MAY 2010 FARM REPORT

MAY 2010 FARM REPORT

WILL YOUR CORN CROP HAVE EN= OUGH ZINC THIS SEASON?

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Zinc (Zn) plays a vital but poo= rly understood physiological role in corn nutrition. Zinc is essential for metabolic functions and is part of many photosynthetic enzymes, which expla= ins why Zn-deficient crops have reduced chlorophyll levels. A typical Zn defici= ency in corn is characterized by bands of interveinal chlorosis, which usually have a pale green to an almo= st white appearance (see below). Visual deficiencies typically occur at the 4 = to 6 leaf stage and usually start on leaf areas closer to the stalk. Another cla= ssic Zn deficiency symptom is shortened internodes (right, rear corn plant picture). <= /p>
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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>A severe Zn deficiency (4 affected leaves/plant with stunted growth= ) could result in as much as a 30% yield decrease. Zn is found primarily on s= oil exchange sites and is associated with organic matter. Thus, coarser-textured (sand and gravels) soils with low organic matter are more at risk for Zn deficiencies. In addition, as pH increases above 7.0, Zn becomes less available. Cool soil temperatures and root restrictive factors may also increase the risk of Zn deficiency. There is a fair amount of Zn in manure,= so fields getting manure will probably require little if any additional Zn.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Under the Cornell soil testing system, a Zn level of less than 1 lb/acre is considered deficient. If your = soil tests below 1 lb/acre and no visual deficiency is observed, apply 2 lb Zn/a= cre as a starter; if the soil tests low and visual symptoms are present, consid= er broadcasting 8 to 10 lb Zn/acre (zinc sulfate or liquid zinc formulations a= re common). If a field tests low in Zn or is known to have a Zn deficiency, don’t apply too much P through the planter. Research has shown that a high rate of P starter (e.g., 100 lbs P₂O₅/acre) applied to Zn-deficient soil aggravates Zn uptake by corn— this effect is thought to occur at the physiological level in the plant. =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>How do you = know if your corn needs Zn? All you need is a soil test. Most labs in the Northe= ast report Zn as part of their standard analysis. In looking over our soil tests from last fall, the average Zn concentration (19 fields) was 2.3 (+/− 1.3) lb/ac. The sandier fields were lower in Zn, while the heavier-textured fields tended to be above 1.0 lb Zn/acre regardless of manure history. There was a rather convincing linear relation between soil test P and Zn, presuma= bly reflecting past manure applications that have built up P fertility, and qui= te possibly soil Zn levels too. What’s the bottom line? Don’t gues= s, soil test. = = ─ = Eric Young, young@whminer.com

TIMELY CORN PLANTING TIPS

<= b>1. Don’t leave yield potential in the bag; pla= nt enough seeds to make a big corn silage yield if the season is nearly ideal,= and you’ll still be OK if it isn’t. Drop about 35,000 kernels per a= cre for most field situations, regardless of hybrid type including leafy and BM= R. The exception would be sandy or gravelly soils that are drought-prone—back off a few thousand seeds per acre on these fields,= but in no case would I suggest a drop below 30,000/acre.

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<= b>2. It’s OK to skip the P and K on high fertility fie= lds, but unless you plow down a lot of manure this spring you’ll still need starter N — 30 - 40 lbs of actual N/acre is about right. Consider usi= ng a 50-50 blend of ammonium sulfate and urea on fields without a recent manure history, especially on low organic matter soils. Precipitation used to supp= ly adequate sulfur, but S deposition levels have dropped a lot in the past dec= ade or two. About 100 lbs/acre of this 50-50 blend will supply 30-35 lbs of N p= lus 12 lbs of sulfur, which is about what agronomists think is needed in many situations.

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<= b>3. Early planting is best as long as soil conditions permit. Today’s hybrids combined with more effective seed treatments = can better tolerate cold soils, but planting into cold, wet soils is still risk= y. Yields aren’t much higher with corn planted on May 5th vs. May 15th; = what is important is to have corn in the ground by the time yield potential does= start to drop. This varies within the region, but for much of Northern N.Y. May 20 to 25th is a good “done planting” goal.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

─ E.T. =

VET’S CORNER: SEASONA= L
DISEASE PATTERN CHANGE?

