Balanced Nutrition
Is The Key
I A properly formulated dry cow program allows the dairyman to "manage” the
" nutrient intake of the cow. PennfieTd offers “4” Dry Cow Conditioner products
with high levels of fortification. On farm feedstuffs should be tested for nutrient
content and combined with the proper Pennfield product.
60 DAY DRY COW PROGRAM (cow work schedule)
take e C fhe d calf dudn 9 to^roTOte^eed^
teke place in the last Sixty (60) Days before the calf Is horn. the colostrum also can bo considered at this time.
Sufficient nutrients must be provided for the cow to maintain _ . ,
her body weight PLUS the nutrients for development of 50-60 • • The Body Condition Score of cows shoul
lbs. of calf body weight. The cow will deplete her body reserve not change appreciably during the dry period. Ideally, cowi
if necessary during this period in order to provide the should calve with the same body condition score they had i
necessary nutrients tor calf development. drying off. Therefore, the most important time for bod'
o uiib v.rr.tnr,, Tk» en condition scoring is about 150 days into lactation. This is thi
norSn ♦S. 1 ™ .mhTf n? ke V time to prepare for how a cow will score at drying off. It'
cfrra*n£ roliehf matimMm b m[ik°rf. irinn easiest and least risky at this point to adjust the cow’
secretory cells in her udder to produce maximum milK during condition if needed
the upcoming lactation. Rattier than try to adjust body condition during the di
3m Restore Nutrient Reserves - After period, it is better to feed cows so they are in the right
meeting body maintenance needs and calf growth, the cow will condition at drying off. Then hold them there during the an
use available nutrients to restore her body reserves. Body period. There are several reasons for this. One is that the co\
reserves are used to support peak milk production in the next uses her feed more efficiently while making than when dry, si
lactation. The majority of body condition should be put on in it is easier and less expensive to put weight on a thin cow. Thi
re latter part of the previous lactation. extra grain also may result in more milk in late lactation.
4. Exercise And Muscle Tone - The 60 day .
period should be a time for cows to get out of the milking bam 1° Piu t
and off concrete. An exercise lot or pasture will help the cow f 2 t 0 onB ' ha un t 0 body condl * lon
rebuild musria tone score dunng ftie dry period.
* i A , On the other extreme, if the cow is too fat at drying off, it
5. Drying Cows Off - A good procedure for drying usually is not possible to take that fat off and back her down to
off cows Is to discontinue all grain feeding, offer only poor- the proper condition during the dry period. Reversing the
quality forage and in those producing less than 22 to 24 process by starvation creates potentially disastrous problems
pounds of milk per day, stop milking abruptly. It may take up to with possible fat deposition in the liver and severe ketosis in
a week to bring production down to this level. Often it helps If early lactation,
cows can be separated from their milking hordmates. Don’t . _ . . .
allow them to go through the parlor. Keep them out of the 8. Pre-fresh Needs - Managing dry cows in a two
milking bam. tier system (far-off dry cows and transition dry cows) best
when milking is ceased, dry treat all quarters matches increasing pregnancy requirements and declining
immediately, and teat dip. If possible, continue teat dipping for intake ability. The early dry cow needs high fiber/low energy
up to a week. * density, while the close-up cow needs higher energy density
s ■ ...j .. „ „ with less fiber. A two-group system results in less metabolic
B. The Length Of Dry period is Idea ly 50 to disease, improved dry matter intake after calving, and
69 days Fewer than 40 days reduces subsequent milk yields; increased peak milk production,
over 70 days results in reduced milk yields or in increases that r .. .
don’t make up for the added days the cow is dry 9. Water Needs - Pregnancy increases the cow’s
The mod is a r 'od time for trimmir" feed, wormii water intake ’ over one-third. Clean, >od quality water
*0
BAGGED FEEDS
Is Now TWO NEW LOCATIONS
Available at )N LANCASTER COUNTY
OPEN 6 DAYS PER WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
Pennfield
Our Standard Line Of
HENRY B. HOOVER, INC.
1731 W. Main St.
Ephrata, PA
(717) 733-6593
TORE HOURS: 7:30 JUM • 8 PM M-F
730 AM-4 PM SAT
. HERR FARM & HOME STORE
Rt. 272 South
Willow Street, PA
(717)464-3321
STORE HOURS: 6:30 AM - 8 PM M-F
7:30 AM-6 PM SAT
Oav
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