BY USA RISSER
GAP “We’re here to answer
your questions.” said Glenn Shirk,
Lancaster County agent. He spoke
to the 35 farmers who gathered at
the fire hall to learn more about
dairy nutrition. Assisting him in
this first meeting of the three-day
program were Dave Schwarz,
Chester County agent and Joe Hlu
bik, a Penn State dairy manage
ment specialist
Hlubik began the class by dis
cussing ruminant animals and
stated that a basic understanding of
rumination is essential to good
herd management.
A ruminant animal, in this case a
dairy cow, has four stomachs, the
rumen, reticulum, omasum, and
abomasum. “The rumen is 80 per
cent of the total stomach area in a
mature cow,” he said. “It is a big
fermentation vat with a 40-60 gal
lon capacity.”
Inside the rumen are bacteria
and protozoa, micro-organisms
that are essential to dairy nutrition.
“You want to maximize the num
bers of microbes in the rumen.”
BY PAT PURCELL
Editor’s note: This is the
fourth article in a series on dairy
herd replacement. This deals
with those practices found suc
cessful by individual fanners.
LinTZ Kenneth and Mari
lyn Umble lost six calves which
were raised in hutches. When they
lost the first calves the diagnosis
was pneumonia. However, the
calves which died later were diag
nosed as having coccidiosis. Since
both calves had the same symp
tons, bloody scours, Ken and Mari
lyn believe both losses were due to
coccidiosis.
Coccidiosis:
Prevention and Cure
Although the Umbles are pre
sently not raising their calves in the
hutches, they will have 20 embryo
transfers to house at the beginning
of the new year. In spite of Ken’s
dislike of the hutches, he admits he
will probably resort to the hutches
out of a need for additional room.
However, this time his plans are to
relocate the hutches, put them on a
gravel bed which allows for adequ
ate drainage and he has also begun
supplementing the feed with Corid
medication inorder to stop cocci
diosis before it starts.
N- ' Kratz, Herd M;
jg, jeofdam
and sire, and birthdate on it. This way If he is not home when
the heifer is In heat, sotaeone can see that the animal is bred
properly.
Feed Cows For Nutrients, Not Separate
Food Stuffs Advises S I t
Hlubik said. “These microbes
digest roughage, manufacture
most of the protein, and make B
and K vitamins.”
Microbes flourish best when fed
properly and when the rumen has a
pH of between 5.2 and 6.8. The
microbes require energy, protein,
bulk, and trace minerals such as
cobalt and magnesium to perform
their functions. The protein
doesn’t have to be pre-formed
because the micro-organisms can
build their own amino acids from
nitrogen, which can be supplied
through amonia and urea. This
protein formation requires a large
amount of energy without which
the microbes can’t function and
therefore can’t supply the cow
with necessary nutrients.
Bulk, which is fiber and usually
eaten as forage, is necessary
because the microbes have to
attach to it in order to release then
enzymes. Minerals are needed
because they aid in the production
of vitamins.
The pH level in the rumen is
controlled by the acidity levels in
How These
ML Ararat Farms near Port Depo
sit, Maryland, had problems with
coccidiosis, but apparently is on
top of it now.
To prevent the recurrence of
coccidiosis Kratz calls his veter
inarian at the first sign of scours to
test fecal samples for the presence
of coccidiosis. If coccidiosis is
present Kratz feeds a medicated
calf starter which is supplemented
with tetracyclin. Although it was
not recommended by the veterina
rian, the change seems to be work
ing, according to Kratz.
Coccidiosis can attack not only
calves but also heifers of any age.
It usually spreads rapidly through
the herd. Symplons of the diseases
are sluggishness, diarrhea and an
abnormal hair coat. When the
symptoms reach bloody scours and
severe weakness it may be too late
for treatment. Apparently the best
way to treat coccidiosis is to pre
vent it
Coccidiosis is brought on by
stress and stress can be caused by
changes in feed, weaning, changes
in housing, exposure to cold
weather, changes in weather and
even going from individual pens to
group pens.
