McMahon’s EZ Acres Operation Focuses On Calf Raising HOMER, N.Y. From the moment heifer calves are born at McMahon’s EZ Acres in Homer, N.Y., there are high expecta tions for their future. To ensure that the calves become produc tive replacements in the milking herd, the management team fo cuses closely on their feeding and care from day one. “Raising calves is a very im portant part of our dairy opera tion, and a key component in our success,” said Pete McMahon, who with his brother Mike, owns and operates the 1,200 head Registered Holstein dairy operation. “We are mostly a closed herd. Over 90 percent of our animals are descended from the original eight cows my father started the farm with back in 1957. We’ve rarely bought outside replacements, which definitely helps economi cally. We carefully focus on our calf raising to keep it that way.” The primary caretaker of the calves is young stock manager, Jennifer Reynolds, who has spent her entire life on dairy farms, having managed calves on several large operations in Cayuga and Cortland counties. She pays close attention to their feeding and developmental needs, which reults in them growing up faster, healthier, and being ready to perform in the herd more productively. According to Reynolds, after colostrum is fed, the calves are moved to hutches, where they are fed whole milk. Dry feed is introduced almost immediately. “At day two or three, I put about a cup of feed in the bottom of the milk pail to get them in terested, then slowly increase We Now Accept Visa Master Card & Discover Lancaster Farming 1 E Mam St Ephrata, Pa 17522 717-626-1164 • 717-394-3047 717-733-6397 FAX 717-733-6058 PHONE HOURS Mon , lues , Wed & Fn Sam to 5 p m Thurs 7am to 5 p m Mon thru Fn Sam to 5 p m The following categories are available for your classified advertising in Section C Deadline Thursday morning at 9 00 of each week's publication 2015 - Construction Equipment 2010 - Farm Equipment 2020 - Farm Equip Wanted The following categories are available for your classified advertising in Section D Deadline Wednesday afternoon at 4 00 p m of each week's publication 2030 ■ Silos & Unloaders 2040 - Buildings and Supplies 2050 - Gram Equipment 2060 - Dairy Equipment 2070 - Livestock Equipment 2080 - Cattle 2085 - Exotic Animals 2090 - Horses & Mules 2100 - Sheep & Goats 2110 - Swine 2120 - Artificial Breeding 2130 - Hog Equip & Supplies 2140 - Poultry & Supplies 2145 - Rattles 2150 - Feed & Seed 2160 - Fertilizer 2170- Plants 2180 - Food Products 2190 - Nursery 2200 - Lawn & Garden 2210 - Miscellaneous Services 2220 - Custom Work 2230 - General Help 2240 - Situations Wanted 2250 - Business Opportunities 2260 - Household Goods 2270 - Pets 2280 - Lost & Found 2300 - Computers 2310 - Legal Notices 2320 - Miscellaneous For Sale 2325 - Antiques & Collectibles 2330 - Recreational Vehicles 2340 - Cars For Sale 2350 - Trucks, Trailers & Buses 2360 - Real Estate the amount,” said Reynolds. “They really take to it, and after a few more days I offer it to them in addition to the milk. Plus, they have free-choice water.” When she came to work at McMahon’s EZ Acres, Reynolds was impressed with the per formance of the feed that was being given to the calves. For the past three years, the calves have been fed Pennfield Calf Starter #50209, a molasses-sweetened feed with 18 percent protein, steam flaked corn, steam flaked barley, and medicated with Deccox. McMahon said he had used pelleted calf feeds in the past, but found that an all-pellet calf feed is okay for older calves, but not for the youngest. “At one point, we tried feeding sweet feed to the younger calves and pellets as they got older. Unfor tunately, the transition was not easy. We then tried the Penn field feed several years ago and like the resulting performance.” Reynolds concurs: “They really like the feed, which helps them gain the weight they need. We are weaning at about 6 weeks, and by then they’re eating eight to ten pounds of feed a day.” The calf-raising practices at McMahon’s EZ Acres put them ahead of the curve, according to the National Dairy Heifer Eval uation Project (NDHEP). The NDHEP reports that the aver age age for weaning is just less than 8 weeks. In addition, NDHEP reports that the age at which calves are offered grain, forage, and water will have a great impact on weaning ages, CLASSIFIED AD ORDER BLANK PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY MAIL TO; LANCASTER FARMING RO. BOX 609, Ephrata, PA 17522 NOTE: Please do not use this form for Mail Box Market Ads, see instructions with Mailbox Markets