Dairy Digest—Potential Economic Impact of BST
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) The dairy industry is
poised for what may be the most
rapid period of technological
change in its history. The immedi
ate focus is on bovine somatotro
pin (BST), a naturally-occurring
growth hormone which today can
be recombinantly reproduced
through biotechnology. Currently
awaiting FDA approval for full
commercial use, BST has been
shown to increase milk production
per cow by as much as 40 percent,
with an average response of 10-20
percent.
The rate of BST adoption is the
key determinant in projecting the
potential economic impacts of this
technology. Factors affecting rate
of adoption of any technology
include its relative advantage,
compatibility with existing
resources, complexity and cost,
divisibility, and communicability.
Most national and state surveys of
milk producers indicate that a
majority of farmers would consid
er adopting BST as a management
practice if it becomes commercial
ly available. Those more receptive
to BST tended to be younger far
mers with more formal education;
and who managed larger herds
with higher average milk output
per cow.
The economic feasibility of
BST will vary by farm and will
depend on the level of milk pro
duction response in each herd, the
price of BST, any related addition
al costs of production, the price
received for milk, and each farm’s
required rate of return. None of
these variables arc known at this
time. The limited farm-level eco
nomic analyses performed to date
generally indicate that BST
adoptcrs will experience higher
cash returns than if BST were not
commercially available. However,
non-adopters and lagged-adopters
would tend to see lower cash
returns.
The current national dairy situa
tion and outlook for 1990-199 S
suggests that the industry has been
and will continue to undergo
structural change, with or without
BST. A slow decline in cow num
bers will more than be offset by
higher productivity per cow.
resulting in increasing total milk
production. Productivity gains
will also lead to reduced costs of
producing milk. Under provisions
of current law (Food Security Act
of 1985), milk prices will trend
downward. Overall, the dairy
industry trend toward fewer farms
with larger herds will continue.
The exact impact BST has on
these trends depends on many fac
tors, most of which are not quanti
fiable at this time. Most dairy
industry economists expect some
acceleration in these trends when
BST becomes commercially
available.
R.D. YONKERS,
Ag Economics Ext.
CALVES ARE
THE FUTURE
When thinking about your
future dairy herd, think of the
calves that you have or will have
soon. These calves are going to be
the next milking animals that
you’ll have. It is important to get
them off to a good, healthy start.
Give first thought to the calving
area. During the summer, cows
can freshen in a pasture. The pas
ture shouldn’t be overcrowded
with other adult animals. The
cow’s udder should be washed
close to freshening to remove
manure and dirt. When cows
freshen in a pen, clean and disin
fect it between every use. Keep
the straw bedding clean at all
times.
Immediately after the calf is
bom, two things need special
attention. First dip the nkvel with
iodine. Second, make sure the calf
drinks an adequate amount of col
ostrum. Hand feed the calf two
quarts of colostrum soon after
birth and then 12 hours later, using
an Ssophageal feeder, if necessary.
If there is a disease problem with
in the herd, such as Johne’s dis
ease, calves should be taken away
from their dam as soon as possi
ble. Calves should not even be
allowed to nurse.
Calves should be placed in a
clean, individual pen and checked
regularly for disease problems. If
coccidia contributes to a serious
scouring problem on vour farm, a
coccidiostat should be started
OF BUILDING SUPPLIES, DOORS,
WINDOWS
AT GOODS AUCTION, 111 NORTH MAPLE AVE.,
LEOLA, PA.
WED., NOVEMBER 29, 1989
AT 9 AM
500 INTERIOR DOORS, BIRCH LAUVON AND MASONITE, 50
STEEL DOORS. SOME PREHUNG, SOME WITH GLASS,
DOUBLE DOORS; DOORS WITH SIDEUTES, WOOD AND
ALUMINUM PATIO DOORS, SOME ARE SLIDERS; APPR.
150 WINDOWS. DOUBLE HUNG, CASEMENT SINGLE. DOU
BLE, TRIPLE, ROUND TOPS, BOW WINDOWS AND BAY
WINDOWS: APPR. 300 STORM WINDOWS; 35 ALUMINUM
STORM DOORS. SOME INSULATED; 150 P TILE BOARD
PANELING «-'A PLYWOOD, PAINTED Tlll PLYWOOD, 25S
OF ALUMINUM SIDING; 50 ROLLS TAR PAPER: 150 BOX
NAILS, LOTS OF TRIM; SOME TRUSSES 100 P 7/16 ASBO
NITE; APPR 5 TRAILER LOADS LUMBER; 2X4, 2X6, UP TO
22 FT. LONG; 2X4, 2X6, 2XB ROUGH SAWED AND PLANED
HEMLOCK: LOTS OF WHITE PINE BOARDS; TSG BARN SID
ING; 6X6 AND 4X6 POPLAR.
WILL BE SELLING WITH TWO AUCTIONEERS
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
soon after birth. Your veterinarian
can give recommendations on a
vaccination program designed for
your farm.
As you prepare your bams for
winter don’t forget the holes!
Cows, calves and heifers continue'
ally breathe out moisture. Without
adequate ventilation this moisture
will buildup, resulting in wet, fog
gy bams, condensation on walls
and windows, and sick animals.
