PD EAST MAIN
Pounds vs. percent: Shifting the mindset about components

Dave LaCount for Progressive Dairyman
Which would you rather have?
A herd that produces 100 pounds of
milk per day with 3.3 percent fat and 3
percent protein or a herd that produces
95 pounds of milk per day with 3.8
percent fat and 3.1 percent protein?
Most people pick the 100-pound
herd because they assume more milk
equals more money. But when you are
paid on components, more milk does
not always mean more money. In this
example, the 95-pound herd produces
6.56 pounds of fat and protein per
cow per day versus 6.3 pounds of fat
and protein per cow per day for the
100-pound herd. That is 0.25 pounds of
more fat and protein per cow per day.
While that may not seem like much,
using fat and protein prices from
March 2015 shows thats an income
difference of $0.45 per cow per day
from fat and protein for the 95-pound
herd.
Historically, as an industry we
have always talked about percent of
fat or protein; however, if you produce
milk in a market that bases pay price
on components, its time to shift your
mindset to evaluate components based
on pounds. Doing so will provide a
better barometer of performance.
This concept is not as applicable to
those shipping milk in primarily fluid
markets.
Six pounds or more of fat and protein per cow per day should
be your goal. Thats a benchmark Dr. Tom Overton from Cornell
University set for elite herds a couple of years ago. Since then,
more and more producers have been setting that as their
benchmark and even surpassing it.
Watch more than pounds of milk
The component content of milk

varies for a variety of reasons
seasonal changes, changes in diet
and subclinical acidosis, to name
a few. Ingredient selection for the
diet can play a major role in the
amount of components shipped.
Forage quality, fat source, amino
acid balance and protein sources
in the diet all affect component
yield. Research has shown that
diet-induced milkfat depression can
result in up to a 50 percent drop in
milkfat yield with little or no change
in pounds of milk produced or
the other milk components. If you
are only watching pounds of milk
produced, you may miss the change
in milkfat until it shows up on your
next milk check.
Dan Wenzel, a dairy business
consultant with Dairy Business
Consulting in New London,

Wisconsin, has been tracking his
client herds financial performance
using pounds of fat and protein
produced per cow per day for five
years. It is listed on the monitoring
sheet every month, right next to
pounds of milk per cow. With this
information, he can show that not all
milk is created equal.
For example, two farms each
produce 85 pounds of milk per cow
per day. Farm A has 3.75 percent fat
and 3.15 percent protein, for a total
of 5.87 pounds of fat and protein per
cow per day. Farm B has 3.6 percent
fat and 3 percent protein, for a total
cow per day.
Using March 2015 fat and
protein prices, Farm A earns $12.60
fat and protein income per cow per
day. Farm B earns $11.99 fat and
protein income per cow per day. Both

farms produce 85 pounds of milk per
cow per day, but that small difference
in fat and protein content adds up
to a difference of $0.61 per cow per
day. Thats why it is so important to
include pounds of fat and protein
produced in your monitoring
toolbox.
A review of Wenzels client
records shows that 83 percent of
his clients total milk income for
March 2015 comes from the value
of fat and protein. When you are
paid on components, they are a
better indicator of financial status
of a herd than pounds of milk. Most
of your milk income comes from
components, so why not focus on
what makes you the most money?
Aim for 6 pounds
Six pounds or more of fat and
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protein per cow per day should be

your goal. Thats a benchmark Dr. Tom
Overton from Cornell University set
for elite herds a couple of years ago.
Since then, more and more producers
have been setting that as their
benchmark and even surpassing it.
Many of the herds I work with
today have achieved 6 pounds of fat
and protein. Some have even climbed
to 6.5 and 7 pounds of fat and protein
per cow per day.
More producers are starting to
understand the value of tracking
components instead of just milk
production. In 2012, out of all of the
herds that Wenzel works with, 26
percent averaged at or above 6 pounds
of fat and protein per cow per day for
the year. In 2014, that number had
climbed to 39 percent of all client
herds averaged at or above 6 pounds of
fat and protein per cow per day for the
entire year.
Even though components
are important, its still about the
profitability of your business. Your
goal should be to find the optimum
pounds of fat and protein for your
business model, not the maximum
pounds of components. Farms
can be very profitable with very
different business models. The key is
to understand what works for your
business model and to optimize
components for your specific
operation.
Consider, for example, two farms
from Wenzels client records. Farm
D produces 104 pounds of milk
each day with 3.63 percent fat and
3.1 percent protein, for a total of 7
pounds of fat and protein per cow
per day. Farm E produces 81 pounds
of milk each day with 3.5 percent fat
and 3.03 percent protein, for a total
cow per day. So Farm D looks much
more profitable, right?

In reality, both farms are highly
profitable. Each uses a different
business model to achieve its goals.
Farm D had a net worth gain of $2,826
per cow in 2014. Farm E had a net
worth gain of $2,688 per cow in 2014.
Farm E has a lower labor cost, lower
feed cost, less debt and does not use
rBST, but its increase in net worth per
cow was nearly the same.
By comparison, the average
increase in net worth per cow for all
herds Wenzel worked with in 2014

was $1,300 per cow. Having high
performance does not guarantee more
profit. In this example, each farm
optimized its fat and protein pounds
per cow per day according to its own
business model, expense efficiency and
debt load. But when things are equal,
then yes, the more pounds of fat and
protein do mean more revenue.
High milk components and high
milk production are not mutually
exclusive. They can be achieved
at the same time. Work with your

nutritionist to develop a nutrition
strategy that can help you achieve your
goals and join the 6-pound club. PD
Dave LaCount has a doctorate in
animal sciences from the University
of Illinois and is employed by Purina
as a dairy technical service specialist
based in Wisconsin.
References omitted due to space
but are available upon request.
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PD EAST MAIN
Who is the CEO of your dairy?

Contributed by Jim Salfer
Who is the CEO of your dairy?
I often ask dairy producers this
question, and the typical first
reaction is a puzzled look like they
really havent thought about it, and
then a common response is, I am,
I guess. One of the main duties of
the CEO is to provide leadership to
the business. Many small-business
owners confuse management with
leadership. On most of our farms,
the owner is the CEO as well as
providing the majority of the
management. The simplest way to
describe the difference between
leadership and management is that
leadership is externally focused and
management is internally focused.
Leadership is about developing a
strategy of doing the right thing for
the business, while management is
about doing things right.
Leadership is associated
with developing the vision to
take a business into the future by
looking for and exploiting business
opportunities. Leaders must
constantly be scanning global,
national and the local environment
for trends and how they might
be affecting the businesss future.
Great leaders use these trends to
identify opportunities and threats.
In a faster-moving world, it is
more important than ever farmers
spend adequate time focusing on
leadership activities. Leadership
is about constantly challenging
assumptions and conventional
wisdom. Some issues farm
leadership need to think about
include:
Will the margin compression of

the past 20 years continue, and how
will my business deal with shrinking
margins?
28
Will the European Union quota

going away affect my business?
How will the growing middle class

in Asia affect the demand for U.S.
milk?
How is the best way to position

your business for the increasing
volatility in feed costs and milk
prices?
How will the changing farm

structure within the U.S. influence
my business?
How can I position my business

with the explosion in new
technology? What technologies make
sense for my business?
Are there opportunities to

take advantage of the local food
movement?
Management refers to
successfully executing the plan.
This includes developing plans and
budgets, setting goals, monitoring
results and adjusting the plan.
Management is harvesting highquality forage, keeping the SCC
low, getting cows bred on time
and having a successful transition
cow program. Most farmers enjoy
management activities and are very
good managers. It is satisfying to see
the rewards of effective management.
There are many educational
seminars, and most consultants are
experts on improving management.
I am not suggesting that
management is less important than
leadership to the success of the
business. Long-term sustainable
business will require excellent
management as well as leadership.
We can all think of businesses

that were extremely efficient and
successful but leadership did not
adapt to the changing business
environment. Remember when
Kodak was a leader in photography?
Kodak had the premier color film
with Kodachrome, the first easyload instamatic camera. They did
not recognize and adapt to digital
photography rapidly enough and
are currently a minor player in the
photography industry.
Another example is Blockbuster
video. The video rental giant did not
anticipate and adapt to the changing
industry and were forced to file
bankruptcy. Compare that to Netflix,
who built their business model
on mailing movies to customers
but anticipated the rapid growth
in broadband and successfully
transitioned to offering streaming
movies on demand.
Leadership activities take time.
This can be a challenge when there
are cows to milk, feed and breed. But
dairy farms of the future will require
visionary leaders that are nimble and
can adapt to the rapidly changing
world.
Here are some ideas that might
be helpful in developing leadership
potential. Maybe the most important
factor is a mindset change of
constant change. Every morning the
owner needs to be thinking about the
future of the business. Accept that
change is normal, and it is coming
faster and faster. View change as an
opportunity that can be capitalized
on with the right strategy. Have an
annual leadership team meeting that
focuses on the future direction of the
business. Invite industry leaders for
honest opinions on the threats and
opportunities in your business. This
Jim Salfer
Regional Extension
Educator
University of Minnesota
salfe001@umn.edu
may be a different group than your

management team.
Attend conferences that focus
on macro-trends in agriculture
and the dairy industry. There are
several excellent newsletters to help
develop leadership skills and learn
about trends. I subscribe to a free
newsletter from Harvard Business
Review.
The new year is coming. Make it
your resolution to develop improved
leadership skills and develop a plan
to lead your business to future
success. PD
Excerpts from University of
Minnesota Extension website,
December 27, 2014
PD EAST MAIN
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PD EAST MAIN
The phrase that pays

Elaine Froese for Progressive Dairyman
One snowy day at a beautiful
ranch home in southern Alberta
around the expansive kitchen table,
the farm team said, Elaine, you
should make a list of the top phrases
you use in coaching. OK, I said,
knowing many of the best projects are
started by attentive practical ranchers
and farmers who call it like they see it.
It is your farm. Your family. Your

choice.
This is my essential message as
a coach. I want farmers to build new
scenarios for the new chapters in their
lives that suit their values and goals.
Many farmers who feel stuck have
not stopped to talk with themselves
about what they really want in their
life, their family and their farm
business. Are you sensing a new
chapter coming up for your life? What
choices do you have to make some
new experiences happen?
You get the behavior you accept.
PALMER
MANUFAC TURING
When is it her turn to get what she needs? This is the

uncomfortable question posed to the aging founder who has been
married for more than 45 years and still cannot see what his wife is
longing for in a new chapter of life beyond the farm.
So why are you putting up with

bad behavior? You do not have to
allow abuse, profanity or nasty
behavior on your farm. Stand up for
what you believe is right. Find support
beyond your farm gate.
That was then and this is now.

(Attributed to my mother-inlaw, Margaret Froese.) Meaning that
things change and you might need to
make a new decision for the present
and the future. Some founders make
promises to successors that have to
be broken when the financial reality
dictates the founders need more

money for their re-invention years.
Plans can change, but the basic
trust doesnt need to be harmed
if the parties can all be honest,
transparent and agree to talk about
their disappointment.
A farm is not a piece of pie.

This means the critical mass
of assets needs to stay with the
farm owner or shareholders. Create
another wealth bubble for your
non-business heirs or have great
agreements that allow access to
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the land for the farm operation.

Parents are not responsible to ensure
that all of their adult children are
economically equal. Many adult
children have wealth-creation goals
that dont demand large gifts from
hard-working founders. Perhaps if
you sat down with your children,
youd discover that their main desire
is for you to have some rewards now
to be able to enjoy the fruit of your
labor.
Change is inevitable; growth is

optional.
Change is going to happen, but
are you ready to embrace it and
work through the necessary steps to
achieve your goals in a timely fashion
and meet the needs of your team?
The Hudson Institute gave me a great
map called the cycle of renewal
that helps families navigate change
and make mini-transitions to get
aligned again with their vision and
goals. Life is not a straight line, and
we are more resilient to the bumps
in the road when we take a learner
approach.
You are good enough.

This is a take on Brene Browns
work, where she says, You are
enough. Many young farmers feel
that no matter how hard they work,
it is never good enough. All of our
farms could use more intentional
affirmation. Lately I have been asked
to speak about encouraging the
heart of your farm. We all need
more affirmation and appreciation
on our farm teams.
Divorce on farms does not have to

happen.
This saying provoked a profane
outburst at one of my seminars, but
I meant it. Love and respect for all
players and spouses on your farm
will go a long way to avoiding the
divorce courts. Sometimes I think
people dont ask for professional help
soon enough, and then the pain and
wounds are far too deep to be healed.
When is it her turn to get what she

needs?
Videos at YouTube
Multimin USA Channel
30
REQUIRED
This is the uncomfortable

question posed to the aging founder
who has been married for more
PD EAST MAIN
Many young farmers feel that no matter how hard they work, it is never good enough.
All of our farms could use more intentional affirmation.
than 45 years and still cannot see

what his wife is longing for in a new
chapter of life beyond the farm. She
wants to move away from the main
yard (Grand Central Station) and
spend more time with her hobbies
and friends in town. She is tired.
She knows her husband still wants
a role on the farm, but now it needs
to be different as the next generation
becomes the main manager.
situation different. She now blogs

about agriculture, and we had the
pleasure of reuniting a few months
ago. I had no idea of the power of the
phrase until she told me her story.
Conflict resolution is a business
risk management strategy.
Discuss the non-discussable.

I believe conflict avoidance is
one of the huge boulders holding
agriculture back. Many founders
have a fear of conflict, so they
procrastinate and do not have
courageous conversations. Attack an
issue without attacking the person,
and get resolution. Dont waste

emotional energy on drama. Learn
to focus on solving problems with
effective focused management. PD
Elaine Froese is a certified farm
family coach and farm partner. Seek
her out at www.elainefroese.com
A conversation is not a contract.

Jolene Brown likely coined this
term first, and she is right. Many
promises as conversations will not
hold up when challenged. Families
in business are wise to write things
down in agreements that keep a
record of what was decided and
promised.
Love does not read minds.

I think I was told this as a young
bride by our minister, and I used this
phrase recently in a coaching call. It
was powerful when I saw the young
farmers binder page with the quote
in bold block letters. He is planning
to make it into a wooden plaque for
his kitchen.
You have options; you can leave.

A young, frustrated farmwoman
asked me in a seminar Q&A what to
do with a father-in-law who was not
treating her with respect. I quickly
said, Just leave. She did not leave,
but the notion that she did have the
option to choose a different path gave
her the freedom to make her current
Elaine Froese
Farm Family
Business Coach
by
Adisseo
www.elainefroese.com
31
PD EAST MAIN
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Rebecca Lampman for Progressive Dairyman

With Halloween around
the corner and all things
spooky on the mind, there
isnt anything much scarier
for the bookkeeper of the
farm than having the farm
computer crash. Just ask
my husband and me; ours
crashed a couple of years
ago.
We had two major
programs on the computer
that were vital to running
the farm QuickBooks
for the financial end of the
business and my husbands
dairy herd management
software. Because one of us was in
the habit of backing our information
up and one of us wasnt well
keep the who wasnt a mystery in
the spirit of Halloween we had
completely different experiences in
the aftermath of the crash.
While still a major
inconvenience, the party who
regularly backed up their vital
information simply had to wait for the
arrival of the new computer, reload
the software, import all of the data
from the backup source and enter
the latest information. Not fun, but
manageable.
And the fate of the one who failed
to perform regular backups? Well, it
started with a visit from our technical
support guru, who determined that
our hard drive was toast. We then
located a company that specializes
in extrapolating information off of
toasted hard drives. We were lucky.
Sometimes data cannot be recovered.
We recovered ours to the tune of
almost $2,000. That is frightening.
So what exactly should you do
to protect yourself from this kind of
fearsome and expensive situation?
Back up your information every
single time you perform major
tasks. Within QuickBooks, there are
certain times of the month when
activity in the program is heavy.
I have written myself a reminder
note, and I back up after performing
payroll, after paying bills and after
balancing accounts. For programs
where you are entering information
on a daily basis, make it a habit to
back up your information daily. Once
it becomes routine, it isnt a big deal.
Use at least two different
backup platforms preferably three.
What backup platforms should
you use? Our technical support
specialist recommends that you
keep three different copies of your
important and vital information at
all times using different platforms.
QuickBooks provides an online
backup feature that you can utilize.
You can also use one of the major
online backup platforms, such as
Carbonite or Barracuda. In addition
Computers will crash. Assuming

that yours wont is a foolish idea
and a risk not worth taking on
your business. Computers can
be replaced, but your information
and hard work cannot. Staff photo.
to these online options, you should
have at least one physical copy of
your data. I used to back up to a
CD, but now I use an external hard
drive. If you are really paranoid and
enjoy the added security, do all of the
above.
Make sure that your data file
copies are stored in a location away
from your computer. The nice thing
about backing up online is that this is
accomplished automatically. Online
backup is great, but our technical
support specialist pointed out that
there is no guarantee that your
information wont be lost online.
What if those systems crash?
When you perform your second
backup onto your external hard
drive, plug in the hard drive, perform
the backup and then make sure you
unplug the hard drive when you
arent using it. It is hard on external
hard drives to be plugged in all the
time, and if it is plugged in when
your computer crashes, it could be
negatively affected.
Computers will crash. Assuming
that yours wont is a foolish idea
and a risk not worth taking on
your business. Computers can be
replaced, but your information and
hard work cannot. The great news
is that by creating a regular backup
plan and treating it as simply one of
the required tasks of operating your
business, you can prevent information
loss, frustration and the nightmarish
experience and expense of rebuilding
your data files. Now go out into the
Halloween season. Eat, drink, be
scary and back up! PD
Rebecca Lampman works with her
husband and three children on their
250-cow dairy in Bruneau, Idaho.
She loves her animals, Halloween and
is obsessed with backing up her vital
information.
PD EAST MAIN
Tackle your 10 biggest time thieves

Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee
This article originally
appeared in the PD
Extra enewsletter. Sign
up at www.progressivedairy.com/
enews to receive new online articles
before you see them in print.
Illustration by Kevin Brown.
Are you wasting time? Do you

feel you are working all day long and
accomplishing nothing? Perhaps time
thieves are getting the best of you.
At the PDPW Business
Conference held in Madison,
Wisconsin, earlier this year, Dr.
Becky Stewart-Gross, president
of Building Bridges Seminars,
identified the many ways people
waste time in their personal and
professional lives.
Stewart-Gross counted down the
top 10 time thieves shes found within
corporations shes worked with
around the world and offered ways to
take control of your time.
10
Technology
Technologies from
telephones and computers to
television and social media can be
valuable tools, but also very timeconsuming.
For outgoing calls, Stewart-Gross
mentioned research has found
stacking calls making one after
another results in shorter calls.
Also, when calling someone,
have the first question be Is this a
good time to talk? If not, the call can
be rescheduled for a time that works
well for both parties.
For incoming calls, it is okay to
screen the call, send it to voicemail
or have a child respond that you are
not available right now. If you answer,
encourage the person to get to the
subject of the call quickly. Be sure to
keep a phone log nearby to take notes
as sometimes the deal you arranged
in the conversation will be revisited
months later, and this way youll have
a record of what was discussed.
Email comes in constantly, and
the alerts on the computer can be a
distraction. Research has found that
every time you stop to check your
email, you lose 10 minutes because
it takes you that long to get back into
the project, she said.
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Make sure
everything in your
workspace has
a purpose, from
the posters on the
wall to anything
on your desk.
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PD EAST MAIN
Tackle your 10 biggest time thieves, contd from page 33

Paying bills electronically can
save an enormous amount of time,
but be sure to check things over to
make sure the bill is accurate and to
keep track of your accounts.
Television, talk radio and social
media are not appealing to some, but
to others they can be all-consuming.
Be sure to use these as tools instead

of thieves that are stealing time.
9 Paperwork
Have an inbox to collect

incoming papers. When emptying
the papers, utilize the FAT system to
touch each piece as little as possible
Research has found that every time

you stop to check your email, you lose 10
minutes because it takes you that long to
get back into the project.
either File the paperwork in a

filing cabinet or tickler file, Act on
it right away or Trash it.
Treat your email inbox the same
way. If you go into your inbox, you
should not have to scroll down. If you
have to scroll down, you have way
too many emails in your inbox to be
effective, Stewart-Gross said.
8 Meetings
I love to say meetings are where

minutes are kept and hours are lost,
she said, but meetings do not have to
be a waste of time.
At the end of every meeting,
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more milk.
make sure all participants are on the

same page by asking the following:
What did we all agree upon? Who
do we share this with? Whats
confidential? What are the action
items, and who is responsible?
Have an agenda, even if it is a
one-on-one meeting to make sure
people know the purpose of the
meeting. She explained, You want
people to walk in thinking about
what they need to contribute to that
meeting, as opposed to people just
showing up to be observers.
7 People
People can wear us out, but we

also need them to help us get work
done. Heres how Stewart-Gross
recommended handling the various
types of people who could stop by
your work area.
For drop-in visitors, get right
to the issue and feel free to set up
another time to meet and discuss. Be
sure to have a way to note the date
and time of the scheduled meeting.
If someone else needs to be involved,
either send this individual to that
person or invite the other person
into the conversation so you dont
have to repeat yourself.
Dont allow yourself to be the
whining department. Make sure
people come in with at least two
solutions to any problem. She said
if they only come with one, theyll
expect you to implement it, but two
forces them to be more creative.
Keep things professional with
difficult customers, and try not to
take it personally.
The Got a minute? person
never needs just a minute. If you
dont have more than a minute, stand
up, walk towards them and say, How
can I help you? Or, tell them you
only have two minutes. When they
realize it will take longer, you can
schedule a time to go over it later.
Drainers, as Stewart-Gross
called them, are those people who
wipe us out. The late Zig Ziglar said,
We need to surround ourselves
with positive people. Be sure to have
people in your life who dont just take
things from you.
For the people who are really
important in your life spouse,
children, certain co-workers make
a date for one-on-one time. If you are
too busy for that, they see that too
that you are too busy for them. It
may only be five minutes, but in that
time you helped that person feel like
they are the most important person
in the world, she said.
6 Waiting time
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Whether you are waiting for

animals, traffic, doctors or kids, you
can either waste that time or plan for
it. Grab a newsletter or publication
to always have on hand, check
emails with your phone or use audio
books in the car or on the treadmill
to hear the book you always wanted
to read.
PD EAST MAIN
The Got a minute? person never needs just a minute. If you dont have more
than a minute, stand up, walk towards them and say, How can I help you? Or,
tell them you only have two minutes. When they realize it will take longer, you can
schedule a time to go over it later.
5 Not able to say no
We can only spread ourselves

out so far. ... At some point, you
need to decide where you say no,
she said. It is better to say no than
to not be able to follow through on a
commitment.
Dont make an excuse, because it
is not really the explanation and the
other party will likely break it down
and try to solve your excuse.
Do buy yourself time in saying
you need to talk it over with your
spouse or check your calendar.
That way you dont need to make a
decision on the spot.
You can also offer alternatives.
For example, if you are asked to
work at an event but are busy that
day, offer to help by selling tickets in
advance. Offer the option that works
the best for you.
Some people find that a prepared
line helps them say no. One of
Stewart-Gross friends likes to say, I
need to say no to respect my yeses.
about the concept of what is

important versus what is urgent.
Put into a bulls-eye format, on the
outside is the busywork or the things
that are not important or urgent.
Heading inward are the things
that are urgent, but not important,
followed by the items that are really
important and urgent, otherwise
known as a crisis.
At the center are the items
that are important, but not urgent.
If we focus on what is important
and not urgent, youre not going to

end up with so many crises, she
said. Because you are doing the
maintenance. Because you are taking
care of yourself.
Stewart-Gross encouraged
everyone to think about their purpose
first personally, then professionally.
Take the rocking chair test by asking
yourself what accomplishments
do you want to be known for
in life, whose respect for those
accomplishments means the most to
you and what accomplishment have

you done in the past 10 to 15 years
makes you the most proud.
Listing your goals in your
personal life and career is
another good exercise. Have these
conversations with your spouse and
co-workers.
She concluded by saying,
Remember there is always time
to do whats really important. The
problem is knowing what really is
important. PD
4 Attempting too much
Go through a list of things you

do with your spouse or your team,
and ask if everything you are doing
is worth it. Try to identify things you
can delegate to someone else.
3 Self-care time
When you are busy taking care

of your family, your business and
your cows, you are not taking care of
you. Stewart-Gross made this point
in two ways.
First is the slingshot principle
at times we need to pull back in
order to soar. She suggested taking a
mental break or a vacation.
Second is the flight attendant
principle put the oxygen mask on
yourself before assisting others. We
are not going to be any good if we
dont take care of us first, she said.
2 Personal disorganization
Make sure everything in your

workspace has a purpose, from the
posters on the wall to anything on
your desk.
I have nothing against
childrens artwork, but it should be
meaningful, she said.
Can you find whatever you need
in a moments touch? If not, you need
to work on your office organization.
1 Focus on your priorities
Nothing mentioned above will

be accomplished if you are not really
focused on your priorities in life.
She said Stephen Covey wrote
35
PD EAST MAIN
Tips for designing your maternity pen around cow behavior

