CB-Lancaster Farming) Saturday, December 7, 1991 December 7, II Dr. Larry W. Specht av f 1 *** “Iff J™ Professor of Dairy Science v r alues f s 150 Penn State University .f genetic progressisincreasing at J an accelerating rate over time. How much gertetics progress is Why has this happened? What being made by the Pennsylvania has caused it? First of all, older dairy cow population? An answer cows with lower sire PTA values to that question can be obtained leave the herds and are replaced from the summary data available with younger cows whose sires at the end of the DHIA test year. have higher PTA values. Second- . were set as follows: January 8-9, How can we measure geneuc l y> sires with the higher PTA val- ™® April 1-2, July 1-2 and October progress? First of all, we can only ues are being used more frequent- met * n Jmy ***d October 1991 and measure the progress made by the l y by daymen who are aware that took *** following actions of in- ‘ . . . cows that are on a production test- such bulls sire a higher percentage terest to members and others in the reports was releas S ing program. That is now roughly of better milking daughters than industry: f()r at rfce of 50 percent of the 660,000 dairy genetic base was do bulls with avera 8® or h® l ™ *• * s - 75 P® l I*B® for members in cows m the state. We can assume that f et a average PTA values. Thirdly. AI an stody, m co- merged coundes< rate non . that the non-tested cows are mak- sire to aPD of zero> avera g e units run more effective progeny merged counties is the same plus a mg some progress but we don t . from 1984 until 1989 1681 programs now than in the past. n “ $l.OO base fee per run to cover know how much. We do know t “ 1n1989 theAni- This provides the chance to DMA. of the value of DMA re- billing costs. that the PaDHIA milk average mal Im £J, vement prog^ ms La b increase selection pressure and put J? - Sending reports back to year/Thaf is a when the ==Kn r Kr^r™i c J U» period tom 1989.0 1991 the you test only five. That example gani tion f for eounrie, a $5.00 minintum u> of 14543 pounds of milk. Welcome New Members We needto remember thatfte Lowell C Kurtz, Harvey J, Cletus Emeigh, Paul Z Weaver, S^^arStMeScata gam m producuon is due to both Kenely, Donald Hostettcr, David Dave Noble, Edward Ginger 2, An operatmg budget for fis- have occurred after the second test better management and better B rubecker. Leonard M Nolt, Pflugh, Larry Beach. Danny & cal year 1992 was approved with a was modified change ex . genetics. In this article we will David S_Fisher Jr, Willis R. Hoov- Ann Kemp, John Feusncr, Mervin margin of -$196,000, Overall c i u de S employee errors from the examine the rate of genetic gam. er> Peter z Nolt> Amos H Lein . Gerbcr , Delmar & Susan Weaver, member service rates wiU remain definition P f y chan and when One of the easiest ways to mea- bacb> j aC ob S King, Flowing Robert + Marlys Grace, Thomas A the same m fiscal 92 as they were occurs record wiU not sure genetic improvement is to Spring Farm, John G Stoltzfus, Spicher, Michael W Beaver, Aar- m fiscal 91. These decisions were nee d to be flagged. Also members calculate the average Predicted Slanely & Sharon Homing, David on K Boiler, Steven K Esh, Henry made because of the problems appeal the flagging of an in- Transmitting Abilities (PTA’s) for G Kromer, Kevin Drake. Stains S Stoltzfus Jr. John S Fisher. John members are experiencing due to to PADHlAman the sires of the cows in the tested Dairy Farm, Ray & Kevin Grubb, I Stoltzfus, Paula Dell Holsteins, low milk pnceS. agemenL herds. The average PTA values of Samuel N Marlin, Jody & Candice Donald White, Richard + Louise 3 A new policy regarding cred- 11. A new policy was adopted the sires of the cows can be sum- Devine. Maple Grove Dairy. John Reed Ver Ann Farm, Dale Mehs- it and payment terms was ap prov- indicating conations on a mem f™! 0 !?! n’t . COU "‘ G McGuire. Gloria Black. Ed sa Andrus Ton,a Williams, ed establishing the policy of pay- ber’s farS. under which a techni ty and on a statewide basis Stoltzfoos. Jonas E. Beilcr, Levi S Kcnard Henley. John King, Ter- ment duc at the time service * cian or supervisor may refiise to We have calculated such fig- King, Jr., Aaron M Zimmerman, raced Acres Farm, Bruce + Brenda provided f or direct members. Pay- provide service. Such conditions V^ n , irift y d i’ w h r ht.ii Tacnn ments made after 30 days will be involve unsafe or unsanitary situa- Young Cooperative Leaders s K o^sc, U two f onsandU,eem pj°y®® isr^ uired i Leaders conference program was + Ardcll Baushcr, Noah L Zook, members “ to report a refusal to provide ser hcld at Days Inn Penn Suite, State Eric Stevens, Benjamin K Lapp. not 1)6 f° vlded aervi< * v,c ® under to the region College, on July 8-10, 1991. The Debra Zaktansky, Ivan Weaver, until their accounts are made cur- manager for