<k Selective culling results in efficient use of facilities 0} ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Regardless of where dairy farmers get nevys, they’ve no doubt heard statements from industry experts calling for herd culling. Many of these spokespersons use the reasoning that overall herd reduction will reduce national production, thereby reducing the milk surplus and strengthening the market, says dairy research manager Larry Prewitt. Although he neither supports nor questions this recommendation, Prewitt says, culling can still be a beneficial practice, but for another-shghtly selfish-reason. With operating costs rising almost daily, selective culling can allow the producer to focus attention on the top cows in the herd, resulting in a more efficient use of existing facihties and resources. If the dairy farmer’s feeding program is doing the job, but the rolling herd average is not up to then odds are some of the cows are not doing their jobs. Now’s a good time to evaluate each animal’s contribution in terms of both milk and reproduction. Production On Rise We’ve almost doubled the milk production potential of cows over the past 25 years. Much of this progress is due to better SERVING THE FARMERS FOR 108 YEARS M fcfKiattan* «I<«M HAMBURG SAVINGS mm M S.JSCTJ2S TRUST COMPANY Hamburg, PA Phone: 215-562-3811 A FULL SERVICE BANK - Stanneid CRI FEE Includes: • Large opei feed pan simulate feeding. • Sturdy aluminum bracket for quick feeder in-and-out • Generous IV* gallon hopper capacity. Not just another creep feeder! A farm tested natural way to start two and three day-old pigs on solid feed. Pigs learn to ll*at creep feed before weaning. So you faster and pigs do better under less stress. Stanfield HEAT PADS For Farrowing Crates And Nursery With Stanfield Surface, Draft Barrier Cleats, Twin Cords. Swine Systems FARMER BOY AG. *0 457 E. MAIN AVE., MYERSTOWN. PA 17067 Vi Mile East of Myerstown management, feeding, research and quality of the cow. The majority of future im provements will be accomplished with even higher-level milk producers. In fact, most of the research work being done now centers on how to make top producing cows produce even more milk. As things continue to progress in this manner, the low-producing cow simply doesn’t fit into the picture of future dairying. Fixed Costs Rising The reason for this is economics. The operating costs in a dairy herd are not greatly effected by the level of milk production. But with operating expenses rising rapidly because of inflation, low-producing cows simply cannot offset then costs. They become a financial burden. Considering feed costs, the case tor culling grows even stronger. A cow producing 16,000 to 18,000 pounds of milk per-year is going to consume more feed than a cow producing 12,000 pounds. But the added costs are more than com pensated for ’by the increased amount of milk produced. In fact, it will probably spell the difference ' Productive sows, healthy litters, and good doing pigs are the rewards of sound breeding, feeding and herd health management. An effective, easy to use wormer should be an integral part of your management program. Young’s PIG’N-SOW GARD MIX (containing ATGARD C) offers these benefits ... Ask your Young’s representative for more information on PIG’N-SOW GARD MIX. If you don’t know the name and number of the Young’s representative in your area, call collect at (814) 224-5111. Livestock Nutritional between profit and loss in con sidering today’s milk prices. ' Open Cows Costly Although the cow’s paramount contribution is the amount of milk she produces, she’s also deman ding that she produce vigorous offspring, stay healthy and cycle consistently. While a cow producing 17,000 pounds of milk is certainly going to be a top milker in any herd she isn’t necessarily a top profit-maker.- The money made on the extra pounds of milk can be lost very quickly if she remains open and dry for an extended period of tune. So, calving interval is another essential consideration in culling. Dairymen should be looking for no longer than a 12-13 month calving interval for each cow. A cow taking longer than that is not performing to her fullest potential. She isn’t producing enough calves and she isn’t giving a fair return on the hefty investment the farmer has m her. A delayed calving interval through successive lactations also means a reduced volume of milk in the cow’s productive lifetime. It also reduces the reproductive rate and lowers the number of calves produced in the cow’s lifetime. • Safe, effective, stable and no withdrawal is re quired. • Palatable -- There is no need to fast - simply top dress onto your regular feed. • Features “CUP A SOW” worming and XLP-30 sow conditioner. Headquarters at Roaring Spring, PA. • Removes 90% or more of the four major inter nal parasites that reduce feed efficiency and. lower resistance to disease. Services Lancaster Firming, Saturday, November 7,1981—A31 This slows genetic progress and puts a crimp in the dairyman’s cashflow. But before culling all those cows which don’t calf within 13 months producers should first determine if they are taking the necessary steps to promote reproduction. Careful monitoring of recycling and gestation periods can shorten calving intervals. It’s easy lor producers to spend all of their time doing other chores. But, if rebreeding is neglected, milk persistency will be effected and per-cow production will decrease over successive lactations. Weight Loss Hurts Improper feeding can have a ripple effect on other aspects of the dairy operation. Weight loss at the wrong tune reduces rebreeding efficiency which in turn delays the onset of lactation. So, in one sense. IT’S MAGIC Hi Yo» Vfl . ..AND THAT ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ a This coupon is good for $3.00 OFF the purchase price of one bag of Young’s PiG’N-SOW GARD MIX. Simply pre sent this coupon to your Young’s Feed Mangement Consultant. Offer expires November 30,1981 Limit One Per Customer your feeding program is a main tenance effort. It must maintain body weight, breeding condition and milk persistency. But, on a second level, a sound feeding program is helping the cow produce the most milk possible. Unfortunately, many producers believe this second level is the only level. They pay for this miscon ception when their cows don’t freshen on tune and remain dry longer than they should. These are the cornerstones ot a good dairy operation. Producers can’t help but get peak per formances from their cows if they’re truly doing the best they can m these areas. And if it means milking a few less in order to provide this management, proper culling could be the answer, he concludes. WORMING IS GOOD FOR YOUR PIGS . . . GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS CLIP AND SAVE PHONE IS
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