Katy L. Proudfoot for Progressive Dairyman
Whether you are building
a new transition barn or simply
looking for ways to improve your
current maternity area, a better
understanding of cow behavior can
help. Recent research has discovered
that a cow changes her behavior
dramatically at calving, regardless
of whether she is housed indoors
or outdoors. Reducing stress and
creating a comfortable area for the
cow to deliver her calf is critical for
creating a successful transition cow
program.
cows the option

1 Give
for privacy
As herd animals, cows are social

and do not often leave the protection
of their group. One of the few times
cows distance themselves from
others is when they are preparing

to give birth. The first evidence for
this came in the 1990s when a group
of Swedish scientists monitored the
behavior of beef and dairy cows kept
on pasture and range, and recorded
what features the animals used to
find their ideal calving site. On the
day before calving, many cows left
the herd and sought a secluded area
with tall grass or tree cover as well as
a soft and dry surface (e.g., covered
with dead leaves) to calve.
To determine if modern,
indoor-housed Holstein cows
retain the instinct to seek privacy
at calving, researchers from the
University of British Columbias
Animal Welfare Program created
two unique maternity pens. The first
pen, constructed at the UBC Dairy
Education and Research Centre,

included two calving areas to choose
from: a large open sawdust-bedded
pack (8 x 24 feet) with no barriers and
a large enclosed sawdust-bedded
pack (8 x 20 feet) with an 8-foot-tall
plywood barrier constructed around
three sides and a fourth side with an
8-foot-wide opening for cows to enter
and exit freely.
Cows were added to the pen
approximately three days before they
were due to calve to acclimate to
both areas. Researchers found that a
majority (61 percent) of cows calved
in the enclosed pen, but this decision
was dependent on whether the cow
calved in the daytime or nighttime.
Most (81 percent) of the cows that
calved during the daytime used the
enclosure, whereas there was no
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preference at night.
The preference to calve in the
enclosure was reversed when two
cows were added to the pen instead
of one. Cows avoided the enclosure
to calve but were also found to
gradually avoid being near their
partner. Cows were also sometimes
seen competing for the enclosure by
physically preventing the other from
entering, further complicating a
cows decision to hide at calving.
The construction of a large
wooden enclosure is impractical
on a commercial dairy farm, so the
second pen design asked the same
question in a simpler way. This pen
was constructed in collaboration
with scientists at the University of
Aarhus, Denmark at their Research
Centre Foulum.
Individual maternity pens (10 x
15 feet) were built directly adjacent
to a large close-up group pen.
Individual pens were separated from
the group pens with metal gates that
allowed cows from the individual
pens to have head-to-head contact
with cows in the group pen. To
create an area for privacy, 6-foot-tall
plywood was attached to the sides of
the pen and to half of the front face
of the pen that connected it to the
group pen. This created a covered
corner, where cows could seclude
from the group pen, and an open
side, where cows could interact with
group mates. Researchers discovered
that 79 percent of the cows were
on the secluded side of the pen,
confirming the finding that many
indoor-housed dairy cows retain
the instinct to seclude themselves at
calving.
2 Location matters
A common location for calving

pens is near the office or parlor,
where there is a lot of foot traffic.
This location allows producers to
keep close watch on cows during
labor in case intervention is needed,
and it creates a short walk for the
cow to the parlor when she is ready
to be milked. The main downside to
this placement is the amount of noise
and activity that occurs while the
cow is in labor, at a time when she
is clearly motivated to be in a quiet
space.
Producers with individual
calving pens can help reduce noise
and activity by creating a private
area for cows to use during labor.
Stacking straw bales or hanging
moveable, heavy-duty curtains
around part of the pen can be used
as a barrier to noise and activity.
Although the ideal dimensions
for a barrier have not yet been
determined, the barrier should not
cover the entire pen (as this may be
stressful for the cow) and can likely
be at a height low enough for the
producer to still see into the pen.
PD EAST MAIN
Producers with individual calving pens can help reduce noise and activity by creating a
private area for cows to use during labor. Stacking straw bales or hanging moveable, heavyduty curtains around part of the pen can be used as a barrier to noise and activity.
More technology-savvy producers
may also find that video cameras can
help them keep watch on their cows
with less distraction from onlookers.
For producers with group
calving pens, providing seclusion
for individual cows may be more
difficult. When one enclosure was
provided to two cows, it became
clear that cows competed for access
to the private space. More research
is needed to determine practical
ways for incorporating an area for
privacy within a group pen. The pen,
as a whole, should also ideally be in
a quiet area of the barn, with easy
access to the parlor or fresh pen.
and comfort
3 Space
should be a priority
Very little research has been

done to determine the optimal size
of an individual or group calving
pen. Thus, when choosing the
dimensions of their individual or
group maternity pens, producers
must make this decision based on
knowledge of animal behavior and
recommendations from people with

extensive experience in the field.
Research from the University of
British Columbias Animal Welfare
Program discovered that cows
dramatically increase their activity
as calving approaches. They recorded
a twofold increase in the number of
times that cows switched positions
from standing to lying on the day
before calving compared to previous
days. This increase in activity is
likely driven by discomfort caused by
contractions and the movement of
the calf as well as the desire to seek
out a suitable calving location.
To accommodate for these
posture changes, most recommend
that lying space be significantly
larger for cows undergoing labor
compared to lactating cows.
Researchers at the University
of Wisconsin recommend that
individual pens be at least 12 x 12
feet (144 square feet per cow) and
provide clean, soft bedding (e.g.,
a concrete, clay or sand-covered
base with a thick layer of straw or
sawdust that is cleaned out after each

calving).
Recommendations for sizing
group pens are variable but are still
higher than other stages of lactation.
Some recommend 100 square feet
of lying (not feeding) space per cow,
but more recent recommendations
have been closer to 175 to 200
square feet per cow to accommodate
for dramatic changes in activity.
Producers also need to consider
their rate of calving (number of cows
calving per week) for building an
optimal group calving pen.
Researchers at the University
of Wisconsin recommend building
your pen to accommodate at least
140 percent of the average calving
rate to avoid overstocking (e.g., if you
expect 30 cows to calve per week,
build a pen for 42 cows). Although
more research is still needed, it is
clear that the more space is available
to cows at calving, the more likely
it is for her to find a clean, dry,
comfortable and private area to give
birth. PD
Katy L. Proudfoot
Animal Welfare Specialist
College of Veterinary
Medicine
Ohio State University
proudfoot.18@osu.edu
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PD EAST MAIN
Indiana dairyman found transition cow success

with separate facility
Kimmi Devaney for Progressive Dairyman
appeared in the PD
Luke Minich, a fourth-generation
dairy farmer from LaPorte, Indiana,
didnt always plan to return to the
family farm. His family sold their
dairy cattle, and after graduating from
Purdue University, Minich worked
as a grain merchandiser and futures
broker in Indianapolis.
In 2009, Minich began thinking
about returning to the family farm to
row crop. However, the same weekend
Luke, his wife, Kim, and their children
moved back to the farm, a 250-cow
dairy nearby became available. They
closed on it three months later and
have been milking ever since.
Today, the Minichs operate a
1,000-cow dairy at two locations a
transition facility with dry cows, fresh
cows and cull cows at the family farm,
and another milking and breeding
facility at the dairy they purchased
in 2009, which is approximately 15
minutes away.
We knew when we started the
dairy that we would need a better
transition facility, and I wish I would
have done this sooner, Luke says.
Herd health, employee morale and
overall logistics have all improved.
When they decided to expand,
the logical step was to keep dry cows
and fresh cows separate from the rest
of the milking herd, Luke says. They
started with 250 cows in 2009, grew
to 400 by the end of that year, then
added 100 cows per year through 2012
and finished 2014 with 1,000 total
Kim, Anna, Mary, Luke (holding Calvin), William and Katherine Minich pose for a family photo at their
transition facility. To the right are their fresh cows, and to the left is the post-21-days-in-milk observation
group. Photo by Kimmi Devaney.
milking and dry cows.
It made more sense to invest in a
facility that had room to grow, Luke
says. I can see this working really
well for a lot of producers.
Calves are born at the transition
facility and then sent to the calf raiser
within the first week for 60 days. They
come back for 30 days for evaluation
to determine if they want to keep
them in the herd. Then they go to

a nearby heifer raiser and return as
springers two months before calving.
Luke also purchases some springers,
and since animals are coming from
different locations, biosecurity is
important. All incoming animals first
come to the transition facility, where
they are vaccinated and quarantined
for four weeks.
At the end of their lactation,

cows are moved to the transition
facility where they are dried
off, checked for pregnancy and
vaccinated. No drugs or antibiotics
are stored at the main dairy, so all
cows needing treatment of any kind
are moved to the transition facility.
Protocols are posted on the walls in
the vet room at the transition facility,
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PD EAST MAIN
Theres a
big advantage
in matching
employee talent
with the needs of
the farm, Luke
says. Keeping the
farms separate
also helps to
specialize labor
and increase
efficiency.
where all pharmaceuticals are stored.

At 21 days in milk, cows are
vaccinated, evaluated, given Lutalyse
and moved to the dairy. Any cows that
may be lame, sick or not in optimal
condition are moved to another pen
at the transition facility for continued
observation.
Right now, the Minichs are
focused on continuing to improve
their breeding program. Cows are
serviced three times with A.I. after
their 55-day voluntary waiting period
and then turned out with the bulls.
Group sizes were too large to keep
enough healthy bulls to rely solely
on natural service, and they werent
getting enough pregnancies, so
they started synchronizing to A.I.
in September 2014. If cows are not
pregnant by 250 days in milk, they
become part of the cull group at the
transition facility.
The dairy has 13 full-time
employees, and most are only at
one facility, but a few split their
time between the two farms. They
have a separate herd manager for
each farm, and Luke says this has
helped to ensure employees are
following protocols and that routines
are consistent. The herd manager
at the transition facility is also a
Luke Minich reviews protocols for various tasks posted on the wall in the vet room at his transition facility.
Photo by Kimmi Devaney.
veterinarian, so his skill set is very

useful there.
Theres a big advantage in
matching employee talent with
the needs of the farm, Luke says.
Keeping the farms separate also
helps to specialize labor and increase
efficiency.
To maintain dry matter intake for
dry and fresh cows, they work closely
with their nutritionist, who custom
formulates rations on a monthly basis,
tests the TMR and the silage, and also
custom blends mineral to match the
cows needs. Feedbunks are cleaned
daily, and feed is pushed up every other
hour. To increase feedbunk consistency,
they plan to add a cover over all

feed alleys at the transition facility.
Feedbunks are currently open to the
weather, and cows dont like wet feed or
feed that has been snowed on, he says.
Looking ahead, the Minichs plan
to continue to grow revenues by 10 to
20 percent each year. They dont have
a goal in mind as far as cow numbers;
they instead grow as a function of
business and what is economically
efficient, Luke says. They plan to build
another dry cow barn at the transition
facility to separate dry cows from
springers and to minimize movement
and maximize cow comfort.
Eventually, they also want to add
another milking facility and have one

transition facility, feeding two dairies
with 700 aged cows at one dairy, 700
2- and 3-year-old cows at another
facility and 700 cows at the transition
facility.
Luke and Kim remain optimistic
about the future. The possibilities are
endless, Luke says. We are excited
for the future of the dairy industry.
Hard work always wins. PD
Kimmi Devaney is a livestock
specialist with the Indiana State
Department of Agriculture. She also
writes an agricultural blog at www.
kimmisdairyland.blogspot.com
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PD EAST MAIN
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PD EAST MAIN
How to troubleshoot difficult calvings

Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee
appeared in the PD
Ideally, a cow calves on her own
with no human assistance needed.
However, for one reason or another,
that does not always happen.
Dr. Vicky Lauer, a member of
Animarts professional services
veterinarian team, says there are a
number of things that can go wrong
during the calving process.
Before those are addressed, it is
best to set the cow and calf up for
success by creating a good calving
environment, understanding the three
stages of labor and knowing when to
assist.
Maternity pen
The ideal maternity pen is set up

with individual pens that are cleaned
and disinfected between cows or
at least once per day and rebedded
with clean, dry bedding. The pen will
provide 140 square feet per cow with
water access and possibly feed access.
There should be a restraint system
and easy access for workers. A viewing
area or camera should be set up to
allow someone to watch the cows. If
not, someone should walk the pen
every one to two hours.
Lauer says the best time to move
a cow into the maternity pen is 24
hours before calving begins. Moving
during early labor increases stillbirth
and dystocia rates because the
cow will halt the labor process. Yet
moving the cow too early three to
five days before calving can increase
her risk for ketosis and displaced
abomasum.
Therefore, it has been determined

that another optimum time to move
the cow is when the calfs feet are
showing. At that point, the cow is
committed to the delivery process
and will continue labor. This method
does require someone to walk the pen
every hour to catch a cow at this stage.
Stages of labor
There are three stages of labor.

Stage one is the dilation phase. It
will last the longest, at two to eight
hours. During this time, the cervix is
dilating, the pelvic ligaments relax,
and uterine contractions begin. The
cow will be restless, raising and
shaking her tail, more vocal, and
pawing and smelling the ground.
The second stage of labor is the
expulsion phase when the cow pushes
the calf out. This can last 30 minutes
to two hours for a cow or one to three
hours for a heifer. During this phase,
abdominal contractions occur, the
amniotic sac is visible outside the
vulva, and then the calf is visible.
The third stage is the expulsion
of the fetal membranes. The cow will
pass the fetal membranes (also known
as the placenta) within 24 hours of
giving birth.
When to assist
Lauer recommends stepping in to

help when there is no progress after
eight hours in stage one, when there
is no calf visible one hour after the
amniotic sac is visible, or when there
is no progress after 30 minutes if the
calf is visible.
She also suggests helping if the
calfs tongue or head is swollen, if
there is excessive bleeding, or if the
calf is stained brown or yellow, which
is a sign the calf is stressed.
If you need to assist with calving,
If assistance is necessary, restrain the cow first, but in doing so, always
assume the cow will lie down. Make sure there is room for a calf jack if
it should come to that and, most importantly, that you have an exit.
Staff photo.
she says it is good to have the

following equipment on hand: soap or
disinfectant to clean the cow, a pail,
gloves, lubricant, obstetrical chains,
handles and a calf jack (on back-up).
If assistance is necessary,
restrain the cow first, but in doing
so, always assume the cow will lie
down. Make sure there is room for
a calf jack if it should come to that
and, most importantly, that you have
an exit.
Chutes can work as a restraint
system, but they limit the ability for
the cow and the handler to move
if needed. Lauer says a halter and
a swing gate are ideal, as it limits
movement of the cow if shes up but
can be moved out of the way if the
cow goes down.
The first step when assisting is to
clean the vulva with disinfectant and
water. Put on gloves to avoid disease
transfer from the cow to you. Apply
lubricant, and take a feel of what is
going on inside the cow. Dont rush,
Lauer says, Take your time. From
the start of labor, a calf can live for

approximately 12 hours.
In a normal birth, there will be
two feet of the same shape and size
with the head on top of the feet. An
abnormal birth could present in any
number of ways.
The following are types of
abnormal deliveries and how Lauer
suggests addressing each one. Be sure
to contact your veterinarian for any of
these situations.
Not dilated If the cow has not yet

dilated, the vagina will be smooth and
straight with just a small opening in
the cervix.
Lauer says not to force a hand
through the cervix. Try to feel the
calf if possible, but do not rupture the
amniotic sac. Placing some pressure
on the cervix can help stimulate
dilation; then simply give the cow
more time. If the placenta is hanging
out, the cow may require a C-section.
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PD EAST MAIN
How to troubleshoot difficult calvings, contd from page 41

Uterine torsion This is when the back, cup the foot with your hand
to keep the foot from tearing the cow.
uterus twists on itself. It can be felt

rectally and will present as a tight
band with a twist. The cow wont
experience abdominal contractions
and often wont be dilated once it is
corrected.
To correct a torsion, Lauer says a
veterinarian can flip the calf by hand
or use a detorsion rod with chains. If
the cervix is open, lay the cow down
and have the veterinarian hold the calf
as the farmer or herdsman rolls the
cow in the direction instructed by the
vet.
If either of those methods doesnt
work, a C-section can be performed.
If the cow is not dilated, the good
thing is the calf is likely to be alive,
she says.
and pull up on the foot while pushing

forward on the front knee.
If the calf is dead, Lauer says a
fetotomy with just removing the calfs
head will likely be enough to get the
rest of the calf out.
If both front legs are back, there
will be a head but no feet. Proceed
like you would with only one front leg
back, she says.
Oversized calf The calf will
Backward The calf is backward
present normally with both front

legs and a head between, but it will
be very large. If the calf is alive, use
gentle traction, lots of lube and slowly
pull or have a C-section done if the
calf still wont fit. If the calf is dead,
have a veterinarian do a fetotomy (a
dissection of the dead fetus in utero),
as it will no longer hurt the calf and
is the best option for the cow to
maintain her fertility.
Front leg back If you can only see
one leg and a head, the front leg might

be back. Gently push the calfs head
Head back or down When there

are two legs but no head, gently
push the neck back, grab the nose
or jaw and pull the head around
and up. Again, if the calf is dead, a
veterinarian should be able to cut off
the head to remove the rest of the
body.
when there are two feet and a tail with
the hooves facing upward, and you
can feel the hocks. Pull the calf as is,
she says, but pull quickly and gently.
Once you reach a certain point,
the calf will compress or rupture the
umbilical veins, Lauer says. Once
the hips are out, start cranking
because the veins will have ruptured
by then.
Breech When there is a tail and

nothing else, the situation can be
challenging, she says. Gently push the
pelvis in and cup one foot with a hand
Push the hock forward while pulling

up on the foot. Pull the foot to the
middle while keeping the hock toward
one side. Repeat with the other foot.
Then pull quickly but gently, again to
avoid rupturing the umbilical veins.
Upside-down These are bad,

Lauer says. When upside-down, the
calf can be forwards or backwards.
Gently get both legs into the pelvis.
Cross the limbs to try to rotate the
calf, making sure the head rotates
with it. Then pull the calf.
Transverse #1 This is when there

are four feet and a head from one
calf all presenting. Lauer says she has
better luck pushing the front legs and
head back, then delivering the calf
backward.
Transverse #2 If the spine is

presenting, gently push back on the
calf and try to get the back feet into
the pelvis or deliver via C-section.
Twins With twins, there are a lot

of possibilities, such as two legs and
a head (one leg from each calf), three
to four legs, or three to four legs and
a head. The most important step here
is to trace each body part back to
each calf. Pull one calf while gently
pushing the other calf back.
If somethings not working,
try again, Lauer says, starting with

tracing body parts back to each calf.
Rare situations Some very

uncommon deliveries are those of
malformed fetuses. Schistosomus
reflexus is when the calf developed
inside-out. It will have crooked,
immovable legs and will usually be
delivered as a fetotomy or a C-section.
A two-headed calf or conjoined
twins wont fit through the cows
pelvis. A fetotomy or C-section is the
best delivery here, she says.
Amorphus globosus is a ball of
tissue covered in skin. It is basically
a shapeless blob that should be
delivered any way possible.
Post-delivery care
Once the calf is delivered, always

check for twins or triplets, as the next
calf could be stuck too.
Look for vaginal tears that may
need to be stitched. If the cow is
not bleeding, dont worry too much,
Lauer says.
Look for excessive bleeding. If the
uterine veins ruptured, it is best to
clamp them off and leave the clamp
for two to three days, as sutures can
be difficult.
Assessing the situation and
taking the proper course of action
is the best way to deliver a live calve
and keep a live cow that maintains
her fertility. PD
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42
PD EAST MAIN
Economical ways to improve dairy heifer efficiency

Dave Lindevig for Progressive Dairyman
appeared in the PD
While growing up on a small
dairy in western Wisconsin, I was
primarily responsible for feeding the
heifers. My dad would always delegate
the poorer forage to this group
of animals and did not pay much
attention to their performance or even
balance their rations.
This practice was common on
most dairy farms at the time and
is still common today. However,
these animals are the future of the
dairy and should be considered an
investment, not an expense. Providing
heifers with quality nutrition,
including probiotics, is the most
economical for the farm in the long
term.
The main goal in raising a
replacement heifer is to get her into
the lactating group within 22 to 24
months. For every month beyond
the target calving date, the operation
is losing approximately $100. There
is also an added benefit to calving
within those dates, which is an
increase in the inventory of cows
available to the dairy. This allows for
increased lactating performance per
cow and more aggressive culling.
The target daily rate of gain
should be 1.8 to 2 pounds per day
for Holsteins and 1.3 to 1.5 pounds
per day for Jerseys. The height of
the heifer should also be monitored
since the additional fat will create
problems at freshening. The target
height should be 54 inches at the
withers for a post-calving Holstein
and 49 inches for a post-calving
Jersey.
There are a number of key
management times in the life of a
replacement dairy heifer, including
birth, vaccination, weaning,
de-worming, breeding, pregnancy
check and calving. The heifer is
challenged during each of these
situations, and as a result, her good
microbial population in the gut is
compromised.
Probiotics help her to repopulate
the lost beneficial bacteria in her
digestive system. The addition of
good microbes will help keep the
dry matter intake up during these
challenges and avoid the weight gain
slump that usually follows. Increased
dry matter intake supports the
animals immune system to ward off
disease naturally, which will save the
dairy money by decreasing the need
for antibiotics.
Since feed comprises 60 percent
of the investment in a replacement
heifer, animals need to be closely
monitored so that those not making
the targets can be separated out
and given additional nutrition.

Probiotics and enhanced nutrition
can be economically fed to get this
group back within the target range;
to administer feed changes to the
whole group would not be costeffective. Once back within the target
parameters, the heifer can be moved
back to the group.
There should also be some
attention paid to either very cold or
very hot weather conditions. During
this time, probiotics should be fed to

the entire group to mitigate some of
the challenges associated with each
extreme.
In conclusion, if the dairy
operation implements an adequate
heifer nutrition plan and monitors
the performance of their dairy
heifer program, they should see
significant improvements in profit
per cow. Probiotics can help improve
efficiencies of replacement heifers
and reduce the lag that typically

results from the daily challenges these
animals face. We have to remember
that we are microbial farmers, and if
we can feed the microbes properly,
we will see increased profits for the
operation. PD
Dave Lindevig is a national accounts
manager at Vets Plus Inc. with
more than 20 years of experience in
ruminant nutrition.
43
PD EAST MAIN
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Logistics of setting up a basic

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Refrigerator and freezer:
Refrigerators are used to hold unused

culture media plates and milk
samples not yet plated. Having a
dedicated refrigerator, with enough
space and adequate cooling capacity,
is critical. Dual-use refrigerators
in the lab area should be frowned
upon. The more times per day the
refrigerator door is opened, the
higher the chance for contamination
and temperature swings. Do not
allow employees to place food items
such as lunches and drinks in these
refrigerators, as there is ample
opportunity for food-borne disease as
well as contaminated culture media.
Freezers are used to hold samples
after plating until the cow leaves the
hospital pen in case the dairy needs
Incubator: Incubators range in

price from about $35 to more than
$500, depending on the size and
features. For dairies with less than
1,000 cows, typically a standard egg
incubator from your local farm store
will suffice. Incubators must have
an adjustable temperature control.
All incubators should have a digital
thermometer inside the chamber
that is viewable from the outside
to monitor that temperature stays
consistent and within acceptable
parameters.
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Plates/media: There are many
suppliers and many media variations

that need to be considered. Several
labs throughout the country,
including some veterinary schools,
offer culture media for sale to dairies.
While price should be evaluated, the
emphasis at the farm level should be
on quality, consistency and ease of
ordering. Be sure to order no more
plates than you anticipate using
before the expiration date on the
plates.