resolution of the objective is *• . young Joe Caola Allen H Hoover. How- A was ado pted to ac- 12.7 modification to the Herd and affairs* ( urn to Pag* Cll) cept no liability for improper or ir- Management Awards program Also to develop Bleadership 8 leadership atti- WPStPm St VIP res P° n s ibl ® us e of DHIA records was made in the average days to ludes and7uis°of young coopera- 1C by non-NCDHIP organizations or peak milk category The ranges live members. To recognize and mthviduals. were increased by about 18 days effectively use both spouses in XJ<Ull|Ucl 5. The decision was made to to reflect a more realistic set of farm, cooperative, and community This j s first time ever that collect and report calving ease in- ranges. affairs. Exchanging ideas and our conx)r ate annual meeting will ormatlon ®P r organizations at 13. a motion was made and experiences in a social and educa- u. u„jd outside of State College a cost tbos ® of adopted that as of October 1, tional environment is pan of the S.M P* 1992. PA DHIA will provide ser forum that’s provided. lwo £ ys al Hershey Lodge & t o, d^ t memberS ° nly ’ ln : The Ruffancrs, Beth and Ron, Convention Center, in Hershey on to be taken when an AM-PMtimer dividual dairymen in unmerged have always had their herd on a March 6 and 7 5992 is inoperable on test day was counties may apply for direct DHIA testing program. Ron grew We hope it ’ will exciling modified. The change provides an membership and DHIA supervi up on the farm and has gradually „ nlnv „ F ,i f , l ; nH (vilir „ lif . n ..i n ., ’ opportunity for members to repair sors employed by unmerged coun taken over a3O milking cow oper- will intrigue and'inter- their timers before having to ties may apply to become direct ation. Ron and Beth have 3 child- rnm m lin irflie hone switch to a non-timer program. employees of Pennsylvania ren and stay very active with a 7 ’ Board meeting dates for 1992 DHIA. variety of Agricultural groups in f ulurei the benefits of being a cen- , the Armstrong County area. Ron jj ze d association and what that v/DCrHtIOIIS V^OHI|)H.nSOIIS has served as President of the Reg- mea ns to you as a membbr. * r ional Young Farmers Association, Qur banquet will be a Texas Secretary of PA DHIA local asso- st yj e Bar-B-Que and end with ciation, and also serves on the otbcr western entertainment. So board of Farmers Home Admi- don’t miss out on the fun and nistration in his district. Ron and excitement. More information Beth indicated they really appre- sb ould be arriving in your mail. elated Ihc opportunity to spend pigase plan on attending the Pen lime with other young couples nsy ivania Dairy Herd Improve from other cooperatives in Pen- mcnt A gsociation Western Style nsyivania this past summer. Round-Up in March. Each summer the Pennsylvania Association of Farmer Coopera tives conducts a training program for young cooperative leaders. This year PA DHIA selected as our “Young Cooperative Leader Couple”, Mr. & Mrs. Ron Ruffan cr, Armstrong County, Worthing ton, Pennsylvania. The PCC Young Cooperative Ron and Beth Ruffaner. A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE •1 Vol. 6, N 0.2 PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY HERD IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Lancaster Farming Pages CB-Cll Genetic Improvement Of Pennsylvania Dairy Cattle ures since 1976. Changes in sire evaluation procedures and in esti mating the genetic base caused some problems but for the interval from 1976 to 1991 we can look at three time periods. The average yearly change in the Predicted Difference (PD) values of the sires from 1976 through 1983 for cows on DHI test was 53 pounds of milk per year. Remember, PD values were used to express sire merit from 1974 until 1989 when they were replaced by PTA values. / FOCUS illustrates what has happened in made much genetic progress the past 15 years. If better bulls thanks to strong progeny testing are available for dairymen to use, programs, good identification of then better replacement heifers the cows within herds and a good will be produced. production record collection sys- Pennsylvania dairy cattle have tem - better known to all as DHIA. Board Action Summary Herd! Enrolled Prune Herdi % AM-PM Herdi ARIS U»en % Herdi on SCO Heifer Option Herdi % Untenable Samplei Turnaround (Oayi) Enrollment decreaied over the rummer month] by more than 100 herdi and 11.000 cowi. Thii mnd m September ai milk price] began to go up. Cow enrollment climbed by 4,400 cows in September and October, or 1.3%. The percentage of herd* on all typei of AM-PM programj reached an all-time high of 47.3% in October. The fatten growing program! on a percentage barn are AM-PM, Prime and DHIR. 1917 6,062 19U 5,947 1989 5,989 111 Thru Oct 1991 6,034 267 1990 6,102 206 Change 196 -0.04 0.2
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers