A2B-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, October 7,1989
/I FOCUS I
Pennsylvania ~J ‘
Dairy Herd * J
Improvement Association \
In Communication Venture
and director of operations, listed
specific goals for the joint commu
nication effort to include; (1) the
desire to better convey DHIA’s
purpose to become a farm manage
ment systems provider;
(2) to reach non-member dairy
men about DHIA service;
(3) to help improve the manage
ment skills of producers;
(4) to emphasize quality milk
production rather than only reco
ginzing high production records;
(5) and to develop a working
Herd Health Management Can Optimize Herd Response To BST
GAINESVILLE, FL The
ability of bovine somatotropin
(BST) to enhance milk production
in dairy cattle has been known for
more than 50 years. However,
until recently, opportunities to
apply this knowledge on a broad
scale did not exist. Today,
advances in biotechnology have
made possible the production of
this protein hormone in quantities
sufficient to serve the needs of
commercial agriculture. However,
before that can occur, the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA)
requires data confirming efficacy
and safety in animals that will
receive the product, safety to
humans consuming products
derived from BST treated animals,
and environmental safety.
One purpose of this fact sheet is
to review existing data on the
health of BST-treated dairy cows.
Other topics on the use of BST in
dairy cattle are covered in separate
fact sheets included in this series.
A second purpose is to outline
herd health management practices
that will maximize profit and will
help to ensure optimal responses
to BST and other new technolo
gies when they become available.
Milk Production
In BST Treated Cows
Research data collected from
several single-lactation trials and
one two-lactation study have
demonstrated increases in milk
yield ranging from 10 to 40 per
cent. Increases were observed at
all stages of lactation; however,
the magnitude of the response was
greatest when BST treatment was
initiated after peak lactation. The
studies indicate that cows treated
with BST are able to increase peak
milk yields and sustain them for
longer periods of time. In addition
to the increase and extension of
peak milk yields, continued BST
treatment slows the rate of decline
in daily production as the lactation
proceeds. In other words, lactation
persistency is increased.
Health Effects
In BST Treated Cows
There are very few published
reports on the impact of BST on
animal health. Some have sug
gested that BST treatment would
increase the incidence of metabol
ic diseases such as ketosis and
State DHIA Joins LF
(Continued from Page A 1)
relationship that will be beneficial
to both parties, to the dairy indus
try in general and to members of
DHIA in particular.
Pennsylvania DHIA has nearly
6,000 herds with 339,000 cows on
test. Lancaster Farming publishes
between 25 to 30 tons of newsprint
each week that goes to 47,800
subscribers.
The target date to begin a week
ly column under a logo developed
jointly by the parties is set for
November, 1989.
milk fever. However, single lacta
tion studies conducted at Cornell
and Pennsylvania demonstrated
no adverse effects on the health of
BST treated cows. Udder health,
and the incidence of ketosis, dis
placed abomasums, milk fever,
and feet and leg problems were
unaffected by BST treatment in
these studies. To date, there is
little indication of changes in
blood chemistry in treated cows.
Disease, whether clinical or
subclinical, would be expected to
reduce milk production as well as
productive efficiency. Since the
overwhelming majority of studies
have shown marked responses to
BST one might conclude that
health effects are likely minimal.
Yet, some question remains as to
possible health effects that could
only be detected in very large
numbers of animals over an
extended period of time and under
a variety of management condi
tions.
Most notable in this regard are
studies suggesting a negative
impact on reproductive perfor
mance in cows receiving the high
est experimental dose of BST (50
milligrams per day) in early lacta
tion. Researchers reported
reduced conception rates, fewer
established pregnancies, higher
embryo loss and extended days
open for animals receiving this
high dose. Cows receiving lower
doses apparently were not affected
in this way. Additional experi
ments will be required to confirm
these findings.
Reasons for the reduction in
reproductive performance
observed in cows receiving high
doses of BST are not clear. How
ever, research has shown that
genetically superior, high produc
ing cows experience increases of
.3 days open and .005 services for
each 100 pounds mcrease in milk
production. It has been suggested
that the poorer reproductive
response in high producing cows
may be related to an amplification
or extension of negative energy
balance. It is generally agreed that
conditions which would enhance
negative energy balance could
adversely affect the cow’s normal
ability to conceive and maintain
pregnancy or both.
More information on possible
health effects is needed. Large
field trials are currently being con
ducted for this purpose. At the
present time, however, research
suggests that the effect of BST
treatment on health is minimal and
primarily associated with repro
duction in cows treated with high
doses of BST in early lactation.
Preparing To Make The Best
Of BST And New Technology
In light of tremendous expan
sion in new technology and
knowledge it has become more
challenging than ever to remain
properly informed. Readers are
encouraged to stay up-to-date with
the latest information on BST and
other technologies presently under
development. Attend Extension
seminars or other meetings where
such topics are being discussed
and ask questions. Make it a point
to be informed.
Avoid the use of a product or
procedure until you have conclu
sive evidence of its safety and
effectiveness. Before making a
final decision discuss your
thoughts with respected col
leagues, your veterinarian, county
extension agent, or other individu
als who are likely to have know
ledge of or experience with the
product or practice you are con
sidering. Lastly, critically evalu
ate yourself and your operation.
