Recently I attended the National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting in Florida. One of the sessions I attended was “Dairy Trade Players: Past and Future” by Jay Woldvogel of Dairy Farmers of America. Jay has more than 20years experience in the global milk market and leads DFA’s strategic planning process. Here’s a little on what I learned from his session:

1.)    The U.S. marketplace is no longer constrained to our borders. 15% of the US milk supply last year was sold to international markets. The foreign marketplace is so too large to ignore, it would be like taking 15% of our milk market away tomorrow. The resulting crash in prices would be catastrophic to the dairy industry.

2.)    Globalization has quietly become the reality over the last 10 years. One factor of the increasing markets is the new patterns of emerging technologies. Technologies are not developing slowly and following the same steps as developing countries did in the past. They are skipping entire steps in their development processes. Developing countries don’t go from not having any phones, to running wires and putting in land lines. They simply skip that phase by putting up cell towers, making their technologies equal to ours in one step.

Their citizens also skip steps. They don’t gradually increase their consumption of nutritious food; they quickly go from not enough food to demanding quality nutritious foods. No longer are they satisfied with products such as non-fat milk powder, they are demanding quality dairy products.

3.)    Another factor that the US is no longer in control of is our pricing. China has 22% of the world’s people, 7% of the arable land and 3% of the water. India has 18% of the world’s people. These countries cannot supply their own food. They need inputs of quality nutritious food for as long as can be seen.

4.)    Traditionally, we have not supplied the world markets with the products they desire; rather we supply them with the products we already produce. They wished for low-fat dry milk powder while we only produced non-fat. This must change to give them the products they demand. The world now wants standards of 400,000 SCC or less and many of our farms fail to meet it. Another big issue we are not yet up to par with is drug residues in both meat and milk. Unless we proactively take measures to meet foreign demands and standards, we run the risk of losing this vital market.  

These are all issues we, as an industry, are facing. We must demand that these issues be addressed. As an industry we need to be diligent about eliminating drug residues, lowering SCCs and producing products that are desired in foreign markets. This will make us better managers and producers of a better product. We must demand that the industry starts tuning in to the world as our marketplace. The better we can produce products to fit the growing world market, the better we will thrive as an industry.

What is makes a “home sweet home” for heifers? One thing in common all heifers need is good air quality. No matter the season or type of housing, superior air quality is key to a healthy respiratory system, i.e., less pneumonia.

When checking for good air quality, keep in mind what area to look at. Consider the height where the calves are breathing, along with where in the pen you are checking, in the back of the pen or in the front of the pen? Where do they spend the most time? Where do they have their meals? Just like newborn infants, newborn calves spend the majority of their time sleeping. So get down to their level and check it out. Ask yourself, would you want to breathe that air all day and night?

Now that you’re on their level, what are you checking for? Pretty simple really — clean air. Quality clean air won’t irritate your airways or make your eyes water. Air quality is especially important for newborns; pens should be clean, dry and draft-free. A draft can be defined as air moving greater than 60 feet/min. If your calves are in a calf barn, the DCHA states that during hot weather indoor ventilation rates should be 100 cfm (cubic feet per min) but for mild to cold weather ventilation should drop to 50 and 15 cfu.

Remember, the goal of good ventilation is to improve respiratory health by keeping down the amount of bacteria and irritants in the air.

If we all agree that maintaining good air quality is a common goal for all heifers, what changes as they grow older?

There is an expression, one size fits all. Well that may work for some things, but just like kids growing out of clothes, the housing of young stock changes as they grow.

As heifers mature, we need to make adjustments in their housing. Calves less than two months old require at least 24 square feet, pens with solid sides and an open front and back are ideal. From two to four months plan on providing heifers with 34 square feet and from 4 to 6 month olds they should have 40 square feet per individual heifer.

The bedding or surface that young stock need as they grow will also change. Calves less than two months of age need extra bedding, especially in the winter, in comparison to their older siblings. The rule of thumb is to provide newborns with 6 to 10 inches of dry bedding. Some people refer to the nesting score scale, which ranges from 1 to 3. 

