' Farming, Sabhirday, Iff Maryland Young Couple Proving You Can Make It Farming George Oonnon has developed a nice Holstein herd from scratch. Hard work and patience are the keys to success. GEORGE F.W. HAENLEIN Extension Dairy Specialist University of Delaware NEWARK, Del. In looking over the University of Delaware’s dairy herd records or those of Delaware dairy farmers, I note that the statistics on dairy cows leave much to be desired. While there are several parame ters for diagnosing this situation quickly and precisely for each cow, the causes for reproductive efficiency are many and not always obvious or easily correc ted. Production levels, feeding and management skills also are involved. Age at first calving should be no more than 24 months or something is wrong with the way the heifers are raised and when and how they are bred. The interval between calvings should be no more than 12. months or something is wrong with the after-calving cleaning of the cows, heal detection and breeding. The exception may be that milk pro duction levels are so high, even after 10 months of milking, that an extended lactation and no drying-up at 60 or 70 pounds milk is preferred. State DHIA data reveal that some Dela ware cows have a calv ing interval of much more than 12. S months, and herd averages show several herds above the 12.5-month calving interval. The average calving interval nation ally is 14 months (138 days). Studies have identi fied the cost of greater calving interval beyond 100 days <12.5 months) to be about $3 per day. This means that dairy farmers with a calving interval of 138 days are losing s3x3B=s 114 per Hormones Can Improve Reproduction Efficiency cow per year. Other studies have shown that one-third of the average dairy herd has had no estrus or heat detected within 30 days after calving. Nor mally a cow should have the first heat at IS to 20 days after calving and the second heat at 30 to 35 days after calving. If a cow has calving difficulty including twins, retained after birth, metritis, milk fever, ketosis and cystic ovaries she will like ly be delayed with her first heat after calving and is a good bet for increased calving interval. If you hope to succeed with breeding either heifers or cows, you must rely on successful heat detection. There are means to orchestrate heat occurrence rather I i Have “Hoof Rot” Strawberries, ■ treat with : “Tetra-Salve” nd clear up lesions in 3to 5 days > -1% Tetracycline HCL in waterproof base * • Waterproof base acts like a liquid bandage and prevents wash-off ■ due to mud, wet floors, wet grass, etc. ■ • 4-oz. 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TOOD-HAYWOOD EASTERN AG SUPPLY New York Stote Bie-4M-53» (Continued from Bag* A 1) going to make it. And they love their cows and calves. They know each animal’s personality and take great pleasure when one of their calves grows up to be a milk cow in their herd. They believe tame animals respond in greater milk production, and in better herd health too. Cows are not overly pushed for high pro duction. An old cow that is still in good shape is cherished more than a burned out two-year-old with a championship record. Calving intervals average 12.9 months, and some cows often calve on the same day each year. They believe you need this kind of good herd management to survive. Hormone treatments are not that costly compared to the loss of possibly $ll4 per cow per year as shown in the formula above. Two major products now on the market are gonadotropin releasing hor mone (Gn-RH) and prostaglandin (PGF2alpha), which cost $6 or $3 per dose, respectively. These hormones can be admins tered successfully in several ways, ■ ■ Increase Your Income From Milk Sale We are looking to increase high quality milk supply in Berks, Chester, Dauphin and Lancaster Counties • No Coop Dues • Solids Non Fat Premiums • Quality Premiums • Lower Hauling Rates & Stop Charges From a proud neighborhood dairy in the 1920’s to a modern manufacturing company of the 1990'5, the Dietrich family-owned business continues to move forward. With the dedication of three generations and a heritage ricn in experience and innovation, Dietrich's Milk Products faces the future wnh confidence. Give us a call and see what we are all about. Milk Pn&ducli, 9hc, What would they tell other young people who want to go into fanning? “Follow your dreams,” they say. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t make it If it’s in your head, you are going to do it. “Yes, it takes a lot of patience, and it is a long term thing. You will not see a turn-over for five or six years, and you will be cash poor and equity rich. ‘“No money, honey,’ will be said a lot And you can’t expect to start at the top. But if you watch your debt load, you can make it." For winning the prestigious young farmer award, the Donnons won some cash awards from Dodge and Safemark. And they get to go to Nashville and Denver for national conventions. But when all the hoopla is over, this farm couple will return to their Cecil County farm with just one thing in mind. “I knew I wanted to farm for a long time, but people said we couldn’t make it,” George said. “On the other hand a lot of people have helped us along the way. I just want to prove a young farm family really can make it farming with patience and working together as a team.” but which is the more profitable? Studies at Kansas and Wisconsin have identified five regimen. The first treatment regimen is 100 microgram Gn-RH one time at 10 to 14 days after calving, which brings cows earlier into heat and reduces cystic ovaries, but cows with metritis are not good candidates. Reduction in (Turn to Page A 29)
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