A364.ancMter Farming, Saturday, December 11, 1999 -enter, >cn ice Question: Do we need a transition group? What are some of the concerns for the prefresh period? Transition groups address the special needs of a cow short ly before calving. Transition can be accomplished in many differ ent ways. Traditional tie-stall barns, for example, can use any stall to create a transition group for one individual. This can be effective as long as we control the sharing of feed from the neighbors. Free stall barns usu ally have a separate group set aside for transition cows but this style of management is chal lenged by not knowing feed intakes of individual cows. We will look at some ideas that are common regardless of the way we handle these cows. The number one concern dur ing the time before calving is stress Balanced diets go a long way in reducing stress This can only be accomplished when feed is properly formulated with the assistance of your feed consul tant. Beyond formulation, we need to provide adequate feed Lancaster Poured Watts • Agriculture •Commercial • Residential Call for Prices On: • SCS approved Manure Storage Pits • Basements • Retaining Walls • Footers • Floors Customer Satisfaction Is Our Lancaster Poured Walls 2001 Jarvis Rd. • Lancaster. PA 17601 • (717) 299-3974 OPENTUE-FRI. 9-6, SAT, NOV-MARCH OR BY APPT IF YOU’RE CURIOUS...COME TO Eckman’s Curiosity 5 Juniper Lane • Lititz, PA (located in 3 story building behind Hess clothing) ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE PLACES IN LITITZ!!! mailing address phone #s 1315 Front St. Bus. 717.627.7358 Lititz, PA 17543 Home 717.627.4978 toad, University Park, PA 16802 bunk space for these cows. This is one of the most abused man agement considerations that I come across for transition cows. As cows approach calving, they are already thinking about not eating This is due to both chem ical and physical stimulus as calving nears. We can help reduce chemically initiated drops in feed intake by watching the cation-anion balance of the diet. Some feed additives such as niacin, yeast, and probiotics have been used successfully. On the other hand, we can do little about the physical impact that the calf has on the cow and her reflex to eat. What we can do is ensure that there is room and reachable feed when she does want to eat. Some other consid erations that we should address are: •bunk space to accommodate width of the cow (2.5 feet for heifers and 3 feet for mature Holsteins) •limit travel distance from rest area to feed area •eliminate headlocks (excess body condition) •provide cleanable source of water •maintain proper footing to avoid slipping •maintain fresh feed (multiple feeding or pushup) •good ventilation •adequate lighting (will also help observation) •avoid corners (cows like to calve while backed into a corner) •clean and dry A7\ Concrete Pumping/ Available In December I know that most of you do all of these things and that I have not said anything new. I also know that it is easy to get caught up in our milk cow facili ties and forget some others. I challenge everyone to go out and evaluate the place that you provide for your cows to calve Common sense will tell you if you are using facilities that reduce problems or those that invite them. Next week I will look at this same question and address some concerns about which animals should be in a transition group and how we should feed them. Having the opportunity to work with dairymen on various farms has made me even more of a believer in the little things that make a difference. I guess FOR SALE - MANURE ► 20-25 ton trailer loads A $9/per ton depending * k on distance A VINTAGE SALES STABLES, INC, ] Paradise, PA 17562 ► (717) 442-4181 A L. Robert Frame, President * 'i j * x *> r *>■ * Shoe Repair and other leather goods While You Wait By Appointment Leacock Shoe Store Between Paradise & Intercourse Just off Rt. 340 on Old Leacock Rd Summertime Hours: Mon., Wed. & Thurs. 8-5 Tues. & Fri. 8-8, Sat. 8-12 717-768-7440 * .s' ' 40 th Anniversary 1959-1999 OPEN HOUSE Wednesday & Thursday, December is & 16 10 AM to 4PM i Refreshments 11 AM to 2 Botlt Days 10% DISCOUNT On All Sanitation and Animal Health Products purchased and paid for at open house. 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Com, No.2y 2.34 bu., 4.19 cwL Wheat, No. 2 2.37 bu., 3.95 cwt Barley, No. 3 1.56 bu., 3.33 cwL Oats, No. 2 1.50 bu., 4.67 cwt Soybeans, No. 1 7.17 cwt Ear Com 75.59 ton, 3.78 cwt. Alfalfa Hay - 144.25 ton, 7.21 cwt Mixed Hay 127.50 ton, 6.38 cwt Timothy Hay 135.00 ton, 6.75 cwt