A36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 25, 1995
CHETEK, Wis. Blue rings
circling some cows* rear legs may
appear as some sort of new
fangled bovine jewelry, but the
rings have supporters who hope
they will be successful in prevent
ing teat injuries.
The foam rings are called “teat
savers” and are a Japanese product
being marketed in the United
States through a Wisconsin manu
facturer and various distributors.
According to the manufacturer,
teat savers are best used in the per
iod just before and after
freshening.
The blue rings are placed just
above the dew clase on both rear
legs, and they slide the udder away
from the leg as the cow gets up
from a lying position. This is to
prevent die ankle and dew claw
from stepping on the teat.
It also provides a cushion under
and near the dew claw to keep it
boom stepping on the teat.
The rings were designed with
confinement set-ups such as
stanchion bams in mind, because
this is where cows often lack suffi
cient room to get up. according to
the manufacturer.
The cross-linked polyethylene
foam rings were discovered by
Prairie Farm dairy producer Julian
Nelson on a visit to Japan in 1988.
His family had hosted a Japanese
exchange student in 1976 and vis
ited her family 12 years later.
While there, they stopped at
several dairy hums. The device,
which Nelson had never seen
before, was invented by a Japanese
veterinarian.
Nelson has been using the
device at his farm ever since. “I’ve
never had a cow step on a teat
while they’ve been on,” he said.
The dairyman and his wife,
Janet, milk 56 cows in a stanchion
bam. Teat Savers have replaced
the sometimes clumsy cow bras (m
their farm.
Nelson said he first thought the
blue rings were “startling, N but
many Japanese farmers were using
them.
“I had no idea what they were
for, but I was real interested in
them,” he said. He bought two sets
before returning home.
Over the next year. Nelson tried
to find the manufacturer and patent
holder. In 1989, he made contact
and was able to buy SO additional
New Device Claims To Save Teats
pairs. One ste usually lasts one
lactation.
Nelson said he is certain that try
ing the foam rings on one problem
cow will prove to other farmers
that they work. However, he
doesn’t use the rings on all his
cows. They are typically used only
on those with larger udders, more
likely to catch teats underneath
their hooves.
“If a cow steps on a teat one day,
chances are she’ll step on it again
another day,” he said.
BRATTLEBORO. Vt.—The
new classification programs
implemented by the Holstein
Association USA late last summer
are getting favorable reponses
from dairy producers across the
country who like the flexibility
and choices with the new
programs.
In August 1994, the Associa
tion began offering producers six
classification participation prog
rams and three scheduling
options. This allowed more flexi
bility to enable breeders to fit
classfication programs to their
individual needs.
The six new programs are:
Classic, Standard, Basic, Limited,
Introductory, and Breeder’s
Choice. A review of the 3,679
herds classified between August
1, 1994, and Feb. 28, 1995, re
veals that all of the new programs
are being used.
Two-thirds of Association
members-classifying during this
period enrolled in the Classic
program. Sixty-six percent, or
2,415 herds, took part in this
program.
More than 600 herds (17 per
cent) were enrolled in the Stan
dard program, and 174 herds took
part in the Basic program.
A higher percentage took
advantage of the Limited prog
ram, with 297 herds; and 67 herds
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When he was sure they would
prevent teat injury for other far
mers too. Nelson and some part
ners formed J.B. Supply Ltd. to
import the product for U.S. sale.
Tom Jennings, president of J.B.
Supply Ltd., works out of the
office, in the basement of a Wis
consin dentists clinic. He touts the
product’s simplicity, and that they
can be washed off and do not cause
tissue injury to the cow.
“It needs to be strong, yet soft,”
Jennings said. The Teat Savers are
made to withstand more than 200
Holstein Classification Programs
New
Bring Favorable Responses
took part in the Breeder’s Choice
program.
John Neal Scarlett, of Scarletts
Dairy in New Market, Tenn., was
one of those who took part in the
Limited program, classifying 67
animals in September of 1994. He
said he was very pleased with the
new options available.
“We’ve classified for a long
time, but if the new programs
hadn’t come along, there’s a very
good chance we wouldn’t be clas
sifying today,” he said. Currently,
he is in a partnership operation
with his family and milks about
2SO Holsteins.
“It’s tough to get a lot of cows
ready for classifying,” Scarlett
said. “This is the first time I’ve
been able to relax and enjoy clas
sifying, since the Association’s
had the new programs.”
The Holtzinger family, from
New Berlin, Pa., has taken part in
the new classification programs as
well. Kevin and Karen Holtzinger
classified IS6 animals in Novem
ber 1994, utilizing the Classic
program. Several Very Good
cows woe scored at that time.
Kevin noted that with the next
classification they may only score
a select group of animals.
“We’d like to just do the 2-year
olds next time,” he said. “With the
Limited program, we can do that”
The Limited program allows all
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pounds of tensile strength, yet are
' very lightweight and do not bother
the cow.
To adjust the size for an indivi
dual cow, inner tabs can be
removed.
Replaceable clamps snap the
device together once it is around
the cow’s ankle. For best results,
Jennings recommends applying
the devices I'A weeks prior to
freshening and allowing them to
remain on for at least four months.
When there is no longer a risk of
injury, they can be removed.
previously unscoted cows fresh
less than 10 months to be scored.
Some changes were recently
made in the new programs.
Participants in the Breeder’s
Choice program and for the Non-
Area scheduling of any program
are no longer required to contract
for a future classification. Enroll
ment eligibility for these choices
is now based solely on past
participation.
To be eligible, breeders must
have participated in a qualifying
program within the past 14
months.
For producers who have not
classified any animals in the past
five years, the Introductory prog
ram is available. (Participation in
a SET does not affect eligibility
for this program.) This is a special
program for producers who have
not been classifying regularly, and
will provide them with extra benc-
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After attachment, the device is
supposed to stay on the leg. unless
the cow rubs is along a gutter grate,
or her foot and leg gets stuck in
mud or manure. Longevity of the
ring depends on the type of
bedding.
The material used to make the
devices was designed specifically
for the product. It is the result of a
combination of thermal and injec
tion molding. Farmers interested
in trying them may write to J.B.
Supply Ltd., Box 876, Chetek,
Wis., 54728.
fits in getting started.
First and second lactation cows
fresh less than 10 months are the
only cows required to be pre
sented in the Introductory prog
ram. Optional cows not presented
in this program will be excused
from future classifications if the
producer wishes.
The Association’s Board of
Directors has also approved the
addition of a Junior classification
program. This will allow Junior
members to have their animals
classified even if their parents
choose not to participate. The
rules for this program have been
developed, and the program will
be implemented later this year.
Producers with questions about
the new classification program
can call the Holstein Association’s
Member Services Unit at
1-800-952-5200.
or.