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Method to inoculate the media:

Inoculation means taking the milk
sample and applying it to the plate.
For on-farm culture, the main
method I see is to use sterile cotton
swabs. Most off-farm labs utilize
sterile disposable culture loops. The
advantage of loops is that they plate
a precise volume of milk onto the
media depending on the size of the
loop. Either method is acceptable.
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Plating strategies
The most basic plating strategy

for on-farm culture is the bi-plate
system. Bi-plates use Factor and
MacConkey agar, each poured into
one half of the plate. Bi-plates are
designed for basic differentiation
of no-growth, gram-negative and
gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive
bacteria are those that grow solely on
the bright red Factor media, while
gram-negative bacteria are those
that grow solely on the clear pink
MacConkey agar.
Another popular plating strategy
is to utilize the tri-plate system,
which adds a third media known as
mTKT media, which is very dark red
in color and is selective for bacteria
that are in the Streptococcus family.
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In veterinary school, students are

taught that there are three types of
cases for many diseases. Those cases
that will cure, no matter what we do;
those cases that will never cure, no
matter what we do; and those cases we
can reasonably improve the outcome
of with medical intervention. When
it comes to mastitis, it is very difficult
for the dairy industry to make the
case that we are using antibiotics
responsibly when many dairies
never even attempt to determine the
bacterial cause of the disease and into
which of the three types of cases an
individual cow falls.
Sending samples to milk quality
labs can play a role, but if the goal is
to make cow-level decisions on which
cases we can reasonably improve the
outcome on, on-farm culture often
gives us a faster result at the same or
less cost.
Giving some thought to process
flow before setting up your lab, no
matter how basic you intend it to be,
will help your dairy be successful.
The process starts with milking
technicians identifying a cow with
mastitis in the parlor. Will the
milking technicians take the sample
in the parlor at that time? On one
hand, this is probably the simplest
strategy. On the other hand, it is very
difficult to train multiple milking
technicians on how to obtain clean
milk samples, let alone sterile
samples.
Another option is to divert
those cows to a separate pen and let
the herdsman evaluate the cow and
take the sample at the next milking.
This strategy has the advantage of
requiring training for only a limited
number of herd staff on sterile milk
sampling technique, which often
leads to more accurate results. The
downside is that more cows may be
diverted from their home pen.
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PD EAST MAIN
Part of managing a dairy is being committed to doing what is necessary for each and
every cow in your care. In order to meet these challenges, the dairy industry will need
more diagnostics to improve the drug-use decisions for each individual cow.
Logistics of setting up a basic on-farm mastitis culture lab, contd from page 45
Dairies that have historically had
a high percentage of gram-positive
mastitis cases or high levels of non-ag
Streptococci on bulk tank cultures
may benefit from utilizing tri-plates.
Additionally, because the industry
recognizes that mastitis infections
caused by Streptococcus are often
hard to cure, and extended therapy
may be required to achieve acceptable
cure rates, dairies may see value by

being able to identify these mastitis
cases for separate extended protocols
in some cases.
Any plates with clear zones
around the colonies (hemolysis),
results that are confusing or from
quarters that repeatedly result in
no-growth are great candidates to be
sent to a reference lab. Plates that are
confusing or that have odd growth

can potentially be shown to the herd
veterinarian or compared against
culture manuals to get a confirmation.
If there is growth that appears
to have similar size, shape and
distribution on the plate on both the
Factor and the MacConkey, these
may be cases that also benefit from
speciation at a reference lab. Samples
from cows with repeated consecutive

no-growth results or those that do not
respond to therapy are also candidates
for further diagnostics. Herds should
be advised to continue doing bulk
tank culture surveillance to detect
the presence of pathogens like
Mycoplasma that will not grow with
traditional on-farm culture methods.
Both bi-plates and tri-plates
are intended for culturing
individual-quarter samples only.
Individual-quarter infections tend to
be caused by a single type of bacteria.
Plates that grow multiple visually
different bacterial species should be
considered contaminated samples
and are not diagnostic. More specifics
on interpreting results and milk
culturing specifics are available from
the University of Minnesota, College
of Veterinary Medicine, Lab for Udder
Health website in a free downloadable
Minnesota Easy Culture System
User Guide. (www.vdl.umn.edu/
prod/groups/cvm/@pub/@cvm/@vdl/
documents/asset/cvm_asset_453912.
pdf)
The reality is that we are in the
midst of an age of increased scrutiny
of our dairy practices. The calls to
make more responsible use of our
antibiotic resources are not going
to go away. It is not acceptable or
defendable anymore to say that your
dairy chooses to treat all cows or
no cows out of convenience. Part of
managing a dairy is being committed
to doing what is necessary for each
and every cow in your care. In order
to meet these challenges, the dairy
industry will need more diagnostics
to improve the drug use decisions for
each individual cow. On-farm culture
can be a key piece of helping to meet
that challenge. PD
Brandon Treichler
Quality Control Veterinarian
Select Milk Producers
qmlkdoc@gmail.com
46
PD EAST MAIN
How milk testing has advanced and what it means

at the individual farm level
Sherry Bunting for Progressive Dairyman
appeared in the PD
Until a few years ago, milk testing
at Consolidated Lab Services LLC was
done by pipette with glass petri dishes
and bottles. Samples were analyzed
and recorded manually. Results took
time, and tracking down individual
farm results meant sorting through
paperwork.
Today, sophisticated automated
scanning processes are used from
start to finish, and the results are
entered seamlessly with bar-code
identification for easy access, retrieval
and trace-back.
Young dairy producers from
Kentucky recently visited the lab in
Knoxville, Tennessee, and saw coolers
stacked high from dairy plants in a
variety of states and as far away as
Pennsylvania and Texas. Coolers
arrive at the lab via an impressive
pony express style system of
couriers. The state- and FDA-certified,
DFA-owned lab provides milk-testing
services for multiple states and
represents the consolidation of 13
prior labs into the Southeasts first
regional lab.
Meanwhile, the advancements in
technology allow technicians to do
more with less running up to 420
samples per hour through scanners
that are calibrated at the beginning
of each day. This progress expands
capabilities with the regular 5-cc bulk
tank milk sample, and for other testing
options with additional bulk tank and
individual cow milk samples, water
and blood samples that a producer
sends in with the milk hauler.
The SNAP test for antibiotics, for
example, helps get a producer back
on the market more quickly after a
positive test at the plant.
The Consolidated Lab Services was an eye-opener for Kentucky producers. The elaborate pony express
style courier system brings samples from across the Southeast and as far north as Pennsylvania and west
as East Texas. Photo by Sherry Bunting.
Theres no comparison in the
amount of information members can
get today versus before, and in the
turnaround time for test results,
says area manager Bob Shipley. The
Knoxville lab is far ahead of the
in-plant testing, getting bacteria
counts in 24 hours versus the two to
three days it takes for plant tests to
come in. This means a problem can be
found, followed up and remediated at
the farm level more quickly than ever
before.
What to know to get the most out

of regular lab tests
The regular lab results include a
wealth of information, not just from

a regulatory standpoint, but also as
herd management indicators. On the
components side, every shipment of
milk will have its sample tested for
butterfat, protein, free fatty acids,
solids non-fat, other solids, lactose
and milk urea nitrogen (MUN).
On the milk quality side, somatic
cell count (SCC) and freezing point
are also done on every sample. The
freezing point detects if water has
been added to the milk sample, and
the SCC is used in determining milk
premiums and discounts, but it is also
used as a herd management tool for
indicating mastitis infection at the
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Other required tests include the
antibiotics test using SNAP, CHARM
and Delvo. Consolidated Lab Services
does this with every sample, but can
also do them by request on individual
cow samples sent along with the milk
hauler to check that antibiotics have
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producers are doing this today as
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Four times a month, tests are
done on the milk samples to monitor
bacteria counts. The PI test is an
estimate of the number of cold-loving
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PD EAST MAIN
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State-of-the-art equipment enables precise testing at Consolidated Lab Services, Knoxville, Tennessee.
While plants like Borden do an eight-minute rapid bacteria test, milk samples are sent to the lab for
components and cultures. Photo by Sherry Bunting.
How milk testing has advanced and what it means at the individual farm level,
contd from page 47
bacteria in the milk. There is no legal
limit, but the average range is 1,000 to
20,000, and producer pay is affected
by the results because the amount of
bacteria in the milk affects the shelf
life even after pasteurization.
Standard plate count (SPC) is also
done four times a month to estimate
the total number of viable aerobic
bacteria present in raw milk. The legal
limit is below 100,000, but averages
run 1,000 to 10,000. These levels also
affect producer pay below the legal
limit because of the effect on milk
quality.
In addition, the lab does testing
for:
Lab pasteurized counts to

determine the amount of
bacteria present after pasteurization.
This is run whenever a plant shows a
bump in counts so that the affected
member farm can be identified
quickly and the problem handled to
prevent further market losses for

discarded milk.
2
3
4
Sediment
Coliforms that would indicate
unsanitary conditions
Direct microscopic bacteria
counts by visual inspection
under a microscope
Culture tests on both bulk tank

and individual cow samples for
Staph. aureus, Staph. sp., Strep. ag.,
strep. non-ag., coliforms,
pseudomonas, pasteurella, candida
and prototheca
6
7
8
Mycoplasma, Johnes and BVDV

Pregnancy testing via milk or
blood
Aflatoxin
When collecting individual

cow milk samples to send with the
milk hauler, here are a few things to
remember:
Wear gloves.
Forestrip and pre-dip and be sure
the teat end is dried with a clean cloth

or single-service towel. Then scrub the
teat end with alcohol until no dirt is
visible on the pad or cotton ball.
Prep the furthest teats first to avoid

cross contamination.
Carefully open the vial without

touching the lip and begin first
sampling the teats closest to you.
Fill the vial to the ridged line and

cool immediately. PD
Sherry Bunting is a freelance writer
based in East Earl, Pennsylvania.
PIONEER BRAND NUTRIVAIL

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2015 PHII. DUPPFO15043_VD_092815_PD
49
PD EAST MAIN
Proper nutrition and management of transition dairy cows

Contributed by Meghan Grone, Lauren Mayo, Derek Nolan and Donna M. Amaral-Phillips
The transition period is
extremely important in determining
future health, milk production and
reproductive success of the dairy
cow. This period is from three weeks
before calving to three weeks after
calving as the cow transitions from
the dry period to the milking herd.
It is easy to set dry cows aside
and deem them unimportant in their
resting phase until they become the
money makers during lactation;
however, maintaining proper rations
and management practices before

calving are critical to how well the
cow performs in the first 60 days of
lactation. A cows next lactation begins
at dry-off and not at calving. Cows in
each phase have different requirements
and following these simple guidelines
can greatly improve profitability.
Far-off dry cows
Although far-off dry cows are

not included in the transition phase,
it is important to set the stage
right for these cows before they

make that transition back into the
milking herd. The key is to maintain
a balanced diet with adequate but
not excessive energy. Here are a few
recommendations to successfully
manage your far-off dry cows:
Diets are recommended to contain

about 0.6 to 0.63 Mcal NE per pound
of dry matter.
To provide minimal but adequate
energy, feed wheat straw or high

neutral detergent fiber grass hay along
with the proper amount of corn silage
and grain.
To prevent impaired immune

function, add appropriate amounts of
trace minerals and vitamins, such as
selenium (0.3 ppm in total diet) and
vitamin E (1,000 IU per day for dry
cows and 500 IU per day for lactating
cows) to the grain mix.
Provide at least 12 percent crude

protein in the diet.
The body condition scores (BCS)

throughout the dry period should be
from 3 to 3.25 on a scale of 1 to 5.
Offer plenty of heat abatement to

minimize heat stress. Shade trees
work well as long as areas are rotated
to prevent bacteria from multiplying
in the damp or dry soil below trees.
Prevent dry cows from

congregating in areas of the field
for too long and creating mud holes
where bacteria can multiply.
Close-up dry cows
Within three weeks of

calving, a cows immune system
becomes depressed. Also, at this
time maintaining dry matter
intake is very important. Nutrient
requirements of the fetus continue
to increase three weeks prepartum,
yet dry matter intake decreases by 10
to 30 percent.
Maintaining feed intake prior
to calving can impact feed intake
after calving when energy demands
are high and the amount of feed
consumed directly correlates to
milk production. Overconditioned
cows, however, can lead to issues.
Dairy cows that are overconditioned
(BCS greater than 3.5) in the last
three weeks of gestation have a
much greater depression in feed
intake in the period immediately
pre-calving when compared to cows
with lower BCS scores. Here are a
few recommendations in order to
successfully manage your close-up
dry cows:
Feeding a low-potassium diet with
appropriate amounts of anionic salts

can reduce the chances of developing
clinical and subclinical milk fever.
Check urine pH to predict the
calcium status of cows at calving
and monitor the effectiveness of an
anionic ration.
Provide enough forage to fill the

rumen and encourage cud chewing (5
to 6 pounds of long-stem hay or straw
per cow).
Keep the cows eating before

calving.
50
PD EAST MAIN
To minimize competition, provide
feedbunk space of at least 36 inches

per cow with post-and-rail feedbunks
and 30 inches with headlocks.
To reduce stress, stocking rate

should be near 80 percent in freestall
barns and stalls should have the
dimensions to accommodate
close-up dry cows. For compost
bedded pack barns, 120 square feet is
recommended per cow.
Body condition score should still

be from 3 to 3.25 on a scale of 1 to 5.
Minimize heat stress by using

fans and sprinklers. Fans should run
continuously while sprinklers are
repeatedly turned on for 2 minutes
and off for 10 minutes.
Transfer cows into the close-up

pen in groups once weekly.
The inclusion of feed additives

like rumensin, yeast or protected
choline is good to provide nutrients
for the mammary gland and prevent
metabolic disorders.
Since cows have a depressed
immune system at this time and will

soon be calving, it is important to
keep a clean and dry environment to
prevent illness.
Fresh cows
After calving is a critical time

period for dairy cows. They are in a
negative energy balance because they
are using the majority of their energy
to produce milk and cannot consume
enough feed to provide the energy
they need. It is essential to provide as
much energy to the cows as possible
with adequate but not excessive
effective fiber. Also make sure that
they are consuming the feed, not
sorting, and they are chewing their
cud.
Management practices which aim
to optimize dry matter intake increase
the energy density of the diets without
sacrificing rumen function. The diet
of most dairy cows changes sharply
at calving from being mainly foragebased to more concentrate-rich diets.
This is to provide optimal energy to
the cow during their time of need and
prevent them from having metabolic
or reproductive issues. Studies have
shown that cows with the lowest
energy balance before and within the
first 15 days after calving have delayed
ovulations.
Monitor cows frequently to make

sure theyre eating and for metabolic
issues.
Do not house fresh cows with sick

cows.
Maintain a clean environment in

order to prevent mastitis.
Provide heat abatement to

minimize heat stress.
Continue to minimize
competition at the feedbunk by
providing a minimum of 30 inches
per cow.
The stocking rate should be near

80 percent in freestalls.
Corn silage-based diets should

be supplemented with dry ground
corn versus more fermentable starch
sources such as barley, wheat or
high-moisture earlage or corn.
Provide constant amount of fresh

feed with appropriate feed additives
to provide nutrients, push up feed to
encourage increased feed intake and
clean the feedbunk once a day.
Take-home message
Properly managing transition

cows can greatly improve their
all-around performance in
subsequent lactations. Special care
for cows making the transition into
the milking herd can translate into
4 to 5 pounds more milk at peak
production.
Paying close attention to far-off
dry cows as well can set the stage for

successful calving and lactation in
the future. Close-up dry cows must
be encouraged to maintain feed
intake to provide adequate nutrients
and prepare them for calving. Fresh
cows must be housed in a dry,
clean environment and consume as
much energy as possible in order to
lessen the degree of negative energy
balance theyre in.
Balancing nutrients at all stages
and keeping cows in the proper body
condition can not only improve
performance but minimize chances
of metabolic disorders. Following
these management rules can
improve peak milk production to
equal 1,000 to 2,000 pounds more
milk over the entire lactation or
$180 to $520 more milk revenue per
lactation. PD
Meghan Grone was a student at the
University of Kentucky at the time
this article was written. Lauren
Mayo is a student at the University of
Kentucky. Derek Nolan is a graduate
research assistant and Donna
Amaral-Phillips is an extension
dairy nutritionist. Both are with the
University of Kentucky. Email Donna
at damaral@uky.edu
Excerpts from Kentucky Dairy
Notes, July 2014
We are baling the hay that we conditioned

with the new Circle C conditioning rolls
today. And we are impressed. We have gone
from a drydown time of 5 days last year
with the old Hesston rolls to 2 days this year,
and way more even curing of the stems. We
have never put up nicer mixed alfalfa hay!
Thank you for this terrific innovation!
Dave Foat Farms
Cremona, Alberta, Canada
51
PD EAST MAIN
Preventing milk fever with anionic salts

Contributed by Noelia Silva-del-Rio
Cows transitioning from the dry
cow pen to the fresh pen are subject
to a large calcium demand in order to
synthesize and secrete colostrum and
milk. If calcium demand exceeds the
calcium available in plasma, cows may
end up suffering from milk fever, also
known as hypocalcemia. Results from
the 2002 National Animal Health
Monitoring System (NAHMS) survey
indicated that clinical hypocalcemia
incidence in U.S. herds was 5 percent,
and subclinical hypocalcemia was 25
percent for primiparous cows and 41
percent to 54 percent for multiparous
cows.
There are important physiological
consequences of hypocalcemia,
as calcium is essential for muscle
contraction as well as immune
function. Clinical hypocalcemia
has been associated with dystocia,
uterine prolapse, retained placenta,
endometritis, compromised fertility,
mastitis and reduced rumen and
abomasum motility. Similarly, cows
with subclinical hypocalcemia have
a greater risk for metritis, displaced
abomasum and culling.
In order to reduce the incidence of
clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia,
some dairies may benefit from feeding
anionic salts during the close-up
period. The principle behind feeding
anionic salts is to acidify the dry

cow diet to modify the electrical
charge of the blood. Under metabolic
alkalosis (positively charged blood),
the conformation of the parathyroid
hormone (PTH) receptors changes,
rendering them nonfunctional. As a
result, the cow is unable to mobilize
calcium from bone to meet the
demands of lactation.
The most common cations
(positively charged electrolytes) found
in feed are sodium (Na+), potassium
(K+), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium
(Mg2+), while the most common
anions (electrolytes negatively
charged) are chloride (Cl-), sulfate
(SO42-) and phosphate (PO43-). A
typical dry cow ration formulated with
forages and concentrates will always
have a positive DCAD. Adding anionic
salts are the only means of achieving
a negative DCAD. However, anionic
salts are expensive, unpalatable and
represent an environmental concern.
Their inclusion in the ration should be
kept to a minimum.
The level of anionic salts

necessary to sufficiently acidify the
diet is going to be determined by
the DCAD of the dry cow diet. Most
nutritionists adjust the level of anionic
salts to reach a DCAD of about -50
to -150 mEq per kg. A sample of the
close-up ration, before adding anionic
salts, should be sent to a lab for
macrominerals analysis to determine
the DCAD. For better results, it is
recommended to use a lab that offers
wet chemistry techniques.
Reduce DCAD of the dry cow

diet through formulation before
adding anionic salts.
Considerations when feeding

anionic salts
Alfalfa included in close-up diets

should be low-potassium alfalfa or
DCAD alfalfa. This alfalfa is grown
under restricted potassium soil
amendments to avoid extra uptake
of potassium by the plant. Also, the
combination of low-potassium alfalfa
and corn silage should be considered
as the forage base for the dry cow
ration. This approach will minimize
the dose of anionic salts necessary to
acidify the diet.
Determine the DCAD of the dry

cow diet before adding anionic
salts.
Evaluate the DCAD program.

The success of a DCAD program
Noelia Silva-del-Rio
Dairy Adviser
University of California
Cooperative Extension
nsilvadelrio@ucdavis.edu
can be easily evaluated by monitoring

urinary pH. In Holstein cows, urinary
pH values should be between 6.2 and
6.8, and for Jerseys between 5.8 to
6.3. If the urine fails to be acidified,
evaluate if the inclusion rate of anionic
salts in the diet is adequate and if the
preparation and delivery of the ration
is done properly. PD
Excerpts from California Dairy
newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 1 January 2014
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PD EAST MAIN
In this business, attitude

really is everything.
5 Things I Cant Do My Job Without Featuring Pagels

Ponderosa Dairy
Progressive Dairyman Editor Peggy Coffeen
Transition stress can give your cows more than a bad mood. When they go off feed, they run a high
risk of nutrient deficiency, which can cause larger problems like subclinical ketosis or even culling.
Catosal is the only prescription product approved to prevent and treat phosphorus and B12
deficiencies, helping you fight problems before they start.
Before a tough transition gets even tougher, talk to your veterinarian about Catosal.
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PD EAST MAIN
Featuring Pagels Ponderosa Dairy

Progressive Dairyman Editor Peggy Coffeen
Our no cow left behind philosophy. A timed-A.I. program can
only be successful with rock-solid compliance. Synchronizing
cows, as well as the breeding and vet check list, have to be found
and tended to on the correct day. The team is committed to
making this happen on every cow.
I cant do without
The bar for reproductive performance is set high at Pagels Ponderosa of
Casco, Wisconsin, but a skilled and reliable team take it to the next level.
According to the dairys herd manager, Chris Szydel, the 5,800-cow herd
averages a 21-day pregnancy rate of 34 percent, conception rate of 50 percent
and a heat detection rate of 67 percent using tail chalking. These impressive
numbers are achieved with a voluntary waiting period of 64 days.
The teams success would not be possible without the right players. We
are very fortunate to have a great group of guys, Szydel says. We hand-picked
everybody on our team.
Their synergy is demonstrated every two weeks on breeding day. Starting
in the early morning hours, six trained breeders service nearly 400 cows before
noon. Afterward, the team sits down for a group discussion to review how
things went.
Szydel also credits Dr. Don Niles leadership in achieving a high level of
reproductive success. Niles, a veterinarian, establishes strategies, protocols and
management practices for Pagels Ponderosa, as well as Dairy Dreams LLC, a
separate dairy that he owns in partnership with the John Pagel family.
Don organizes the breeding program, Szydel says. Our job is to
implement it and make sure every cow gets the attention she needs.
The dairys reproduction team shares what they feel are the five keys
essential for success:
Cooperation and teamwork are exemplified at Pagels Ponderosa

Dairy. On their biweekly breeding day, this handpicked team works
together seamlessly to service around 400 cows.
From left to right: Cosme Mendez, Lalo Rodriguez, Alfredo Reyna,
Santos Rodriguez, Chris Szydel, J.J. Pagel, Ryan Schultz, Chris
Kinnard (Genex) and Alfredo Rodriguez. Photo by Peggy Coffeen.
54
A finely trained team with mutual support for all. We focus

on cooperation over competition. We also work closely with
our breeding company, Genex. Every three to four months,
they come out to check protocols like gun loading and semen
handling.
It takes a village to make a pregnancy. All technicians are proud
to look at the herd check results. However, here it is understood
that the credit for a pregnancy goes far beyond that. It is shared
not just with the technician who bred her, but also with the
team members who tended to her calving, gave her vaccines at
the correct time, milked her safely and cleanly, and delivered all
other aspects of proper cow care.
Make a plan and stick with it. The total breeding program needs
to be laid out as a plan that all can adhere to. Decisions as to how
different conditions are handled should be planned out ahead,
not made at cow-side in the heat of the moment.
Assemble your own dream team. There is a tremendous amount
of new research and information available on dairy reproduction.
Assemble a team of advisors from the A.I. industry, along
with your veterinary service and other professionals whose
knowledge, enthusiasm and passion match your own. Put
them to work fine-tuning your program and then follow your
plan. Our team also benefits from meeting with our breeding
company every six months to evaluate herd performance and
genetics. PD
PD EAST MAIN
5 criteria for breeding robot-ready cows

Jean-Dominic Caron for Progressive Dairyman
Robotic milking has established
itself more and more across the
country to the detriment of tiestall
barns. Although this milking and
herd management method provides
several advantages, it also requires
producers to adapt their level of
management and choice of bulls in
order to achieve success.
What should be the criteria to
prioritize for choosing a bull when
using robotics? As Shakespeare once
said, That is the question
For myself, whether using robot

milkers or not, when the time
comes to select a bull, the first
criterion for a breeder should be
somatic cell count and resistance to
mastitis. Never use bulls with an
index greater than 3 for proven sires
and 2.85 for genomic sires (in order to
leave you a margin). The cost of
mastitis (treatment, lost milk,
additional work, etc.) and the risks of
recurrence, as well as the risks of
contaminating the bulk tank with
antibiotics, should be enough reason
to convince you to avoid using these
bulls even if their conformation is
generally good.
In my opinion, feet and legs are

the next priority. Good heel
depth should help prevent hoof

infections. Along these same lines, a
good rear-leg rear view should favor
connecting the robot milker by
avoiding pressure from the rear legs
on the rear udder in order for the
milker to cling to the cows teats in
the middle or toward the end of
milking.
In my previous point, I
discussed connection
difficulties, which leads me to talk
about my fourth point: milking
speed. Given that a robot has a limit
related to the number of cows that it
can milk in a day, one of the ways to
increase its productivity is to supply
it with cows that are quick to milk.
Another important criterion is

the mammary system. Sceptics
would be amazed at the robot
milkers ability to connect to a poor
udder. Attention in udder selection
should focus especially on teat
position and length. Therefore, it is
important to work to have teats that
are not too long or too short, as well
as in an adequate position that
appears to be not too pushed to the
back or too far in the front.
However, my expertise has led me to
observe that one of the major
reasons related to problems with
connecting cows to the robot milker
is the difficulty in seeing the rear
teats due to a lower inverted udder.
Unfortunately, the industry provides
very little or no data about bulls on
this subject. More emphasis will
surely be placed on this in the
coming years with the increase in
popularity of robot use.
The last criterion I would like to

share with you is temperament.
There is a difference between an
aggressive cow at the feeder and a
stressed cow. We want to have calm
cows at the robot milker and
aggressive ones at the feeder not
stressed cows that hold in their milk
and try to pass between two stalls
when they encounter another
individual. For comparison
purposes, sports enthusiasts like
players with character (aggressive);
nonetheless, it is deplorable when
they take stupid penalties.
Finally, these factors are, in
my opinion, the keys to success in
terms of genetics when using robot
milkers. Dont forget the best cows
with robots are the ones that we
dont see. They dont fail to connect
or need mastitis attention, and
they are never in the group that is
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PD EAST MAIN
Nutrigenomics: Understand B vitamins to improve reproduction

