Reproductive Management Tools
BY MARJORIE KEEN
Chester Co. Correspondent
SADSBURYVILLE - Dairy
fanners can increase their profits
by adopting the latest reproductive
management techniques. Cowside
hormone testing and herd
reproductive records are tools
"you can use right now on the
farm,” Dr. Michael O’Connor,
Penn State dairy extension
specialist, told Chester County
Dairy Day participants Feb. 26 at
SadsburyviUe.
For the greatest profitability the
farmer’s goal should be to achieve
a calving interval of 12.5 to 12.8
months. Estrous detection through
the milk-monitoring Progesterone
Enzyme Ammunoassay should
help with the 75-day conception
goal.
According to O’Connor, the
progesterone test is more accurate
for heat detection than for
pregnancy determination. It has
proven 94 to 100 percent accurate
in open diagnosis but only 65 to 85
percent reliable in showing
pregnancy because conditions
such as embryo mortality or
uterine infection can cause a
similar reading.
The test indicates heat because
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progesterone is low when estrogen
is high. With one of about eight
testing kits on the market a farmer
can more accurately determine
syhen to breed each cow. O’Connor
suggested choosing a five minute
test that includes tubes or bags for
collecting samples. If samples are
stored in the refrigerator, costs
will be reduced by testing several
with one kit, he said.
Additional suggestions are to use
composite samples or last strip
pings, avoid infected quarters and
check results carefully. Penn State
found that milkfat variations did
not affect results.
Another current reproductive
tool is the prostaglandin injection
followed by 80-hour appointment
breeding. Benefits are fewer days
open, efficient heat detection, less
semen used and the advantages
associated with more frequent
veterinary exams. To be cost ef
fective, O’Connor said,
prostaglandin will have to be less
than 83 per dose.
Not available yet are the more
accurate L.H. test, indicating the
exact time to breed, and Protein B,
accurately diagnosing pregnancy,
stated O’Connor.
O’Connor showed the audience
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how careful record-keeping can
help diagnose potential problems
in a herd. He observed that the
essentials of a good system are
that it be easily understood, easily
updated and accessible to all
employees.
Chester County Dairy Agent
David Swartz said both quantity
and quality of water are important
for the dairy herd. A five month
old calf needs four gallons of water
daily; a lactating cow giving 100
pounds of milk needs 55 gallons.
The system supplying the animals
should have 20-pounds pressure
and 15 gallons per minute flow
rate.
Where herd problems exist
water quality must be considered.
Swartz recommended obtaining a
list of testing laboratories from the
Extension Office and first having
the supply tested for pH, Nitrates,
total bacteria and total coliform.
The second step is to check to see if
sewage or manure is con
taminating the water. Check in
different seasons before investing
in a new system, Swartz advised.
The most expensive tests are for
toxic metals, such as lead and
mercury, and for fuel and
pesticides. Swartz cautioned the
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laboratory that does not also sell for good records as the foundation
equipment. of financial management.
Dr. Larry Jenkins, Penn State “The only way to enjoy your
farm management extension farm as a way of life,” said
specialist, outlined income tax Jenkins, “is to treat it as a
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