BY GEORGE F.W. HAENLEIN Extension Dairy Specialist University of Delaware NEWARK, DE.—The average age of our dairy cows 10 years agp was 54 months, and the average Delaware Holstein DHIA cow produced 14,952 pounds of milk per year. Today, the average age of our cows is 48, months, while average production is at 17,907 pounds of milk. We have increased milk per cow by 20 per cent, but our cows are 12 percent younger. And 48 months is pretty young, considering that we do not get the first drop of milk until our cows are 27 months old in aver age. This leaves us an average Farm Calendar (Continued from Pago AID) Farm & Home Center, 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 7 Eastern Pennsylvania Junior Hols tein Judgdin School, Lancaster County, noon to noon July 8. Keystone Ram & Ewe Show, Ag Arena, Penn State, University Park, 8:30 a.m.; sale 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Saturday, July 8 Clarion Co. Towft & Country Day, Ronald McHenry Farm, Knox. Keystone Ram & Ewe Sale, 9:30 a.m. Ag Arena Penn State Sunday, July 9 Jackpot Steer Show, Somerset County fairgrounds, Moyers dale, 1:00 p.m. Mohday, July 10 BlakCounty Holstein Picnic. Leg ion Park, Hollidaysburg, 7:00 pjrv. Tuesday, July 11 PDCA Judging School, Troy fair grounds; runs through July 12. Talbot County Fair, Ag Center, Miners Lane, Easton, Md.; runs through July 13. Wednesday, July 12 Baltimore County 4-H Fair, Balti more County fairgrounds, Timonium, Md.; runs through mineral/ SALT FEEDERS 1 $69.88 11’ BUNK FEEDER Reg. SALE $129,99 $119.88 OPEN JULY 4th 7:30 AM TILL 2PM IH* iifiE Hardware More Milk production time of 21 months, or only slightly more than two lacta tions of 305 days each. During these 21 months our cows are expected to pay back the 27 months of being raised as herd replacements, in addition to mak ing us a profit! Are these last 10 years part of a trend? If we further succeed in more milk per cow, at the same time will we suffer furth er declines in average age? Where is the cutoff point where it will be uneconomical to milk cows because they leave the herd before they could pay back the costs of replacement and make a profit in addition? And this assumes that we will have 10 months lactation within the 21 months of produc- -n- f - July 16. Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association summer vegetable marketing tour, depart from . King of Prussia, 4:15 a.m.;’call 717/473-8468 for more information. Thursday, July 13 Lycoming County Fair, Hughes ville; runs through July 22. Friday, July 14 Kent County 4-H Fair, Kent Ag Center, Old Nike Base Site, Tolchester, Md.; through July 16. Caroline Cbunty Fair, 4-H Youth Park, Williston, Md.; runs through July 16. Saturday, July IS Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s & Col onial Charolais Association Ficl<l Day, Ray Grimes farm, McKightstown. 9:00 a.m. For information, call Dr. Wilson at 814/863-3659.- Pensupreme Ice Cream Festival, Lancaster Square, Lancaster. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Allegany Ag Expo, fairgrounds, Cumberland, Md.; continues through July 22. National Junior Angus Show, Louisville, Ky.; runs through July 20. HFWMASTB' GATES Hot Hip Galvanized Reg. $79.99 SALE 6- $29.99 12’ $46.99 s’ $37.99 14- $55.99 w $41.99 16’ $59.99 ROUND BALE FEEDERS Reg. SALE ~..$169.99 ....$155,88 ~..$149.99 ....$135,88 ...$139.99 ....$125,88 8’ Red w/Panel 8’ Red ! 8* Galv Sdaday, July 16 Z\ * From Younger Cows don, which is not the case. The average calving interval is at 13.9 months, or almost 2 months be yond the ideal 30S-day lactation length. What this means is that our cows are, more often than we like it, reproductive failures after calv ing. Theoretically, they should be able to conceive for the next lacta tion between 30 to 60 days after calving. But our average days “open,” that is before conceiving again, are 130 days! Is this part and reason of the trend to younger cows in our herds? Is this reproductive failure causing cows to leave the herd before they can make a profit? Is this due in part to the increasing demand and stress of higher milk per cow, year after year? Many people in the dairy indus try, especially in the veterinary portion, think so. Thus, does that mean that eventually our cows will concentrate their resources physiologically and nutritionally on milk production so much that they have none left for reproduc tion?' When, then do we get our future herd replacements, if our cows become worse reproductive failures year after year? Should we not start rethinking our breeding program in the face of these facts? As dairy farmers, dairy geneticists, dairy nutritionist and artificial insemination stud managers, we have been extreme ly successful in concentrating on one goal: more milk per cow. We have proven that concentrating on a single goal results in faster prog ress than breeding for several goals