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Dairy 7“
Improununl AsmialionN
C.W. HEALD
PSU Extension Specialist
STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) Last year at this time I wrote
about DHIA feed costs. With another year’s data, let’s review the
situation.
High producing dairy cows cost more to feed and often require more
expensive feed to produce at high levels. However, it is the high pro
ducing cow that usually generates the most profit for a dairymen, if
expenses are controlled in a reasonable way.
“Feed costs are approximately SO percent of the cost a dairyman
pays for producing milk” is a rule of thumb often quoted.
The last three years were all influenced by abnormal weather in the
growing season. In turn, the quality or quantity of forages produced the
previous year affected annual milk yield.
Production was lower in 1990 because of low quality stored forages.
In 1991 it was up dramatically. When production increases nationally
and consumption does not, the price of milk generally falls and 1991
was an example of this trend.
Dairy farm profits suffered as a result.
However, average income over feed cost was not as poor in 1991 as
in 1989 (see averages in the last line of the table below).
QUESTIONS?
USE THIS PROBLEM SOLVER
WITH DRAG AUGER
CAUSES
PROBLEM
System Stalls
Bad braze
Kinked auger
Feed level too high
Too many feed cycles
Foreign object in
trough
System runs,
stops then
reverses
Bad braze at drive
Feed on floor
at row ends
: Elbows worn through
again
Failed motor
Feed line is
not running
Auger broke
Auger jumped out
of trough (and is
wound all over
the walk ways).
Too many smaller
sized eggs
Birds not getting
enough feed
Too many cracks
Feeder runs too often
causing excess bird
movement in the cage
during raying periods.
Wasted feed in
the walk ways
Feed trough lip is
not high enough
DON’T PUT UP WITH
HERSHEY EQUIPMENT2SS PLANE TREE DRIVE
ri I COMPANY, INC. ST S, PA con?
.1 1 (717) 393-5807
FOCUS
Managamant Intormatlon For Bam Uaa
FEEDERS
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
File or grind excess braze
Cut out kink and re-braze
Lower feed level
Delete a feed cycle
Find and remove object
Make sure feed cleaner is
working
Determine drive and repair
Cut auger, remove elbows and
couplers, replace and re assemble
Determine which motor(s) out of
the four are bad, replace and
reset.
Gather a welder, torch and
grinder. Replace auger in trough,
and braze. Be careful not to
stretch auger.
Add yet another feed cycle.
(May require at least 8 per day.)
Delete feeding during laying
period. (Beware that reduction
may result in smaller eggs.)
No solution
BUY BIG DUTCHMAN
Average Milk
Income Over Feed Costs
25000 to 20999
20000 to 15999
15000 to 15999
10000 to 10999
Average
Despite the weather effect, the higher producing cows are still the
most profitable.
Feeding 1 pound of grain that costs an average of $7.76 per hundred
weight (cwt.) for each 2.5 pounds of milk that yields $12.50/cwt
income, continues to be highly profitable.
A way to make this more profitable is to feed the best forages
possible.
Forage analysis identifies the best forages and ration balancing
improves forage use, increases production and boosts profits.
Now is the time to collect feed samples and have them analyzed.
Your DHIA supervisor will be pleased to help you with sample collec
tion and shipping.
For increased profits in 1992, maximize production per cow while
holding the line on costs. This may be a good time to get help in
increasing production per cow.
Consult your extension agent, veterinarian and/or local dairy con
sultant It may be time and effort well spent
If you like to be part of new upcoming programs, try the new DHIA
Herd Performance Evaluator. This new experimental program might
find some herd opportunities for you.
Call toll free, 800 DHI TEST (800 344 8378)
most benefit to herds working with a consultant.
WITH BIG DUTCHMAN
CHAIN FEEDERS
Chain never needs brazing
Chain does not kink
Chain runs at high or low
levels of feed
Chain virtually is unaffected
by foreign objects. Feed cleaner
is unnecessary and system cannot
run backwards
Chain feeders have rto elbows
to wear out.
Only one motor per 'eed line.
If chain breaks, it is easily repaired
with a hammer and chain breaker
tool. Chain does not stretch.
Cham feeders provide 2'A times more
feed space than drag auger feeders
allowing it to be run as few as 3 times
per day.
More feed space allows less feeding
cycles, which means you don’t have
to feed during laying period.
Big Dutchman has high-lip trough.
PROBLEMS!
Suj Dutchman.
1989 1990 1991
16986 lbs 16846 lbs 17656
$2164 $2605 $2009
1639 1971 1507
1166 1403 1063
779 905 737
922 1589 1298
“a step ahead”
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January is, 1992-Al9
The program is of
WANTED
For Stealing Feedlot Profits
B B
‘Shifty Starling'
Avitrol treated gram baits have been proven successful
year after year in removing pest birds
from feedlots
REWARD... AVITROL
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MARKETING A^l rn |
218 Rockpoinl Road MjSm 111Ul
Marietta, PA 17547
f 717) 426-3135 coven™
FOR SALE
PEANUT \
HULLS I
For 1
BEDDING I
Most effective I
as bedding for all I
kinds of beef and t
dairy cattle, hogs,
horses, sheep and
L poultry
Any amount delivered
w or call for at farm.
Average Farm Feed
Costs For Handy
Reference
To help farmers across the state
to have handy reference of com
'modity input costs in their feeding
operations for DHIA record sheets
or to develop livestock feed cost
data, here’s this week’s average
costs of various ingredients as
compiled from regional reports
across the state of Pennsylvania.
Remember these are averages so
you will need to adjust your figures
up or down according to your loca
tion and the quality of your crop.
Com, No. 2y - 2.77 BU. 4.96
CWT.
Wheat, No. 2 - 3.57 BU. 5.96
CWT.
Barley, No. 3 - 1.98 BU. 4.24
CWT.
Oats, No. 2 - 1.62 BU. 5.05
CWT.
Soybeans, No. 1 - 5.39 BU. 9.00
CWT.
Ear Com
CWT.
68.83 BU. 3.44
Alfalfa Hay - 118.00 TON 5.90
CWT.
Mixed Hay - 106.75 TON 5.34
CWT.
Timothy Hay - 106.25 TON
5.31 CWT.
'Blackie Blackbird'
ERA Approved
RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE
Esbenshade
Turkey Farm
(America’s Oldest—
PO Box 337
Paradise, Pa.
(717) 687-7631
1 (800) 273-3882
J 717) Area OnlvJ