D2-Lancaster Farming Saturday, January 18,1986 U. of Del. offers broiler computer programs BY DAN H PALMER with the basic input information University if Delaware and continues to update the values NEWARK Del Ad- ©flchyear. proximately 200 new broiler houses . Eacb program is based on 19 were constructed on Delmarva in or values. Each value may 1985. Most grow-out companies are be c^}S one at a time, to anxious to see an equal or greater re * lect the e *f ct situation of the number of houses constructed in person using the computer. Items 1986. The future looks good indeed cov®/*®** “ the analyses are: for the chicken meat industry. "“**» ° f u houses - capacity per When viewed from a broad house, batches per year cost per perspective, new broiler housing is house, years house financed, definitely a good decision for equipment cost per house, years Delmarva. However, each grower equipment financed, interest rate, must look at his special set of utmties P® r P* bouse, circumstances before deciding to repairs per year per house, taxes build. First-time growers have and hisurance per year per house, even more homework to do than required capital improvement per existing producers who wish to y ea r. cleanout per year per house, expand. It can sometimes be hard contract psypent per bird, per to assemble and analyze all the cent infl3tion per contract information you need to collect percent inflation per before the construction crew costs, number-ef years, beginning arrives. This is where a computer y? ar ’ and house labor per thousand can help. ' birds. .. . . Defmarva farmers are 0006 the t valu f /° r a % l \ en especially fortunate to have a B r ° wer I s entered, the computer strong poultry industry during snslyze the information and these times of low grain prices. Pf 1 ”* * be results. The prmtout Broilers offer the opportunity to £ lv f y^ l ? totals ' costs P® r W” diversify and to make more ef- birds, costs per square foot, ficient use of existing farm labor, cumulative totals and net income In the face of today’s high fertilizer P® r bouf lubor. The printout can costs and low crop prices, poultry this for each year up to a total manure has acquired greater of , , economic importance. And l^ us information can be existing farm equipment can be ava^ab e you ve made any better used in handling this commitments regarding financing valuable by-product. The trick is to ? r construction. There’s no charge put dollar figures to each of these *? r th® service and you may keep potential benefits. 0,6 ? r stad y and fut «re University of Delaware farm use - Naturally, Uie university management specialist Dr. Don respects the confidentiality of Tilmon has developed computer an y° ne using the service, programs designed to help people t U J m re mterested in using one interested in putting Gp new of these programs contact me at poultry housing. The programs are the University of Delaware College for broiler, raster and comish of Agriculture Sciences Research production. The Grower Com mittee of Delmarva Poultry In- J! 16 Substation), TO 2, Box 48, dustry, Inc. (DPI) assisted Tilmon DE 19947 • Tele P hon e (oOZ) oOd-7ouo. Chester D, Hughes Extension Livestock Specialist Cooler Nurseries Can Pay It may pay to turn down night time heat on nursery pigs if buildings are dry and draft-free. Three studies, in which night-time nursery temperatures were turned down for periods of four, eight, 12 and 16 hours, showed tem peratures could be turned down from 92 degrees beginning five days after weaning with no ill effects. It is critical though, that the pigs have that five-day ad justment period after weaning to keep them comfortable so they will start eating. Studies at Kansas State University looked at continuing the temperature reduction in weekly stages, both night and day, until the temperature was dropped nine degrees every week for five weeks. The control temperature was maintained at 90 to 92 degrees. The pigs developed a longer hair coat and were rougher in ap pearance, but they showed pp Livestock Ledger basic difference in performance on mortality at the end of studies conducted last winter. The heating cost to maintain 100 pigs for five weeks in the building at 92 degrees was about $l,OOO. In the study in which the temperature was reduced weekly, heating costs were reduced to $137. In studies in which temperatures were reduced at night and increased during the day, the heating bill was cut by about half. Keep in mind that turning down the temperature it not worth the saving in energy costs if the pigs get sick or eat mpre feed to compensate. You can check for drafts in your nursery by following smoke from a smoke bomb. Also, nurseries with expanded metal flooring will keep pigs healthier at lower temperatures than those with damp and cold concrete floors. It may be worth a try, but use caution. Lamb Management before weaning - It has been established that lambs can be weaned at 60 days of age and continue to grow well, providing a proper ration has been formulated. However, this is not a routine practice for too many producers at the present time. Normal development of the stomach is related both to age and to feed. If lambs are to be weaned early, they must be given a source of palatable feed as early in life and as long before weaning as* possible. Thus, creep feeding is essential for early weaning. Creep Feeding - Lambs will begin to nibble at gram and hay when they are about a week old, so you should provide access to creep feeders in grouping pens seven to 10 days after birth. Although lambs will eat only small amounts for the first three or four weeks, that early creep feeding will establish both rumen function and the habit of eating. Feeds for lambs - Grains are the major source of energy and usually are the most costly feeds. In developing “least cost" ration, you need to consider all alternative energy sources and keep in mind the optimum level or limit for lamb feeding that may apply to a specific ingredient. Corn or barley can be used to supply