Rumensin Aids In Bringing Heifers Into Milking String Quicker MOUNT JOY Rumensin, a feed additive which promotes growth, was approved for use on dairy heifers over a year ago. In the year since its approval, dairymen have successfully used rumensin in their herds. “Tbere is very little investment for the return,” Jeff Zechman, dairy nutritionist, said. He noted that farmers can ex pect a 14 cent return for every penny invested. Zechman made these comments at a recent dairy seminar sponsored by White Oak Mills of Elizabethtown. Heifers on rumensin enter the milking herd sooner by reaching breeding weight sooner. Con sequently, the heifers provide a return on investment sooner, Zechman commented. The rumensin shifts more volatile fatty acids to propionic acid in the rumen, permitting the heifers to LEASING AVAILABLE i^iPlQD^ ft*—l '*- ’ r ifLil!a2imaiL. J. a. >^M pp^pr*" WEATHER VANE with every building purchased gain more energy for growth from the same feed. Dairymen using low density diets, such as rained on hay, reap the most benefits of rumensin an increase of 6 to 8 percent average daily gain, the nutritionist ex plained. He cautioned against hitting a heifer too hard with the feed ad ditive in the beginning. Excess amounts can throw the dairy animal off feed in the beginning. He noted the dose must be adjusted to the size of the animal. “I think this is something we should look at,” Zechman said. Keeping an unfresh heifer over 24 months costs-the dairymen |3 per day. He explained that by bringing a heifer into the milking string sooner, dairymen will possibly net an calf and produced more milk in her lifetime. Also, since its in troduction, rumensin has ? 1 . i. i buildings Call or write today to arrange to aaa and hear more reasons why you should own a Morion Building 1185 York Rd Gettysburg PA 17325 Rd« 10 Bo* 76 Meadviile PA 16335 State College Box 361 Centre Hall PA 16828 Box 126 PhilNpsburg NJ 08865 1918 Industrial Drive Culpeper VA 22701 P 0 Box 187 Harrington DE 19952 I • i c/ /'i C' S 'h}r* if'fol inni V % Ph 717 334 2168 Ph 814 336 6083 Ph 614 364 9600 Ph 201 454 7900 Ph 703 825 3633 Ph 302 398 8100 decreased dramatically in price The feed additive works in the stomach, eliminating withdrawal time and permitting feeding up to the time the heifer freshens. Zechman noted that rumensin can be fed as a supplement or mineral feed. For feeding young calves, Zechman noted the importance of feeding colostrum within the first hour of birth. After the first hour, the calf’s ability to absorb the antibiotics found in milk drops off rapidly. “The calf has no immune system when its first bom. You Two Warren Two Warren County dairy farm- Warren County Board of ers were honored last week for Agriculture with the annual their contributions to their com- Distinguished Service Citation. munities and to county agricultural organizations. Frey maintains a 55-cow herd Robert Frey of Pohatcong and farms the 379 acres he owns Township was honored by the near Carpentersville. In 1985 and Warren County Soil Conservation 1986 he installed more than 3,200 District as the district’s feet of underground pipe and 2,500 Cooperator of the Year. feet of terraces to combat erosion Orrie Terpstra of Knowlton on some of his steep cropland. Township wa c roon