AlB4.ancaster Farming, Saturday, September 12, 1998 QUESTION: We feed a single ration TMR and want to know what fiber levels to maintain? ANSWER: Fiber levels in the HYDRAULIC POWER UNITS Custom Designed • Powered by gas engine or electric motor. • Manual or Solenoid operated valves • Many sizes available • Hydraulic circuit design ... • We also stock and sell hydraulic pumps, motors, | cylinders, fittings, and • •We specialize in building /./£'• |l|| '' hydraulic power units fßtSMlß&lvdra ulics 440 Concrete Aw • Leola PA 17540 • 717 05E-4878 • Fax 717 BSB-4BBS Paul B BGDGIQIfIiDcOOQ Heavy Duty Headlocks Finished with TGIC Polyester Powder Coating. Superior to Epoxy l Extra Heavy Construction yokes lock on individual catches Yoke stabilizer on large sizes Designed for easy entry & exit Removable neck bar LAPP'S BARN EQUIPMENT cow’s diet is probably the first parameter that we should establish when putting together a feeding program of any type. I think that a TMR system requires some special considera tion about fiber that should be talked about as effective fiber. Effective fiber needs to be thought of as both (he tested chemical properties and the physical form of the diet. Typically, ration parameters on fiber include Acid Detergent Fiber 5935 OLD PHILADELPHIA PUCE, GAP. PA 17527 PHONE: 717-442-8134 • FAX 717-442-3112 SALES & SERVICE Est. < 1979 J 3 Sizes Available To Meet Your Cattle Handling Needs • CA Series: 7 locks per 10’ • HE Series: 6 locks per 10’ • CO Series: 4 or 5 locks per 10’ (ADF) and Nuetral Detergent Fib er (NDF). ADF is an indicator of digesti bility of a feed and NDF is asso ciated with intake potential of that same feed. It is well documented what acceptable levels of ADF and NDF should be. I would like to concentrate the discussion on items that require judgement calls and management decisions. Fiber in our cows’ diet must address questions about maintain ing rumen health. Fiber not only provides scratch that is needed to stimulate rumen contractions but also can form a matting effect in the cow’s rumen that slows down particle separation, and this will maintain a more consistent rumen environment. How much feed fiber sources we need to feed the cow is mostly dependent on what that source is. Generally, dry alfalfa or alfalfa haylagc that is made for high nutri ent density is not the best source of effective fiber. HAY. STRAW & GRAIN SALE Every Thursday at 12 NOON Vintage Sales Stables, Inc. (Rt. 30,10 miles east of Lancaster in Paradise, PA) For info. (717)442-4181 bus. (610) 458-8518 home s S' nH» m E New & Used c | Wind Mills | j>j E & R WIND MILL | | SALES & SERVICE I | 717-354-5554 | I 717-354-9320 g EEEEEEEEiaaSSSEEEEEEE DO NOT BUY a R/SSLER TMR Mobile Forage Blender unless you want... ★ Better Feed Utilization - You May Not Be Able To Empty Your Silos. ★ Less Expensive PremixeS - You Can Mix Your Own Feed. (This Could Make Your Feed Salesman Unhappy) if Less Problems With Twisted Stomachs - You Might Not See Your Friend The Vet As Often. ★ Less Time and Effort Spent Feeding. ★ Increased Milk Production If The Above Benefits Are Needed For Your Operation You Really Do Need a R/SSLER TMR Mixer Call Today For The Name Of Your Nearest Dealer 448 Orchard Road *- ff/SSL ER~} M °717°484^0551 540 -MANUFACTURING J That is because of the relative high digestibility of the fiber. We also observe that alfalfa tends to physically break up when included in most TMRs. Grass type forages can give us a very nice matting effect that can maintain integrity throughout the TMR, but often is very soft and doesn’t lend well to scratch stimulus to the rumen wall. Feed byproducts have high fiver chemical properties, but does little for scratch or matting in the rumen. Cottonseed, soyhulls or beet pulp can easily fool us into believ ing we have adequate fiber in our diets. Products like straw can give us a nice blend of both scratch and matting, but we need to be careful not to decrease nutrient density with such a product. Ranking fiber sources on their ability to produce satisfactory results can be done on your farms if you think about the different properties of that fiber source more than the chemical comparison of ADF and NDF. As a guideline, I always do a ranking of feeds that provide fiber David S. King Iron Worker Manufacturer of Church Bench folding hinges. SCOTCHMAN BEWO I CIRCULAR COLD SAW | Check Us For Used Iron Workers Selling: "itchr U' 873 South Railroad Street, Myerstown, PA 17067 717-866-6556 - The Bottom Line - More Profit - by how much I need to use as com pared to the next fiber source; 1. Straw or late-made grass hay at low inclusion rates ranging from .5 to 2 pounds per cow. 2. fcrass hay of average to good 'quality at 1.5 to 3 pounds per cow. 3. Late made alfalfa, 2 to 4 pounds per cow. 4. Quality alfalfa, 3 to 6 pounds. 5. Cottonseed or other bypro ducts can’t be fed at a high enough rate, so put your vet on retainer for the displaced abomasum you’re about to have. In conclusion, let me say that the only one capable of saying what fiber level is right on your farm is that four-legged chemist that will give us outputs that are matched to our inputs. Look at your DHIA records, especially those that indicate rumen health, and make judge ment as to how much fiber is needed. Percent butterfat, percent protein, milk pounds, and MUN tell us what we need to know about rumen health and output. Coupling testing with research and education is still the best man agement practice we can follow. LEESPORT, BERKS COUNTY, PA 19533 (610) 926-1307 LIVESTi EVERY WEDNESDAY - 1:00 P.M. Farmers Market 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Flea Market 7:00 AM to ?? Serving Eastern Pennsylvania for SI years. UCTION