*******Pennfield Dairy Neivs ******* From PA 1-800-732-0467 Putting It All Together. . , . John A. Brubaker, Jr. checks his alfalfa crop. Peaked at 190 lbs. of milk and had 10 months over 100 lbs. daily. % \ -i '*** si KNOTT-RUN JOB PAM - GP 81 4 Yr. 1 Mo. 305 d 38,678 Milk 365 d 41,807 Milk LANCASTER - Through ef ficient management practices and a combination of feeding the right forages and breeding to the top bulls, Lancaster County dairyman John Brubaker Jr. has increased his yearly herd milk average by 8,000 pounds in just seven years. Beginning his farming venture in February 1977, John bought 50 cows from two different farms to build his foundation herd. The first year’s production averages stood at 13,762 pounds of milk and 479 pounds of fat. ■v - V V\ f* * ***** KNOTT-RUN PETE LUCY - VG 2 Yr. 8 Mo. 305 d 30,229 Milk 1023 Fat MANAGEMENT - COWS - FEEDING 975 Fat 1069 Fat By working on his management practices and making timely management decisions, John in creased that average to 21,270 pounds of milk and 725 pounds of fat in just seven years. The herd now numbers 59 head with 85 percent registered Holsteins. Two oTthe Brubaker’s pride and joys arcT,.iott-Run Pete Lucy and Knott-Run Job Pam. As a 2-year old, Lucy produced 30,229 pounds of milk and 1,023 pounds of fat. Pam, a one time 190-pound-a-day milker, has recorded 38,678 pounds of milk and 975 pounds of fat as a 4- year-old. Mr**' * t.V *-* , «, , , S#f * . < • Paying close attention to the smaller aspects of dairy farming, John and wife Barbara, of R 2 Christiana, believe in growing the best roughages for their cattle and using some of the best stud bulls available. All this has been to the benefit of the dairy herd. The Brubakers believe in feeding their cows often - and in smaller amounts. Grain is fed four times a day and roughages five limes a day. John follows a daily plan when feeding his cows. A haylage, high moisture shelled corn and 26% concentrate is fed to the cattle before the first milking. After milking, cows are treated to corn silage feed at the bunk feeder for two hours. Then its back into the comfort stall barn for haylage fed free choice. The next feeding comes at dinner lime when high moisture shelled corn and concentrate are fed in dividually to the top producers. John lists his high producers as those milking over 75 pounds of milk daily Before the evening milking around 4 p.m , the cows receive a cartload of haylage, also high moisture shelled corn and concen trate. Following milking, the cows receive additional haylage. The day’s feeding is complete when the top producers receive additional grain around 9 p.m. Although feeding is very im portant to John, he places equal attention on his breeding program. Only those bulls with a +7OO pound predicted difference for milk, a plus on fat and a plus 1.0 point on type are used. A high percent repeatability is also considered. To round out his dairy program, the Brubakers keep up-to-date records. Barb is the principle bookkeeper and follows a farm management analysis program. Both John and Barb provide the manpower behind their 150-acre dairy operation in years to come, J-year-old Andrea and 1-year-old Eric are likely to join the work team and help their father and mother continue a successful dairy operation . Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 24,1! John feeds grain four times per day. His grain ration is high moisture shell corn and Pennfield’s 26% HMC Concentrate. - \ John farm management analysis program. DHIA INFORMATION: HERD AVERAGE 1978 50 Cows 13,762 Milk 479 Fat 1982 55 Cows 19,148 Milk 650 Fat 1983 59 Cows 21,270 Milk 725 Fat old Eric. From MO. NJ. OE 1 800-233-0202 Cows enjoy com silage at the bunk feeder. High quality roughages are a must for a high producing dairy herd. A 5
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