Hot Weather May Call For Dairy Cow Ration Changes
GERALD J. McCAMMON
4-H Youth Coordinator
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) As summer brings longer
days and higher temperatures,
dairy producers should adjust herd
feeding practices to ease the ef
fects of heat stress on feed intake,
said an expert in Penn Slate’s Col
lege of Agricultural Sciences.
“Cows begin to eat less when
temperatures rise above 80 de
grees Fahrenheit,” said Virginia
Ishler, extension assistant in dairy
and animal science. “During the
summer, producers can keep feed
intake higher by maximizing cow
comfort.”
Helping cows stay cool will
help them maintain their appetite.
“Keep cows inside during the day
if it is cooler for them. Make sure
they have adequate shade over
feeding areas and while out on
pasture.”
As temperatures rise, ventila
tion in animal facilities becomes
more important “Make sure that
all bam fans are working proper
ly.” Ishler said. “Keep air moving
through holding areas. If feasible,
reduce the number of cows enter
ing a holding area at one time.”
Providing the majority of the
ration during cooler times of the
day will ensure that your cows
have feed when they’re most like
ly to eat. “For example, feed be
tween 4 and 6 a.m. and 9 to 11
p.m.,” Ishler said.
High-moisture ingredients such
as com silage, hay-crop forage
and high-moisture grains will heat
if left sitting around during the
day. ‘Teeding ensiled items more
frequently will prevent this and
help your herd maintain feed in
take.”
Prepare total mixed rations
(TMR’s) immediately before
Sustainable Ag Field Day
Set For Juniata Farm
vm.T.HF.TM (Centre Co.) A
field day demonstration and semi
nar on practical sustainable agri
culture techniques has been sche
duled for August 6at die-Ed and
Lorraine Rits farm, in Honey
Grove.
According to a news release, a
number of the state’s top authori
ties on sustainable agriculture pro
cedures are to explain the defini
tion of “sustainable agriculture”
and techniques which can help
achieve it.
A fee of $5 per person coven the
cost of the lunch and helps with
costs of the Held day. The event is
feeding. “Don’t keep mixed feed
in the mixer wagon during the
day,” Ishler said. “This will short
en the bunk life of the TMR. The
same concept holds true for high
moisture grains, which should not
sit in a feed cart for more than one
or two hours.”
To compensate for lower feed
intakes, boost the energy and nu
trient density of the ration per unit
of dry matter consumed. “You can
do this by increasing concentrate
dry matter in the ration.” Ishler
said. “But keep enough effective
fiber in the ration to promote nor
mal rumen function.”
Cows may tolerate lower levels
of forage neutral detergent fiber
.80 to .90 percent of body
weight for brief periods, but
don’t let forage dry matter intake
fall below I.S percent of body
weight. Offering aftermath cut
tings of hay or hay-crop forages
and whole-plant com silage also
helps to optimize feed -intake in
hot weather. -
Adding supplemental fat can in
crease the energy density of the ra
tion. “The total dietary fat content
in the ration dry matter should not
exceed S percent when oilseed in
gredients are fed,” said Ishler.
“Rumen-protected or rumen-inert
fat sources can provide additional
energy, resulting in a dietary fat
content of 6 to 7 percent. But cost
effectiveness depends on the level
of milk production, the herd’s
average stage of lactation and the
body condition'of the cows.”
Maintaining proper protein ra
tios during the summer also is im
portant. “Rumen undegradable
protein should make up 36 to 39
percent of the total crude protein
for cows in early lactation,” she
said. “Spluble protein should con
stitute 30 to 34 percent of the total
sponsored by die Pennsylvania
Association for Sustainable Agri
culture (PASA), American Farm
land Trust (AFT), and Penn State
Univenity Cooperative Extension
Service.
Scheduled to be present are Tim
Bowser, executive director of
PASA, Ltmontc Garber, agricul
tural policy specialist for the Che
sapeake Bay Foundation, and
Bryan Petrucci, director of Sus
tainable Agriculture Programs of
the AFT.
According to die release, host
farm owner Ed Rits is to explain
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crude protein.” of the ration,” Ishler said. “Sod* The bottom line for managing
Boosting levels of certain min- ium can make up .45 to .55 per* dairy cattle during summer is to
ends will help milk cows compen- cent, magnesium .30 to .35 per- keep them comfortable, Ishler
sate for nigher nutrient losses dur* cent and salt .50 percent of there- said. ‘Take steps to keep cows
mg hot, humid weather. “On a dry tion. Chlorine should range productive by reducing heat stress
matter basis, potassium should between .25 and .30 percent of the and making any necessary dietary
range between 1.4 and 1.5 percent ration dry matter.” adjustments.”