Hlne Leclerc for Progressive Dairyman
Even if cows consume an
increased amount of dry matter,
meeting the early lactation nutrient
needs of high-producing dairy cows is
a big challenge. The transition period
is, more than ever, a critical period.
The strong selection for milk
production has led to an increased
incidence of metabolic diseases
around the calving period, which
leads to impaired reproduction. This
translates into a very high culling rate
in most herds, as reproduction is the
largest reason for involuntary culling
(Table 1). Average reproductive
performance of dairy herds is very
low (Table 2) and very costly for
producers. Each extra day open may
represent a loss of $4 per day, and a
1 percent decrease of pregnancy rate
will represent $17 when pregnancy
rate is low.
Although the overall management
of cows is critical, this article will
concentrate on nutrition and its
essential role, as feed accounts for
more than 50 percent of production
costs.
The essential role

of micronutrients
For decades, we have

concentrated on macro-nutrition,
energy, protein and macrominerals.
We never anticipated that trace
elements such as selenium, copper,
zinc, manganese, fat-soluble vitamins
like A, D and E, and water-soluble
vitamins such as choline, folic acid,
riboflavin and others could have such
an impact on the overall metabolism
of carbohydrates, fats and protein.
It has since been discovered that B
vitamins specifically have an impact
on immune function during transition
and are involved in the expression
of certain genes necessary for the
regulation of metabolic processes and
reproduction (nutrigenomics).
Recent research on B vitamins
Important pieces of research have

created new perspective for nutrition
during the transition and lactation

periods. It has been proven that B
vitamins are very much degraded
in the rumen, which justifies their
protection when added in feed.
Choline, folic acid and B12
play a very significant role in the
reduction of liver fat infiltration,
caused by tissue mobilization during
the transition period. Folic acid
and B12 improve energy balance
by reducing the cows mobilization
of fat tissues and reducing days to
first breeding. Oxidative stress has
a negative impact on the immune
system and reproductive ability of
the cow. Riboflavin has an important
enzyme co-factor role, which helps
reduce oxidative stress. Protected
B vitamins, including folic acid,
riboflavin and choline, fed during
the transition period improved dry
matter intake before calving and
reduced BHB levels in blood, leading
to fewer metabolic disorders and
improved reproduction. A blend of
protected B vitamins containing
folic acid, biotin, pantothenic
acid, pyridoxine and vitamin B12
improved first service per conception
by 13 percent and reduced culling
rate.
Nutrigenomics and B vitamins
Nutrigenomics is a new tool to

optimize health, reproduction and
productive performance of dairy
cows. It is now recognized that
animals perform differently with
specific diets and that nutrients
have the ability to interact with
the animals genome. Nutrients are
now considered as well as signaling
molecules and can control gene
expression.
With this new approach, it is
possible to evaluate the effect of
specific nutrients like B vitamins
at the cellular or organ level. This
enables a better understanding
of the mode of action of specific
nutrients on the metabolism of the
animal. In fact, recent research
Table 1
Top reasons for culling
Average culling rate
38%
Involuntary culling
>75%
Reasons
Table 2
Reproduction
problems
20.3%
Mastitis
12.4%
Lameness
8.5%
Average reproductive performance

on dairy herds
Pregnancy rate
(%)
Insemination
rate (%)
Conception
rate (%)
Days open
15
42
39
132
using nutrigenomics has shown that

folic acid and vitamin B12 affected
the expression of specific genes
and could regulate both follicular
development and ovulation processes
in dairy cows. The dominant follicle
was larger, and results implied that
the follicle was preparing earlier for
ovulation.
Producers face real challenges
when dealing with metabolic diseases
around calving and their resulting
problems, like decreased reproduction
and reduced longevity, to name a
few. B vitamins are now known to
play a critical role in some essential
functions, including reproduction.
The better understanding of their
specific mode of action, and the
opportunity to supplement in the
diet under a rumen-protected form,
creates new nutritional solutions
to solve problematic situations that
are often assumed and accepted as
normal. PD
Hlne Leclerc
Technical Support and
R&D Ruminant Nutrition
Jefo
hleclerc@jefo.ca

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PD EAST MAIN
Getting cows bred: How three dairies get it done

Stephanie Skernivitz for Progressive Dairyman
Confirming more than 40
percent of cows pregnant from the
first service and conception rates
nearing 30 percent dont just happen;
these are the result of meticulous
management, protocol adherence
and teamwork.
Three different dairy managers
from across the country who have
blown past these benchmarks
divulge what they are doing to
achieve successful reproduction
programs.
Walnutdale Farm
By moving heifers into breeding pens sooner, Walnutdale

Dairy is able to observe and track heats prior to first A.I.,
and the animals adjust better to their new group and
headlocks. These changes have contributed to reducing
the use of CIDRs on heifers. Photo provided by Walnutdale Farm.
58
Aubrey (Lettinga) Van Lann

is the herd manager at Walnutdale
Farm in Wayland, Michigan.
If our cows do not get pregnant
in the early stage of their lactation,
it is very costly to our operation,
she says. We keep a very close
watch on our conception rates of
technicians and of the different sires
we use, along with the pregnancy
rate of our herd, to know if we have
any problems in our management of
reproduction or problems in our dry
and fresh cow practices.
Their 1,500-cow Holstein herd
maintains a pregnancy rate of 29
percent and first-service conception
rate of 44 percent. Their second
farm, Bre View Jerseys in Caledonia,
Michigan, performs well too. The
pregnancy rate for 520 milking cows
is also 29 percent. Cows are bred to
sexed semen on first service, with a
conception rate of 33 percent; those
that repeat receive conventional
semen, with 47 percent settling on
the second service.
The dairy has hit these numbers
by starting cows off with a Presynch
program. Lettinga relies on their
breeding technician to tail-chalk
cows in the breeding pens daily. All
cows receive their first A.I. service by

75 days in milk.
Cows are ultrasounded by an
on-farm employee at 29 days, then
checked again at 70 days. Those that
are open at pregnancy check are
enrolled in OvSynch that day and
rebred the following week. The dairy
also uses milk pregnancy testing to
verify the status of cows that are in
pens without headlocks.
Lettinga has focused recent
efforts on improving the heifer
breeding program. We were having
problems getting heifers into the A.I.
pens and getting them bred quickly,
she notes.
The protocol included breeding
heifers off of standing heat after a
prostaglandin (PGF) shot. Those that
didnt show heat after a second shot
received a CIDR.
We had too many heifers not
getting bred off [the shot] and a large
number of them needing a CIDR,
she says. We made changes with our
technicians, which included better
heat observations by marking the
heifers that got [a shot] that week.
They also tweaked their
management by moving heifers
into breeding pens at around
350 days. This allows Lettinga to
observe and record early heats while
giving heifers time to adjust to the
headlocks and the pen change prior
to breeding at 417 days for Holsteins
and 390 days for Jerseys. She also
took a closer look at the ration,
as well as the growth rate of the
animals, tracking both height and
weight for optimal breeding time.
This attention to detail has paid off.
Now, CIDRs are rarely used.
Ayers Farms Inc.
Jesse Ayers, part family owner
PD EAST MAIN
at Ayers Farms Inc. of Perrysville,

Ohio, manages the reproduction
program for the 695-cow herd.
He relies predominantly on a
shot protocol to achieve a 21-day
pregnancy rate of 32 to 35 percent
with first-service conception rate of
58 percent.
About 97 to 98 percent are
synchronized with basically no heat
detection; we breed a few natural
heats normally on synchronized
breeding days, Ayers says. We only
chalk on the last PGF shot, and it
is done to speed up finding cows at
breeding time.
Just over a year ago, Ayers
changed the shot protocol to
increase first-service conception.
Now, on first service, Ayers uses
the PG-3-G protocol for cows and a
slightly modified version (PG-4-G)
for 2-year-old heifers, as opposed
to the PreSynch-14-14 protocol in
the past. He has also lengthened the
VWP from 62 to 69 days, which has
helped in hitting the goal of more
cows pregnant at first service.
Cows are ultrasounded for
pregnancy at the following days postbreeding: 39, 74 and 165. Open cows
with a functional corpus luteum (CL)
then get PGF. Those with no CL get
a second shot of GNRH and are bred
the next week.
GENEX
IS
ALL
IN
TO SERVE YOU!
Dutch Road Dairy
Matthew and Nancy Beckerink

own Dutch Road Dairy of Muleshoe,
Texas. The reproduction program
for the 2,300-cow herd is managed
by Raoul Arce and his assistant
manager, Pedro Rodriguez. Making
reproduction a priority has paid off
with a pregnancy rate averaging
26 to 31 percent and a first-service
conception rate at 45 percent.
Their plan for success includes
monitoring heats by spray painting
tail heads every morning and
employing PreSynch and ReSynch
protocols for the past 10 years. They
also work closely with their breeding
company to train and retrain
employees. Quarterly reproductive
performance reviews also help to
keep the team motivated and on
target.
The biggest reproductive
challenges these dairy producers of
the High Plains face is heat stress.
On the dairy herd, in the
summer we might make a few
changes, since we get really hot
weather in July and August. We
struggle reproduction-wise then.
So we adjust and might change up
our PreSynch program by including
an additional shot, Beckerink
says. Cows are only locked up for
heat detection and breeding in the
morning while it is cooler. PD
INTEGRIT Y / LEADERSHIP / QUALIT Y

PEOPLE / Your Professional Genex Team
GENETICS / Conventional, GenChoice , Beef
PRODUCTS / A.I. Supplies, Herd Management Products, Life Event Supplements
TRAINING / Bilingual A.I. and Heat Detection Training, A.I. AccuCheck Repro Evaluations
SUPPORT / Genetic Specialists, Technical Consultants, Product Advisors
PLANNING / Calf Math , MPG Sire Sorting, Sort-Gate Female Indexing
Stephanie Skernivitz is a freelance

writer in Berea, Ohio.
2015 CRI
A-10550-15
59
PD EAST MAIN
Figure 1
Figure 2
NM$ trend for AI sires by year of birth
600
PTA daughter pregnancy rate by year of birth
500
2.5
400
2
Daughter pregnancy rate
300
200
100
0
-100
-200
-300
1.5
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-400
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
Year of birth
Year of birth
Holstein
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
-1
1990
-500
Jersey
Holstein
Jersey
Using genetic data to make decisions for the future

Robert Fourdraine for Progressive Dairyman
Precision agriculture has become
a common term in agriculture. It
was originally associated with crop
farming and found its roots with the
use of harvest equipment that had
the ability to measure crop yields by
location. Another application was
the use of planters equipped to track
locations in the field and combine
this with information about the soil,
thus directing the amount of seed to
be applied. The principle of precision
agriculture is driven by the practice of
optimizing your inputs and outputs to
maximize your returns.
Now precision agriculture has
made its way to the dairy industry as
well. From robotic milking systems
to animal monitoring systems, we
can collect vast amounts of data and
use that information to make more
informed decisions than ever before.
Precision agriculture exists
in the field of animal genetics

as well. Producers can receive
an array of genetic information
on newborn calves by simply
collecting a blood or hair sample
and performing a genomic test. The
information returned can be used
to make replacement and breeding
decisions. Genetic deficiencies can
be determined early and taken
into account when making mating
decisions. In a prior Progressive
Dairyman article, we reviewed
trends of several genetic traits: the
use of sexed semen and returns from
genomic testing.
The rate of adoption of precision
agriculture technologies has been
quite astounding. We will take a
look at the latest trends and changes
in genetics and review some tools
producers can utilize to assess genetic
progress within their own herds.
A successful genetic management

program is based on having good analysis
information available, and it all starts with
accurate identification of the animal itself as
well as the sire and dam of the animal.
Genetic trends
Figure 1 shows the Lifetime

Net Merit Index (NM$) trend for
Holsteins and Jerseys. Until 2012,
the trend was very similar for
Holstein and Jersey service sires.
In recent years, the rate of NM$
improvement in Holstein service sires
has increased compared to Jerseys.
When comparing A.I. sires born in
2010 to those born 10 years earlier,
the amount of genetic progress in
a decade using NM$ is $292 for
Holsteins and $272 for Jerseys. When
comparing A.I. sires born in 2015

with those born in 2005, the 10-year
difference has grown to $482 for
Holstein sires and $367 for Jerseys.
Based on these numbers, the rate of
genetic improvement for these breeds
grew by 65 percent and 35 percent,
respectively.
On the cow side, data shows
there has been a change in genetic
improvement in individual traits.
The Holstein breed has seen a greater
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60
PD EAST MAIN
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61
PD EAST MAIN
THANKS TO THESE
GENEROUS CORPORATE
SPONSORS:
Bunge North America
Crop Production
Services
Using genetic data to make decisions for the future,

contd from page 60
improvement in production traits,
especially PTA Fat. For Jerseys the
improvement, in recent years, has
leveled off.
One of the more interesting
observations is the difference in
PTA Daughter Pregnancy Rate
(DPR) (Figure 2, page 60). Initially,
Figure 3
Agrium Inc.
the Holstein breed had lower PTA

DPR compared to the Jersey breed.
However, in 2003, the trend was
reversed and Holstein PTA DPR
started improving. For Jerseys, the
PTA DPR values have continued to
decline to a negative PTA DPR for
animals born in 2015.
Inbreeding percent by year of birth
Farm Credit
2.5
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
niver
An
1995
20t
h
how you, your organization or your community
The Mosaic Company
ry
sa
Its easy to get involved. Contact us to find out
3.5
Monsanto Company
training to make farm, ranch and rural life safer

and healthier for children and their communities.
1994
our common mission: providing education and
John Deere
5
4.5
1993
Day program. Theyre doing their part to realize
CHS & CHS Foundation
1992
to support the Progressive Agriculture Safety
5.5
1991
sponsor organizations have been getting together
1990
Since 1995, dedicated volunteers and generous
6.5
Archer Daniels
Midland Company
Inbreeding %
Progressive by Nature.
Safety by Design.
Year of birth
Holstein
Jersey
can join the effort to make that vision a reality at

1-888-257-3529 or www.progressiveag.org.
2015
Inbreeding trend
active cows and youngstock
Figure 4
2015 Progressive Agriculture Foundation
7
5.8
4.9
5.3
2006
2007
5.6
6.4
6.1
5.8
5.7
6.6
6.6
5
4
Percent
4
3
2
1
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2005
2004
Year of birth
Inbreeding %
Figure 5
Genetic inbreeding %
Holstein avg. inbreeding
Future genetics in the herd

PTA PROD LIFE/DPR
Prod life
DPR
6.00
2.5
5.00
2.0
4.00
1.5
3.00
1.0
2.00
Your herd
PTA DPR
PTA PL
62
4/15
3/15
2/15
1/15
12/14
11/14
10/14
9/14
8/14
7/14
6/14
5/14
4/14
3/14
2/14
1/14
12/13
11/13
10/13
9/13
8/13
0.0
7/13
0.00
6/13
0.5
5/13
1.00
AgSource Holstein breed 80th percentile

PTA DPR
PTA PL
PD EAST MAIN
Producers have expressed

concern over the increasing amount
of inbreeding. Figure 3 shows that
Holstein calves born this year are
averaging 6.72 percent. Based on the
trend for the recent three years, the
breed is on track to average more
than 7 percent in 2016. The Jersey
inbreeding percent leveled off and
is currently just slightly below the
Holstein level.
Use of sexed semen
Sexed semen added another

management tool for producers.
Producers can use parent averages or
genomic test results to select the top
animals in the herd and use sexed
semen to improve the genetics of
the next generation while providing
enough replacement animals to
increase the voluntary culling rates.
The percent use of sexed semen in
Holsteins and Jerseys has rapidly
increased. After an initial increase,
Holstein usage leveled off with around
10 to 15 percent of the offspring
resulting from sexed semen. Jersey
usage, however, has continued to
increase. Currently, a little more than
45 percent of Jersey offspring are the
result of sexed semen.
Using breeding records reported
in 2014, the amount of sexed semen
used in Holstein heifers in the past
two years represents 39 percent of
breedings, while for Jerseys it is 58
percent. For first-lactation animals, the
numbers are 3 percent and 33 percent,
respectively. For second-and- olderlactation cows, sexed semen usage is
2 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
The number of reported breedings
to A.I. beef cattle was 1.5 percent;
however, the actual number may be
higher because breedings to beef A.I.
semen are not always reported.
Current herd inventory genetic summary

active cows and youngstock
Table 1
Cows
Your
herd
Number
Youngstock
Percentile
20th
50th
2,595
80th
Avg 80th
398,010
Percentile
Your
herd
20th
50th
2,187
80th
Avg 80th
364,170
NM$
127
-67
54
170
246
273
48
175
294
370
CM$
128
-70
56
177
257
281
50
181
305
384
FM$
124
-65
49
159
231
255
40
160
272
344
PTA milk
246
-372
34
444
722
472
-121
246
600
842
PTA fat
12
-14
18
29
26
-1
14
28
38
0.01
-0.06
0.00
0.07
0.12
0.03
-0.04
0.02
0.08
0.11
-9
12
20
17
10
20
26
PTA pro %
0.00
-0.02
0.00
0.03
0.05
0.01
-0.02
0.01
0.04
0.05
PTA SCS
2.96
3.07
2.96
2.87
2.81
2.90
3.02
2.93
2.84
2.78
PTA PL
1.2
-0.9
0.5
2.0
2.9
2.3
-0.1
1.5
3.0
3.9
PTA DPR
0.2
-0.8
0.4
1.5
2.3
0.5
-0.4
0.6
1.7
2.5
Avg inbred %
6.0
5.6
6.5
5.9
Avg fut inbred %
6.2
6.0
6.5
6.3
PTA fat %
PTA pro
SIX REASONS WHY OUR

SQUARE-CUT AUGER
RESISTS SORTING:
Evaluating your genetic progress
To make the most informed

decisions, producers have turned to
genomic testing of newborn animals
and are making more use of genetic
information on cows and sires today
to assist in the selection of animals for
sale and breeding purposes. Decisionsupport tools provided by A.I.
companies and providers of genomic
testing are geared toward helping
producers make the most profitable
decisions. However, to ensure the
best decisions are being made, one
should closely monitor the results
and determine if the desired outcome
is actually accomplished. Below are
three examples showing how dairy
producers are analyzing their herds
genetic progress.
Summary of genetic traits
for the current herd
When reviewing the genetics in
the herd, the first step is to review
if the genetic levels of the cows and
heifers currently in the herd are in
line with other cows and heifers
in the breed. To accomplish this,
High feed compaction

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63
PD EAST MAIN
Using this kind of precision agriculture technology will help you optimize inputs and
outputs and maximize your returns.
Using genetic data to make decisions for the future, contd from page 63
our company can provide an overall
snapshot of the cows and heifers in
the herd and benchmarks the genetics
and inbreeding values against animals
of the same breed. Table 1 (page 63)
shows an example of a Holstein herd
with good genetics and shows that, for
most traits, the herd ranks between the
50th and 80th percentile compared to
all other Holstein cows.

Trend of genetics by year of birth
In addition to the current snapshot
of the cows and heifers, our company
can provide a graphical breakdown
of animals currently in the herd by
year of birth. Annual averages are
compared against averages by year of
birth. These graphs allow the producer

to look at trends for certain traits
within the herd and compare these
with other herds of the same breed.
Figure 4 (page 62) shows an example
of the inbreeding trend (based on
pedigree and genomic testing) within
the herd compared to the inbreeding
trend in U.S. Holsteins.
Improve future genetics by evaluating

genetic traits for service sires and
youngstock
While the genetics of the cows
and heifers in the herd cannot be
changed, new genetics being brought
into the herd should be selected
based on their ability to improve the
herd. Figure 5 (page 62) shows an
example representing PTA DPR and
PTA Productive Life for service sires
used and the comparison against
80th percentile Holstein herds for the
same trait.
Conclusion
Evaluating sire selection criteria

and breeding decisions should be
an annual task. Use information
to obtain a full picture of past and
current levels and an estimation
of future genetics in the herd. A
successful genetic management
program is based on having good
analysis information available,
and it all starts with accurate
identification of the animal itself
as well as the sire and dam of the
animal. Evaluating the overall genetic
program allows producers to make
informed decisions about the criteria
by which A.I. sires are selected,
mating decision are made, sexed or
beef semen is used and, finally, how
purchase and culling decisions are
made. Using this kind of precision
agriculture technology will help you
optimize inputs and outputs and
maximize your returns. PD
KEEP YOUR COWS AHEAD

OF THE CURVE!
Robert Fourdraine holds a doctorate

in animal science from Texas A&M.
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AgSource Cooperative
Services
rfourdraine@agsource.com
64
PD EAST MAIN
PD EAST MAIN
One herd, many management needs

Glucio Lopes for Progressive Dairyman
A dairy herd is made up of many
segments individual cows, pens
of cows, herd cohorts (transition
cows, for example) and the herd as
a whole. At the same time, each of
these segments has independent
and interdependent management
requirements.
This reality means dairy managers
must sift through a significant amount
of data since necessary information is
not always easily obtained or separated
out by desired herd segments.
To overcome this challenge,

a growing number of dairies have
invested in animal monitoring
technology that tracks rumination and
activity at the same time, giving these
operations an edge in accomplishing
their goals. The data can be readily
used to manage each herd segment as
well as see the impact on the entire
herd at the same time.
On-farm perspective
The owner of a 600-cow California
herd felt something wasnt quite right

with his herd performance but couldnt
put his finger on the problem. Milk
production, reproductive performance
and overall health parameters ranked
above industry averages, but he felt the
herd could achieve more.
Determined to increase herd
productivity, he invested in an animal
monitoring system last year.
The data provided by the system
extends the operations insight into the
inner workings of the animals, offering
a glimpse into health and performance

before physical indicators appear. As
a result, the dairy is able to intervene
when necessary and can often prevent
issues from becoming significant
problems.
That means as the dairy monitors
and interacts with individual cows,
it is able to assess the impact of
management actions and decisions on
all other herd segments.
Monitor trends
The key to these systems is not

total minutes ruminating, or total
activity, but the deviation from an
established baseline which can be
noted on a per-cow basis, for a group,
among cohorts and for the entire
herd. For example, a dairy will track
rumination time across the herd,
within and between pens, and then
focus on individual cow data to assess
the effectiveness of specific strategies
or activities.
By watching trends and extracting
details in the data, the California
dairy found that a seemingly simple
management activity was having a
significant, and negative, impact on
individual cows, the prefresh group
and overall herd performance.
One too many actions
or hundreds of years, dams

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66
During daily rumination

tracking, the dairy owner noticed
that when he moved dry cows from
the far-off pen to the close-up, the
cows experienced a significant
drop in rumination. The dairy had
followed this practice for years, with
seemingly little impact on the cows
from outward appearances. The dip
in rumination was not anticipated
nor was its impact on the herd.
While some change should be
expected, the dairy owner noted that
there was a steep, straight drop in
rumination following this pen move,
and all of the cows showed up on
daily health reports.
Furthermore, health issues
at calving likely resulting from
previously undiagnosed problems
during this time frame were a
challenge. This is not surprising,
since cows with inconsistent
rumination during the transition
period are often afflicted with more
health problems.
The dairy frequently recorded
a higher-than-desired level of cows
calving early, which led to increased
incidence of retained placenta and
metritis and, ultimately, reduced
reproductive performance in the
following lactation.
Independent research adds
weight to the dairys concerns about
this health challenge. Recent research
at the University of Florida that was
presented at the 2015 American
Dairy Science Association Annual
Meeting shows that cows with
shorter gestation show:
PD EAST MAIN
... a growing number of dairies have invested in animal monitoring technology that tracks
rumination and activity at the same time, giving these operations an edge in accomplishing
their goals. The data can be readily used to manage each herd segment as well as see the
impact on the entire herd at the same time.
Increased disease incidence in the
first 90 days in milk (primarily driven

by occurrence of stillbirth, retained
fetal membranes and metritis)
Higher risk of removal from the

herd through death or culling
A decrease of 1,102 pounds of milk

in the following lactation
At the dairy, the pen move
and a ration change offered some
explanation for the inconsistent
rumination and health issues, but
the dairy owner wasnt satisfied with
those answers or the performance
results. I thought things could be
better, he says.
Further investigation helped
pinpoint the problem. For labor
efficiency, in addition to the pen move
and ration change, cows also received
vaccinations at the same time. The
combination of all three management
actions at once was too much, causing
significant disruption to the cows
even though the dairy didnt see
physical warning signs.
The technology really helped us
see the impact of these stressors on
the individual cows and the group,
says the dairy producer.
Furthermore, since the

management change, the dairy
has experienced far fewer cases of
retained placenta, and instead of 25
to 30 percent of cows calving early,
that number has dropped to around 5
percent.
We also eliminated cows on
the health list during the pen move,
reports the owner.
The results are long-lasting for
individual cows, the transition group

and the herd. The dairy has sustained
an overall herd average of 90 pounds
of milk or more for a much longer
period of time than ever before.
Last fall, our herd 21-day
pregnancy rate was four percentage
points higher than the same period
the year prior, the dairy owner says.
Overall herd pregnancy rate is up 2
percent on an annual basis, pushing
the dairy to nearly 30 percent.