the total gram portion of the ration for lambs, but wheat appears to give the most consistent results when it makes up 50 per cent or less of the grain portion. Dried molasses beet pulp and oats may be fed to lambs. Both add bulk to grain rations which can be beneficial in certain feeding programs. Peas, beans, rye, and other energy sources, may also be incorporated in lamb rations, in limited amounts, if costs warrant their use. Liquid molasses may be used in limited amounts to reduce dust and bind fine feed particles together Molasses can also increase palatability of a feed. Roughages - Alfalfa hay is an excellent roughage for lamb feeding. It is plentiful in most areas of Pennsylvania and usually is high in protein, minerals (calcium), and vitamins. Corn silage and haylage are highly palatable lamb feeds, however they should be fed in limited amounts due to their bulkiness and lower levels of both protein and energy. Consequently lambs cannot consume enough* energy and protein to make maximum gams. Former Ag Secretaries to speak ST. WUIS, MO - The ap pearance of three former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture on the same program will be a highlight of the 1986 American Pork Congress, March 11-13 in St Louis. Former Secretaries Earl Butz, Orville Freeman and Clifford Hardin will discuss how to build a sound agricultural economy for the future during a General Session on Flock Forum by Clair Engle Penn State Extension Sheep Specialist Methods of feeding - The most efficient method of feeding weaned lambs will depend on yout facilities, flock size and the cost and availability of both labor and equipment. You will not need elaborate feeding or feed processing facilities. Producers often “hand-feed” small groups of lambs, feeding given amounts of grain and roughage separately. Under these conditions, processing the feed ingredients is usually not justifiable. If processing equip ment and labor are available on the farm, semi-automated hand feeding twice daily in fencelme feeders may be an economical feeding system for you. Feed processing - Processing gram is not required for lambs after 60 days of age, especially if they have been on a creep ration The primary function of processed feeds is to prevent lambs from sorting and selecting their preferred grains, and also to permit a uniform blending of a complete ration. Processing can also make the feed easier to store and handle mechanically. Coarse grinding, cracking, rolling and pelleting are all common forms of feed processing that work well in preparing complete sheep feeds. Finely ground (dusty) feeds are known to reduce palatability, lamb gains, and feed efficiency. Facilities - For feeding, watering and housing weaned lambs, you will need: Ingredient No. 2 shelled corn Ground ear corn Oats Alfalfa hay Dehydrated alfalfa Linseed meal Liquid cane molasses Feed grade limestone Trace mineral salt Salt Vitamin A (IU) » Vitamin D (IU) VitaminE (IU) Antibiotic* Calculated analysis (%) (Air-dry basis) Protein TDN Calcium Phosphorus * Add a prescribed antibiotic in consultation with your Ver tennarian. at Pork Congress 'B6 the morning of Wednesday, Mar. 12. At a separate program later that day, John Chrystal, a well known lowa banker, will discuss the present farm credit crjsis and the future of the family farm. The Congress is the pork in dustry’s largest annual event. It includes a trade show, featuring the latest equipment and services available to pork producers from • Fence-line feeders, 12 inchei per lamb. • Self-feeders, 1 to 3 inches pei lamb. • Dirt feedlot, 20 square feet pei lamb. • Paved feedlot, 10 square feet per lamb. • Barn area (winter), 10 to 12 square feet per lamb. • Shade (summer), 4 to o squaie feet per lamb. • Fresh water, 0.5 gal. per lamb per day. Allow one foot of open tank per 10 head of sheep, or one automatic bowl per 20 head. Suggested creep and finishing rations - Feed a simple grain mixture with quality .alfalfa hay for roughage. Following are three rations and some feeding direc tions for growing and finishing home-grown lambs. Since both rations are complete, that is, they contain all the primary ingredients, we recommend they be pelleted or ground using a 3/8 inch screen. Feeding directions -1) Hand feed small amounts of the com plete rations at least twice daily to lambs when two weeks of age. Clean troughs before each feeding so that feed is palatable to lambs. 2) Grind and mix only small amounts at first when lambs are small and eat only small amounts 3) A 3/8 inch screen may be required in the mill for best results. Vitamins and minerals should be mixed with supplement first and then with the other ground ingredients. Mix thoroughly Make sure feed is fresh and palatable. 4) When lambs are eating well, the com plete ground mixed rations may be self-fed. They may also be hand fed but kept before the lambs at all times in a bunk or trough. 5) Rations are medium energy rations. It may be advisable to vaccinate lambs for en terotoxemia. 6) Ration 2 may be most useful when good quality hay is not available. 7) All rations contain adequate minerals, therefore, it should not be necessary to provide mineral supplements. Free-choice loose salt may be provided. 8) Provide plenty of clean, fresh water. 9) Rations 1 and 2 could be used as performance test rations for ram lambs. Lambs start to 55 lb. Lambs 55 to Mkt. Wt. Ration 1 (lb ) 1,060 300 300 365 200 100 100 100 15 15 10 10 10 10 15 10 10 3,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 200,000 400,000 200,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 50 gr 50 gr 30 gr. 16.0 16,0 15.0 72.0 64.1 69.2 0.64 0.58 0.55 0 37 0.32 0.31 various companies. The trade show will be open all three days of APC at the A.J. Cervantes Con vention Center. Attendees can save $2.50 off the on-site registration fee of $lO by sending in a pre-registration form with proper payment by February 14. Pre-registration forms may also be obtained by writing; APC ’B6, P.O. Box 10382, Des Moines, lowa 50306. 1,200