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>A few years= ago, an agronomy report from I= owa State University proposed that corn growers should move up traditional planting dates to compensate for global climate change. Meteorology and agronomy are not part= of veterinary college curriculum, so I don’t have an expert opinion on t= he cause of the recent mild winter and spring weather (El Nino vs. global clim= ate change vs. good luck???). But we’ve definitely noticed more humid and warm cattle barns this year. This milder weather pattern has been responsib= le for more pneumonia and mastitis cases, and we even had an outbreak of pinke= ye in first lactation heifers in early April.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.35pt'>We are especially on the lookout for a harsh pinkeye caseload this year. We are hearing from Midwestern dairy calf veterinarians about a new strain of pink= eye that is resistant to present commercial vaccines and traditional antibiotic treatment. To control the new strain, veterinarians have made autogenous vaccines for individual farms and develope= d new treatments. So far we have not diagnosed this resistant strain in the Northeast, but expect to see it soon in herds that purchase replacements fr= om the Midwest.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.35pt'>To compoun= d the pinkeye problem, the early mild weather will allow for an early fly hatch w= hich could allow extra fly generations and a fly population explosion as the sum= mer unfolds. Excessive flies can lead to fast transmission of pinkeye, so we are advising that fly control measures such as premises sprays and predators st= art early and aggressive this year.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.35pt'>With the e= arly grass growth, heifers may go to pasture a few weeks early this year. Many vaccines for Clostridial disease and pinkeye mu= st be boostered no closer than 3 weeks later. We are trying= to get these initial inoculations done now so there will be a sufficient time delay before the booster is given.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

─ Kent Henderson<= /o:p>

Northwest Veterinary Associates= , Inc.

Hugamoo@comcast.net<= /span>

ENDOPHYTE-FREE TALL FESCUE<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>In the past month, several people have contacted me asking if endo= phyte-free tall fescue really is free of the endophyte, an= d if endophyte-free tall fescue will eventually become inf= ected. Since a lot of this forage grass has been planted in the region in recent years, this is an important question. But first, an en= dophyte primer:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>What is an= endophyte? An endophyte i= s a fungus living within a plant. The relationship between the endophyte and the plant is symbiotic—that is, both plant and fungus benefit. Pl= ant benefits include higher forage yield and better drought resistance.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>So what= 217;s the problem? Endophytes cause serious performan= ce and health problems in both dairy and beef cattle, also in horses. Various university studies have found 35-50% reductions in beef cattle gain, pregna= ncy rate, and dairy cow milk production. The effect on pregnant mares is even m= ore devastating, with very high rates of mare and foal mortality.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Are there = endophytes in fescues grown in the Northeastern U.S.? Yes, some native fescues are endoph= yte-infected. We had some native fescue from a pasture on the Miner Institute farm tested= and one of two samples submitted came back positive for en= dophytes.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>But here&#= 8217;s the important stuff: There is NO WAY for endophytes to move from one fescue plant to another. The endophyt= e lives entirely inside the plant; it cannot swim, fly, creep, or crawl from = one plant to another: It‘s transmitted only by seed. A <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">University of Kentucky study involved planting <= span class=3DSpellE>endophyte-free tall fescue right next to a field of t= all fescue confirmed as infected. There was only a wire fence separating the two fields. After several years, testing found NO endophyt= e in the endophyte-free variety. The only way for= a field of endophyte-free tall fescue to become infected is for seed from endophyte-infected ta= ll fescue to be carried into the field by birds, equipment, etc. The chances of this happening in the Northeastern U.S., where just about all tall fescue seed sold by seed compa= nies is endophyte-free, is pretty darned slim. Obvio= usly, you should only purchase varieties of tall fescue that are endophyte-free.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; ─ E.T.