The dairy producer concludes that
the system was installed to give the
operation a competitive edge and
that objective has been accomplished
thanks to the ability to better
monitor and manage the herd and its
segments. PD
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To fix the issue, the dairys team

moved the vaccination protocol one
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adapt to that stress and recover prior
to moving to a new pen and ration.
As a result, the drop in
rumination time following the pen
move is not as significant its more
of a gradual downward curve and
the cows bounce back within a day.
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PD EAST MAIN
Improving embryo quality, herd fertility with trace minerals

Alex Souza for Progressive Dairyman
Trace minerals are critical for
adequate immune function and
metabolism in dairy cattle. Research
shows that trace minerals have
antioxidant functions and may help
reduce the level of oxidative stress
postpartum as well as improve
immune response to vaccines.
Oxidative stress refers to the
inability of the body to counteract
or detoxify itself of the harmful
effects of free radicals through
neutralization by antioxidants. This
imbalanced state is often increased
around calving time due to drastic
changes in metabolism; thus, antioxidative nutritional strategies may
help reduce metabolic problems and
improve postpartum health.
Hydroxy trace minerals have
covalent bonds linking trace minerals
such as copper, zinc and manganese
to a hydroxy (oxygen-hydrogen)
group and are described to be more

bioavailable than sulfate trace
minerals and comparable or greater
in bioavailability to organic trace
minerals.
Hydroxy minerals are less soluble
at the pH levels typically found in
the rumen. They become soluble
in the lower pH environment of
the abomasum, allowing for their
absorption in the cows intestinal
tract. Thus, some of the benefits of
supplementing hydroxy minerals
are likely related to their capacity
to bypass the rumen, therefore
improving their ability to increase
the delivery of trace metals to the
cows bloodstream. Of importance
is that greater availability of trace
minerals such as zinc, manganese
and copper have been previously
associated with improved fertility.
Particularly, zinc appears to have
... greater availability of trace minerals

such as zinc, manganese and copper
have been previously associated with
improved fertility. Particularly, zinc
appears to have positive effects on
oocyte and embryo quality.
positive effects on oocyte and embryo

quality.
Field study findings
In this study (Figure 1), our

objective was to test whether or
not the mineral source fed after
calving from zero to 70 days in milk
(DIM) improves postpartum uterine
health and embryo quality from
superovulated cows.
Trace mineral sources met the
trace mineral requirements as noted
by the herd nutritionist. In addition,
all diets had recommended levels of
methionine.
Cows were then randomized
to receive two types of mineral
supplementation at calving, as
follows:
Combination: Sulfate sources of
manganese, hydroxyl sources of

copper and 75 percent zinc sulfate/25
percent organic zinc
Hydroxy: Hydroxyl sources of

copper, zinc and manganese
A total of 100 mature Holstein

cows (multiparous only) were
enrolled at calving, as follows (see
Figure 1).
After calving, cows were
located in two identical pens on

the same side of a freestall facility.
Superovulation was performed using
a modified double-Ovsynch protocol
and a single-follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) batch (400 mg per
cow). Cows were flushed through
the standard, non-surgical method
to evaluate embryo production and
quality according to International
Embryo Transfer Service (IETS)
guidelines by the same treatedblind lab technician. To avoid sire
variation, cows were artificially
inseminated by the same A.I.
technician utilizing regular (nonsexed) semen from a single sire/
single ejaculate donated by Select
Sires.
Diets fed to close-up cows were
typical of that fed in the Central
Valley of California. Nutrient content
of diets fed to both treatment groups
were similar except for manganese
levels. Reason for this difference is
unknown as both mineral sources
were formulated to meet identical
nutrient needs of both groups.
There were no differences
between the two treatments in terms
of superovulation results measured
as number of corpus luteum (CL)
produced after FSH treatments,
average number of recovered
years
of
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Figure 1
Schematic experimental design
A total of 100 mature Holstein cows (multiparous only) were enrolled at calving as follows:
(at calving)
Cows randomized within
lactation group to receive
the two types of minerals:
hydroxy versus organic
Alex Souza
(~50 DIM)
Cows superovulated and
white cell counts in the
uterus measured through
uterine swabs
(~65 DIM)
Embryos were collected
and evaluated 6 days
after A.I. with regular
semen from a single sire
CALVING
Research
and Development
Ceva Animal Health
ahsouza76@gmail.com
Combination versus hydroxy mineral supplementation
Figure 2
50
P < 0.05
40
P > 0.10
P < 0.05
30
20
40
P < 0.05
P < 0.05
P > 0.10
30
20
10
10
0
Distribution (%)
50
Distribution (%)
structures and average number

and percentage of transferable and
freezable embryos. Interestingly,
hydroxy mineral supplementation
reduced the proportion of
degenerated embryos both in
relation to all structures or fertilized
structures (Table 2, page 70).
Further exploratory analysis
confirmed that supplementation
with hydroxy minerals increased
the proportion of cows having less
than 20 percent of degenerated
embryos. As a result, a greater
proportion of cows that received the
combination diet were more likely to
produce more than 50 percent of the
degenerated embryos (Figure 2).
These results indicate that
feeding the hydroxy mineral
significantly reduced the proportion
of degenerated embryos as well as
proportion of cows yielding more
than 80 percent of good-quality
embryos.
These findings are in agreement
with some studies utilizing the in
vitro embryo model. For example,
Mineral source adaptation
<20
20-50
>50
Degenerated embryos/all structures (%)

Combined
<20
20-50
>50
Degenerated embryos/fertilized structures (%)

Hydroxy
Distribution of degenerated embryos for cows receiving combination (blue bars) or hydroxy (green bars)
mineral supplementation from calving to flushing (65 DIM). Graph on the left: Degenerated embryos by total
structures. Graph on the right: Degenerated embryos out of fertilized structures.
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69
PD EAST MAIN
Table 1
Nutrient content of diets offered to each

treatment (DM basis)
Nutrient
Table 2
Hydroxy
Combination
Dry Matter (%)
55.1
55.0
Crude Protein (%)
16.9
17.0
Crude Fat (%)
4.4
4.4
Acid Detergent Fiber (%)
18.1
Physically effective Neutral Detergent Fiber

(peNDF %)
Combination
Hydroxy
n = 40
n = 42
Avg. CL number
11.9 0.8
13.0 0.9
0.37
18.0
Avg. total structures/cow
3.9 0.8
5.4 0.8
0.43
20.3
20.3
Avg. transferable embryos/cow
2.3 0.7
2.8 0.4
0.27
NEL, Mcal/lb
0.69
0.69
% Transferable (Qual 1, 2 and 3)
48.0 6.7
57.4 6.0
0.27
Calcium (%)
1.06
1.04
Avg. freezable embryos/cow
1.9 0.6
2.1 0.4
0.77
Phosphorus (%)
0.46
0.46
% Freezable (Qual 1 and 2)
39.2 6.2
43.3 6.7
0.59
Potassium (%)
1.78
1.78
Magnesium (%)
0.35
0.35
Avg. degenerate structures/cow
1.8 0.4
1.9 0.5
0.77
Copper, ppm
14.9
14.7
% Degenerate of total structures
44.4 6.2
27.3 4.5
0.03
Zinc, ppm
88.9
90.8
% Degenerate of fertilized structures
52.2 6.9
34.8 5.7
0.04
Manganese, ppm
74.5
92.6
Methionine (% )
0.87
0.87
Item
P-value
Results from superovulated Holstein cows fed hydroxy or combination

mineral supplementation from calving to embryo recovery performed
with the regular transcervical uterine flushing technique.
Based on NRC, 2001.
Improving embryo quality, herd fertility with trace minerals, contd from page 69
previous reports have shown that
supplemental zinc in the IVF
media can improve early embryo
development and quality by reducing
the amount of DNA damage and
death in the specific cells that
surround and nourish it. In addition,
it has been demonstrated that both
zinc and manganese increased
the ability of these cells to disarm
free radicals. This appears to have
practical implications since cows

in the postpartum period have
problems with oxidative stress that
can lower embryo quality. This could
potentially mean a greater ability to
provide antioxidant protection to
embryos growing in less-than-ideal
oxidative stress environments
postpartum. Zinc also plays a role
in the expansion and fertilization of
cells surrounding the embryo. More
importantly, those supplemented

with zinc showed a greater
proportion of embryos developing
to blastocyst stage, a critical point at
which the embryo will have a greater
chance of implementation.
In conclusion, these results
support the hypothesis that feeding
hydroxy minerals can improve
embryo quality in postpartum dairy
cows with a possible positive
impact on conception results that

needs to be explored in future field
studies. PD
Alex Souza is a veterinarian and
Ph.D. with 17 years of experience in
cattle management and reproductive
biotechnologies.
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PD EAST MAIN
Improving anovular cow treatment and management

Milo Wiltbank for Progressive Dairyman
Note: This information was presented
during a Dairy Cattle Reproduction
Council webinar earlier this year.
Anovular cows those that are
not cycling are a significant concern
and management challenge for U.S.
dairy producers, as the incidence rate
is quite significant. These animals
impede a dairys reproductive
performance, which has a costly effect
on an operations profitability.
The actual number of anovular
cows is quite variable between farms,
but overall, nearly one-quarter of
the national herd is anovular. Data
from more than 16,000 cows across
multiple studies across the country
show that about 23 percent of cows
are anovular at 60 to 65 days in milk.
Dairy producers are concerned
about anovular cows for a number of

reasons. The first reason is that cows
do not receive A.I. because they do
not show estrus. In addition, many
anovular cows incorrectly receive A.I.
Since these cows are not ovulating,
they have essentially no fertility to the
A.I. This results in a loss of time and
increased expense.
The Ovsynch protocol offers one
potential solution. It does increase
service rates for these cows, but
fertility remains low.
In addition, pregnancy losses
are high for these cows if they do,
indeed, become pregnant due to the
Ovsynch protocol. Normal early
pregnancy loss for a herd may be
about 15 percent, but early pregnancy
losses for anovular cows are about 25
percent.
Anovulation influencers
Researchers have spent much

effort to explore the issues that
impact the anovulatory condition
and have determined that several risk
factors are at play.
Body condition score (BCS)

impacts anovulation. Cows with
a lower BCS have a higher rate of
anovulation than those with a higher
BCS. But the group of cows that range
from 2.5 to 3.5 BCS has a substantial
amount of anovulation. Even in this
pretty good or normal BCS group,
theres still a 20 percent incidence of
anovulation.
Parity also influences

anovulation. Data from several
studies demonstrates that first-
lactation cows have a lower level of

cyclicity than older cows. Although
cyclicity is also influenced by BCS,
and as BCS improves more cows are
cycling, first-lactation cows never
quite reach the level of cycling
achieved by their older herdmates.
Anovulation isnt just a first-A.I.
problem. Two recent studies show
that about 29 percent of cows that
received the Ovysnch protocol did
not have a corpus luteum (CL) at the
time of pregnancy diagnosis. These
cows didnt meet the classic definition
of anovular although some may
truly have been anovular but this is
the same kind of problem dairies are
dealing with on a regular basis.
Origins of anovulation
The question then becomes:

What else causes anovulation?
Research published in 2009 shows
that the heritability of anovulation is
0.171. By comparison, the heritability
of most reproductive traits is 0.03 to
0.07. Reproductive traits, in general,
have a much lower heritability than
what was found for anovulation,
meaning that the incidence of
anovulation has some genetic basis.
The impact of milk production on
cyclicity is often confusing because
there doesnt seem to be a clear
tie between milk production and
anovulation. This is unlike the more
linear effect of milk production on
estrous behavior or fertility when
breeding to estrus.
Milk productions influence
on cyclicity is more complicated
and is not a big effect. In fact, milk
production has a surprisingly low
effect on anovulation.
In truth, parity, milk production
and BCS really only explain a small
amount of anovulation.
Bigger influences
Cow health makes a substantial

difference on cow cyclicity. As you
would expect, healthy cows have
the highest levels of cyclicity. Cows
with subclinical disease incidence
or combined clinical and subclinical
disease incidence generally exhibit
the lowest levels of cyclicity.
In addition, there seems to
be a significant farm effect for
anovulation. Some dairies have much
higher cyclicity than others. This
cant be explained very well by BCS,
nutrition or other factors. The root
cause has yet to be determined, but
there is a clear impact on cyclicity
that varies from herd to herd and
more work needs to be done to better
understand this factor.
Lastly, there are physiological
causes for anovulation that require
additional exploration. For example,
its known that cause for large
anovular follicles (the major type of
anovulation) seems to be a blockade
72
PD EAST MAIN
Dairy producers are concerned about anovular cows for a number

of reasons. The first reason is that cows do not receive A.I. because
they do not show estrus. In addition, many anovular cows incorrectly
receive A.I. Since these cows are not ovulating, they have essentially
no fertility to the A.I.
of specific hormone-responsiveness
in the cows brain (at the
hypothalamus). But what leads to this
blockade in cows on a commercial
dairy is currently unknown.
Optimizing outcomes
All this being said, anovulation

doesnt have to be a big problem in
your dairy herd if you use the tools
and methods available to treat and
manage it.
In recent years, producers have
used Ovsynch to treat anovular
cows, but better methods have been
developed, including:
Ovsynch and a second dose of

prostaglandin (24 hours after the
first dose)
Ovsynch with supplemental

progesterone
Double Ovsynch
GnRH Ovsynch
Milo Wiltbank
Professor of Dairy
Reproductive Physiology
University of Wisconsin
Reproductive goals
Therefore, implement nutritional,

management or hormonal strategies
that will reduce the number of
anovular cows in your herd.
For first A.I., expect anovular
cows and treat early. Implement a
protocol that will induce ovulation
and synchronize a high percentage of
anovular cows.
For second and later A.I., check
for a CL at the time of pregnancy
diagnosis and determine subsequent
treatment of the cow. Do not proceed
with Ovsynch if the cow does not
have a CL. Instead, begin a new
Ovsynch protocol with progesterone
supplementation. Use two doses of a
prostaglandin to ensure regression of
the CL.
Lastly, in addition to treating

anovular cows on your dairy, develop
and implement a strong set of
reproductive goals to increase your
operations productivity. Use the
following recommendations to get
you started:
1
2
Cows must receive first A.I. by

100 days in milk.
High fertility at first A.I. Strive

for pregnancy per A.I.
(conception rate) greater than 40
percent. If you do not achieve this
level, think about changing your
program.
For second and later A.I., there

should be a short time between
inseminations (no more than 42
days).
High fertility at second A.I.
Conception rate greater than 35

percent.
In conclusion, many herds
consistently achieve a 21-day
pregnancy rate of 25 percent or higher
with the use of these strategies.
The dairy industry has the tools in
place to be able to attain this level
of reproductive performance and
overcome a significant portion of
anovulation. What might have been
mission impossible 10 years ago is
now really a very achievable goal. PD
To access the webinar on managing
anovular cows from the Dairy Cattle
Reproduction Council, visit www.
dcrc.org. Registration is required.
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PD EAST MAIN
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PD EAST MAIN
Should you create extra heifers?

Nate Zwald for Progressive Dairyman
Creating extra heifers provides
you many intriguing options the
option to expand, the option to sell
extra heifers and the option to sell
your low-producing cows.
While these options all have the
potential to propel herd improvement
or provide added profit, there are
some caveats to consider before you
decide to create extra heifers for your
dairy.
have room
1 Dofor you
the extra heifers?
Decisions to make
High pregnancy rates, optimal

calf care programs, earlier ages at first
calving and more sexed semen use have
created a surplus of female calves and
heifers for many dairy producers.
Suppose you are one of those
producers who has extra females right
now more replacements than you
would generally need to maintain
your herd size. Should you sell them
before they calve?
If you decide selling extra heifers
heifers that grow the slowest will

indeed be less productive cows than
the heifers that grow well. Likewise, the
group of heifers with the least favorable
genetics will certainly produce less
than the group with the best genetics.
However, these factors are not
perfect predictors. Therefore, if you
choose to make a culling decision
based on one of these predictions,
mistakes will be made. Youll end
is the best choice, one option is to

sell the animals with the least genetic
potential which you would identify
through parent averages or genomic
testing. A second option is to sell those
heifers that grew slower, got sick more
often or took more services to become
pregnant.
Even though both options to select
which heifers to sell are positively
correlated with future performance,
they are only predictions. In other
words, on average as a group, the
If your facilities become severely

overcrowded because of the extra
heifers you create, you may not yield
optimal heifer performance.
female calves
be worth more than male
2 Will
calves in nine months?
If females are not worth more

than males, then you should consider
whether creating more of a less
valuable gender even makes sense.
The fact is: In recent months,
Holstein bull calves have been worth
more than female calves in most parts
of the country. While that situation
is different for Jerseys, both Holstein
and Jersey producers creating more
animals than needed to maintain
their herd size have the option to
make a terminal beef cross. This yields
a more valuable calf, regardless of the
calfs gender.
will you do
3 What
with the extra females?
If you are going to expand, these

arent truly extra heifers but future
members of your milking herd. If
you are creating extra females with
the intent of selling them, be sure to
evaluate the price risk between the
time you create them and the time
you sell them.
50
MetaSmart
Control
45
DMI (Lbs/day)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
15
20
25
28
Days
Nate Zwald
U.S. Sales Manager
Alta Genetics
nzwald@altagenetics.com
75
PD EAST MAIN
305 Day mature herd equivalent
Figure 1
39,000
38,000
37,000
36,000
35,000
34,000
33,000
32,000
31,000
30,000
29,000
28,000
27,000
26,000
25,000
24,000
23,000
22,000
21,000
20,000
19,000
18,000
17,000
16,000
Compares the parent average for PTA Milk to actual 305 mature equivalent (ME) performance for each animal
1. Low genetics, high performance
3. High genetics, high performance
2. Low genetics, low performance

-800
-700
-600
-500
-400
-300
-200
4. High genetics, low performance

-100
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
1,100
Parent average milk
Should you create extra heifers? contd from page 75

up culling heifers that would have
performed better than others you
decided to keep.
A real example
Take, for example, the scatterplot

in Figure 1, with each red dot
representing one first-lactation animal.
This compares the parent average
for PTA Milk to actual 305 mature
equivalent (ME) performance for
each animal. You can see a general
trend that animals bred to produce
more milk will produce more milk.
Genomic testing does make the genetic
prediction (represented by the blue line
in Figure 1) more accurate. But despite
this accuracy, genetics are still not a
perfect predictor of actual performance
for an individual animal.
Therefore, a potential missed
opportunity comes if you would have
decided to cull any of these individual
first-lactation animals before they
ever freshened, based only on their

genetics. If milk production is your
main selection goal, and you sold
the lowest heifers for predicted milk
production, you would have decided to
sell the heifers that appear on the left
of the figure. You can see that most of
those animals have below-average milk
production (appearing below the line),
and some individuals produced well
above average for the herd.
Yet you wouldnt have known with
certainty how these animals would
perform before they got a chance to
prove themselves. Genetic predictions
work extremely well across large
groups of animals but are not a perfect
predictor of an individual animals
performance.
There are so many environmental
challenges a cow may experience.
She may have a difficult calving, get a
sore foot or get mastitis. Any of these
factors will have an effect on her overall
performance and is likely completely

separate from her genetic potential.
No perfect predictors
If we translate this in terms of

baseball and have to predict which
player is going to go 4 for 4 in tonights
game, we would probably pick the one
with the highest batting average, or
perhaps the highest batting average
against that particular pitcher. While
having that information increases our
odds of being correct, our prediction is
certainly not perfect.
However, tomorrow morning, we
will know exactly which player went 4
for 4 and it might be the guy that had
been hitting just .200.
The same is true in cows. Even
though we can get close to knowing
which animals will perform best
based on their genetics, no predictors
are perfect indicators of future
performance. Like Figure 1 shows,
sometimes a cow outproduces her

predictions, and sometimes she
performs less than expected.
Culling heifers with the poorest
growth rates or least desirable genetics
is always an option to consider if you
do not have the space to raise those
heifers. But its important to recognize
that when you cull a heifer, you
essentially cash in all your options. You
ultimately lose your ability to cull a
less efficient cow at the time when that
heifer would have entered the milking
string.
While we can make predictions
of future performance before an
animal ever freshens, our predictions
are rarely perfect indicators of future
performance. Keeping extra heifers
gives you the option of culling the
cows that actually perform the worst,
instead of the heifers you predicted
would end up as the worst-performing
cows. PD
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PD EAST MAIN
Why should I have two groups of dry dairy cows?

Contributed by Gustavo Mazon and Donna Amaral-Phillips
Management during the transition
period, defined as the time period
from three weeks before the expected
calving date until three weeks after
calving, is important for optimum
health and milk production of
early lactation dairy cows. During
this transition period, a dairy cow
goes through several changes (i.e.,
hormonal, metabolic and anatomic)
that prepare the cow for the upcoming
lactation.
By separating dry cows into two
groups, you can potentially have fewer
health problems with cows entering
the milking herd. Also, incorporating a
good close-up dry cow program could
allow your cows to peak 10 pounds of
milk higher, resulting in an additional
2,500 pounds of milk per lactation
per cow with additional income and
profit per cow. To capitalize on these
benefits, dry cows should be separated
into two groups: far-off (60 to 21 days
before calving) and close-up (21 days to
calving). The remainder of this article
provides justification for having two
groups of dry dairy cows.
during this period since it is lower in

potassium. Large amounts of alfalfa
should be avoided.
Displaced abomasum and acidosis:

Both of those metabolic disorders
can be prevented by using a good
strategy during the cows close-up
period. By having adequate amounts
of long fiber to stimulate cud chewing
or rumination and properly balanced
diets, displaced abomasums and
acidosis can be avoided. Adding
chopped wheat straw to the diet may
help prevent these problems. Also,
subclinical hypocalcemia (milk fever)
can cause an increased incidence of
displaced abomasum.
Retained placenta: Adequate
amounts of trace minerals are needed
to prevent retained placentas and

improve immunity of the dry and fresh
cow. For example, selenium should
be supplemented to provide 3 mg
of selenium per cow per day. Again,
subclinical hypocalcemia (milk fever)
can increase the incidence of retained
placentas.
Mastitis: The transition period is

when the cows immunity is at its
lowest. The environment provided
to cows to calve should be clean to
decrease the probability of clinical and
subclinical mastitis during the fresh
period.
Observation
When dealing with two small

groups instead of a big one, more
attention can be given to the cows close
Donna
Amaral-Phillips
Extension Dairy Nutritionist
University of Kentucky
damaral@uky.edu
to calving. This will allow detection

of any unusual behavior or if cows are
having difficulties while calving. With
that, a faster decision can be made how
to best help your cows. The close-up
group should be kept in a place where
people walk past frequently during
their normal daily routine. PD
Gustavo Mazon is a Dairy Challenge
student.
Excerpts from Kentucky Dairy Notes,
February 2015
2015 MAI Animal Health
Feed intake
Just before calving, close-up

dry cows often decrease their feed
intake compared to far-off dry cows,
so they need a ration with slightly
higher energy and other nutrients in
order to satisfy their total nutrient
requirements. To ensure feed intake,
feedbunk space is important. If you
have headlocks for your close-up dry
cow group, they should have 30 inches
per cow. If the barn does not have
headlocks, there should be 36 inches
of bunk space per cow. By giving them
enough bunk space and resting space
(at least 100 square feet per cow), the
cows will be more likely to maintain
their feed intake and get the nutrients
required.
Support freshening cows with TRANSITION Calcium Boluses

and help them get back to production in the milking herd.
Rumen adaptation
The close-up cows should be fed

a ration with ingredients similar to
what will be fed during their lactating
period. This will allow the rumen
micro-organisms time to adapt and
also will stimulate the development of
rumen papillae, which absorb the acids
produced by the micro-organisms.
These management practices will make
ketosis and acidosis less likely to occur
after calving.
Cows health
The close-up period is the best

time to prevent the most common
disorders that affect fresh cows, even
ones that are subclinical where you do
not see the classic signs of the disorder.
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release. Available in two sizes, they are
easy to use and have no
withdrawal period.
Milk fever: By using low-potassium

forages and adding the appropriate
amount of anionic salts to the
close-up diet, incidence of clinical and
subclinical milk fever can be reduced.
Corn silage is a good forage to use
About a year ago, we began

treating all cows in their
second lactation or greater
with TRANSITION Calcium
Boluses. In the last 700
cows that have freshened,
we have had only two
displaced abomasums.
I never thought it was possible to have DA counts
this low! We think TRANSITION Calcium
Boluses, along with good management practices,
can dramatically reduce the incidence of many
diseases commonly seen at freshening. We are
very satisfied with TRANSITION.
Lee Jensen | Five Star Dairy | Elk Mound, Wisconsin
www.TransitionBolus.com
1-800-447-0687
77
PD EAST MAIN
Methods of managing precision dairy farming technologies