            1=legs entirely visible when lying down

            2=legs partially visible when lying down

            3=legs generally not visible when lying down (ideal for newborns in the winter)

Earlier I suggested you breathe the air you have the calves breath. Now I also suggest kneeling on the bedding, if you dare! When you kneel on the bedding, you should be able to kneel for at least 15 seconds without getting your knees wet. If it takes less than 15 seconds to feel the wet (and cold) underneath you, please add some bedding; she will be lying there more than 15 seconds. 

The new DCHA Gold Standards has recommendations on shelter for older calves and suggested dimensions for resting space and free stall space, check it all out at www.calfandheifer.org

• The Georgia Poultry Federation was founded in 1950 to advance the industry. At the time meat production was mainly a by-product of egg production.
• Poultry is the largest segment of Georgia agriculture, accounting for 54%. Crops make up 37% and dairy and livestock accounts for 7%.
• 105 counties in Georgia produce more than $1 million of poultry at the farm level, and an average poultry farm could feed 6.3 million people annually.
• 100,000 Georgians are employed in the poultry industry across the state in broiler and fowl processing, breeding, egg packing, hatcheries and feed mills.
• On an average day Georgia produces: 26 million pounds of chicken, 9.2 million table eggs and 7.8 million hatching eggs.
• If Georgia were a country, it would rank 6^th in broiler production, the U.S. would rank first.

While Georgia’s agriculture industry is vastly different from what we experience in the Midwest, we learned we fight similar battles in food safety, input costs, labor and immigration reform, environmental and water regulations, and educating the public and media about agriculture and their food supply.

We also share the fight of feeding the world with land on less than 3% of the world’s surface.  There are 6.4 billion people in the world today, but by 2050 the food supply will have to double or triple to feed the projected 9 billion people. These are challenges that all of agriculture faces and it is important that all sectors work together collaboratively for agriculture to continue to be successful and meet the needs of a growing world population.

Avoiding Residues: Residue violations are often the product of either not waiting the proper withhold time or accidentally milking treated cows into the bulk tank. There are 3 basic principles for avoiding residues; proper diagnosis, record keeping and following established protocols.

Diagnosis: Proper diagnosis of disease or illness requires a hands-on approach. Herd health should be actively monitored, with employees always watching for animals showing signs of sickness.

Proper diagnosis of the animal is essential before treatment should be implemented.

Record Keeping: Thorough records need to be kept of all treatments to avoid under treatment or over treatment and to ensure correct withdrawal periods are followed.

Follow Established Protocols: You should always follow established protocols. Implementation of treatment should always include approved products for the specific problem, be used for the correct treatment duration and follow proper withhold time.

Testing Options: Residue tests are routinely performed by milk haulers per the FDA’s Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinace (PMO). The PMO requires haulers to test for at least 4 to 6 specific beta-lactam drugs. Beta-lactam drugs include penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin, cephapirin and ceftiofur, and are the most heavily used drugs on dairies.  Tests used for these routine screenings include the BetaStar, Charm, Delvotest and SNAP tests.

When performing on-farm residue tests for treated cows, it is important to use a test that will check for the product used to treat the animal.

For more information on on-farm residue testing options for your herd, visit: http://www.animart.com/store/residue_testing/

Parasite control comprises a significant portion of the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association’s Gold Standards III, which address animal welfare.

“Heifers are more susceptible to damage from parasite infections than adult cattle, negatively affecting their growth potential and ability to reach breeding size,” says Kevin Tobey, DVM, professional services veterinarian for Novartis Animal Health. “Research shows that deworming heifers three times between birth and breeding provides a significant advantage in pregnancy rates.”

The Gold Standards III emphasizes that effective parasite control will vary considerably between operations. Consider the following when you are setting up your parasite control program: 

• Develop parasite control strategies, incorporating integrated pest management practices, with the herd veterinarian and pest management specialists.
• Follow label directions on all products.
• Avoid using products off-label.
• Train new employees on pest control protocols; review quarterly.
• Inspect cattle weekly for adequacy of parasite control programs.
• Discard expired or contaminated products, paying close attention to proper disposal of insecticides.
• Keep handwritten and/or computerized records of all treatments.

On Novartis’ “Healthy Heifer” website, recommended procedures, like the ones in Gold Standards III, note that specific environmental challenges; herd size; geographic location; pasture and housing dynamics; and prevalence of certain parasite species all play roles in the specific control measures that an individual operation will need to take.