simultaneously. In 10 years, we have achieved 20 percent progress in milk per cow per year. But we have lost on regularity of reproduction and on economical longevity of our cows, brought on by more milk production, to the point where the diminishing returns are beginning to concern us. Should we not pause and re examine our one-goal breeding preference and policy? The Nor wegians have done just that, and they sound happy and confident about the results. They have always had an outstanding world HncnnrD irrffni—- ' as jy-at as ms 4;SsA — - ~~~ nSHHDSB Available In 100 & 250 Ft. Rolls Culvert Grade Pipe (20’ Lengths Only) Available From 6” to 24” Dia. 451 Per Foot GOLDEN MALRIN FLY BAIT 1 25 Lb- Container 5 Lb. Container Reg. $15.99 SALE sl3*BB I mi reputation in dairy cattle genetics, and they have decided to use a tot al index or ‘Total Breeding Val ue,” as they call it, instead of a single goal (milk). They have admitted that herita bility for milk yield is much high er than for reproduction and health. Even so, they have been unwilling to exclude these impor tant considerations from their breeding program. The U.S. sire evaluation system calculates pre dicted difference (PD) values for milk or fat or protein or type scores and some combination of these. But most U.S. dairy people use PD milk for their breeding program because the other values are correlated with milk to some extent. The Norwegians, on the other hand have developed the idea of the Total Breeding Value. Thanks to today’s computers, they syste matically collect many data on Cattlemen’s Day To Take UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) The 15th annual Pennsyl vania Cattlemen’s Summer Field Day will be held at Ray and Mary Grimes’ South Mountain Farm in McKnightstown near Gettysburg on Saturday, July IS. Open to large and small-scale beef producers, 4-H and FFA members and everyone else with an interest in cattle, the day will feature tours, discussions and family fun. Events will start at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free. Highlights of (the field day in clude free toun of historical sights and area farms, including the Get tysburg Battlefield and the Eisen hower Farm, or < visit to the Ma son-Dixon Rum, which is home to a 1,300-head dairy and features innovations in field crop manage ment, methane generation and waste recycling. Other events include a panel discussion among several beef producers who will discuss prob- a! PERMECTRIN II 8 Oz. . SALE Reg. <hQ qq $11.99 $O.OO 1 SALE $3B& $29.88 Reg. $75.99 SALE $68.88 UPS Shipping Point ****** r—nafl, a-Mrctoy. My i, muot Place In Adams County NOTICE Troy Bilt Tiller Owners Are You Having Problems With Your Engine? Why Not Replace It With An Engine Designed For Tillers? proa • 6 Hp Industrial Quality • Recoil or Elect. Start • Easy Starting - Electronic Ignit. • Pearlitic Cast Iron Cylinder • Designed To Work At Greater Angles • 3 Year Home Owner Warranty • Bolts Right Up To Troy Tillers List $432.00 Introductory Price Recoil St. $345.00 - Distributed By - SHIRK’S REPAIR SHOP. R.D. 2 Box 102 Ephrata, Pa. 17522 their future bulls in their young sire proving program, not only on milk, fat, protein and type scores, but also on nine other reproduc tive and health concerns. They then incorporate all these data into the Total Breeding Value index for each bull and decide on that basis whether he will be released to the dairy industry for general use or not. In the attached table is a list of the data categories and their rela tive importance within the index. The Norwegian dairy industry has called this approach very success ful in achieving progress in repro duction efficiency and health of their dairy cows, not just in prog ress of more milk per cow. Should we not re-examine their data in light of our recent trends and rethink our breeding program ulti mately for more profits on our dairy farms in the long haul, too? lems and opportunities in beef production as well as demonstrate irrigation, hoof trimming and fencing methods. Sponsors will also conduct a judging contest. Participants are invited to taste the traditional Keystone Eye Steak on a Roll, which will be served at lunch for only $2. “Where else can you get a ribcye steak for so little? We all expect a good turn-out,” says John Comorford, assistant professor of animal science at Penn State and one of the field day coordinators. The field day is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association, in cooperation with the Penn State Department of Dairy and Animal Science, the Adams County Beef Producers Association and the Pennsylvania Charolais Association. For more information, contact John Comer ford or Lowell Wilson in the De partment of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State at (814) 863-3661 or (814) 863-3659. Dealer Inquiries Invited
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