UNIVERSITY PARK (Center
Co.) Hie Dairy Teaching and
Research Complex at Penn State
has been operational now for three
years. With any new facility there
are growing pains and adjusf
ments.'Fortunately we have gotten
past those hurdles and are close to
utilizing the facility to its full po
tential. The herd presently con
sists offo 160 milking cows, 20
dry cows, and 15S youngstock.
The lactating cows on average are
producing around 78 pounds of
milk with a 3.8 percent milk fat
and 3.1 percent milk protein. The
soman tic cell count has been aver
aging under 225,000. At this point
in time, every cow or heifer that
freshens will be involved in some
one’s research project until the fall
of 1997. All the close-up dry cows
and heifers over six months of age
are being utilized for research.
The following describes some of
the projects that have been com
pleted or are in progress at the
dairy center.
Dr. Gabriella Varga and her
graduate students have been fo
cusing their attention on protein
and carbohydrate metabolism in
both lactating and dry cows. Theo
Lykos, a recent doctoral graduate,
examined the effect of varying
ruminal degradabilities of protein
and total nonstructural carbohy
drates on the animals’ metab
olism, milk production and milk
composition. Some conclusions
drawn from their data suggest that
the amino
similar to that of the
original feedstuff, steam flaked
com is a source of bypass protein,
and roasted soybeans that are
ground eliminate the added bene
fit of heating on protein degrad
ability. In addition, they found
that carbohydrate sources that are
degraded rapidly in the rumen can
increase both milk and protein
yields.
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Penn State Dairy Facility Projects Summary
Dana Putnam, a current doctor
al candidate, has conducted sever
al trials with close-up dry cows.
His Erst project examined the ef
fects of increasing dietary protein
density on nitrogen balance in late
gestation animals and on postpar
tum dry matter intake and produc
tion. Thirty-nine close-up dry
cows were fed a diet with a total
dietary crude protein of 10. S, 12.6,
or 14.5 percent on a dry matter
basis. No observed differences
were seen in postpartum dry mat
ter intake or production regardless
of protein level fed. However, in
creasing dietary crude protein had
some interesting effects on certin
blood metabolites.
Heather Dann, a master’s stu
dent of Dr. Varga, is beginning her
project using dry cows. They will
be feeding close-up dry cows two
different sources of carbohydrates
that vary in rate of ruminal de
gradation. They will also be deter
mining the effect of prepartum
and postpartum ration interactions
on animal performance such as
health, dry matter intake, and milk
production.
Projects conducted by-Dr. Jud
Heinrichs and his graduate stu
dents are geared mainly to heifers.
Julianne Longenbach, a recent
master’s graduate, examined feed
bunk space requirements for rapid
rates of growth and performance
for heifers aged 4, 11.5, and 17
months. They looked at growth re
sponses and feeding behavior
based on various feed burik space
allotments. Heifers were fed a
high quality total mixed ration in a
frce-stall or bedded pack group
housing system. From their results
they made the following conclu
sions about adequate feed bunk
space: 0.0 inches per animal for 4
to 8-month-old heifers; 12.0
inches per animal for 11.5 to
15.5-month-old heifers; and 18.0
per animal inches for 17 to
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21-month-old heifers.
Brian Lammers, a current doc
toral candidate, has been conduct
ing research involving calves,
growing replacement animals, and
heifers in their first lactation. Bri
an and Dr. Heinrichs have recently
completed a study examining
whey protein concentrate versus
dried skim milk as the major pro
tein source in milk replacers. The
four treatments were 100 percent
sldm, 67 percent skim and 33 per
cent whey protein concentrate, 33
percent skim and 67 percent whey
protein concentrate, and 100 per
cent whey protein concentrate.
The results from their study
showed that when no grain was
fed, calves receiving the 67 per
cent whey protein concentrate had
higher average daily gains and
better feed conversion efficiency
ratios. However, when grain was
offered free choice, no milk re
placer effects were found between
the different whey protein concen
trate and dried skim milk protein
ratios.
Brian Lammas’ second project
is a long-term study evaluating the
effects of accelerated growth rates
and estrogen implants in pre
pubertal heifers. There has been
some speculation that estrogen
implants may effect mammary de
velopment He will be collecting
data on 68 heifers from 4.S
months of age up until they com
plete their first lactation. To date,
Brian has collected data on growth
and feed efficiency. The results of
the growth data showed that in
creasing growth rates from 1.8 to
2.2 pounds per day increased
structural growth by 27 percent
There does not appear to be any
effect on conception rate with ac
celerated growth or estrogen im
plants.
Brian’s third research project
involves determining the protein
requirements of growing heifers.
“Low
hauling
rates”
There has been almost no work
done that clearly defines what the
protein requirements are for dairy
replacements. Brian will be feed
ing total mixed rations varying in
protein content (12,14,16 percent
crude protein on a dry matter bas
is) to heifers 6 to 11 months of
age. All animals will be fed indivi
dually and dry matter intakes will
be controlled. He will be evaluat
ing various growth parameters as
well as feed efficiency.
Dr. Lisa Holden is another fa
culty member actively conducting
research with an emphasis in for
age systems and intensive grazing.
Her current doctoral candidate.
Kathy Soder, has finished her first
project. They examined the influ
ence of dietary cation-anion bal
ance in grazing dry cows on meta
bolic health and milk production.
Students Sought For
Farm Bureau’s
‘Classroom At The Capitol ’
ALBANY, N.Y. High
school juniors with an interest in
the workings of state government
can leant more about the process
by applying for New York Farm
Bureau’s upcoming Government
al Awareness Institute.
Scheduled May 13-14 and
headquartered at the Albany Mar
riott “The Institute offers students
a first-hand look at how their state
government functions,” said Mark
F. Emery, director of communica
tions for the 27,00-member New
York Farm Bureau.
“Last year, students had an op
portunity to hear from Governor
George Pataki; Assemblyman Bill
Magee; John Boltz, an independ
ent lobbyist; Rex Smith, manag
ing editor of the Albany Times
Union; Jeff Martin, a dairy farmer
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Their treatment diet consisted of
an anionic salt pellet which was
compared to a control pellet Both
diets contained a high calcium
content Kathy is in the process of
analyzing the data.
These are the summary of just a
few of the projects being con
ducted at Penn State. In subse
quent articles I*d like to share
other projects and activities that
are going on at Penn State’s dairy
facility. Many of the projects that
were mentioned in this article
have been or will be presented at
the American Dairy Science Asso
ciation meetings. Anyone inter
ested in obtaining detailed infor
mation on these projects or pro
viding suggestions for future
research proposals can contact the
extension office at University
Park: 814-865-5491.
from Madison County and
NYFB’s state membership chair
man; and Bob Bellafiore, a special
assistant to Governor Pataki,” said
Emery. They also visited with
their own assembly member and
participated in a computer game
that allowed them to be a lawmak
er for a term.
He said, “We are currently lin
ing up a number of excellent
speakers, tours, and other activi
ties for this year’s institute.”
High school juniors interested
in attending the 1997 Govern
mental Awareness Institute should
contact the chairman of their
school’s social studies depart
ment, an agriculture teacher, the
county Farm Bureau president in
their area, or call the NYFB Com
munications Department at (518)
436-8495 before Feb. 21.
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