A2B-'.ancaster Farming, Saturday, September 5, 1998 Calculate Your Farm’s Livestock Density The total number of AEUs for each species is added up, divided by the number of acres that can receive manure, and the AEUs per acre is deterimined. If it is more than 2.0 AEUs (if it is 2.1 AEUs, a plan must be filed), submit a plan by Oct. 1. If it isn’t, a voluntary plan can still be filed. Those requiring a plan can receive 75-percent cost-share money to have the plan developed, but only for plan work done after the funding has been approved. Funding will be available only for CAOs through Sept. 30. After that date, funding is to be made available to both CAOs and those seeking to file volunteer plans. For those without knowledge of Nutrient Management Information Sheet Please send this information to the conservation district by Oct. 1, 1998. I I.NAME; SIGNATURE: ADDRESS: DATE 2.Average number of animals of various animal types on your farm during the past 12 months (dairy, beef, meat poultry, egg poultry, feeder hogs, sows, etc.): | I Animal Type 3. Number of acres of owned land available for manure application acres. I Number of acres of rented land available for manure application ! acres. Animal Equivalent Units per acre for your operation If you are a Concentrated Animal Operation (more than 2 AEUs per acre): a. Do you need assistance in finding someone to develop your plan? Yes No b. Are you interested in getting certified to write your own plan? Yes No c. When do you anticipate submitting your plan to the district? I 6.1 f you are not a Concentrated Animal Operation (less than 2 AEUs/acre): a. Are you interested in developing a plan? Yes 1 b. Do you need assistance in finding someone to develop your plan? Yes No 1 the average weights of their lives tock, for use in making the AEU calculations a table of standard animal weights has been provided by the State Conservation Com mission, the agency that has the authority to implement and enfor ce Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Man agement Act. Those tables are available at loc al conservation districts. If a farmer has records of the actual weights of animals on the farm, those statistics can be used to ' calculate an operation’s AEUs per acre. For more information, call or visit a local conservation district office. TELEPHONE: ( ) Average Number of Animals AEUsJ - Restore flesh quickly to a working level of about 3.0 - Don’t let scores drop below 2.5, conception rates drop fast at this level and reproduction literally shuts down at a score of about 2.0. » - Don’t let scores get above 4 0 These cows are unhealthy They have poor immune responses, more calving problems, sluggish appetites, they lose flesh more rapidly, becoi thinner and are more prone to get ketosis - Start early and prepare to dry off all cows at a uniform score of about 3 5 Remember, it time to put flesh on cows that are still pumping a lot of milk At a pound per day gam in weight, it may take 3-4 months to improve body condition score by 1 (ic from 2 5 to 3 ! One body condition score is about 8-10% of a cow’s body weight, that’s about 120 lb fo 1350 lb cow Figure 1 140.0 120 0 100 0 •a % SO 0 o a. 60.0 40 0 20 0 Figure 2 1500 1450 1400 1350 | § 1300 Q. 1250 1200 1150 1100 IgUIC 'acre Guidelines: * Keep body scores between the 2 lines on the graph; aim for near the middle. * Limit body condition loss to less than 1 full score within 70 days of calving. Greater losses are associated with poor conception rates. More rapid losses cause ketosis, fatty livers and poor immune response One body condition score is about 123 lbs , or about 10% of body weight. * Don't let body condition scores drop below 2.5, or go over 4.0. Below 2 5, conception rates, milk production and milk components drop. Over 4.0, depressed appetites cause excessive loss of flesh, ketosis, etc * Get cows in positive energy balance (gam weight) 70-90 days after calving, otherwise, conception is delayed and cows may lack flesh at dryoff time, * Dry cows off at code 3 5. To gam 1 full score, cows must gam 1 lb of flesh per day for 4 months, this is m addition to growth and body development * Don't let dry cows drop m body condition scores Management Basics (Continued from Page A 27) 2 3 4 5 6 7 I 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 Body Condition Scores by Stage of Lactation Danger Zone - appetite, metabolic, calving and mastitis problems Range of acci htion scores Danger Zone - low conception rates and milk component levels Conceive Peak 50 100 Lactation and DMI Curves Months in Milk Wsight Curve 7 • » 10 11 Month! in Milk 200 250 150 Days in Milk
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