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