a: Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 23,1980 .Cows Are lop Priority The foundation of any successful dairy farm is a good herd of cows, and good herds don’t just happen; they result from good breeding and good management. In managing a dairy farm, the dairy herd deserves our utmost attention and care. After all, the cattle are our bread and butter. How well we can get them to perform determines how successful we will be as a dairy farmer. Through good breeding we give them the genetic potential for production and functional type; then we have to give the cattle a chance to perform to their genetic potential. Your profits depend largely on level of produc tion, persistency of production, calving interval and reasonable longevity. Let’s look at these in greater detail. For every extra thousand pounds of production you can get per year from a cow, you will receive about $l2O more income from milk. About half of this additional in come, $6O, will be profit. For a 50 cow herd, this results in about $3OOO increased profits per year. The most profitable time for a cow is in early lactation when she is in peak production. So, persistency of high production is im portant. Tliis requires a good dry cow program, proper nutrition, a preventive herd health program, and EAR CORN Paying Top Prices For Good Quality Ear Corn • Wet or Dry • No Quantity to large or to small • Fast Unloading - Dump on Pile & Go • Easy access - 2.2 miles off 283 bypass-Manheim, Mt. Joy exit • Daily Receiving 7:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. - unload ing evenings & Saturdays by appt. • Trucks available for pick up at your farm. Call Anytime For Price 717-665-4785 JAMES E. NOLL GRAIN attention to a lot of small, but important details. To obtain maximum profits, one must attempt to remove all obstacles that help prevent a cow from reaching her maximum potential. Some of these obstacles can have a per manent lifetime affect on the cow. Examples of some of these are: 1) severely stunting a heifer during her early stages of growth, 2) scar tissue in the lungs caused by respiratory ailments triggered perhaps by poor ventilation, 3) scar tissue in the udder as a result of mastitis brought on by poor milking techniques, faulty equipment, etc., 4) damages to- the lining of the cows’ stomach and intestines due to internal parasites, acid forming rations, etc. A cow may never fully recover from some of these problems, and thus these problems can place a per manent lid on her potential production. Calving interval also af fects profits. Reducing the calving interval from 13 months down to 12 months for a 50 cow herd averaging 14,000 pounds of milk per cow in a 305 day lactation, increases the annual milk check by about $6500; this assumes the cows are turned dry after 305 days and then dry period is shortened from 3 months down to 2 months. This same 14,000 pound herd would average 46 pounds per day per cow in milk for the 305 day lactation ( 38 p o U jK, day with dry Pennsylvania Forum on Families cows included). - „ If these cows milked an The Pennsylvania Forum organizing, planning and average ot 33 pounds per day on Families is urging people publicizing a local family for another 60 days, for a 365 across the Commonwealth to forum. To obtain a copy call v day lactation, the lactation hold a local family forum. Joan Lamberson, home average would jump from Citizen input is the key to a economist 14,000 pounds to 16,000 set of guidelines and pounds, but the yearly milk recommendations that check would be the same; reflects the feelings of as the average daily production many Pennsylvania families per cow in milk would drop as possible, to 44 pounds, but the average The York County Ex for all cows, including dry tension office has copies of cows, would remain at 38 The Pennsylvania Forum on pounds. Families’ Guidebook. The So as we compare lac tation averages, we also have to be aware of calving interval. A shorter calving interval accomplishes several things; 1) it increases daily herd production, 2) it in creases the number of calves bom, and 3) it increases the number of lactation peaks (profit peaks). To ac complish this requires good nutntion, preventive herd health, and good heat detection coupled with proper insemination. Longevity is valuable to a point. Because of the costs of raising a heifer to calving age, a cow .doesn’t return much of a profit until she roaches her third lactation. So, each year you keep her second lactation is a profit lactation, plus her production *and profits continue to climb as she approaches maturity. However, there is also value in rotating some of these good, older cows out of the herd while they still have some sale value, to make room for a younger generation of heifers which should possess even greater DISINFECTING POULTRY HOUSES AND VEAL PENS MAYNARD L BEITZEL Witmer, PA 17585 Phone ■ 717-392-7227 SOUIE STEEL STRUCTURES FARM AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS i ~ t BS&i&tt'' SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON FARM BUILDINGS We Offer Complete Erection Service Guidebook offers tips genetic superiority - that is, if they are well-bred. That brings me to the heifers - another vital link in the profit picture of a dairy farm. Those heifers represent your future cows - your future profits. They may not be earning any cash income and therefore they are easy to ignore, but they are very valuable for what they can contribute to the daily herd. I mentioned earlier that they should be well-bred and therefore genetically superior s to your milking herd. If you have good longevity m your cows, and if you have few calf losses, you’ll be blessed with many replacement heifers. This is very valuable, because with sufficient numbers to work with you can enjoy the luxury of being choosy about which ones you select. Thus, you are in a better position to upgrade your herd rapidly. Yes, there are many benefits for those dairymen who give cows top priority, attention and care. LARGE DISCOUNT ON NEW GIRTON MILK TANKS £ „ "Where *! 34 7fel[JB>)l Performance Speaks Louder Than Words" « C H GIRTON i I I * WFG ca* I : * * *** : THE LOWEST POURING HEIGHT [| ON THE MARKET TODAY - 34"! WE SERVICE ALL MAKES BULK TANKS D-2 300 gal Girton 900 gal Mueller 'OH” w/ 300 gal Mueller Therma*Stor I Girton 1000 gal Dan-Kool Ice 500 gal Milkeeper Bank 500 gal Dan-Kool Ice Bank jqqq ga( Zero 500 gal DeLaval self 1000 gal Girton D . 2 contained 1000 gal DeLaval tSltl l2s » s *>', D »' K “* >« 625 gal Sunset w/3 h p 125 0 gal Meuller w l2 3HP Tecumseh compressor . compressors 800 g S a a | Girton D 2 Used Dump,neStatlons i-SPECI AL FOR THE WEEK-i D-2 600 gal. Girton with 3 h.p. compressor • PLANNING LAYOUTS • SALES • INSTALLATION • SERVICE SHENK’S FARM SERVICE 501 E. WOODS DRIVE, LITITZ, PA 17543 PH: 717-626-1151 • Bulk Tanks* Therma*Stor Our Service Trucks Are Radio Dispatched 24 Hr. Service Offered GRAIN STORAGE E. K. LAPP BUILDER ■ Mail Coupon Today l . □ Send steel structure information . □ Send gram storage information J Name I Address I Telephone Authorized Dealer R.D. 2, Box 291 Ronks, PA 17572 Ph: 717-687-8237 after 6 P.M
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