Question: We have tried
everything to eliminate heat
stress in our herd but
summertime production still
drops 10 to 14 pounds of milk.
Should we be considering
anything else to reduce this
much milk loss?
Normally the beginning of
May doesn’t inspire this type of
question, but then again early
May seldom hits temperatures in
the upper 80’s like we just
experienced.
Barn Owl 2000™ allows us to
look at the past four years in the
above graph. We see that indeed
milk production bottoms out each
year during July and August.
“■» ■ ;
MM Em vUmI Um 1
Painted, Galvanize and Stainless Steel Fabrication, Feed Sins,
Feeders, Hoppers, Covers, Dump Pits, Augers, and Control
Systems to Automate Your Operation.
What if we could prevent half of
this downward production trend?
When we do everything we know
to prevent problems concerning
heat stress and seem to make little
progress, maybe we should shift
our focus. In this case there is the
possibility that nothing more is to
gain by addressing the milking
herd. We can change our thinking
a bit and look at the heat stress of
our dry cows. I looked at the
DHIA records for this same time
frame with my focus on milk
levels at the start of the lactation
for mature cows
Herd Summary II contains
information regarding production
on the first test day m the section
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phomi .
e-maH: af»® nbft.com
labeled “Profile Of Cows By
Days In Milk”. Here we can
calculate that cows that freshen
from November to April milk 98#
on their first test day. This
compares to 84# for cows that
freshen May to October This is
no big surprise when we know
that heat stress will be much more
devastating on these early
lactation cows. These same cows
show a 3000# advantage in 305
day production when they calve
during the cooler months.
Managing cows that calve
during inclement weather poses
some unique challenges. This
summer may be a good time to
maintain what we currently are
doing for the milking herd to
relieve heat stress but add the
extra dimension of heat stress
management for dry cows.
Improving comfort, increasing
dry matter intake, and reducing
stress are not just milking cow
priorities, they are meant for
everyone We already have
information through our DHIA
reports that may help us focus on
times and conditions when cows
may not produce as we know they
are capable of If we use this
information we can develop a
plan that may be a bit different
than our customary management,
but who cares? Sometimes we
need to change before our cows
can.
1 70-
SO \ I > I I 1 i i' I r m • '• "—I I |‘ I 1 I 1 I I I ■ ■ T'. I I I
03/02/1996 06/31/1996 03/01/1997 06/30/1997 02/28/1996 08/29/1996 02/27/1999 06/26/1999 02/26/2000
The Reward^
Pasture Mat is tightly stuffed with . Better Cow Health
rubber and sewn every 4" to prevent . Reduced Leg Injury
shlftin 9- , Reduced Swollen Hocks
Proven most durable top cover. . Mom Lactatlon Per Cow . More
Least abrasive top cover on the
market. . Reduced Bedding Costs
Fits any stall. . p as ( Ure M a fs Often Pay For
Proven performance. Themselves Within 6 Months.
For details and installation with over 6 years experience, call
Petersheim’s Cow Mattresses
117 Christiana Pike (Route 372), Christiana, PA 17509
610-593-2242
U.S. Pat. No,
5653195
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 13, 2000-A3l
Dairynuu
Dairym
GEORGE Cl
TaatDay Avenge Milk Last 4 Yaara
Pasture Mat
The Golden Standard In Cow Comfort
Ask For Merrill or Sam
PA DHL
Consultii
Dairyman