Contributed by Barbara Wadsworth, Amanda Stone, Lauren Mayo, Nicky Tsai and Jeffrey Bewley
Precision dairy farming is the
use of technologies to measure
physiological, behavioral and
production indicators on individual
animals to improve management
strategies and farm performance.
These systems have the potential
to detect disease and estrus, and
evaluate cow comfort by monitoring
activity, feeding time, lying time,
mounting activity, real-time location,
reticulorumen pH, rumination time
or body temperature.
Although potential benefits

to implementing a precision dairy
farming system exist, obstacles
that may prevent proper precision
dairy farming device management
must also be considered. The data
provided by a precision dairy
farming device is only valuable
if it records the data properly for
the right cow and is used by the
producer. This article will describe
problems that researchers at
the University of Kentucky have
experienced and ways to avoid and

manage them.
Device management
Keeping track of which device

belongs to each cow will ensure the
data recorded is linked to the correct
animal. One way to track this is to
keep a paper copy like the one shown
in Table 1. The information from the
paper copy can then be entered into
the computer software program that
logs the devices data. The paper copy
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should be retained in case there is a

mistake in data entry and corrections
can be made.
Remember to double-check the
cow number and the device number,
and make sure all handwriting is
legible. For example, if a cow is
assigned a device different from the
one she is wearing, it could result
in breeding or giving injections to
the wrong cow. Another potential
problem that could occur is if an
incorrect number for a reticulorumen
bolus is recorded, it is impossible to
find out the correct device number
because the bolus is not accessible.
When placing devices on cows, it is
better to have a few people helping
to reduce the chance of a mistake. In
addition to records of devices, excess
activity events (hoof trimming, vet
checks, regrouping, etc.) should be
noted. This note allows producers to
correctly interpret data and whether
or not the data is showing true events
for the cow. (i.e., Is a cow really in
heat or did she show excessive activity
from another event?)
Device placement
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Many devices are designed to

attach to a specific area of a cows
body (i.e., the leg). This varies between
companies and device purpose. When
checking cows to ensure devices
remain attached, having a consistent
area of attachment across the herd
will make it easier to check.
In rare situations, swelling may
occur where the device is attached
to the cow, either from the device
rubbing against the animal or because
the cow gained weight and the
device was not loosened. This could
be painful for the cow and affect
production, but removing the device
as soon as it is noticed will allow for
swelling to ease. In certain cases, the
device may be moved to the opposite
side of the body (i.e., from the right
to the left leg) during the time of
healing. If this is not feasible, then
removing the device completely until
the swelling is gone is the best option.
Reassigning lost and dead devices
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When a device dies, is lost or is

not reading in anymore, replacing it
with a functioning device will ensure
that data continues to be recorded,
especially if the producer is solely
relying on the device for important
decisions. Producers will want to do
this as quickly as possible so they are
continuously receiving data from the
cows.
Producers will also want to
record the information regarding
the replacement device on paper in
a format similar to the data sheet
example shown in Table 1 and enter
this information into the software.
The next step is to remove the old
device and assign the new device in
the software as soon as possible.
PD EAST MAIN
Failing to do so may result in

improperly recorded device numbers
for cows in the software. For example,
if a device is changed on a cow but
is never recorded in the software,
then the producer will never receive
data from that cow. Unfortunately,
it may not always be immediately
obvious that a device is dead or is not
recording anymore. Some software
programs create a list of devices that
are no longer working. If the software
does not have this option, monthly
each cow in the herd should be looked
up individually to ensure the devices
are still working.
Devices sometimes fall off.
Ensuring that devices are found
quickly will help ensure data is
continuously recorded for each cow.
One way to do this is to have a lost
and found box where employees can
put the devices. With many cows on
one farm, it can be hard to see that a
particular cow has lost her device. So
checking for devices in the whole herd
could be incorporated into the milking
routine once a month.
Producers should look for devices
not recording complete data in
previous records from the system.
The best way to do this is to look at
the cows previous record for any
empty spaces or blanks in the data.
If this is a common trend, contacting
a company representative is the next
step to correct the situation. Producers
would then want to assign another
device if this is the case. Evaluating the
condition of devices is also important
to make sure the exterior of the devices
are not damaged. Damaged devices are
less likely to work efficiently.
Reassigning devices can be
simple as long as there are standard
procedures in place. Managing
reassigned devices can most commonly
be done through management systems,
specifically dairy management
software (i.e., PCDart or DairyComp
305) or an Excel spreadsheet.
Some of the precision dairy
farming device manufacturers are
able to receive data from the dairy
management software. Systems
that communicate with the dairy
management software allow for device
numbers to be easily changed through
the dairy management software
and automatically updated to each
system. However, keeping track of
devices changing between animals is
important for future reference in case
systems fail to communicate properly
or if a device number is entered
incorrectly in the software. This can
be done by keeping a handwritten
notebook, by exporting reports from
the software or recording the data in
an Excel sheet.
Conclusions
The data precision dairy

farming devices provide can be
extremely valuable but only if they
are managed properly. Seemingly
easy tasks, like making sure device
numbers correspond to the correct
Table 1
Date
Example recording sheet
Cow #
Device #
cow, are often complicated by other

farm tasks and are sometimes
overlooked or forgotten. Improperly
managed devices will be a source of
frustration rather than a source of
information. Keeping the potential
problem areas in mind when dealing
with precision dairy farming devices
and making them a priority in a daily
management routine will lessen the
risk of mistakes. PD
Barbara Wadsworth is a University
of Kentucky Ph.D. student focusing
Assigned
or removed
on the use of precision dairy farming

technologies to detect lameness.
Lauren Mayo is a University of

Kentucky masters student focusing on
precision dairy technologies used for
estrus detection.
Amanda Stone is a doctorates
degree candidate at the University
of Kentucky studying novel ways to
detect clinical and subclinical mastitis
in dairy cows using precision dairy
farming technologies.
Entered
in software
Initials
Nicky Tsai graduated from Tunghai

University in 2011 with a bachelors
degree in animal science and currently
is a graduate student at University of
Kentucky.
Dr. Jeffrey Bewley is an associate

professor at the University of Kentucky;
his research spans across many areas,
one of those being precision dairy
farming technologies.
Excerpts from Kentucky Dairy
Notes, May 2015
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PD EAST MAIN
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Putting genomics and embryo

transfer to work on-farm
Contributed by Greg Andersen
The worlds population trends
imply that land and livestock
producers throughout the world need
to grow production of protein, grain
and fiber by a significant percentage in
the coming decades.
For dairy producers, adopting
technologies including genomic
selection for breeding purposes
coupled with in vitro fertilization
reproductive practices will aid in
increasing production and production
efficiencies to meet this growing
demand.
The integration of these tools
have become an integral part of the
management strategy at Seagull Bay
Dairy, American Falls, Idaho. The
operation uses both genomic testing
and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and
in vitro culture (IVC) reproductive
practices in its elite breeding
program to accelerate genetic
advancement in its herd as well as
breed high-ranking males that will be
used by producers around the world.
The dairy herd consists of 2,200
cows on two sites 50 miles apart.
Seagull Bay Dairy is home to 550 early
lactation cows, 150 close-up cows
and heifers, 400 heifers from 200 to
450 pounds and 225 calves on milk.
All donor females also are housed at
Seagull Bay Dairy.
Its sister operation, Andersen
Dairy, houses 1,450 lactating cows,
150 far-off dry cows, 600 pregnant
heifers and 600 breeding and prebreeding heifers. All embryo transfer
is done at Andersen Dairy.
Following is an outline of how the
operation has incorporated genomic
testing and IVF/IVC into its regular
management routines.
averaged 17 oocytes per collection

and six viable embryos per donor.
Recipient pregnancy rates for fresh
embryos averaged 42.1 percent in 2013
and 38.3 percent in 2014.
For 29 transfer dates, pregnancy
rates have ranged from 23 to 67
percent with a median (42 percent)
slightly above the mean (40 percent).
Of note, the greatest pregnancy
percentage results are from collections
done, with most of the donors being
more than 15 months old.
Although many opportunities
exist for genetic advancement in this
herd by using IVF/IVC technology,
significant drawbacks must be
considered for other reproduction
effects. Age at first calving has
increased from 22.7 months in May
2013 to 23.9 months in September
2014. It is important to consider
these additional costs when
implementing new reproduction and
breeding strategies into a herd.
The process
Genomic selection
The dairys current recipient pool

allows it to transfer between 30 and
50 embryos every other week. The
strategy is to have enough recipients
ready so there is no need to freeze
any IVF embryos. In contrast, when
needed, the highest-quality embryos
are frozen at the lab and transferred
at the next earliest possible transfer
day when recipients are available.
All healthy virgin heifers older
than 12 months are potential embryo
recipients. Potential recipient heifers
receive a dose of prostaglandin F2a
48 hours before the time the dairy
begins to observe estrus for the
following weeks IVF-IVC transfers.
Observed heats are recorded for
timing eight and seven days before
transfer day. Heifers are observed
morning, noon and evening each of
these target days and those that
stand for mounting for more than one
time period are recorded.
Results
Since June 2013, the dairy has
80
Genomic impact
on breeding program
The Holstein breeding program

at Seagull Bay Dairy is focused on
breeding cattle with high net merit
(NM) in addition to elite predicted
transmitting ability for pounds of
protein and pounds of fat.
In addition, the dairy selects
for health traits such as somatic cell
score, daughter pregnancy rate and
calving ease. Predicted transmitting
ability for type receives minor
emphasis in our breeding selection.
The dairy is taking care to choose
donors and potential sire mates
that are not extreme for increase in
stature.
All of Seagull Bay Dairys
Holstein male and female calves with
a parent average for NM above 650
pounds are genomically tested. Tissue
samples are collected for all of the
calves in a given month near the end
of the month in which they were born.
Genomic predictions for each calf
are received four to five weeks later.
These genomic predictions are used
to divide the males and females in
different classes. Heifers will either be
classified as:
1
2
3
Potential donors
Potential to market
Available to be moved to the
general herd
The highest-NM females that also

excel in production and fitness traits
are destined for the dairys donor
program. Other high-NM females
that might be used as donors in other
breeding programs will often be
PD EAST MAIN
Some economic benefit exists for herds that wish to test all of their
females especially if the cost of the test decreases significantly
over time. Based upon herd goals, females might be sorted into
breeding plans based upon their genomic prediction level.
sold at high-profile public auctions.

Females with NM values below the
90th percentile will be raised with
the general herd and either artificially
inseminated or used as a recipient for
embryos with higher NM potential.
Seagull Bay Dairy also uses
genomic predictions when purchasing
elite females from other herds to add
to donor groups.
Males also are divided into three
classes:
1
2
3
Market to stud
for herds that wish to test all of their

females especially if the cost of the
test decreases significantly over time.
Based upon herd goals, females might
be sorted into breeding plans based
upon their genomic prediction level.
Lower predicted transmitting ability
NM females could be bred to male
sex-sorted beef semen, whereas higher
predicted transmitting ability females
could be inseminated with female sexsorted semen from elite dairy sires.
Using genomic information from
both the herd females and the desired

genomic-tested sires could improve
the rate of a herds genetic gain. In
addition, if all females have a genomic
prediction, it would be simpler to
match sire and dam to avoid increased
inbreeding as well as managing for
haplotypes that affect fertility.
Herd managers also might rank
their females based upon using their
own custom index that emphasizes
the traits most economically valuable
for their business. Phenotypic matings
Greg Andersen
Manager and Owner
Seagull Bay Dairy
based on physical appearance likely
will become obsolete as more cattle
are genomically tested. Corrective
mating for type traits also might
be done based upon information
obtained via genomic predictions.
For additional details about
how the dairy has integrated
these technologies, visit www.
seagullbaydairy.com PD
Excerpts from Dairy Cattle
Reproduction Council website
Market as breeding stock

Market as feeder cattle
Males with elite genetic values

for NM are either leased or sold
to various genetics companies
throughout North America. Males
with extreme elite predicted
transmitting ability for pounds of
protein and pounds of fat but more
moderate NM values are often still
attractive enough to be sold to the
major bull buyers.
Those with more moderate NM
values accompanied with calving
ease scores lower than 9 are raised
to be sold as breeding stock to other
dairy and heifer herds throughout the
western U.S. Bulls with calving ease
greater than 9 are castrated and sold
as feeder steers.
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Other genomic testing applications
Genomic testing also has a host of

additional applications. For example,
it helps verify parentage. Any errors in
recording at breeding or calving can
be correctly identified by a genomic
test.
Some economic benefit exists
Creators Syndicate, Inc.

Leigh Rubin!
leigh@rubescartoons.com
www.rubescartoons.com
You call it unfair. I call it enhanced

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PD EAST MAIN
New hires
Progressive
Dairyman
would like
:
you to meet
About
K evin
What previous positions
have you held?
K evin Buttlrienustrition.com
ag
kevinbuttles@
pecialist
S
l
a
ic
n
h
c
e
Dairy T
nsulting
o
C
n
io
it
r
t
u
Agri-N
Wisconsin
Black Creek,
Education
Territory
I will be concentrating my efforts

in eastern Wisconsin; however, I
will have an active role in increasing
market share in the whole state. I will
also be part of the tech team offering
support to the consultant group in
Pennsylvania.
Agricultural background
I grew up on a dairy farm between

Black Creek and Seymour, Wisconsin,
that was in the Buttles family since
the early 1900s. I currently reside on a
hobby farm that was part of the family
farm. For several years, my exercise
for the day was milking cows on the
family farm before going to work in
the morning.
I was very close to the dairy
industry ever since my 4-H, FFA
and Wisconsin Junior Dairymans
Association days set the foundation
for my career path. Judging and
exhibiting cattle and participating
in speaking contests and dairy
management activities and
competitions kept me interested in
farming and specifically the cows. I
even became certified in A.I.
Bachelors degree in agricultural

business with minors in animal
science (dairy emphasis) and
agricultural economics from the
University of Wisconsin River
Falls.
Masters in teaching degree
in agricultural education from the
University of Wisconsin River Falls.
What are your new

responsibilities?
Provide technical and sales

support and training activities to
other consultants to help them
increase their volume of business.
Key responsibilities will be to
assist consultants in identifying
opportunities on farms to improve
herds capabilities in the areas of
nutrition, management, forage quality
and cow comfort. I will be constantly
looking for growth opportunities as
the company continues to expand the
consultant model by promoting its
mission of Going beyond nutrition
through innovative solutions.
I will continue to provide
nutrition and management consulting
services to my own dairy producer
clients.
Most recently, I was a dairy

specialist with Land OLakes,
providing nutrition and consulting
services to dairy producers in
northeast Wisconsin. I am fortunate
to have been part of our dynamic
dairy industry over my 26 years with
Land OLakes. During this time, I
have held multiple sales and tech
roles.
I also held a position as a dairy
enterprise consultant, specializing in
nutrition and management, business
and financial management and milk
quality and milking equipment.
My early career experiences
included teaching agricultural
education and working as a data
analyst for Dairyland Management
Services (DMS).
Who has made the biggest impact

on your career?
There have been a few influencers

on me and my career path over
the years, many of which seemed
insignificant at the time. I did not
want to go back to college after my
freshman year because I missed the
cows too much. My uncle convinced
me that I should stick it out through
graduation. I ended up graduating in
less than four years and then went
back to graduate school a few years
later anyway.
How will you be of most help

to producers in your region
or area of expertise?
I will be able to use my

experiences in the dairy industry,
which expands over many years of
changes and advances in technology
and management systems. With a

strong technical background as well
as a practical approach to identifying
problems, presenting solutions and
implementing strategies, I will be
able to help producers reach desired
outcomes.
I understand the importance of
high forage quality, good cow comfort
and excellent transition cow programs
in maintaining healthy cows and
achieving the high production
performance we expect from our
cows today. In fact, I am known for
implementing sound transition cow
programs that fit producers current
situations and meet the cows needs.
Why did you choose this company?
The Agri-Nutrition Consulting

mission statement begins this way:
With honest and dependable work;
I have found the company and the
employees to hold the common
core values of honesty, integrity
and respect in high regard as they
relate to their employees and their
customers. I think these values are
very important in the consulting and
sales professions.
I have built my business over
the years with a concentrated effort
in being customer-focused. I have
always been attentive to the needs
and wishes of my clients, and I
believe that providing nutrition
services as an independent
consultant gives my clients more
flexibility and options they desire,
whether that be for feed purchases,
evaluations of feed products and
ingredients, research or other
technical information. AgriNutrition Consulting is a great fit for
me to be able to provide nutrition
and consulting services within the
independent consultant business
model.
What goals would you like to

accomplish while in this position?
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82
I would like to help the company

increase market share of the number
of cows under controlled nutrition
by ANC consultants by providing
sales and technical support to team
members in their respective markets.
I hope to continue to promote the
commitments the company has to
producers and to the animal industry,
as seen through the companys
renewed focus on adding consultants
and upgrading talent. Finally, I would
hope that all of my clients would be
able to say that I always had their
personal and business interests
at the forefront of our working
relationships. PD
PD EAST MAIN
Just dropping by ...

By Yevet Tenney
Check your heart

I can hardly watch the
news nowadays. I am constantly
horrified by the heartless acts being
perpetrated on other human beings.
Riots and pillage in American cities,
murders of police officers, Planned
Parenthood videos displaying the
murder of innocents, marching forth
of ISIS, rape and massacre of innocent
women and children; these and other
horrors parade daily across the screen
in nearly every household.
Their exploits are announced
by the iceberg voices of the
commentators. We watch with
stunned amazement or we content
ourselves that we turned off the
news or closed our eyes at the most
gruesome parts. Some dont even
do that. They watch and even seek
out the videos on YouTube to watch
again. What has happened to our
hearts? Im afraid many of us have
heart trouble of the worst kind. We
have a hardening of the heart. We see,
but we dont feel anymore.
Have we seen too many movies
depicting violence to feel for the real
plight of human beings? Are we numb
to the real cries because we have
heard too many well-acted Hollywood
cries? Is the daily drama of the news
and commentary so hyped with
human suffering and sensational
depictions, designed to shock and
appall, that we dont even recognize
the feelings of horror and dismay
anymore? Are we past shedding tears
for those in distress? Have we lost our
human connection?
I remember hearing an account
of a young man who was traveling in
a country in South America. He was
hiking with some natives. They were
enjoying the hike when a message
came that something had happened
to a family member of this young
man. As he shared the message with
his fellow hikers, they all sat down
and wept with him. They felt his
pain and sorrow, and they shared it
unabashedly. I think that is the way
Americans used to be.
I remember when I first heard
about a murder as a child. I pined
over it for weeks. Every time I thought
about it, I was horrified. I even had
nightmares.
I wonder if we desensitize our
children with the shows we watch.
When something bad happens, we
tell them, Dont worry, it is not real.
I wonder if that translates to them
that nothing on the television is real.
If it is in that square box with moving
pictures, its not real. It cant hurt us.
There are 1,223 mentions of the
Charity begins with the love of the Savior. We must

learn to love Him as He loves us. As we do that, all of the
commandments and the teachings of the Savior fall into
place. We love God and our fellow man.
heart in the Bible. God must have
thought it was important. The heart
is synonymous with the soul. It is the
place where our compassion dwells.
We are counseled in Proverbs, Keep
thy heart with all diligence, for out
of it are the issues of life. And Jesus
said, Where your treasure is, there
shall your heart be also. We are
further instructed that our blessings
come from giving from the heart.
have not charity, I am nothing.
Beware that there be not a thought in

thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh
year, the year of release, is at hand;
and thine eye be evil against thy poor
brother, and thou givest him nought;
and he cry unto the LORD against
thee, and it be sin unto thee.
We can give everything we own

even our lives but it is meaningless
unless we have the honest feeling of
love behind the gift. We must give for
no other reason than compassion and
concern for the person in need.
Thou shalt surely give him, and thine

heart shall not be grieved when thou
givest unto him: because that for this
thing the LORD thy God shall bless
thee in all thy works, and in all that
thou puttest thine hand unto.
For the poor shall never cease out of
the land: therefore I command thee,
saying, Thou shalt open thine hand
wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and
to thy needy, in thy land.
Matthew 6:1-4
I dont know how we change the
trend of heartlessness in society, but
we can change our own hearts. God
has given us a picture of what we
should be a model to shoot for, if
you will. It is called charity. A closer
look at I Corinthians chapter 13 will
give us some insight.
Though I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding
brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
People can speak beautiful
words that sound like angels voices,
but if there is no feeling of love and
compassion behind them, they are
empty as an off-key trumpet or a
clanging wind chime.
And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains, and
We can perform miracles and

have great knowledge, but we are
nothing if we do not have soft, tender
hearts.
And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give
my body to be burned, and have not
charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind;

charity envieth not; charity vaunteth
not itself, is not puffed up.
Charity is an outward expression
of character that is willing to suffer
and yet respond in kindness. Charity
is grateful for every blessing and
does not desire the possessions or
successes of another. Charity rejoices
in the accomplishments of others
without being puffed up with pride
for her own achievements.
Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil.
Charity is the picture of modesty
in word and deed. She doesnt seek
to aggrandize herself by boasting or
drawing attention to her attributes.
Charity doesnt get angry or revile
against those who hurt her. She
allows her mind to dwell on goodness
and virtue, and seeks for integrity
and purity. Her thoughts and actions
continually reflect her innermost
desires for righteousness.
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth
in the truth.
She keeps wickedness far from
her as she seeks for truth. She abhors
wickedness of any kind and will flee
from it. She will do all she can to
curtail the wickedness around her.
She loves the truth and will never
weave a lie.
Beareth all things, believeth all things,

hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity is willing to carry
burdens and overcome hard things.
She is filled with hope and will
endure the sorrows and pains of this
world and will generously help
others to do the same.
Charity never faileth: but whether
there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall
cease; whether there be knowledge, it
shall vanish away.
Charity will overcome all things.
Everything will end, but charity
will last forever. The antidote for a
hard heart is charity. It is wonderful
to read beautiful poetic words and
wish we could be the embodiment of
charity, but how do we get there?
Charity is a vision that begins
in the mind. You must see yourself
being filled with charity before you
can achieve it. That vision begins
with desire. You must want to be
charitable for the right reason. It is
easy to want to be charitable because
it will make you look better in the
eyes of your friends and neighbors,
but that is the antithesis of charity.
We must want it because it is the
right thing to do.
I have always been taught that
charity is the pure love of Christ.
That can mean we love Him with all
our hearts, or it can mean He loves
us with a love that is infinite and
unfailing. Charity begins with the
love of the Savior. We must learn to
love Him as He loves us. As we do
that, all of the commandments and
the teachings of the Savior fall into
place. We love God and our fellow
man. We are born anew and have
no desire to do evil but to serve and
make life better for those around
us. The evils of the world touch
our hearts as they would touch the
Saviors heart.
We cant develop charity on our
own. We must pray mightily for His
love to fill our souls. Then we must
act on our charitable feelings. Christ
will open the way for us to prove that
we are soft-hearted men and women
of charity. PD
83
PD EAST MAIN
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PD EAST MAIN
Analaines Home Cooking

The zucchini is still on, and heres
another way to use that prolific
vegetable. Its so subtle, you wont
even know its in there. This recipe
came from our Durrant Family
Cookbook, and has been around for
years. Cousin Diane is an excellent
cook, especially with Mexican and
oriental dishes. Her original recipe did call
for a teaspoon of salt, but I have omitted
that. I think if you lightly salt and pepper
the hamburger when you are cooking it,
that should be enough. With the use of soy
sauce, it seems to be plenty salty. So taste
the finished product before you add any
more salt. Also, I would add more honey to
the sweet mustard sauce.
Chinese Egg Rolls

Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef (or pork)
1 med-large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
2 cups finely shredded zucchini
1/2 cup finely shredded carrots
3 T cornstarch
3 T soy sauce
1/4 T minced ginger
1 T honey
1 egg, beaten
1 pkg. egg roll skins
1 egg, beaten
Chinese Eg
g Rolls
, lightly salt
until brown onion and
er
rg
u
b
am
h
. A dd
Fr y
Directions: it. Drain of f any grease hini, cabbage,
er
. Add zucc
and pepp
al minute.
one minute
r
fo
ok
co
,
an addition h meat
k
oo
garlic
C
.
ce
u
wit
soy sa
ginger. Toss
carrots and
, honey and more. Set aside to
ch
ar
st
rn
co
Mix
inute
cook one m
s
mix ture and
tablespoon
h 2 heaping al edges
it
w
cool.
in
sk
ll
g ro
d se
Fill each eg
ture. Roll an
le/meat mix y @ 350 F for about
ab
et
g
ve
e
t fr
of th
egg. Deep fa
til crisp and
with beaten a half on each side, un en until you
d
ov
a minute an each one warm in the eet and
p
sw
golden. Kee er ve with soy sauce,
p
.S
uce: (1/2 cu
ed
sa
h
d
is
ar
n
fi
st
u
e
m
ar
t
T
ee
2
,
sw
h
radis
or hot
2) tsp. horse
sour sauce
stard, 1 (or
u
m
ed
ar
p
pre
honey).
Classified Line Ads

Dairies for Sale
Employment
Products
Cows, Bulls, Heifers
THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING?

