UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) A Penn State
College of Agricultural Sciences educational program
for practicing veterinarians is contributing to healthier
herds and healthier bottom lines.
The Dairy Production Medicine certificete program,
offered by the college’s veterinary science department,
graduated its fourth class of animal health practition
ers earlier this year. A recent survey reveals that what
the veterinarians learned in the course is making a
positive difference in their practices and in the dairy
operations they serve.
“The program is designed to teach and reinforce
herd performance medicine, as opposed to the more
traditional individual animal care that most people
learn in veterinary school,” said David Wolfgang,
Penn State extension veterinarian and senior research
associate in veterinary science. “Individual care still is
important. But herd care and production medicine re
quire differem skills and knowledge that often is best
learned and applied after some years of clinical experi
ence.”
Wolfgang said the typical veterinarian in the pro
gram has been in private practice between eight and 15
years. The class of 2002 consisted of 20 practitioners
from seven states.
“With their training and experience, they realize
that to make the greatest impact on anhnal health and
farm profitability, they need to become'more proactive
and prevent problems or eliminate production
limiting conditions,” he said. “Typically, these areas
involve interactions between the animals and their en
vironment, nutrition and management.”
Dairy producers surveyed said that as a result of the
program, fewer unscheduled visits by their veterinari
ans were required to deal with herd health problems.
Producers reported the greatest progress in forage
evaluation, milk quality analysis, records analysis and
improvement in animal environment. They also said
their veterinarians were helpful in addressing complex
issues currently facing the dairy industry, such as
Johne’s disease prevention and biosecurity.
We Love Oar
The Cream Of The Crop k j
Dairy Production Medicine Program
Enhances Herd Health, Profits
“These improvements translated into higher pro
ductivity and profitability through reduced feed costs,
higher milk yields, reduced somatic cell counts, prem
ium bonuses on milk and increased pregnancy rate,”
Wolfgang said. “For instance, one producer reported
that he was able to reduce purchased feed costs by $BO
per ton. Another reported that milk yield increased
eight pounds per cow in only two months.”
Veterinarians reported that by implementing con
cepts learned in the course, they were able to reduce
the number of emergency calls from clients by 20 per
cent. Graduates said proactive, preventive health care
programs to address mastitis and milk quality prob
lems and to improve reproductive performance and
heifer health also increased significantly.
The Dairy Production Medicine program is offered
in 10, three-day modules over a three-year period.
Wolfgang said Penn State is accepting inquiries from
veterinarians interested in enrolling in the next round
of the program. For more information, contact Wolf
gang by phone at (814) 863-5849 or by e-mail at
drwl2@psu.edu.
Loafing Areas
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• Reduced soil and nutrient loss The loafing lot
system helps prevent excessive nutrient runoff to
above and below ground water sources.
• Improved foot health Manure, urine, and con
crete work together to erode the soft tissue of the hoof.
The grass lots help clean and dry the cow’s hoof.
• Milk Quality and Cow Cleanliness Cows that
rest in clean, grassy areas are less likely to contract en
vironmental mastitis, and they will come into the milk
barn with cleaner udders.
• Mowing and Hay The paddocks should be
bushhogged to maintain growth and promote sod
vigor. In years of plentiful rainfall, some producers
graze heifers and/or dry cows on in the paddocks. Har
vesting hay is also a good practice when possible as it
“mines” the nutrients from the soils and makes good
heifer hay.
• Farm Appearance What could be more beauti
ful than a herd of healthy cows on lush grass fields?
Muddy lots and dirty cows send the wrong message to
the general public about agriculture.