Name Address City Please publish my ad times starting with the DEADLINES: SECTION D - WEDNESDAY AT 4:00 P.M. SECTION C - THURSDAY AT 9:00 A.M. OF EACH WEEK’S PUBLICATION MINIMUM 3 LINES 1 TIME COST $6,54 4 Lines 8.78 5 Lines 11.02 6 Lines 13.26 7 Lines 15.50 8 Lines 17.74 9 Lines 19.98 10 Lines 22.20 Add’t Per Line 2.24 Each economics, and other outcomes such as calf growth rates. “Our average weight at wean ing is around 200 pounds, with some calves weighing as high as 220 pounds,” said Reynolds. “Other operations where I worked used different feeds, and the average weaning weight was 175 to 180 pounds. My care of the calves isn’t very different here than at other farms, but the feed is.” At weaning, the calves are moved into the calf barn where they are offered free-choice grain and plenty of fresh, clean water. At eight weeks, they begin with forage, top dressed with the grain. This practice is consistent with those advocated by many nutrition experts, who are proponents of feeding grain early, offering free-choice water and avoiding forage until after weaning, in order to promote rumen development. “Basically, our calf operation is the major building block for our herd replacement program, which is important for the dairy to thrive. Our calf care and feed ing program contributes to the animals growing up faster and healthier,” said McMahon, who noted the farm’s low calf mor tality rate. “With the cost of re placement heifers averaging around $l,BOO today, it’s good economics to grow from within the herd.” The heifers freshen at 21 months, which is much earlier than the national average of about two years. Additionally, the heifers calve at an average 395-day interval. “Our heifers are ready for this role because they grow faster, with better FAX 717-733-6058 Phone ( ) issue. Classify under I enclose ADS MUST BE RUN 3 TIMES IN A ROW TO RECEIVE ANY PRICE BREAK IN ORDER TO GET THE CORRECT COST, PLEASE USE ONLY ONE LETTER PER SPACE WITH A BLANK SPACE BETWEEN EACH WORD State Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 6, 2003-D25 muscular and skeletal develop ment. How you begin feeding your calves from the start the feed and when you introduce it has a major impact on the an imals becoming sound, profita ble producers.” McMahon added: “We strive to get the heifers into the milk ing herd as soon as possible. It’s important to have the animals producing for the operation rather than costing the opera tion.” The 630-cow milking herd has an impressive rolling herd average of 25,600 pounds. Turning to his computer, Hess Wins AAMP’s Highest Honor ELIZABETHTOWN (Lan caster Co.) Lloyd Hess, Hess BBQ, and Catering, Willow Street, received the 2003 Annual Achievement Award from the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP). The award is the national trade organization’s highest honor, which recognizes the honoree’s outstanding and con tinuing contributions to the meat and poultry industry. Hess received the award in CALL 717-626-1164 TO ADVERTISE YOUR LINE AD OR DISPLAY BOX AD IN OUR PAPER □ Check Enclosed □ Visa (13 or 16 numbers) □ Mastercard (16 numbers)(Be sure to include all numbers) □ Discover Card # Exp. Date Box Replies: Ads with answers coming to a box number, c/o Lancaster Farming: $1.50 per ad per week additional This newspaper will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of any advertisement. McMahon explained [hat they have been able to continually grow the herd from within their operation. The farm averages about 300 heifer calves a year and if the cull rate can be kept around 30 percent which it usually is the herd size will increase. The mission statement at McMahon’s EZ Acres contains the phrase: “To pursi " excel lence in the dairy prot uction business.” They focus on that pursuit by paying close attention to animal care, feeding, and de velopment, beginning at day one. Kansas City, Mo., where he was attending the 64th American Convention of Meat Processors and Suppliers’ Exhibition. The meeting is an annual educa tional event and trade show. Hess has been an active member of AAMP, the country’s largest national meat and poul try trade organization, which represents more than 1700 small and mid-sized meat and poultry firms and served as the technical advisor for the American Cured Meat Championship since 1990. Signature 2 TIMES 3 LINES COST $13.08 17.56 22.04 26.52 31.00 35.48 39.96 44.40 Add’f Line @ 4.48 LOWEST A, RATE 2 TIMES 3 LINES COST $13.08 24.66 30.96 37.76 43.56 49.86 56.16 62.46 Add’t Line @ 6.30
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