Chester Dairy Day
(Continued from Pago A 32)
proper development of the heifer,
especially reproductively.
He also suggested that breeding
heifers to calve at 23 to 24 months
of age should be a goal of every
producer, because it results in
higher lifetime milk production.
Heinrichs also said that there is
no correlation between age of first
calving and age of culling
which means that those who con
tinue to have heifers calve at ages
of 25 months on are merely losing
money in feed costs.
If the heifer is going to have
problems and be culled before a
m f2 FISHER & THOMPSON, INC.
I ® DAIRY ft MILKING EQUIPMENT SALES ft SERVICE (wKTMJM)
MAIN OFFICE MIFFLINBURG SALES CENTER NORTHERN SERVICE
15 NEWPORT RD. RD280X265 f E £l^ R in7
LEOLA PA 17540 WABASH RD. RD 1 boxa-107
717-656 ; 3307 MIFFLINBURG, PA 17844 BELLEVILLE, PA 17004
717.966-3900 717-667-6291
third lactation, it is going to hap
pen regardless of when she calved
the first time.
What will happen with a heifer
that calves at 23 to 24 months of
age is that over her lifetime she
will actually produce more milk,
and she will be more profitable,
because she won’t require as much
feed until she starts to generate
income in milk sales.
Acccording to an analysis of
data taken from Dairy Herd
Improvement Records, those cows
which had an age of first calving at
22.9 months averaged 25,525
pounds of milk per 305-day lacta-
tion, while those calving first at
26.3 months had an average pro
duction of 20,280 pounds of milk.
Heinrichs recommended using a
weight tape to start breeding cows
when they weigh about7sopound
s. He said most people are breed
ing when the heifers weigh about
900 pounds, which is unecessary.
The goal is to have a post
calving weight on a first-calf heifer
of about 1,200 to 1,250 pounds.
(For every increase in body weight
at calving their is a corresponding
increase in milk production).
Heinrichs warned that most
weight tapes available need to be
reworked, since the calculations
upon which they are based are
about 20 years old. He said weight
tapes generally result in overesti-
mating by 20 pounds on young ani
mals, and 40 pounds on older ani
mals. Those difference have to be
taken into consideration.
(Some other speakers at diffe
rent forums have suggested using
height indicators for heifers to
determine when the size of the
heifer is appropriate for first
breeding.)
Heinrichs showed a diagram
relating feed costs to average daily
gain to calving age and also the
simple relationship between those
factors and calving weight and
ultimately milk production.
According to die diagram feed
costs are directly related to average
daily gain, which is related to calv
ing age, calving weight and milk
production.
In fact, all are interconnected.
Heinrichs also said that for those
serious about developing the best
heifers and the best milking string,
AgßeStOre Presents
ANNUAL WINTER SOIL AND
LIVESTOCK NUTRITION SEMINAR
I\iesdar,Jan. 17, 1995 Wed., Jan. 18,1995 Thnre., Jan. 19,1995
Yoder’s Restaurant Clear Spring, MD Oakland, MD
New Holland, PA David Stnte Farm Pleasant Valley
9 am - 3 pm Community Center
1-412-836-2404
For Reservations
Topics will include:
• Environmental Concerns Affecting Dairy Cows
• Certifying Organic Production
• Weed Purposes & Management
• Pasture, Forage and Manure Management plus Testimonials
/®v
Agßestore, Inc.
“C*c*lUmc* itt Biological A<yiicullu*o'
Coni
Ernest & Alvin
Halteman
14342 National Pika
Clear Spring, MD 21722
301-842-3543
Don R. Weaver Melvin Stoltzfus Paul Weaver
245 White Oak Rd. 370 Faggs Manor Rd; 401 Woleber Rd.
New Holland, PA 17557 Cochranville, PA 19330 Myerstown, PA 17067
717-354-4398 215-869-9627 717-933-4459
GETCONIROIOr
IMAZHE-RESBIANT
WEDS WITH PRO Wl
Triazine-resistant pigweed and
jl lambsquarters can pose a severe
nnAiur threat to your com crop. That’s why
rHBwH we recommend you use PROWL*
■■■■l herbicide. PROWL gives you
effective control of these resistant
weeds, plus velvetleaf, fall panicum,
yy -J giant foxtail and 19 other grasses
and broadleaves. Do NOT incor
porate PROWL in com.
See us today. We have the (
products and the service to help JpffjfVlffrff'
your farming operation. nOnlWnitu
Alwaya read and follow label direction! carefully.
’‘TrademaA, American Cyanamid Company® 1994
See the Dealer, Nearest You
or fai mxm Siormatton erf your Cyanamid Rep.
A* I; s ( f.
should not be as indifferent to heif
er forages as has been fairly widely
practiced.
He said he knows that most peo
ple feed “heifer hay,” which is usu
ally the poorest quality protein for
age. He said that is a fine practice,
but it isn’t fine to feed without
knowing what is in the hay.
According ot Heinrichs. 80 per
cent to 90 percent of the dry matter
a heifer takes in is from forages, so
it is imperative that a producer
know how much protein is in that
forage, so that additional dietary
needs can be met. “Almost all
rations are going to need some
grain,” he said.
As a recommendation, Hein
richs said that producers should
consider forumulating three diffe
rent heifer rations: one for those
from weaning age to 6-months;
another for those 7- to 12-months;
(Turn to Pago A3®)
Lunch and instructional material supplied at no charge.
Reservations Required
Maurice Sin an
Director, Livestock Division
Greensburg, PA 15601
412*836-2404
Homestead Nutrition, Inc.
ler For Reservations