To prevent buildup of moisture,
wet inside air must be exchanged
for dry outside air. A ventilation
system requires proper holes
(inlets and outlets) to aid in this
exchange of air.
When using natural ventilation,
holes at the high point (usually the
ridge) of the bam allow a continu
ous exhaust of warm moist air.
Holes along sidewalls allow cool
er dryer air to enter the bam. A
bam that is too tight will often drip
and be foggy due to buildup of
moisture.
Bams that use fans to exhaust
warm moist air must have open
ings to supply fresh outside air to
the fans. These holes are best
located around the bam assuring a
little fresh air to every cow. Areas
with moist foul air often found
along the bank walls of old bams
are best corrected by adding some
holes to provide fresh dry air. A
bam without inlets to supply air to
the fans is like trying to use a vac
uum cleaner while standing on the
hose.
Remember, for maximum pro
duction, you need to supply your
animals good fresh air to go along
with the feed and water.
R.E. GRAVES,
Ag Eng Ext
AN OVERLOOKED
MANAGEMENT TOOL
With all the attention being
given to BST, the feeding of fat,
nutritional additives, and other
new opportunities for improving
production are being overlooked
by too many dairymen. One such
management tool is artificial inse
mination of heifers. A Penn State
survey in 1987 showed that only
60% of the dairy farmers utilized
heifer AI.
Heifers are your future herd and
PUBLIC SALE
NO CONSIGNMENTS
HAY SALE AT 12:00 NOON
AH400014-L
TERMS: CASH.
NO OUT OF STATE CHECKS.
C.M. BURNS,
Vet Ext Asst,
Vet Sci Ext
“HOLES?”
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 18, 1989-A39
in some herds as many as 30 per
cent of the herd replacements are
from heifers. Heifers usually leave
more offspring in the herd on an
annual basis than any other age
group. Breeding heifers naturally
to unproven bulls, or worse yet, to
beef bulls does not allow the
dairyman to maximize genetic
progress in his herd. Remember,
the benefits of the BST nutrition
ally balanced ration are limited by
the genetic potential of the herd.
The average predicted transmit
ting ability for milk among the AI
sires in the July 1989 sire sum
mary was +ll5B lbs while non-AI
sires averaged -18 lbs. This
amounts to a +1176 lb advantage
for AI sires.
Secondly, heifers are clearly
more fertile than cows. Since they
are more fertile and probably
leave more calves in the herd there
is a great opportunity to recover
the maximum benefit from super
ior AI sires through use of heifer
AI. In addition to the genetic
superiority of the heifer entering
the milking herd and her future AI
daughters there is also the benefit
of more effective culling because
more quality Al-sired replace
ments are available. In some herds
there is the added advantage of
merchandising quality heifers.
Calving ease information for AI
sires has been available for several
years and the incidence of dysto
cia has steadily decreased in
recent years. Obviously there is no
calving ease data available for
natural service sires until it is too
late. Semen quality is monitored
for AI sires and the use of artificial
insemination prevents the spread
of reproductive disease. Since AI
fosters better record keeping and
animal identification, breeding
dates, pregnancy status and more
accurate calving dates are avail
able. Bulls are dangerous, even
young bulls, AI eliminates the
need to have a potentially danger
ous animal on the farm.
Granted AI requires time for
heat detection and adequatevfacili
ties for restraining heifers. How
ever, estrous synchronization
especially for heifers, has been
used effectively by many dairy
men in Pennsylvania to consoli
date the time spent in detecting
heat Restraint facilities for heifers
need not be elaborate or expensive
but facilities are definitely needed
for artificial insemination. Other
heifer management tasks will
more likely be accomplished in a
timely manner if good restraint
facilities are available.
There are numerous advantages
of heifer AI and it should not be
ignored when you are considering
areas that need improvement in
your operation.
M.L. O’CONNOR
4-H DAIRY
JUDGING TEAMS
Pennsylvania’s 4-H dairy cattle
judging teams continued their suc
cess this year. At the Pennsylvania
All-American contest, the team
placed first out of fifteen states.
Team members included Matt
Welk, Peach Bottom; Matt Wan
ner, Narvon; Tom Wiker, Holt
wood; and Thad Sturgeon, Fom
bell. Sturgeon was high individual
overall and also won Guernseys,
while Wiker placed third in
Jerseys and Wanner placed eighth
overall. Joe DeLong of Quarry
ville was the team coach.
At the World Dairy Expo in
Madison, another team from
Pennsylvania placed eleventh out
of thirty-six teams. Tom Barley,
Conestoga; Corey Gesford, Mon
trose; Troy Koenig, Bemville; and
Thad Sturgeon were coached by
Dave Trotter of Enon Valley. The
team placed in the top ten for two
breeds and reasons, and Barley
was recognized as an All-
American judge by virtue of his
top twenty placing as an
individual.
The Westmoreland County
Dairy Bowl team will represent
Pennsylvania at the national con
test in Louisville cm November 4.
Team members include Todd
Frescura, Jason Frye, Renee Mill
er, and Wade Johnson. Their
coach is Bob Graham.
The teams are funded through
Pennsylvania Friends of 4-H and
by individual contributions from
the counties involved.
DALE OLVER
Middle Atlantic Milk Marketing Assoc