World Expo Announces
Recognition Winners
MADISON. Wis. Every
year. World Dairy Expo recog
nizes four individuals for their out
standing contributions to the dairy
industry. These exceptional people
have been selected for their
achievements, participation, and
leadership in both dairy and com
munity activities.
In addition to Joyce Bupp, who
is featured in this issue, this year’s
World Dairy Expo Recognition
Award winners are:
• Clarence Boyke, Dairyman of
the Year. Boyke’s Vir-Clar Farms,
near Fond du Lac. Wis., covers
325 acres and is home to 250 dairy
cattle. His registered Holstein herd
carries a BAA of 107.9 and a herd
average of 22.487 pounds of milk.
Thirty-nine cows from Boyke’s
farm have produced more than
30,000 pounds of milk and two
have surpassed 40,000 pounds.
Boyke has been a 4-H dairy leader
for more than 20 years and is cur
rently president of the Fond du Lac
county fair board. In addition,
Boyke has served as a board mem
ber for his county DHIA, district
7-B AMPI, the East Central Breed
ers Cooperative, and Select-Sires.
• Doug Wilson, Industry Person
World Expo
Premium Book
Available
MADISON, Wis. The pre
mium book for the 1993 World
Dairy Expo is available. The pre
mium book lists the classes, prizes,
and sales for the six dairy shows
and the rules and regulations for
each class.
In addition, it gives a brief
description and schedule for all
dairy events at World Dairy Expo.
Sept 29 to Oct. 3, at the Dane
County Expo Center, Madison,
Wis.
This year’s premium book is
sponsored by Pfizer U.S. Animal
Health. To obtain a copy, contact
World Dairy Expo, 122 E. Olin
Ave.. Madison, WI 53713, (608)
251-3976.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 31, 1993-A2l
of the Year. Wilson is the chief
executive officer of 21st Century
Genetics. He was instrumental in
implementing and developing the
country’s first computer-operated
mating system. Wilson also led the
committee that first designed
linear scoring for dairy cattle. He is
currently completing his third term
as president of the National Asso
ciation of Animal Breeders. Wil
son serves on many advisory com
mittees and has participated in
numerous genetic seminars.
• Verghese Kurien, Internation
al Person of the Year. Kurion, from
Calicut, India, is chairman ot
India’s National Dairy Develop
ment Board. Kurien established a
cooperative system in India that
produces, processes, and markets
World Dairy Expo
To Showcase Best
Dairy Cows In
MADISON, Wis. Mark your
calendars now for the 1993 World
Dairy Expo, Sept. 29 through Oct.
2. Expo will showcase the best
dairy cattle in the world.
More than 2,000 dairy animals
will crowd into the Dane County
Exposition Center in Madison,
Wis., making World Dairy Expo
one of the largest dairy shows in
the world.
More than 63,000 people from
around the world are expected to
attend this year’s show. In addition
to the dairy cattle shows, World
Dairy Expo offers more than 600
commercial exhibits, educational
workshops, and crafts. Cash flow,
estate planning, and a youth
careers workshop highlight the
Educational Forum.
This year. World Dairy Expo is
sporting a Greek theme. The show
ring will be decorated with grecian
urns, fig trees, water fountains, and
marble columns.
World Dairy Expo culminates
Oct 3 with the Parade of Champ
ions add the selection of America’s
supreme champion cow.
milk from dairy farms in India.
This program, called “Operation
Flood,” reaches nearly 170 million
milk producers and consumers
throughout India and is the largest
agricultural development program
in the world. Kurien is currently a
member of India’s Central Advis
ory Council on Trade for the Mini
stry of Commerce and serves on
the Executive Committee of the
International Dairy Federation for
the Government of India. He was
also the 1989 recipient of the
World Food Prize and many other
prestigious awards in India.
For more information, contact
Cara Doyle. World Dairy Expo,
122 East Olin Ave., Suite 270,
Madison, WI. 53713, (608)
251-3976.
World
For more information, contact
Cara Doyle, Media and Marketing
Manager. World Dairy Expo. Inc.,
122 East Olin Ave., Suite 270,
Madison. WI 53713, (608)
251-3976.
Joyce Bupp
(Continued from Pago Alt)
laugh instead of worry.
It’s these qualities that have
enabled Joyce to love fanning and
share that love with others.
John D. Cope, on several dairy
industry boards, said, “In my 40
years of involvement in the dairy
industry and from my perspective
as a producer, breeder, and indus
try related boards, I can recall few
women who have achieved the
level of distinction and positive
influence on our industry that Joy
ce has.” .
Joyce will officially be pre
sented the “Dairy Woman of the
Year” award during the World
Dairy Expo, held in Madison, Wis.
on Sept 29-OcL 3.
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