The most common internal parasites affecting dairy cattle are roundworms, flukes, tapeworms and coccidia; and that external parasites of concern include grubs, lice and mites. 

When planning a herd parasite control program, give thought to the following: 

1. Deworming schedule and frequency
2. Pasture management practices; and
3. Pasture diagnostic tests

Source: Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Tip of the Week

Happy Holidays from ANIMART

We thought we might spread some holiday cheer with our own rendition of this Christmas Classic! We hope St. Nick brings you everything on your Christmas list!

Dr. Mark van der List, Professional Services Veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., says preventing disease in growing heifers isn’t a one-shot process. Many vaccines do not prevent disease, but instead prime the calf to provide some level of protection or reduce disease.  Also, activities around vaccination time, the environment and nutrition all play a role.

In a recent DCHA webinar, “Heifer Health at a Forgotten Age,” Dr. van der List detailed common ways that vaccination efforts go off track, especially for recently weaned heifers being primed for breeding.

Some of the most common reasons vaccination can be hindered include:

• The wrong vaccine (inadequate antigen coverage)
  Choose a vaccine that offers protection against all economically and regionally significant diseases, as recommended by your veterinarian. DCHA’s Gold Standards II provides a listing of suggested diseases to target.
• Improper handling
  Expired vaccines, or those that are stored or handled improperly, won’t give you the results you want. Read and follow all label instructions.
• No booster
  Killed vaccines and some modified-live vaccines require a booster vaccination to achieve adequate protection. The booster should be given according to label directions prior to the time of expected challenge. Immunity wanes with time and so booster vaccines are needed at later times in the heifer’s life. Visit with your veterinarian to discuss proper timing of vaccinations.
• Colostral antibody interference
  The antibodies absorbed from colostrum, which are so important to early calf health, cannot distinguish between the antigens of a natural challenge and the antigens in a vaccine. Therefore, colostral antibodies can interfere with the immune response to vaccination.
• Inadequate nutrition
  Make sure diets satisfy all nutritional requirements to keep heifers healthy. Vaccines should be administered according to label directions to healthy individuals, so read the labels.
• Parasites
  Parasites can compromise the health of growing heifers. Here again, vaccines should be given to healthy animals and according to label directions.
• The challenge was too great
  If significant disease is already present or encountered, vaccination should not be the only disease management tool used to stop the disease. Vaccines are not a substitute for poor management.
• Stress
   Any event that pushes a heifer out of her comfort zone, such as weaning or dehorning, causes stress, which can interfere with a heifer’s ability to respond successfully to vaccination. Remember that each small stress is cumulative.

To get the best results from vaccinating, Dr. van der List urges producers to minimize challenges and stress and maximize protection. Heifer environment, nutrition and much more all play a role in successful vaccination.
For more information about ensuring the health of growing heifers, watch the complete DCHA webinar, “Heifer Health at a Forgotten Age,”  presented by Dr. Mark van der List, and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.

To review DCHA’s recommendations on vaccinations guidelines for heifers, six months to freshening, see Gold Standards II. Gold Standards III also provides vaccination and health management protocols.

Source: Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Tip of the Week

When the calf hits the ground the first thing we think is to collect colostrum from the cow and into the calf, ASAP. DCHA guidelines promote collection of colostrum and feeding 3-4 quarts within 6 hours after birth. The goal is to feed 150-200 grams of IgG, which should read green in the colostrometer or at 22% solids with a Brix.

Colostrum quality can be affected by nutrient content of proteins, vitamins and minerals provided in the dry cow ration during late stages of pregnancy. Also, the higher the stress of the dry cows during late gestation, the greater the suppression of the dam’s immune system; stress goes up, colostrum quality goes down. 

Remember, along with providing energy, colostrum is the sole source of antibodies to the calf. So when does colostrogenesis, the formation of colostrum, occur? Antibodies from the dam’s serum start shifting into the mammary system 5 to 6 weeks pre-calving. Vaccines can be put in the dry cow program with the goal of the cow producing the antibodies to be packaged into colostrum.

What is the best time to administer vaccines to the cow for optimum antibody concentration in colostrum?

It takes 3-4 weeks after exposure to a vaccine for significant antibody production, and serum concentration will spike 5-7 days after a booster.  

