/I FOCUS I / ii J ' Dairy J Impruvumnl AssouahonN C *" ; -«<»-DHl.TEST for service or .nfomution APCS Testing Can Help 808 ORMSBY Pa. DHIA Training Coordinator Pa. DHIA offers over2s testing programs. In this column, I am attempting to explain how each program works. For this column, I have edited an article written by lab manager, Linda Scibilia, for the June, 1988 supervisor’s news letter. The APCS program is well accepted and has some definite pluses. It offers better control over the refrigerated sample, increased speed in fast milking and 3X herds, as well as increased accu racy in some cases. Understanding APCS The APCS testing program available to members of DHIA appears to have created some con fusion among supervisors and members alike. Everbody knows what it is, but nobody seems able to explain it ... at least not very well. SOME CONTROVERSIES NEVER EM). BUT THERE'S NO CONFUSION ABOUT NEW PURINA’ HIGH OCTANE' BABY PIG CHOW ’. YOU MIGHT BUY A LESSER PRESTARTER. BUT YOUR BABY PIGS WONT Pigs prefer it. So they eat more. And gain foster. The research results even made us take a gulp. Pigs prefer New High Octane Baby Pig Chow by an amazing 2to 1 margin—with feed intake increased by 10% in the first week after weaning and on over 24% increase in average daily gain And that's not in comparison to some common, off-the-wall prestarter. That's when 6 S. Vlnlaga Rd. Ptradlaa, PA 17562 (717) 442-4183 (717) 768-3301 Many supervisors have called to find out exactly how the program works, and why a member should consider buying. Those who do understand what it is have questioned accuracy of the program as compared to some of the more traditional testing plans. There are a jumble of ques tions and issues rolling around about APCS. Let’s see if we can separate and address them. The letters APCS stand for are “AM-PM Component Sampling.” The confusion begins with the name, because as soon as you hear AM-PM, you think of the AM-PM program and only one supervised milking. The AM-PM part of APCS applies to the sampling only, not the number of supervised milkings. With the APCS program, you still weigh every milking in a 24-hour period. The difference is that, instead of taking part of the sample at each milking, you take boby pigs were tempted by our former best. What's more, there's just no downside to this-new prestarter. Feed efficiency is better, too. 14% better to be exact. Our recommendation? Switch immediately. Pigs are P'9 S - didn't have f 0 P°V t^iem t 0 say this product is better. See your Purina representative and share a cold soda while you get the details. IFT vmiß MCK nmnr kssMus M. [PURINA CHOWS] ® * WmUHW irriMMik «f Han ftirlna C»n#*ny your entire sample at one ot the two (or three) milkings. You still lake weights at every milking. The accuracy question is a good one, and has frequently been raised concerning the AM-PM testing program. We all know that it is atrare beast who produces the same milkfat percentage in the morning milk as she does in the evening. It depends, heavily, on what the milking inter vals are. If the milking intervals (hours between milkings) are 12 hours and 12 hours, the fat percentage is usually closer than for intervals of 14- and 10-hours, but rarely does the percentage stay the same. Research has shown it can jump as much as two full points (2.60 to 4.50 in one case) from one milking to the next! So how do we reconcile these differences to come up with an accurate lactation record for a cow? The milk production is not a problem. We already said that all milkings in a 24-hour period are supervised and weighed. So as far as milk production goes, we are in the same situation as we are with a cow on regular DHL The total of all milkings in the 24-hour period gives us the cow’s 24-hour production. The fat percentage, however, is RL 82 Unlonvlllc, PA 1837 S (215) 347-2377 factored using the same factors as the regular AM-PM program. The factors used for fat depends on the milking interval proceeding the sampled milking. The actual fat percentage in the sample you send us is multiplied by the appropriate factor to give us the fat percentage that the cow would have produced had you taken a composite sample (a proportional amount from each milking). That is why it is very important for you to report milking Aw~* hours as accurately as possible, and verage tarm for you to tell us which milking T?mitt was sampled, by filling in a “1,” JT €€U “2,” or “3” in the milking box. 17 nr fJnn/lv Sometimes the factoring brings KsUAIA rUF nunuy the fat percentage up from the actu- D pfprpnrp al percentage in the sample, and IVc/ ci VtI LC sometimes it brings it down. We " To help farmers across th e always cnd up. however, w.th the , K . j. percentage representing 24-hour state to have handy reference of p r(X j uc tion. commodity input costs in their The accuracy of the AM-PM feeding operations for DHIA program has been questioned and record sheets or to develop lives- tested many times, and has held its tock feed cost data, here’s this°' wn - Fi B l J r ? i s I have seen have week’s average costs of various shown AM-PM to be 96- to 98-per ’ 6 , - cent as accurate as weighing and ingredients as compiled from sampling daily. regional reports across the state Additionally, the APCS prog of Pennsylvania. Remember ram is useable in DHIR herds, so these are averages so you will the breed associations have also need to adjust your figures up or recognized the usefulness and down according to your location ac^ cy of ‘| ie ProSra'n , ° / Why should a member consider and the quality of your crop. lhe program over some Corn, No. 2y - 3.08 other testing program? Wheat, No. 2 - 2.795 Some will benefit; some will Barley, No. 3 - 2.04 not. The primary benefit of the Oats No 2 - 1 28 APCS program, in many instances Sovheans No 1 - 602 is 10 lhe su P ervisor 7116 APCS Soybeans, No. I 6.UZ program saves you some work New Ear Com, - 83.25 because, at one of the two milk- Alfalfa Hay - 90.00 ings, you only have to read the Mixed Hay - 78.00 meter and record the weight- Timothy Hay - 82.75 (Turn to Page A3l) Ransome Lift New - Used - Rental Units For Sale Choose from one of the Largest Toyota Rental Fleets in the USA Model SGK6 Starting At $ 6,900 Model SDK7 Starting At $ 8,000 Model SDKS Starting At $11,500 LP Units Available Full Line Of Attachments For Sale Or Lease 2975 Galloway Road, PA 19020 (215)245-2797 Benaalem, Pi. Lou Tinarl 215/245-2797 Leyoyne, Pa. Stave Costello 717/763-0980 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 22,1990-A23 TOYOTA Ransome Lift Reedsvllle, pa. Larry Aumlller 717/667-6731 Foglesville, Pa. Mt. Laurel, NJ Eric Antolick Larry Breault 215/395-7074 609/778-4500 Wilkes Barre, Pa. 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