A34-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20, 1999
Dairyman To
Dairyman
GEORGE CUDOC
PA DHIA
Consulting
Dairyman
QUESTION: We
started to test for MUN
two months ago and are
wondering what should
MUN values be for our
herd?
ANSWER: You may
have heard or read that
average MUN values
should fall between 10
and 14. This is the range
where we see the high
est and most consistent
production on all cows
that make up the test
database recorded by
Pa.DHIA.
It is in this range
where “individual”
cows use dietary protein
most efficiently. How
ever, when we look at
the “herd” overall, we
should consider some
additional factors.
Recently, I visited a
herd that gives us a good
example of a factor that
can tell us where to set
the goal for MUN with
in the acceptable range.
We will start by observ
ing that this is a single
ration TMR.
This single factor pre
sents a challenge as we
try to determine protein
feeding efficiency
through MUN testing.
We see the following
numbers in this herd;
Lactation 1
(MO days ave. MUN - 7.4
41-99 days ave. MUN - 8.9
100-199 days ave. MUN - 11.3
200-299 days ave. MUN - 12.7
300+ days ave. MUN “ 13.5
Ave./total 11.8
These numbers repre
sent a common trend In
herds that use a single
fed TMR. This type of
feeding strategy calls
for a different evalua
tion of the MUN
numbers.
The low numbers in
the early lactation cows
indicate that there is a
lack of dietaty (espe
cially rumen available)
protein. This is easy to
fix, but you need to real
ize that once the trend is
established for this herd,
fixing the protein for
early lactation will also
cause the tail-enders to
become somewhat inef
ficient in protein
utilization.
My recommendation
is to look at the profile
of the herd first.
In this herd, we used
the first lactation group
to set parameters
because 52 percent of
cows in the herd are first
lactation. Furthermore,
the distribution of milk
ing 2-year-olds was
even, through days-in
milk;
The feeding strategy used in this
herd is becoming more common.
When we give all the cows the
same opportunity for feed con
sumption, we must address where
we generate the most profit poten
tial and that is during the early part
of lactation.
We contacted this herd's nutri
tionist and fixed the diet to optim
ize production potential while still
maintaining rumen health. We did
fife Pa. Tobacco Market Report
2-12-99 lbs. Sold 45,827 Avg. 580 High 710 Low 420
2-15-99 lbs. Sold 118,184 Avg. 610 High 710 Low 400
2-17-99 lbs. Sold 173,362 Avg. 620 High 750 Low 450
3 day total 337,373 Avg. 610
We are still accepting Membership Application
To sign up Call the Warehouse 355-5336
Attn: Auction starting time will be
9:00 A.M. Mon., Wed. & Fri.
300 gallon SINGLE AXLE
HCM SERIES SPRAYERS
Duty-Bound Sprayers
1300 gallon elliptical polyethylene
tank with deep sump for complete
chemical removal.
I Jet agitation for thorough mixing
and excellent chemical
suspension,
t 10” fillwell with no splash cover.
> Adjustable wheel spacmgs for row
crop applications.
I Single axle trailer with 27” ground
clearance, three ton hub and
spindles and 15”x8” wheels.
% Large front mounted step, platform,
and safety rail for easy filling.
% Three section boom control.
12 1/2 gal. clean water tank for safety
1 Available with 2T and 28’ Truss-T-
Boom with 1/2” plumbing and
conventional nozzles
> Available with 28'. 30’, 40’, and 45’
heavy duty truss booms with boom
skids, 3/4” boom plumbing, and
diaphram check nozzles. Truss-T boom folded for transport.
Wholesale Distributor
HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, Inc.
567 South Reading Road, Ephrata, Pa. 17522
717-733-7951
PENNSYLVANIA
Altoona - Hines Equipment
Carlisle - Gutshall’s Inc
Cresson - Hines Equipment
Fairmount City - Millers Equipment...
Greensburg - J&M Machinery
Honesdale - Marshall Machinery
Honeybrook - Dependable Motor Co,
Johnstown - Hines Equipment
Lebanon - Umberger’s of Fontana....
Lititz - Binkley & Hurst Bros
Loysville - Gutshall’s Inc
Lynnport - Kermit K. Kistler, Inc
Oley - Pikeville Equipment
Turbotville - Ag Resource
Washington - Bull International
Williamsburg - Longenecker’s, 1nc....
IDBFT Flotation boom mount is
standard on truss booms.
Pump Packages
t Demco single piston pump with
electric shut-off.
f Hypro belt driven centrifugal pump,
t Hypro PTO driven roller pump,
f Ace hydraulic driven centrifugal
pump.
AUTHORIZED DEALERS
so by using less of bypass protein
and more of soluable protein.
We now anticipate that the
MUN numbers should rise
throughout the lactation and the
average here needs to be 13 to 14.
This change will address the
animals with the highest potential
profit along with some slight pro
tein waste in late lactation. Here
we even got the bonus points
reduced cost to the dairyman.
12*T
1 Boom
.814-742-8171
.717-249-2313
814-886-4183
814-764-5159
724-668-2276
.570-729-7117
.610-273-3131
.814-262-0137
717-867-5161
717-626-4705
717-789-4343
.610-298-2011
610-987-6277
570-649-5161
.724-222-0450
814-793-3731
Pennsylvania Dan j , ~O A,
DHIA Sen ice Center, Orchard Road, University Park, PAIWO2
LAND PRIDE EB
Quality equipment from
a quality company.
GROOMING MOWER
3-Spindle, 48",
60", 72" & 90"
REAR BLADES
48" Through 120”
ROTARY CUTTERS
48" Through 120"
<* Jk
LANDSCAPE RAKES
48" Through 96"
KILLER BBQ$.
PARTS
c • SALES
S* SERVICE.
iKUBOTB’
| tractors ft equipment"!
LEBANON
Rt. #7, BOX 405,
Lebanon, PA 17042
Rt. 419 1 Mile West
Of Schaefferstown
717-949-2000
or Toll Free
877-4Kubota
1458-26821
r A
4^a maW
’
NEW LANDPRIDE
ALL-FLEX
MOWERS
11', 14', 16.8'& 21.9 Ft,
MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 - 5:00
SATURDAY 7:30 -12:00
Serving Central PA Since 1921
'ILOTSI KELLER BROS.
AIRPORT
2550' RUNWAY 600' From Dealershi
BOX SCRAPERS
42" Through 96"
PULVERIZERS
48" Through 84"
OVER SEEDERS &
PRIMARY SEEDERS
48" And 72"
TILLERS
42" Through 76"
Cutting Widths
Financing
Or Cash
Discounts
Available.
1950 Frultville Pike,
Lancaster, PA 17601
At Route 30 &
Fruitville Pike
717-569-2500