—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 2, 1973
18
Breeding And Management
Vital To Successful Dairyman
Breeding and management
which is more important? Larr>
W. Specht, Extension dair;
specialist at The Pennsylvania
State University, says neither
can do the job alone and asking
which is more important is like
asking whether the right leg or
left one is most essential to mans’
ability to walk.
During the past 20 years, major
improvements have been made
in the genetic merit of our dairy
herds through the widespread use
of artificial insemination. Unless
this good breeding is matched by
equally desirable feeding,
milking, and related
management practices, the
dairyman will have little to show
for his efforts to breed a better
herd of cattle.
Specht says the man with the
low herd average no longer has
the excuse that he can’t afford to
buy the sort of bulls that his
neighbor with the high production
herd uses. Today it’s likely that
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they are both using sires from the
same breeding unit.
This year promises to be no
exception to the large number of
herds exceeding 600 lbs. of but
terfat per cow (or its milk
equivalent depending upon the
breed). Most of these herds have
been bred entirely to sires from
the A.I. units for the past 15 to 20
years.
There is no doubt that the
inheritance for high production is
readily available today, Specht
emphasizes, but some dairymen
need to improve their
management efforts if they are to
capitalize on it.
On April 1, 1789, the
House of Representatives
held its first full meeting in
New York City; thus began
the history of the Congress
of the United States.
Washington Boro, Pa
Annville RD 1, Pa
Onarrvville Pa
ji* > *
Met for First Time
E' i.rata RD. 2
Today's Calves
Tomorrows Dairy Herd
Joe S. Taylor, Extension dairy
specialist at The Pennsylvania
State University, says that
dairymen should raise every
sound female calf born each year
for herd replacements.
The cows in DHIA herds in
their lifetime average only four
calves born, half of which are
males. Hence, if a dairyman
allows for some culling at birth,
some losses due to disease or
accident, plus some culling of
two-year old cows that do not
meet production or type stan
dards, then he must start all
female sound calves born to
maintain a high level of
production in his herd.
Many dairy herds have ex
panded in size, says Taylor. The
over-100 milking cow herd has
become common. However,
many of these larger herd owners
have done nothing to provide
adaquate calf raising facilities to
start 50 or more female calves
each year. Dairymen with large
herds learn quickly and
sometimes with disasterous
Buttermilk
Cultured buttermilk is made
from fresh fluid skim milk. The
addition of a special culture of
bacteria gives buttermilk its
characteristic acidy flavor and
rich body Some brands of but
termilk have bits of butter added
for extra flavor Since its acidity
increases in storage, buttermilk
should be used as soon as possible
after purchase, say Extension
dairy specialists at Penn State
University.
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HER JOB
BETTER MIIK PRODUCTION
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results that without good
facilities and a proper calf
raising program they are in
trouble.
Taylor says that dairymen
should not be criticized for ex-
tion high with
'airy Feeds to
dry cows, milk
ers .. . to protect health / promote growth,
increase productivity.
Salute the Dairy farmer
Mount Joy, Penno.
Are
paneling housing and milking
facilities first. This is where the
farm income is produced.
However, an adequate calf
raising facility and program
must follow herd size expansion
quickly, before calf losses
becomes a serious problem.
Information on calf raising
facilities for large dairy herds is
available through your county
agent’s office.
JOB
IY FEEDS
Ph. 653-1451
v