MAKING MILK WITH GRASS=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>If you applied manure or commer= cial N fertilizer to your grass fields this spring, they’re probably looking pretty good by now. If you didn’t they’re probably not looking = so good and there’s not much you can do at this point to save the day, at least not for first cut. Jerry Cherney reported= that according to Cornell University research, grass fields that receive neither manure nor fertilizer do so poorly that t= he yield may not be worth the cost of harvest. Ouch.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>But assuming that you did get s= ome form of nitrogen onto your grass fields, the coming weeks will be critical since you’ll want to harvest at time where yield and quality are idea= l. In most cases this is the late boot stage, just before head emergence. Howe= ver, when you start mowing depends on how much grass you have, and how quickly y= ou can get it ensiled. If you know that it will take you over a week to harvest you may need to start when the grass is in the mid-boot stage. “When = you see the head the quality is dead.” Words to remember! Of course weath= er can foul up the best of plans, but if it does, you should plan on feeding late-harvested grass silage to something other than high-producing cows. Ha= ve an NIR forage analysis done on the forage from a few typical fields as they’re ensiled. “Milk cow quality” grass is about 30% ADF and 50-55% NDF. Your dairy nutrition consultant can make do with grass with= NDF in the high 50s, but much higher than that and it’s tough —literally and figuratively.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>If you normally harvest first c= ut grass well after heading and this year you cut it in the boot stage you mig= ht be amazed at how fast it regrows. Apply another= shot of N or topdressed manure ASAP after harvest an= d be ready to take second cut as soon as there’s enough grass to mow. Not = very scientific perhaps, but…

&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; ─ E.T.

THIN COWS HAVE GREATER
RISK OF BECOMING LAME

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.45pt'>Lameness = is an animal welfare issue on many dairy farms. Unfortunately, very little is kno= wn about the cause of lameness from claw horn disorders, such as ulcers and wh= ite line disease. Research knowledge from equine lameness (laminitis) has been generalized to dairy cows without taking into account the anatomical and physiological differences between horses and cows. Interestingly, the link between subclinical laminitis and claw horn disorders in the cow has been challenged. The current hypothesis is that claw horn disorders are a result= of a bruise within the claw horn capsule. Poor housing conditions may increase= the risk of bruising. The suspensory apparatus in c= ows is less developed than in horses so the digital cushion supports a greater proportion of the body weight in cows. The digital cushion is made up of mo= stly fat, is located underneath the distal phalanx, and is important in dampening compression of the corium tissue beneath the digital cushion.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.45pt'>&nbs= p;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>Cornell researchers have shown that the thickness of the digital cushion as measure= d by an ultrasound machine was a strong predictor of lameness. Of the 501 cows evaluated, cows in the bottom 25% of digital cushion thickness had a preval= ence of lameness that was 15 percentage points higher than cows in the top 25%. = The digital cushion thickness was associated positively with body condition sco= re; thinner cows had lower digital cushion thickness. Knowing that cows mobilize fat from multiple locations in the body in early lactation, it’s like= ly that cows mobilize fat from the digital cushion. In the study, digital cush= ion thickness and body condition score decreased steadily until the 4th month o= f lactation when both reached their lowest value.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Until rece= ntly it was believed that low body condition score was just a consequence of lameness due to decreased feeding time. However, European and American researchers suggested recently that low body condition may be a risk factor for, rather than a result of, lameness. Lame cows do not always reduce feed= ing time and only the most severely lame cows decrea= se feed intake. Minimizing the risk of lameness is just one more reason why it= is so important to manage your cows’ body condition score during the transition period and early lactation.

─ Heather Dann, dann@whminer.com

References: Bicalho, R. C., V. S. Machad= o, and L. S. Caixeta. 2009. Lameness in dairy cattle: a debilitating disease or a disease of debilitated cattle? A cross-sectional study of lameness prevalence and thickness of the digital cushion. J. Dairy Sci. 92:3175-3184.

Dippel, S., M. D= olezal, C. Brenninkmeyer, J. Brink= mann, S. March, U. Knierim, and C. Winckler. 2009. Risk factors for lameness in freestall-ho= used dairy cows across two breeds, farming systems, and countries.

Shearer, J. K. 2010. Nutritional and animal welfare implications to lameness. Pages 57-67 in Proc. Tri-State Dairy Nutr. Conf., Fort Wayne, IN.