Be sure that you are presently
implementing sound production,
health and management practices.
BST is not a magic formula.
While it has produced a marked
response in the majority of herds
in which it has been studied, it has
not yielded a positive production
response in every herd. A point
often overlooked but critically
important is that only healthy
herds that are properly fed, well
managed and comfortably housed
will be able to obtain the maxi
mum benefit from BST. No
amount of BST can compensate
for the herd suffering a high inci
dence of metabolic or infectious
disease, as a result of deficiencies
associated with nutrition, feeding,
management or housing.
Herd Health Programs
To Optimize Production
To prepare for eventual BST
use, a herd owner should institute
Bob Ormsby
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Pennsylvania DHIA wel
comes aboard Bob Ormsby as
Training Coordinator. Bob’s for
mal training for the position
includes a B.S.E. degree in Secon
dary Ed. English from Mansfield
University, nine graduate credits
in teacher effectiveness from
Wilkes College, and five years
experience as a public school
teacher. His practical training for
the position involves a lifetime of
agricultural related activities. The
most recent of these is serving as a
supervisor and manager for Brad
ford County DHIA. His responsi
bilities included hiring and field
training new supervisors and
monitoring their performance.
As Training Coordinator, Bob
will work closely with Herman
Espy, Director of Field Services in
developing and revising curricula
and support materials for all for
mal training for DHIA Assistant
Supervisors, Supervisors, Senior
Supervisors, and Region Mana
gers. He will schedule and deve
lop member education programs
for new services and products and
assist in developing promotional
plans and materials. As a member
herd health programs to optimize
production using today’s technol
ogy and management practices.
1. Establish a herd health pro
gram with a veterinarian. Consult
with him/her on treatment and
other health management proce
dures. Use the guidance of the vet
erinarian to design a vaccination
program which will best address
the specific needs of your opera
tion.
2. Establish a reproductive
program with a veterinarian and
seek his/her advice on matters per
taining to reproductive health
care. The reproductive health of
all cows should be monitored fol
lowing calving, but particularly so
when they have experienced calv
ing difficulties, milk fever,
retained placenta, or other abnor
mal conditions associated with
parturition. Reproductive exami
nations should begin at about 3 to
4 weeks following calving for
cows which calve normally. Cows
that have or develop complica
tions should be examined earlier.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of
reproductive disease in the early
post-calving period promotes a
quicker return to maximum milk
production and significantly
improves the chances for concep
tion to occur within the desired
period following calving.
3. Minimize udder health and
milk quality problems by milking
clean, dry udders with properly
functioning equipment. Have the
milking machine and its compo
nents evaluated at least twice a
year (once a month or more in
large herds). Be sure to apply an
effective post milking teat dip at
the end of each milking and dry
treat all quarters of all cows at dry
off.
4. Monitor production on indi
vidual cows as well as the herd
and record the incidence of both
MILK.
IT S FITNESS
YOU CAN DRINK.
Joins Staff
of the Cooperative Communica
tors Association of North Ameri
ca, Bob will edit and produce all
PA DHIA publications, including
the newsletters, press releases and
annual report.
Bob has been an Eastern A.I,
technician, a full-time dairyman, a
relief milker and agricultural
salesman. His teaching experi
ences include Athens, Upper Dau
phin, Southern Tioga and Troy
area public schools. Bob received
“Outstanding Service to the Uni
versity” award and an academic
achievement award at Mansfield
University. He is a 25-year mem
ber of the Grange, active in church
work, and received the “Rookie of
the Year” award from PA DHIA
for his work in Bradford County.
Bob and his wife, Carol, have
two children. Paul is serving in the
United States Navy, stationed at
Bethesda, MD, and Susan is a
freshman at New Covenant
Academy in Mansfield, PA where
they now reside. Bob and Carol
are natives of Allegany County,
New York. Their interests include
church and family activities. They
are now planning to relocate in the
State College area.
metabolic and infectious diseases.
Consult your nutritionist and vet
erinarian whenever there appear to
be problems of low production or
high incidence of health related
problems. Be sure heifers and
cows are reaching production
peaks that are reasonable and
acceptable. Use this information
and body condition scores taken at
drying off, calving, and at peak
production during the lactation to
determine if the feeding program
is achieving its intended goals.
S. Manage and house cows to
make them as comfortable as pos
sible. Concrete floors should be
grooved for good footing. Stalls
should be of adequate size and
well bedded. All cows, milking
and dry, need adequate shelter
from harsh cold weather In v ar
mer climates, shade structures,
overhead sprayers, fans and other
cooling strategies should be
employed to reduce heat and
environmental stress.
6. Do not overlook the dairy
heifer replacement program. Be
certain that heifers are growing at
an acceptable rate. Monitor
growth by weighing or taping
heifers every 3 to 6 months. By
monitoring growth rates one can
determine if feeding, parasite con
trol, and other disease prevention
strategies are accomplishing their
objectives. This information also
can form the basis for early culling
decisions on heifers unlikely to
make profitable herd replace
ments.
In summary, herd health man
agement is centered on disease
control through proper feeding
and management, sanitation, vac
cination, and routine veterinary
health care. Dairy producers who
have or will adopt established
health management practices will
profit most from BST and the
other technologies to follow.