A2O-Uncast*r Farming, Saturday, February 14,1987
V,
INTERCOURSE - Dairymen
hold the responsibility for the
quality of the rations fed to their
herds by adhering to all aspects of
a good testing program, according
to a Penn State dairy specialist.
“Quality control of a ration is
your responsibility, not the federal
government’s, university’s or feed
company’s,” Richard Adams told
the group last week attending day
three of the Lancaster County
extension nutrition schools, held at
the Harvest Drive Restaurant.
Similar programs were also held in
Berks and York Counties last week
to conclude the three week school.
Farmers need to test rations at
least quarterly, regardless of the
ration’s quality, Adams ad
monished. He advises quarterly
testing on forages, grain and
finished feeds or concentrate
mixtures.
Some forages are consistent
throughout the silo and some
changes occur weekly, he added.
With constant testing large gaps in
nutrient levels can be avoided.
For forages he suggested heat
damage tests for protein on
haylages and large-package hays
and a full mineral analysis in
cluding trace mineral testing.
When obvious changes occur for
grains or forages in type, ap
pearance or odor, testing is
needed.
When high moisture ingredients
are used in TMRs Adams
recommends weekly testing.
“It is important that you get a
representative sample of the
feed,” the dairy specialist said.
The test sample needs to be a
representative of what the cow is
eating. Otherwise the ration will be
determined with unrealistic values
and not meet the animal’s needs.
Representative samples in
clude: for hay, cores from 12 to 18
bales; TMRs and ensiled items,
composite of six feedings; mixed
feeds or ingredients, composite of
seven samples per shipment or
seven feedings.
He advised monitoring and
testing the quality of the water
animals are drinking yearly or bi
yearly, dependent upon problems
or a decline in the cows’ water
consumption.
Adams told the group to smell at
look at their feed as tests of
quality. “You got to look hard and
smell hard.” Foul smelling feed
could be the result of abnormal
fermentation. By locating the
trouble early through the sniff test
problems can be avoided, he said.
Look at the feed for mold, stones,
trash and other foreign debris.
These items add trouble and no
nutrients to a ration, he explained.
Through daily observation, far
mers will be able to check for feed
refusals by the herd or individual
animals or distinct changes in
appearance.
the dairy specialist listed the
points to consider when developing
a ration testing program:
•Use the services of a reputable
and qualified nutritionist.
•Secure third party evaluation
when hesitation or difficulties
arise.
•Rations should be evaluated
quarterly or when ingredients
change.
•Separate rations should be used
for dry cows, growing heifers and
milking animals.
•Prior to making changes a
nutritionist should be consulted.
Adams emphasized forage
quality in a milking ration.
Forages should contain a
minimum of .591 Meal of net
energy per pounds of dry matter.
Any amount under this level in
dicates an inferior product and will
increase milk production costs.
In addition to quality control, a
dairyman must make sure his,
animals are receiving enough of
Re-calibrate the measuring
equipment when changes occur in
moisture content, type of feed,
particle size or formula, he said.
Problems with the ration can be
observed through animal health,
water intake and production in
formation. “Use those items. They
tell if there is a problem, or if
something is costing you money.
They’re an indication something is
abnormal,” Adams said.
Health problems related to
nutrition include displace
abomasums, retained placentas,
milk fever, off-feed, ketosis or
mastitis.
If an animal is drinking large
amounts of water it could indicate
an over consumption of minerals
or a mineral imbalance, the dairy
specialist pointed out.
He urged the group to check
their cows to see if the cows were
chewing cud seven to eight hours a
day. Rumen fill can be observed by
looking at the triangle directly
behind the shoulders.
The color, consistency and size
of feed particles in the manure can
also indicate the appropriateness
of a ration, he noted.
Panel Discussion
At Wednesday’s session, four
Dairymen Learn About
A panel of feed company nutritionists discussed on farm feeding challenges at the
Lancaster Nutrition School. Included in the discussion were, Nevin Gish (left), Mc-
Cracken Feed Mills; Tim Snyder, Pennfield Feeds; moderator Glenn Shirk, extension
agent; Jeff Zechman, White Oak Mills; and Ronald Moore, Youngs Minerals.
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