Question: Our heifers start very slowly at freshening time while our cows seem to start normally. The same diet is fed to both heifers and cows so where can we make changes to help our heifers? Heifer performance can be tracked separately from the rest of the herd. Look for this separation on both summary reports on your PA DHIA records. Another place where we can look at first lactation animals by themselves is the Nitrogen Management Analysis Report (commonly called the MUN report). The MUN icport in this herd shows some mtei estmg numbeis The first number we look at is the herd aveiage mun At 9.3, this herd falls somewhat short of the normally expected lange of 10 to 14 Certain trends on the report indicate herd management piactices The fust is that a tight lange of low to high in mun values usually tells me this is a Randall G. 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The next step in analyzing this herd is to look at numbers on the MUN report that may stand out as being odd. Here we zero m on the first lactation animals. The average of the gioup that makes up more than a third of the herd 9.2. Again, although this average matches up with the herd average mun, we need to look further It is quite evident m the held that something is different about heitei performance especially in early stages of lactation 1 had the oppoitumty to pay a visit to this dairy family Some of my observations were Hue when we matched up iccords with what was happening on the farm This is a single ration TMR ted herd with no separation of heifers from the older cows Bunk space was just adequate - 100 feet of bunk ted both sides plus one toui toot wide end for 102 total cows Feeding was twice daily Cleanup of refusal feed was once daily. Pounds of refusal were about 200 pounds. This calculated out to less than two percent ot the total feed Combining what we saw in production trends and MUN analysis with physical observations on the farm, we have these thoughts The mam problem holding back heifer performance is bunk management Diets that DIM NUMBER MILK %FAT %PRO LOWMUN HIGHMUN AVG 0-40 5 41-99 6 53 3.4 3.0 5.2 9.4 7.3* 100-199 8 68 3.4 3.1 6.5 11.3 9.6 200-299 7 66 3.7 3.3 6.8 11.8 9 4 300+ 9 60 4.1 3.6 8.6 14.5 12.0 AVG/TOT 35 59 3.8 3.3 3.4 14 5 9 2 County Accepts Acreage Reports YORK (York Co) - The York Count) Farm Sen ice Agency (FSA) is accepting 2000 crop acreage reports The 1996 Farm Bill remo\cd the acreage report requirement in most cases lor county farmers o remain eligible for USDA benefits However, Power Washing Painting - Sandblasti Specializing In Farm Buildings, Fences, R Feed Mills, Etc. Aerial Equipmem AMOS FISI 5269 Paes Rd., New Holland, PA 171 717>354'9856 717'951-2527 Mol are well toimulated can only work to full potential when cows have unlimited access to them The thought ot saving laboi and feed cost by limiting refusal teed to such small amounts will rob cows of production and profit potential Now add to this the tact that heifers must compete with more mature herdmates for teed and we have the cuirent pioblem I once heaid that ailiving at conclusions is oui wa> ot wanting to stop thinking about oui business 1 ceitamly do not want to stop thinking about my job, so 42 4.8 3.4 the commodity loan progiam and loan deficiency payment program still icquires tun filed acreage leports by those who wish to pledge stored commodities as collateial loi these nine-month loans Producers interested m icportmg must visit the county office, icvieu ’557 ibile .#• A - ■* Jm XW ■ Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22, 2000-A4l Dairyman To Dairyman GEORGE CUDOC without conclusion I will leave you with this thought, “ The last bite that your cows take is the most piotitable bite ” Manage feeding toi that 1 3.4 lenal photographs and indicate the location of their crops The office is located at 1 '’o Pleasant Acres Road in York Appointments are encouraged Call ahead to have the aeual photos mailed to you to mark at home This will Mgmficantlv reduce time spent in the office Final ceitification dates are May 1 - hay June 15 - wheat, barley and oats and July 15 - corn, soybeans, fruit, and vegetables Kirkwood AG Auction Sole Time; 10:00 AM • Bedding Plants • Nursery Stock • Early Produce Soles €vcry Wednesday 10:00 AM Until Further Notice (717) 529-6416 n m INSULATION Featuring TRI-PLY CEILINGS Great for Shops & Ag Buildings • Low Cost • Sound Reduction • Durable Also- Blown Ceiling Insulating Wall Insulation Cellulouse Wall Spray or Fiberglas Batts Call for FREE Estimates WEAVER INSULATORS Myerstown, PA 717-866*8942 800-887-8818 Martinsburg, PA 814-793-3936 PA DHIA Consulting Dairyman 5.4' 8.4
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