Contact Pearson Realty Californias
Leading Farm & Ranch Property Specialists
Ed Camara BRE#01773451
ecamara@pearsonrealty.com
HELP WANTED HERDSMAN

East Texas. Competitive salary based
on proven experience. Send resume to
tamresumes@hotmail.com
MICROFIBER DAIRY TOWELS

12 x 12 - only $0.42 per towel. Free
Shipping! Free Sample! (847) 847-1318
www.MaximMart.com
FOR SALE: FRESH AND 2-YEAR-OLD

Springing Heifers. Also have small herds
for sale. Call Ron Strommen at
(608) 214-4551
WHOLESALE PRICING
Direct from manufacturer. Milk replacers,
scour treatments, DFM, silage inoculants,
SCC feed additive, waste water treatment.
(800) 690-9870 oakland_328@msn.com
100-HEAD HOLSTEIN SPRINGER HEIFERS

On hand at all times. 7-9 months bred.
419-651-2335
PACIFIC NW DAIRIES FOR SALE

Dave Wood, CCIM: 503-983-1585
John Lee, ALC: 503-245-9090
www.oregon-ag.com
www.oregonfarmbroker.com
Dairy/Farm division, principal brokers
RE/MAX Advantage Plus
DAIRYREALTY.COM
Bringing together dairymen, buying
or selling dairy property, nationwide
or worldwide. (608) 290-6790.
www.dairyrealty.com.
DAIRY FOR SALE JEROME, IDAHO
Nice dairy looking for new owner. Located
near 3 creameries, 1,460-head CAFO, 1,400
lock-ups with 90 acres of pivot-irrigated
farmland with cheap water. Seller extremely
creative on structure of sale or can Lease
option. Seller willing to carry a portion. Barn
needs a few upgrades and seller willing to
make improvements. Property has 30,000
bushels of grain storage with hammer mill to
process grain. Commodity barn with 7 bays
and large concrete silage pit. Sale price $2.6
million cash or have creative finance options.
Call Jim at 208-731-2111 or
email: agequity@hughes.net
DAIRY FOR SALE, BUCKEYE, ARIZONA
30 miles from downtown Phoenix. Double
20 Parallel (remodeled in 2006). Milking
capacity of 1,000 cows. Commodity barns
and feed storage. 89 deeded acres with two
water wells. 1,260 self-locking stanchions.
All corrals have 100% cooling (ADS
oscillating or flip fans). 80 truck scale and
3 employee houses. 3,000 sq. ft. owners
house (remodeled in 2007). $3,000,000.
Contact: Mike Vanderwey, (602) 763-0102,
mike@grandviewdairy.com
BRATH DAIRY & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
For the best selections of dairy farms,
visit DairyFarms4Sale.com
Email: info@dairyfarms4sale.com
Phone: 608-415-8402
ASSISTANT HERD MANAGER

Progressive dairy located in Sunnyside,
WA is seeking an experienced leader that
has basic knowledge of cow health and
managing dairy systems acquired through
advanced education or on-the-job training.
The successful candidate will be highly
self-motivated and will have opportunities for
career growth in specific areas of interest.
Bilingual & familiarity with DC305 are
preferred. Salary DOE. Please email resume
or questions to: dairyjob509@yahoo.com.
A GROWING 2,000-COW DAIRY

located in rural Eastern Colorado, is
looking for a long-term dairy manager with
exceptional cow knowledge as well as a
good understanding of day-to-day dairy
operations. Exceptional bilingual people skills
are required with the ability to recognize
in-house talent while training and placing
team members in positions where they will
succeed. Salary is competitive based on
experience. Email resume with work-related
references to daisylanedairy@plainstel.com
(2) self-contained barley sprout systems

Makes very nutritious feed for cattle. Asking
$20,000 per system. Ron Dyk, 406-282-7529.
DONS EASY CHUTE
New and improved. Vets love them. Call for
more info. Linway Mfg. 989-261-3285.
DRY HAY FOR SALE

Alfalfa grass mix. Delivery available.
Large square bales. Adam Iffland.
Near Toledo, Ohio. (989) 205-7553.
Finance
U.S. DAIRY FINANCE
All types of dairy financing available.
(281) 382-9056 www.usdairyfinance.com
SPRINGING HEIFERS FOR SALE

(563) 534-7754 or (507) 261-1703
GOOSSEN MOO-VER CROWD GATES

All models. Proven value for your dairy
operation. (866) 228-4226 Fax (402) 228-9006.
e-mail arlen@goossenconst.com
BROWN SWISS BULLS FOR SALE

Home raised and registered (if wanted).
High pedigrees, semen tested. Iowa
(563) 419-2137 or www.hilltopacresfarm.com
IH TRACTOR PARTS
New, used, rebuilt. UPS/Visa/MC/AX
Bates Corporation, Bourbon, Indiana
800-248-2955 www.batescorp.com
GENOMICALLY TESTED BREEDING BULLS

By the trailer load. Health tested.
Reproductively examined. Delivery available.
Email: max.prangemp@gmail.com
Phone: 920-980-5703 or 920-893-8844
TRITICALE SEED FOR SALE

Beautiful, clean winter Triticale seed
overstock. Delivery included.
Call (316) 249-1907
FOR SALE
Genomic tested Holstein bulls. Most have
full brothers in A.I., semen checked, delivery
available, Northeast Iowa. (319) 480-2484
Hay/Straw For Sale

ALFALFA HAY
Dairy quality. Call Bill Woods: 800-835-2096
R&R DAIRY CATTLE

Rogers, New Mexico. Large number of topquality springers, short-bred and Jersey cross
heifers. All vaccinated, dewormed, deloused
and headlock broke. Call Sam Robin at:
575-749-2818 or 601-833-4799
Services
Services
2 Wide Effective Grooving

by Tri-State Scabbling. Midwestern states.
1-800-554-2288. www.tristatescabbling.com.
NEIGHBORS COMPLAINING ABOUT

MANURE ODORS?
We specialize in covering manure ponds for
gas collection and odor control.
Call Industrial Environmental Concepts (IEC)
952-829-0731 www.ieccovers.com
MILK ROOM FLOORS

Milk room floors repaired and resurfaced.
Total parlor remodel and construction. Burnett
Construction LLC.(208) 899 8892
(541) 724 5329
STRAY VOLTAGE
Poor production, cows lapping water, high
SCC? Check Stray Voltage!
Stray Voltage Consulting. (605) 695-3328
www.strayvoltageconsulting.org
95% FLY CONTROL GUARANTEED

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TOO MUCH MANURE?
We can help! Composting, screening,
hauling, testing, spreading, sales.
Serving the NW since 2002.
Call Organix: 509-527-0526.
87
PD EAST MAIN
Different fuel additives to consider

Winter will be here soon, so its
time to consider using fuel additives
to protect the diesel engines in your
tractors and farm equipment during
storage. By using fuel additives now,
youll keep your engines in good shape
so theyll be ready to operate efficiently
when called upon in the spring.
Here are three different types of
fuel additives to consider:
Year-round diesel fuel treatment
Applying a year-round diesel

fuel additive to No. 1 and No. 2 diesel
fuels provides superior protection and
treatment throughout the year. Apart
from improving lubricity, a premium
fuel additive cleans and removes gum,
tar and shellac deposits on injectors,
and allows more complete combustion
for increased power and less fuel
consumption.
Its designed to clean the entire
injector system to improve fuel
economy, lubricate cylinder walls and
prevent harmful acids from forming.
The additive also dissolves free and
emulsified water in the fuel.
Look for a diesel fuel cleaner thats
soluble in both fuel and water, breaks
up sludge and slime mats in the fuel,
and is EPA-approved.
Fuel oil cleaner
A quality diesel fuel oil cleaner

will reduce engine maintenance costs
and protect your engines in storage
by killing algae and odor-causing
bacteria. The using of a fuel oil cleaner
reduces fuel oil filter deposits and
plugging, prevents tank corrosion

and breaks up sludge and slime mats.
In addition to use in diesel-fueled
engines, its also used in fuel oil
storage tanks.
The ideal fuel oil cleaner is a
water-soluble, EPA FIFRA-registered
(Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act) antimicrobial that
mixes solely in the water phase of
the fuel storage tank. Premium fuel
oil cleaners use a special balanced
blend of non-ionic wetting agents and
surfactants to allow penetration of
bacteria cell walls. This provides a fast,
more complete kill, for easier mixing
and ultimate contact. The dispersants
and wetting agents then disperse the
dead bacteria to reduce filter plugging.
Because all bacteria is 90 to 95 percent
water, the bacteria releases the water
when killed, and the small residue is
further dispersed by the surfactants.
Anti-gel and water-dispersant

diesel fuel treatment
If youll be operating your

equipment over the winter, consider
an anti-gel and water-dispersant
additive. Fuel thats been treated
with this type of additive is truly
a premium winterized fuel. Its
specifically designed to prevent
cold-filter plugging that occurs at
lower temperatures with all diesel
fuels (including No. 1 and No. 2 diesel,
ultra-low sulphur and biodiesel fuel
blends). This cold-weather diesel fuel
treatment provides protection against
waxing and gelling, and water and
BY
CARLY KELLY
When tractors and diesel-powered

equipment come out of cold weather in the
spring, you depend upon them to respond
and go into action immediately with the
same reliability and efficiency that they
exhibited before winter began. Fuel additives
go a long way to ensure a response in the
spring that you can count on.
related problems including icing. It
also lubricates and cleans the entire
fuel injection system and enables
superior production whenever diesel
engines are used during the coldweather months.
Because anti-gel cold-weather
diesel fuel treatment contains lubricity
additives to lubricate cylinder walls, it
prevents both corrosion of metals and
contact with diesel fuel. Its designed
to decarbonize combustion chambers,
reduce exhaust smoke and eliminate
the formation of algae and harmful
acids. It contains no alcohol.
The flow improver contained
in the anti-gel cold-weather fuel
treatment also dramatically lowers the
pour point and cold-filter-plus point.
Some products, for example, decrease
pour point and cold-filter-plus point
to minus 37F. Independent laboratory
tests verify some products are able
to lower the pour point of a given
fuel lower than that of kerosene.
(Fuels vary with their response to
any chemical, and this response will
vary from one batch of diesel fuel to

another.)
In short, an anti-gel cold-weather
diesel fuel treatment combines all the
benefits of a year-round diesel fuel
additive with an advanced cold-flow
improver. It provides superior
protection in the cold-weather months
and slows the aging and oxidation of
diesel fuel by dispersing water and
preventing thickening and gelling of
the diesel fuel.
An old saying goes, An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
When tractors and diesel-powered
equipment come out of cold weather
in the spring, you depend upon
them to respond and go into action
immediately with the same reliability
and efficiency they exhibited before
winter began. Fuel additives go a long
way to ensure a response in the spring
that you can count on. PD
Carly Kelly is a product marketing
manager of specialty fluids with New
Holland Parts & Service.
MAXIMIZE THE VALUE

OF YOUR RESOURCES
with Nutrient Advisors
With a clear understanding of regulations and an agronomic

background, Nutrient Advisors will keep you in
compliance while increasing returns from manure resources.
Peace of mind for your operation
Full service compliance record keeping

Manure sales program development and brokering
Livestock facility design and permitting
Manure/nutrient management plans
Groundwater monitoring
SPCC plans
Soil, manure, water, bio-solid, tissue, and fertilizer sampling
Agronomic consulting
More profit for your farm
Protect whats important

Doing things right for your business
OUR MISSION:
To assist the livestock
industry in reducing risk by
incorporating knowledge of
regulations and agronomics
to facilitate compliance
of the operation while
maximizing returns from
their manure resources.
PH: 1-402-372-2236 | EMAIL: info@nutrientadvisors.com

nutrientadvisors.com
88
The checkoff
Corn Time
by Bob Lang
helps me plan for issues

and potential crisis situations.
Consumer confidence drives purchasing decisions. Having a plan in
place is important to ensure consumer confidence is not damaged
during a crisis. Dairy MAX helps prepare dairy farmers for issues and
crisis with local and regional crisis trainings.
Call Bob at 260-418-9315 or email rlang@rightoons.com

for cartoon subscription information
Reprint only with express consent of B. Lang.
Your checkoff programs are driving the demand for dairy.

Learn more at dairymax.org.
H
E
R
d
management
Keeping your cool when things get heated
Annaliese Wegner for Progressive Dairyman
As dairy farmers, we know that
every day isnt cow kisses and ear
scratches; there are days that arent
so pretty. Sure, its fun and easy to
share photos of the kids helping
with morning chores or the sun
setting as the cows graze outside,
but as farmers and agvocates we
need to share the whole truth with
our consumers. It is up to us to help
consumers understand why we cull
cows, how we use antibiotics, why we
may choose to dock tails and even
what it is like when your favorite
cow must be euthanized. Todays
consumer has a lot of power when
it comes to how food is grown and
raised. If we want to continue to
grow and evolve as an industry, we
need to connect with our consumers
and help them understand our
practices.
It can be scary to address such
hot topics, but I think you might
be surprised by the response you get.
I have found that consumers want
to understand our methods and are
generally very perceptive.
In early August, I shared a
Facebook post (www.facebook.com/
moderndayfarmchick) regarding
antibiotic use and consumer
demand. I was amazed by all of the
likes, comments and attention the
post received.
The morning I wrote the post
was just one of those tough farm
days as we struggled to help a sick
cow feel better. Initially, I didnt

think much of it. When you have
a sick animal, it is just standard
procedure to do whatever you can
to help her. For many farmers, this
entails a lot of special care and,
when necessary, antibiotics. As we
administered the antibiotic to the
cow, I remember thinking, Why
is this perceived negatively by the
media? We are doing the right thing.
To date, the post has received
more than 13,600 likes and more
than 1,000 comments. Traffic to the
post came quickly, and folks were
comin in hot. To be honest, I havent
even read or responded to a majority
of the comments; I cant keep up.
Based upon the few comments I have
read and the online conversations I
have had with readers, most of the
responses have been positive. Sure,
there were some who disagreed, but
haters gonna hate. I do my best not
to dwell on the negative and to keep
sharing what I know in an upbeat
manner.
The past two years of blogging
have taught me to stay calm and
positive, even when it seems easier to
fire back at the negative commenters.
We are farming in a time where
consumers are growing farther and
farther away from the farm, but just
about everybody has an opinion on
food and how it should be raised. It
can be hard to keep your cool when
someone accuses you of untruths
Annaliese Wegner
Dairy Producer
Ettrick, Wisconsin
or tries to tell you how to farm, but

you truly do catch more flies with
sugar. Positivity, even with tough or
controversial topics, goes a long way.
I think it is important we take these

hot topics head on and keep an open,
honest line of communication with
our consumers. PD
Experience the Innovation and Design that

is built into every Kirby Mixer Feeder.
1-ton Bale Feeder
Trailer Mounted
Stationary
Truck Mounted
Engineered for Demanding Conditions Efficient Auger Design

Heavy-Duty Mixing Chamber Proven Hydrostatic Drive System Accurate Feed Weighing System
For the Kirby dealer nearest you call or visit www.kirbymfg.com
MERCED, CALIFORNIA PLANT
ARIZONA
OREGON
NEW MEXICO/TEXAS
NEW MEXICO/TEXAS
Kirby Mfg.
Stotz Equipment
Oak Lea Mixers
Tidenbergs Welding & Repair
Mixer Center
484 South Highway 59, Merced, CA 95341
buckeye STore: kenT 602-739-0559

AvondAle STore: denniS 602-989-2935
chAndler STore: mike 520-705-6150
cASA grAnde STore: 800-248-7481
ThATcher STore: 800-438-1223
Tim bielenberg
Jim Tidenberg
(503) 769-2090
(505) 763-1979 (Shop)

(505) 799-2436 (Mobile)
Art Burrows
aburrows@kirbymfg.com
(209) 723-0778 (Phone)
(209) 723-3941 (Fax)
90
11314 Mill Creek Rd., Aumsville, OR 97325
575 US Hwy 70, Clovis, NM 88101
Roswell, NM
Friona, TX
Stephenville, TX
Dalhart, TX
mixercenter.com
AlberT PoSThumuS
(254) 965-3663
91
In recognition of his commitment to mentoring bovine veterinary students and

young veterinarians, Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine
Practitioners (AABP) presented Dean Christianson, DVM, with the Mentor of the Year Award at the
2015 AABP Annual Conference in New Orleans. The annual award honors an individual who is dedicated to educating, guiding and advancing the careers of future bovine veterinarians.
On Sept. 21, Horizon Organic announced the 2015 recipients of two annual awards that honor its
family farmers. Paul and Diane Staehely of Staehelys Valley Veue Dairy in Oregon City, Oregon,
received the Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Award for being advocates for organic
agriculture. Gerard and Kay Spinner of Rainbows End farm in Fort Covington, New York, won the
National Quality Award, which recognizes the Horizon farmer who produces the highest-quality
organic milk in Horizons milk supply.
REDUCE
ENERGY COSTS
Operate your business with a fixed energy
cost from the solar power produced on site.
On average, dairies that use solar can
reduce energy costs by 84 percent a year*.
Moonlight Dairy 1.1MW DC Fixed Ground Mount Solar System
Contact us today for a free solar feasibility study
1.888.705.5055
www.ColdwellSolar.com
Established in 1986, CA Lic# 969149
Across
1 Analyze production and finances on
a regular basis
6 Tractor fuel
10 Fla. neighbor, for short
11 Make a melody without singing
12 Herd doctor
13 List in order of quality or quantity
14 Unborn calf
16 ____-range
17 Economic directions
20 I did it __ way
22 Basic unit of life
23 Walking area for cattle
27 Concerning
28 Having the advantage of being ____
to market
30 Not wholesale
34 ___ Jude (Beatles song)
35 Observed
36 Flake of skin
38 For each one
40 Employees
43 Wisconsin is famous for it
46 Bulk commodities bought or sold at
an agreed price for delivery at a later
date, _____s
49 Promotional efforts
50 Celebrity, abbr.
52 Place
53 Average herd ___
54 Life ___ of a cow
Down
1 Go to a different area
2 Not artificial
3 Chicagos state
4 Goal
5 Managed
6 Having to be paid
7 Not affected by a disease
8 Fathers
9 See
15 Keyword in animal husbandry
18 Rating from 1-10, say
19 Clean out, a milking area
21 Milk production
24 From farm to ____
25 Grazing areas
26 Area where cattle are kept
29 Check in the lab
31 Highest
32 Occupational suffix
33 Entryway
37 Bad or spoiled
39 Read hastily
41 Its price has declined a lot in 2015
42 Moist
44 Type of TV
45 Time just before an event
47 Raise
48 Barbecue application
51 Desktop
Power Ahead
Source: Coldwell Solar, Inc. solar power system partners

92
PD GAMES
Heavy Duty Laydown Chute
CURRENT PUZZLE
1
10
13
14
16
18
19
20
23
28
29
30
34
31
40
44
49
50
53
Jim Tidenberg
Visit
us at
38
41
45
46
51
42
47
& REPAIR
WELDING & REPAIR
32
35
37
39
WELDING
Roll-out Bucket
I
N
C
Hay Forks
TIDENBERGS NI
26
36
43
21
Heavy Duty Box Scraper
24
25
33
TIDENBERGS
Rubber Tire Scraper
17
27
All types of custom

fabrication
Stainless steel &
aluminum welding
Feed box & hay
equipment repair
Dairy specialties
Dealer for Kirby
and Kuhn Knight
feed equipment
Calf Bottle Trailer
15
22
Push Wheel
11
12
HEAVY DUTY DAIRY EQUIPMENT
48
575 US HWY 70 Clovis, NM

Phone: 575-763-1979 Fax: 575-763-9766
TIDENBERGS NI
WELDING
&
REPAIR
52
54
No cheating.
But if you are truly stumped, the answer key can be found on page 96.
ISNT THAT NICE, FRED, OUR FEED

STORE SENT BACK YOUR LAST
TWO CHECKS
93
INDUSTRY NEWS
Dairy accounts for four
of top 10 pumpkin products
According to Nielsen data, 37

percent of U.S. consumers purchased
a pumpkin-flavored product, which
could have included anything from
cereal to oral care.
Of the top 10 pumpkin products
last year, which resulted in $361
million in sales, dairy products held
four of those spots.
While pumpkin pie filling took
the top spot, check out how pumpkinflavored dairy contributed:
Cream: $47,907,993
Yogurt: $11,438,863
Ice cream: $9,778,062
Milk: $5,425,040
Visit www.nielsen.com to see the
infographic and for more information
about the success of pumpkin products.
Summarized by Progressive
Dairyman staff from cited sources
Survey reveals consumer attitudes

on sustainability and agriculture
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers

Alliance (USFRA) is focused on
answering questions consumers have
about how food is grown and raised.
These questions are often answered
online on the organizations social
media platforms and via its Food
Dialogues series of panel discussions.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

USFRA gathers insights on the
types of questions and concerns about
agriculture that are top-of-mind by
surveying consumers. The organization
recently shared insights from a recent
consumer survey focused on farming,
ranching and sustainability.
USFRA intends to use findings
from the research to better answer
questions consumers have about
sustainability and agriculture. The
survey found that 56 percent of
all respondents agreed with the
statement, Farmers and ranchers use
new technologies and innovations
to protect the environment. While
47 percent of respondents agreed
with, The way that most of todays
farming and ranching operations in
the U.S. grow and raise food meets the
standards of sustainability.
However, when presented with
the same statement, the survey
revealed that women are less likely
than men to agree that farming and
ranching practices are sustainable
37 percent of women versus 59
percent of men responding they are in
agreement.
Additionally, the survey findings
provided several insights to help
farmers and ranchers better engage
in conversations about sustainability
practices on their farms or ranches.
Among the findings:
Consumers are interested in learning
more about what farmers and ranchers

touch most.
Consumers are interested in the
human impact of sustainability.
Consumers are interested in how
agriculture is focused on the future
versus defining past successes.
From U.S. Farmers and Ranchers
Alliance news release
CDI completes
Visalia plant expansion
California Dairies Inc. (CDI), the

largest dairy processing cooperative
in California, is pleased to announce
it has commissioned a new evaporator
at its Visalia, California, plant. The
addition of a third evaporator at the
Visalia plant moves CDIs export
powder portfolio up the value chain
into higher-specification powders.
The additional evaporator
provides CDI the ability to produce
low-spore nonfat dry milk and skim
milk powder, in addition to high-heat,
heat-stable and low-spore milk
powders for UHT application. The
expansion and enhancement of its
assets and product offerings not only
enables CDI to meet its customer
needs for value-added milk powders
but also increases CDI presence in the
global marketplace. PD
From California Dairies Inc.
news release
We read R. Tom Bass article

100-pound herds: What are the
secrets to their success? pg. 6,
Midwest edition, published on July 1,
2015, with great interest and fully
support six of his seven observations.
However, in secret No. 7, Dr. Bass
states, Large bodies, the large
rumens that come with them and the
proportionately lower maintenance
costs of bigger cows offer several
undeniable advantages when elite
production is the goal. This statement
raised our concern for several reasons.
Comprehensive data compiled by
the USDA-ARS Animal Improvement
Program, Animal Genomics and
Improvement Laboratory for Holstein
cattle show a genetic correlation
between milk yield and body size
of -0.1. Fat and protein are also
negatively correlated with body size.
These data are virtually identical
across dairy breeds and are also
essentially unchanged over several
decades of industry data evaluation,
indicating that increasing body size in
Holsteins is not necessary to increase
genetic milk yield.
Further data from 5,700 Holstein
cows in the USDA-AFRI National
Institute of Food and Agriculture
project 2011-68004-30340, which is led
by Dr. Mike VandeHaar at Michigan
State University, also do not support
No. 7 in his article. In this analysis, the
estimated genetic correlation between
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94

NEW PRODUCTS
metabolic bodyweight and milk yield
is 0.06, with a standard error of plus
or minus 0.06, which indicates that it
is not significantly different from zero.
This means selection for larger body
size is not necessary to genetically
improve high milk production, though
we would also contend that net profit
is a more suitable goal than high milk
production.
More importantly, the genetic
correlation between metabolic
bodyweight and gross efficiency
(defined as the proportion of total
energy intake that is devoted to
production of milk and formation of
body tissue) is -0.28, indicating that
cows with a genetic predisposition
for larger body size are less efficient
in terms of feed utilization. In
contrast, the genetic correlation
between energy-corrected milk
yield and gross efficiency is 0.66,
indicating that selection for higher
milk yield will increase the gross
efficiency of feed utilization.
By comparing the magnitude of
these correlations, we can see that
selection for higher milk yield should
be the primary goal. Selection for larger
body size, though commonly practiced
by pedigree breeders and A.I. industry
sire analysts, is not supported by this
research. Consequently, ending the
trend toward selection for larger body
size should be a priority in the short
term, and if and when we achieve this
objective, our selection programs

should continue to focus on higher
milk yield and improved production
efficiencies as primary goals, with
smaller body size as a secondary goal.
New tools are emerging that will
allow direct selection for increased
feed efficiency, most likely in the form
of genomic predicted transmitting
abilities for residual feed intake.
Finally, larger and larger cows
are exacerbating challenges with
practical dairying in many important
areas: reduced reproductive fitness,
increased injury and lameness, wear
and tear on facilities and housing, and
increased safety issues for cows and
human handlers; all of which combine,
making the selection for ever-larger
cows clearly an unsustainable
practice, particularly for the Holstein
breed. Focus must be reapplied to
improving the net profit of the dairy
industry through simultaneous
improvements in production capacity,
production efficiencies and reduced
environmental impacts. PD
Mark Boggess
Director, USDA-ARS
U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center
Kent Weigel
Chair, Department of Dairy Science,
University of Wisconsin
Mike VandeHaar
Professor, Dairy Nutrition and
Metabolism, Michigan State University
DeLaval launches
somatic cell counting device
DeLaval Inc. has introduced the

Cell Counter ICC, an optical somatic
cell counting device designed to help
save time and testing costs. Used in
conjunction with an iPod touch (sold
separately), the device provides results
in less than a minute.
The device works in conjunction
with an app available through Apples
app store. Features of the app include
the ability to store and track individual
cow results, and record the specific
quarter of the udder being tested.
Results may be emailed directly from
the iPod and analyzed by date, test
results and cow tag number.
Powered by a 9-volt battery, the
device works by illuminating milk
samples with a specific-frequency LED
light emission. The light causes somatic
cells to fluoresce, and the image is
captured. This image is shown to the
camera lens of an attached iPod touch
to give a preliminary estimate of the
SCC present.
Producers interested in the
device should note that, while it is
a preliminary means to diagnose
disease, it is not intended to replace
veterinary advice. Producers should
routinely consult their veterinarian.
Visit www.delaval.com for more
information.
Digi-Star releases Grain Tracker

App and Grain Tracker Online
Digi-Star has released the Grain

Tracker App for iOS and Android
devices, as well as Grain Tracker
Online, a program that makes harvest
data accessible from any Internetcapable device.
The app interfaces with the
companys web server, allowing users
to sync records in the PC software
program or the new online program.
The app can be downloaded from any
online app store. It is free of charge
with the purchase of the companys
ERM Wi-Fi module.
The module is designed to
transmit data to a growing portfolio of
the companys smartphone and tablet
applications and hardware systems.
Grain Tracker Online will be free to
use for one year and will be available
for an annual fee after that.
Visit digi-star.com for more
information.
From Digi-Star news release
New safety-training website

tailored for agriculture
Farm and other agribusiness

operations looking for convenient, costeffective ways to improve workplace
safety and meet Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA)
From DeLaval news release
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209.668.5350
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Sammy Swaim (417) 872-9690 CA, NV, NM, AZ, CO, TX

Southland Dairy Equipment Inc.
Roswell, NM
575.347.4000
Automated Dairy Systems Inc.