To see if coccidiosis is present
in the herd, thr -ndar
'airy Nutrition
the food and the amount of bulk
that is fed to the cow. Coarser for
age particles tend to remain near
the top of the rumen for regurgita
tion, re-chewing, and re
swallowing. During this process,
called rumination, saliva is added
to the cud. Saliva has buffers,
which, when swallowed, lower the
acidity in the rumen.
Forages provide bulk
Forages are important for the
bulk they provide. “If the forage is
too digestible and the cow is not
getting enough fiber, then larger
particles will help,” said Hlubik.
The smaller the particle size, the
less rumination will occur and the
less buffer will be produced to
balance the acidity level in the
rumen.
The fermentation process in the
rumen has several by-products;
gas, acetic acid, propionic acid,
and butyric acid. The acids are
called volatile fatty acids (VFAs)
and are an energy source for cows.
It is these acids that raise lower the
pH and make it acidic.
(Turn to Pag* A 29)
Dairy Herd Re
Farmers Make It Work
Glen Echo Holstein heifers can enjoy shelter from cold ai —.iem .
while benefittlna from plenty of fresh air when these big doors are open.
to have the veterinarian tests fecal have not lost any calves which are everything is closed up. And
samples. If present the veterinarian raised in the bam. In the bam the according to Ken, the bam can get
can prescribe a course of action calves are kept in individual pens a little damp although they try to
which can be quite simpled and in the same bam as the cows. It is keep fresh air circulating,
quite successful. extremely bright and fresh with “if they have been coughing we
There are several products plenty of ventilation. This is make sure they get some taramya
which can be used, but it is impor- accomplished by the use of large cin, especially in the spring and
tant to use as recommended on the garage type doors which can roll- fall to keep it under control,” said
label. up to open nearly an entire wall. Ken.
Corid can be fed right along Tliis can be supplemented with The bigger heifers use the same
with the milk or milk replacer. In plenty of Windows. Marilyn guar- feed lot as the cows, after bred are
order to control coccidiosis, for anlees the bam is kept very cold, put on the pasture. They supple
animals under 400 lbs. Deccox Ken allows the dam to lick off ment the pasture with com silage
should be added to the calf pellets the calf and then the offspring is and haylage twice a day.
and heifer growth feed until the removed to its own pen and fed The Umbles vaccinate BVD,
haifer reaches 400 lbs. Rumensin colostrum for two weJJcs, then fed PI3, IBR,at 8-12 months and for
is also recommemded, only after w hole milk or milk replacer for brucellosis at 4-8 months of age
the animals exceeds 400 lbs. two months. After two months and remove extra teats. Their
Rumensin can irritate the intestinal calves are fed a high energy pellet calves are dehorned at one month,
tract of the young calves and can f rom the Umbles own mix of oats At birth an ear tag is put in which
hurt the limit the animals growth. an( j Celled com. has the dam, the sire and date of
The important thing is to have The heifer ration, which they are birth on it.
tests run on fecal samples at the unt j) almost breeding age is a “I put the tag in at birth. I put all
first sign of scours. If coccidiosis m ix 0 f soybean meal and distillers the information on it anyone would
progresses to the bloody scours grain, fed on top of shelled com need. That way if I’m not around
stage, it may already be too late, and mixed hay. This is the program and the heifer is in heat, the ear tag
Test results can be back in the far- they have been following for eight gives whoever is around the infor
mer’s hands within a matter of to ten years. Calves have an occa- mation so she can be bred. I find it
hours. It is important to have the s ional scours, but have not had to be real useful. It works much
bacteria properly identified so the much problem with disease being better than just a bunch of num
proper treatment can be initiated transmitted between calves and, bers," explained Ken.
immediately. Treat the entire herd C£)WS j n ham.
not just the ones which were found yyt six months they are with the
to have coccidiosis present. large group of heifers. Taramycin
Glen Echo Farm is f e( j a ll winter for respiratory
According to Ken, the Umbles problems. In the winter time
oo
:y jgeiu jgor
ized feed stuffs for farmers at the first meeting of the dairy
nutrition class.
lacements
(Continued
Next Week)