The goal for quality colostrum is for the dam’s antibody serum concentration to peak just as antibodies from the dam’s serum start shifting into the mammary. This means that in the first year of vaccination, the first dose of vaccine should be given 10-12 weeks pre-calving and boostered in 3 weeks. In subsequent years, 1 booster at 7-8 weeks pre-calving is ideal. Always follow the recommendation of the vaccine label and work with your veterinarian for the optimum timing and vaccines in your herd protocol.

For all the work it takes to make quality colostrum, it only makes sense to collect and feed colostrum in clean containers. The presence of bacteria in colostrum can compete with antibodies for absorption in the gut. Calves fed dirty colostrum have higher rates of failure of passive transfer and greater chances of becoming sick. 

DCHA Gold Standards recommend feeding 10 % of the body weight. This is typically 4 quarts to a Holstein and 3 quarts to a jersey calf.

 Colostrum management is a lot of work, but worth the reward of healthy calves. It’s better to be proactive with good hygiene and vaccination protocols than treating sick calves.

By Dr. Terri Taraska, Technical Services Veterinarian at ANIMART.

It is important to perform procedures like dehorning, tattooing and castrating humanely. These procedures are necessary components of dairy calf and heifer rearing, but there are methods that can be employed to make these tasks as pain-free and stress-free as possible for the animals.  

The Gold Standards III covers employee training, animal restraint, minimizing stress, pain management and care and housing for convalescing animals in the section. Also included are age recommendations for various procedures.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also has specific suggestions for humanely managing dehorning/disbudding of calves. In “Welfare Implications of the Dehorning and Disbudding of Cattle,” the AVMA covers a broad range of considerations when performing the procedures, including:

1. Physiological indicators of pain;
2. Behavioral indicators of pain; 
3. Prevention of secondary diseases; and 
4. Production considerations.  

The AVMA document addresses methods of controlling pain, including:

• Sedation
• General anesthesia
• Local anesthesia; and
• Pre- and post-operative administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Another suggestion offered by the AVMA is to genetically select for polledness to reduce and eventually eliminate the need to dehorn. 

For more information on the Gold Standards, visit the DCHA website. Read the full AVMA document here.

Source: Dairy Calf & Heifer Association

#1 Record and Use Data: Often trimmers and dairies record lameness events, but fail to use those records to monitor progress thereafter. Dairies should work with trimmers to set realistic goals for their herd and set up an action plan to monitor and assess herd foot health performance.

#2 Find Lame Cows: The key to reducing lameness is early detection and treatment. Farm employees should have visual and manual training of signs to identify and diagnose lame cows. Proper handling and treatment facilities are also a must, making treatment easier and safer.   

#3 Clean and Dry Feet: Manure and moisture act as a source and medium for bacteria growth. Cleaning your herd’s environment and reducing their exposure to bacteria should aid in reducing lameness.

#4 Comfort:  Cows have a time budget and should spend 12 hours lying, 7 hours eating/drinking/socializing and no more than 3 hours milking. Increased cow comfort should increase resting time and reduce standing time. Strategic use of rubber in common standing areas can also be an effective tool.

#5 Foot Dipping: Footbaths are a simple way to treat and prevent new lesions from forming, but they need to be used routinely to be effective. Properly sized and designed bathes should increase contact time per hoof, the industry is starting to trend towards longer foothbaths to increase dips per hoof. Water pre-baths are not recommended.

#6 Weight Bearing:  The goal of hoof trimming is to treat and prevent future lameness and to create cows that have a balanced weight distribution. Trimmers should attend training and continuing education events and also carefully record cows they trim. Dairymen should make it a priority for cows to have maintenance trimming at least twice per year, depending on their hooves growth and wear.

#7 Minimize Metabolic Stress:  Cows are more susceptible to metabolic issues during the transition period, try to avoid severe BCS losses during this time. First calf heifers especially can suffer social stresses of being in new groups and the bottom of the pecking order. Nutrition also comes into play, feeding management is extremely important in the areas of quality, quantity and consistency.

The main take home messages were that we as an industry need to focus on reducing lameness through early identification and treatment. By monitoring issues, causes, treatments and effectiveness we can have measurable results to help shape protocols.