Clovis, NM
Tulare, CA
575.562.7179
559.366.9008
Avila Dairy Equipment Inc.

Hanford, CA
559.582.9649
Robic Refrigeration
Turlock, CA
209.632.8851
Miguel Dairy Service

Hereford, TX
806.364.3900
4D Industries Inc.
Galt, CA
209.745.0500
Performance Dairy Service

Tulare, CA
559.688.3555
Reliable Milking Systems

Dalhart, TX
806.244.1730
Arolo Co., Inc.

Petaluma, CA
707.762.4028
Danforth & Sons

Clovis, NM
575.763.9300
Bovine Supply
Dublin TX
254.445.4443
Ross Dairy Supply & Service

Sulphur Springs, TX
903.885.2006
95
PD GAMES
New Products, contd from page 95

DeLaval unveils state-of-the-art
teat dip technology
compliance requirements have a new

option available online.
Good Days Work is a web-based
business that combines an expanding
library of employee safety-training
videos (available in English and
Spanish) with a record-keeping and
reporting tool any agribusiness can
use to maintain a sound workplace
safety program, with or without a
safety specialist on staff.
According to Don Tyler, the
president and co-founder of Good
Days Work, the company isnt only
for agribusinesses struggling to
cost-justify a safety investment. The
robust program also adds value for
agribusinesses with safety programs
and personnel already in place. The
compliance features alone, he says,
lighten the paperwork burden to
the degree that safety personnel can
finally focus on developing that elusive
safety culture theyve always wanted.
Once a business sets up an
account, that businesss account
administrator can register employees
for classes, track training activity,
access management-level compliance
information, submit OSHA
accident reports, gather necessary
documentation in the event of an
OSHA inspection and conduct a
wide range of other safety program
management activities.
DeLaval has released the latest

innovation in udder hygiene solutions.
Providing superior teat conditioning,
while equaling the bacteria control of
industry-accepted standards, GlyTec
is a patent-pending technology that is
formulated for pre-, post- and barrier
applications. The active ingredient is
based on glycolic acid. OceanBlu is
the product utilizing this technology.
In-vitro efficacy shows greater than
5-log kill in 15 seconds for all major
mastitis-causing bacteria. The pre-post
formula is composed of 5 percent
glycerin, and the barrier formulation
has a 10 percent blend of glycerin and
sorbitol.
The products blue color is easy
to identify, adding an additional
level of quality control for producers.
The barrier dip dries to a film that
reactivates when wet to continue
disinfecting the teat between
milkings. It is ready-to-use, requiring
no mixing before application, which
saves time.
In clinical trials, cows treated
with a pre-post teat dip containing
this product had a lower incidence
of intramammary infection. Field
study results showed improved teat
conditioning when compared to
chlorine dioxide dips. PD
From Good Days Work news release
From DeLaval news release
ANSWERS FOR CURRENT PUZZLE

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The Milk House

By Ryan Dennis
Silo City
They gave us white handkerchiefs
and asked us to wear them over our
faces for the purpose of anonymity. We
were led to an idyllic fairground setting
with a plank bandstand, square bales
for seats and a wooden wagon in the
middle.
It took a moment for the subtleties
of the scene to emerge: women in
burlap skirts and white sacks over
their faces, ritualistic deer antlers hung
from the top of a gazebo, a maypole
with a horses head on the spire and
a blank-faced man leading a pygmy
goat. The speakers began repeating a
soliloquy from a woman describing
going to a small town as a young girl
and seeing a dead man strung from a
lamp post, pondering what would cause
the village to behave like this. After it
was over, faceless actors came onto the
stage to perform a cult-like rhythmic
dance heavy with stomping and kneeslapping. Then we were ushered into the
great silos that loomed above us.
I was visiting a friend in Buffalo,
New York, and my second night there
he took me to a site-specific artistic
performance in Silo City, an area by
the Erie Canal. Silo City received its
name from the colossal grain elevators
built there in the first decade of the
1900s.
Positioning on the canal turned
Buffalo into an economic powerhouse
in the first half of the 20th century.
Construction occurred quickly and
with cutting-edge technology of the
time. Grain milling, storage and
transport built the city and drove its
development. The silos themselves
were emblems of Americas industrial
rise. They were even credited to be
the inspiration of certain German
architecture, exemplifying the essence
of pure functionality and size.
They heyday of Buffalo, however,
is unfortunately over. The opening of
the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959
and the advancement of other shipping
industries eventually outdated the
Erie Canal. In Rust Belt fashion, the
city soon declined economically
and then socially. The municipalitys
unemployment rate is typically 3
percent higher than the national
average. Public schools have a dropout
rate of almost 50 percent.
Even the citys NFL team hasnt
been in the playoffs in 15 years. A
character in a recent movie said that
to kill yourself in Buffalo is redundant.
The behemoth silos themselves stand as
towering, empty emblems of the better
days gone.
In the mid-90s, our farm
converted from a 100-cow tiestall
operation to a 200-cow freestall facility.

One of the vestigial parts of the barn,
left over from the earlier days, was the
feed room and the Harvestore silos
next to it. The feed room reminds me
of my childhood, of watching my father
running the auger and chatting away
with Lenny, the Harvestore repairman,
that was there whenever something
broke. Farming was better then, at least
for my family. We enjoyed the tiestalls
more and the days when 100 cows were
plenty.
Now the feed room is dilapidated,
and the auger hangs motionless under
a layer of dust. The whitewash has
chipped away from the walls and litters
the ground. It still smells like cornmeal
and distillers, although what is left
inside the machines has been repeatedly
mined by beetles. Whenever Im in the
barn and have a few minutes to pass, I
go into the feed room. Often, because
its my occupation anyway, I bring pen
and paper and write about farming.
The artistic presentation in Silo
City was called They Kill Things. It
was a disjointed and impressionistic
story of two travelers entering a
secluded, perplexing town as it
prepared for its harvest festival with
dubious rituals. The themes dealt
with the origins of violence and the
dichotomy of beauty and aggression
sometimes inherent in religion. We
were taken inside the silos to various
sections that held installations of light
and sound, as well as actors carrying
out scenes or choreographed dance.
At one point, they lined us up
while shirtless, bearded men strode
up and down the row sparking their
scythes on the concrete. Another time
they dragged a corpse through the
building and then hung it on a pulley
outside while a choir sang below it. One
room had a nurse gently massaging and
singing to a scarecrow until another
bearded man stormed in and hit it in
the face with a sledgehammer. This was
all accented by the smell of old grain
dust, which added to the strange mix of
feelings, especially for a farmers son.
I loved it. Having an appreciation
for both the arts and the bizarre, I
came away with an experience Ill never
have again, nor be able to faithfully
describe. In truth, I would have paid the
admission just to go inside the silos, but
it was the silos themselves that made
the performance. Being a site-specific
spectacle, as advertised on the theater
companys website, it all started with
the Gothic grain elevators and created
a concept based on the image they
project.
Old agriculture and avant-garde art
seem like an odd juxtaposition, which

is perhaps why it worked so well. In
fact, the show is just one of the ways the
community is trying to bring life back
into Silo City. A climbing wall was built
on the side of one of the elevators, and
various readings and literary events
are now being held there. Other art
installations and movie nights occur in
Silo City, as well as a flea market once a
month in the summer season.
My friend tells me that the city
of Buffalo is on the rise again. Part
of the reason, and perhaps the events
at Silo City are emblematic of that, is
finding ways to integrate the derelict
spaces of its past glories. It doesnt
seem that Buffalo is concerned with
recontextualizing the giant grain
elevators so much as finding a way to
incorporate the past into the present.
Nostalgia is easy, and perhaps even
has its place, but that isnt happening
on the canal. The silos could have been
figurative museum pieces, left as relics
and nothing more, but instead people
are finding ways to engage with them

again even in the unlikely manners of
conceptual art and weekend recreation.
Its a way of recognizing what the
city of Buffalo was in a manner that
assimilates it into what it is now.
When I sit in the feed room, it is
with the ghosts of the past. Its still
strange to see such elaborate and
once central equipment fade under
the cobwebs. The room has been used
for the storage of old plow parts and
pieces of machinery, and in that way
still maintains some utility. I suspect it
will have other purposes in the future.
Ill admit that I cant help but see it as
an artifact of the way life and farming
used to be, and nostalgia creeps in.
Still, on my better days, its a space
that encourages me to bring out the
notebook and to be conscious of the
things around me. I havent completely
resolved my feelings of what farming
used to be and what it looks like now,
but perhaps, as Silo City suggests,
theres room for both. PD
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97
CALENDAR
October 20-22, 2015
Cornell Nutrition Conference

for Feed Manufacturers
East Syracuse, New York
hh96@cornell.edu
(607) 255-4478
October 21, 2015
World Class Webinars Manage

Your People So They Will Stay
mail@pdpw.org
(800) 947-7379
October 25-28, 2015
American Bankers Associations

National Agricultural
Bankers Conference
Kansas City, Missouri
cwatkins@aba.com
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 596-7755
October 25-29, 2015
Las Vegas, Nevada

(800) 453-9400
National Dairy Board/NMPF/UDIA

Joint Annual Meeting
dfm6@psu.edu
(717) 840-7408
November 12-13, 2015
National Institute for Animal

Agriculture Symposium
Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council

Annual Meeting
Atlanta, Georgia
(719) 538-8843 ext. 12
Buffalo, New York

(217) 239-3341
November 4-6, 2015
October 27-28, 2015
Western Organic Dairy Producers

Alliance Conference
Corvallis, Oregon
wodpa@outlook.com
(530) 898-6022
November 15, 2015
Dairy Practices Council

Annual Conference
AgriGrowth Annual Meeting

and Conference
Burlington, Vermont
(215) 355-5133
Minneapolis, Minnesota
(651) 905-8900
November 5-7, 2015
October 27-28, 2015
Keystone Crops & Soils Conference
October 24, 2015
October 27-30, 2015
Lexington, Kentucky
larissa.tucker@uky.edu
(859) 257-5986
Itasca, Illinois
adsa@assochq.org
(217) 356-5146
Orlando, Florida
(703) 243-6111
Providence, Rhode Island

usaha@usaha.org
(816) 671-1144
Dare to Dairy (for 4-Hers)
November 10, 2015
Penn State Technology Tuesday

Webinar: Group Calf Update
November 3-5, 2015
October 26-28, 2015
October 22-28, 2015
U.S. Animal Health Association

Annual Meeting
Louisville, Kentucky
kfecnaile@ksfb.ky.gov
(502) 595-3166
ADSA Discover Conference

Creating an Enduring
U.S. Dairy Production Sector
Portland, Oregon
execdir@nae4ha.com
(919) 232-0112
October 21-23, 2015
DHI-Provo Herd and Feed

Management Conference
Louisville, Kentucky
(317) 802-6060
November 6-10, 2015
North American International

Livestock Exposition Dairy Shows
November 2-5, 2015
National Association
of Extension 4-H Agents Conference
October 21-22, 2015
Margin Management
for Lenders Seminar
October 28-31, 2015
National FFA Convention and Expo
Practical Water Technologies

Short Course
Portland, Maine
(207) 429-9678
Grantville, Pennsylvania
(717) 651-5920
Farm Equipment Manufacturers

Association Fall Convention
American Agri-Women
Annual Convention
College Station, Texas

(979) 845-2758
November 5-7, 2015
AFIA Feed Equipment

Manufacturers Conference
Kansas City, Missouri

(314) 878-2304
Dairy Margin Management

Seminar
St. Petersburg, Florida

ghuddleston@afia.org
(703) 666-8854
Chicago, Illinois
www.cihedging.com/education
(312) 596-7755
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
Aardema Dairy................................... 25
Mensch Manufacturing..................Cover
Ralco Nutrition Inc. ............................ 64
Specialized Dairy Service Inc. ............. 95
ABS Global........................................ 14
Meyer Manufacturing Corporation....... 60
Renaissance Nutrition Inc................... 70
Summit Glove/Milkers Helpers........... 49
Accelerated Genetics......................... 43
Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition.... 46
Riley Built.......................................... 47
Supreme International Limited............ 36
Adisseo........................................31,75
Multimin USA Inc.............................. 30
RotoChopper Inc. .............................. 61
The Dairy Authority............................. 19
Agri-Plastics Mfg. ............................. 68
New Direction Equipment................... 35
Royer Enterprises............................... 32
Tidenbergs Welding & Repair............. 93
Agromatic.......................................... 32
North Brook Farms Inc. .................... 100
RP Nutrients...................................... 66
Total Scale Service Inc. ...................... 26
Ajinomoto Heartland LLC.................... 50
Nuhn Industries................................. 58
Rustys Weigh Scales & Service Inc. ..... 2
Trinity Trailer Manufacturing Inc. ......... 91
Albers Dairy Equipment Inc. ............... 24
OnFarm Solutions.............................. 81
Sandmiser Inc. .................................. 45
Trioliet................................................. 8
Animat Inc......................................... 41
Palmer Manufacturing........................ 30
Schaefer Ventilation........................... 81
Udder Comfort International Inc. ....Cover
Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition......... 44
Paul Mueller Company....................... 95
Schuil & Associates Inc. ..................... 95
Udder Health Systems.......................... 4
Arms Pumps / All Repair Machine Shop Inc. ... 1
Perdue Agribusiness.......................... 75
SCR Dairy Inc. ................................... 78
Universal Bio Medical Research Lab...... 9
AWS Dredge........................................ 4
Polydome.......................................... 28
Select Sires Inc. ...........................16,72
VAS................................................... 29
Bag Man LLC..................................... 33
Prime Metal Buildings & Design.......... 18
Semex..........................................34,71
Western Forage Systems.................... 10
Balchem............................................ 74
Priority IAC........................................ 57
Sexing Technologies Genetic Resources Intl. .... 65
Bayer Animal Health........................... 53
Puck Custom Enterprises...................... 5
Smart Turner Pumps.......................... 15
BECO Dairy Automation...................... 21
Purina Animal Nutrition....................... 22
Soy Best............................................ 27
Bettermilk/Jenlis Inc. ......................... 80

Bio-Vet Inc. ....................................... 36
Biomin USA Inc. ................................ 42
BioZyme Incorporated...................Cover
Coldwell Solar Inc. ............................. 92
Creative Genetics of California............ 20
Personalized
Service & Solutions
Dairy MAX Inc. .................................. 89

DariTech Inc..................................Cover
DaSilveira Southwest Inc.................... 73
DCC Waterbeds................................. 39
Development Resources of Iowa......... 12
DFS Premium Feed Supplements.......... 6
DHI Computing Service Inc. ............... 35
Diamond V Mills................................. 13
Dupont Pioneer ............................48,49
Five-G Consulting............................... 56
Fritsch Equipment Corp. .................... 55
FSI Fabrication Inc................................ 5
GEA Farm Technologies (Houle)............. 7
GEA Farm Technologies (Norbco)......... 94
GEA WestfaliaSurge Inc. .................... 10
Genesis Feed Products / GFP Global Inc. ....9,26
Genex Cooperative Inc. .................37,59
Green Freestall.................................. 45
Hanson Silo Co. ................................ 47
Jaylor Fabricating............................... 63
Kemin............................................... 40
Kirby Manufacturing........................... 90
Kooima Company............................... 72
Krynenhill Holsteins Ltd. .................... 32
Kuhn North America Inc. .................... 11
Lallemand Animal Nutrition...... 17,19,79
Complete Dairy Nutrition Programs

On-Farm Consultation
Forage, Grain & TMR Analysis
Personalized Feed Rations
Silo-King Forage & Grain Treatment Programs
Cutting Edge Enzyme Technology
Lone Star Milk Producers Inc. .............. 2

MAI Animal Health.........................17,77
Masters Choice........................... Insert
Mastitis Management Tools...........Cover
SILO-KING
800-435-9560 www.agriking.com
a five star solution
The Premier Forage and Grain

Treatment Program
99
On the Edge of Common Sense

By Baxter Black
Another good man gone

I had just finished bein on an
extension program in the Herington,
Kansas, sale barn. I was standin in
the auction ring afterward, tryin to
answer a few questions and shake
hands with the local stockmen. My

veterinary lecture, as usual, had been
more humorous than informative.
One older gentleman waited until
the last question had been asked;
then he approached me and offered

his hand. I didnt catch his name. He
was wearin thick glasses. He reached
into his shirt pocket and handed me a
Polaroid snapshot of a cow dog settin
With sand bedding,

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sand without the labor and expense.
Sand can cause costly wear and tear on everything from robotic
milkers to scraper cables. Worse, sand bedding compacts over
time unless fresh sand up to 52 lbs per cow, per day1 is added
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info@northbrookdairy.com
1 Based on a recommended minimum bedding requirement of 35 lbs of sand per 1,000 lbs of weight per cow. Lorimor, Powers, Iowa State University. Manure Characteristics, Manure Management Systems Series. MidWest Plan Service, Iowa State University.
2015 North Brook Farms, Inc.
100
in the back of an ol Chevy pickup.

Go git in the pickup! he said, an
obvious reference to one of my
stories. He laughed and wandered off.
A while later, I wrote of meetin
him and of the snapshot. I was tryin
to explain why I enjoy makin up
poems and columns about people in
our way of life. That ol man, I said,
was the reason I did it.
One day, I got a letter from a
lady who had read my story, and
she said that ol man was her dad.
He and I struck up a friendship.
We wrote occasional letters. Hed
send me photos of his horse and
grandkids. Wed visit on the phone.
Hed talk about the old days. Hed
cowboyed all his life and still helped
on local gathers or checked pastures
sometimes. He was in his 80s.
His health started slippin, so I
went to see him. We had a good visit.
Before I left, he gave me a photo of Bill
Pickett doggin a steer. He took it off
his kitchen wall. He claimed hed seen
Bill do his stuff. His wife gave me a
wooden hot pad. She picked it right off
the kitchen table and gave it to me.
His wife died. He sorta lost
interest in things. We talked on the
phone infrequently. He went into a
nursing home. The last time I called
him, he was in and out of reality. He
was ready, he said. He missed his wife
terribly. He became incoherent.
Call my daughter, he said.
Shell tell ya how I am. I told him Id
rather talk to him if I could.
Im not doin good in the last
stages, he said. Then his voice got
strong as a bell and he said, One of
these days Ill be lookin for that ol
black dog up in the white clouds.
Then the nurse came on and said he
couldnt talk anymore.
He died two days later. A good
man. Just one of us who rode good
horses, loved a good woman and was
true to his friends.
Too bad he cant send me a
snapshot from Heaven. Course, I
guess I dont need one. He already
told me what it would be like. PD
He died two
days later. A good
man. Just one of
us who rode good
horses, loved a
good woman and
was true to his
friends.
When times are tough, we continue to use it

one thing we dont pull.
Nathan Moroney
DEL RIO DAIRY, Friona, Texas 2 generations of the Gingg family

Rocky & Liz Gingg, Nathan & Crystal Moroney and Garth & Heidi Cummings
4000 cows 78 lbs/cow/day SCC 170,000
Weve used Udder Comfort more than 6 years
on mastitis cows and fresh cows. We mainly
use it in the auxilliary parlor where the fresh
cows and late-lactation cows are milked.
It cant be beat as anti-inflammatory
supportive therapy and stands alone
against anything else in relieving edema,
says Nathan Moroney.
As manager of 4000-cow Del Rio Dairy,
Friona, Texas, Nathan credits good tools and
teamwork for cow comfort and milk quality.
When times are tough, we continue to use

Udder Comfort. Its one thing we dont pull.
Its naturally soothing, and we can tell it
works because the cows respond. We like
the natural healing to reduce the need for
injectables.
Not only does Udder Comfort provide
healing comfort for cows, it is effective and
saves us money, time and trouble.
He and wife Crystal are part of the third

generation in the dairy her parents, Rocky
and Liz Gingg, moved from Arizona to the
Texas Panhandle in 2006.
For external application to the udder only, after milking, as an essential component of udder management.
Always wash and dry teats thoroughly before milking.
Quality Udders Make Quality Milk
Keep the milk in

the system
1.888.773.7153 1.613.652.9086
uddercomfort.com
Call to locate a
distributor
near you.
The ready-to-use Copper Sulfate Foaming

Hoof Care attaches to her hooves as the cow
walks through the bath. The thicker foam stays
on 30 minutes longer than a normal foot bath,
increasing the effectiveness in fighting hoof
warts and foot rot. The specially formulated bath
penetrates the hoof and maintains a low PH
throughout application.
USES NO WATER
Foam stays on longer
Every cow gets fresh chemical
Fully automated
Eliminate 98% of copper entering your lagoon or field
A NEW WAY OF DOING HOOF BATHS
BEST
We offer a 100%
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promise on all of our
products
The
dipping
tools in the world
1-866-677-1166 208-677-1166
www.mastitismanagementtools.com
Self-Propelled Side-Shooter
MENSCH
MANUFACTURING
The Fastest Way To Bed
15 & 20 yd
Simple Bedding Management
Precise control over

bedding placement
Four-wheel-steer allows for
turning in cross alleys
9-13 yd
Mensch Manufacturing, LLC
2499 S. M-37 Highway, P.O. Box 418
Hastings, MI 49058
800.945.6678 Tel
269.945.5584 Fax
Bedding Fluffer
1/2 - 4 yd
Info@MenschMFG.com
www.MenschMFG.com
USA
Call for a free DVD &

to set up a demo on your farm
U.S. PATENT & INTERNATIONAL

PATENTS P ENDING

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