GLYPHOSATE UPS AND DOWNS

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>There was= an interesting article in a recent agricultural e-zine: “Will glyphosate fall to the wayside as resistance grows?” An Australian authority on weed resistance thinks that’s likely in some regions—and he’s talking about the = U.S. Corn Belt, not Down Under. Actually the corn-soybean-cotton region, because that’s where he predicts glyphosate resis= tance will develop in key weed species including Palmer pigweed, ragweed and Johnsongrass. The price of brand name Roundup has plu= mmeted in the past year, perhaps encouraging increased use of this immensely popul= ar herbicide, which now even exceeds atrazine in t= otal applied acreage.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>We’= re not ready to discard glyphosate (Roundup, Touchdown, etc.) as an effective herbicide, and neither is the Aussie; he says that glyphosate is a “one-in-100 year” discove= ry, and that careful herbicide management is needed to prevent the development = of resistant weeds where they aren’t already a problem. We have an advan= tage in the Northeast, where alfalfa-grass is usually included in the rotation. However, many weeds that could become resistant to gly= phosate have seeds that will survive in the soil through four or five years of alfa= lfa or alfalfa-grass. Therefore, we can’t assume that we’re immune = to the development of weed resistance to glyphosate: Our past experience with triazine-resistant lambsquarters should be proof of that!

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>&nbs= p;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>A Best Management Practice for preventing glyphosate resistance is using a residual herbicide in addition to glyphosate in Roundup Ready corn. This would be especially important if you rotate corn and Roundup Ready soybeans. We’ll soon know if Roundup Ready alfalfa = will make it through the review process and once again become an alternative. I’ll reserve comments on the practicality of RR alfalfa for Northeast= ern farmers until we know which way that all turns out.

= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = ─ E.T.

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S = DESK ─=
MAKE ROOM FOR REPRODUCTION

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>This month = my topic is a subject that I rarely discuss – reproduction. Folks at the Institute (especially Katie Ballard, our Research Director and a reproducti= ve physiologist) know that the quickest way to embarrass me is to mention reproductive research with any amount of detail. But while preparing a rece= nt presentation on overcrowding free-stall barns, I realized that stocking den= sity plays a key role in reproductive success in our dairy herds. We have known = for many years that proper nutrition as well as feeding management are prerequisites for high fertility in dairy cows. Wh= at has become clear in the past few years is the important and overlooked role of sufficient bunk space and resting areas necessary for cows to become pregna= nt.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Much of this information comes = from the reproductive physiology research group at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It’s all survey work = 211; which of course has limitations compared with controlled research studies – but the data encompass hundreds of herds across the U.S. an= d I believe that the results are meaningful for anyone managing dairy cattle. As you well know, reproduction is one of the major challenges on dairy farms, = and most farms in the U.= S. honestly do not do so well. For example, at Miner Institute, despite our 31,000-pound herd average we have struggled to reach a 20% pregnancy rate. =

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>In 2008, the Wisconsin group asked the question “What factors are most responsible for determining if a cow will become pregnant or not?” Bunk space jumped = to the top of the list, which surprised me although in hindsight it shouldn’t have. As bunk space is reduced and competition for feed intensifies, there is more aggression during eating, and normal feeding behavior and feed intake are compromised. We have known for many years that high feed and energy intake is necessary in early lactation to minimize the extent of negative energy balance and incidence of metabolic disorders. So,= if overcrowding disturbs feeding then it makes complete sense that it would interfere with reproductive success. The relationship that was observed bet= ween bunk space and reproduction was that, as bunk space decreased from 24 to 12 inches per cow, percentage of cows pregnant by 150 days in milk decreased f= rom 70 to only 35%. That relationship is startling – and points to an oft= en overlooked contributor to poor reproductive performance in our dairy herds.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Providing only 12 inches of bunk space per cow may seem unlikely, but consider the example of a six-row barn= . At 100% stocking density of stalls, there is only 16 inches of bunk space. If stall stocking density increases to 120% or greater, very quickly we reach a bunk space approaching 12 inches. And with the po= or dairy economy, many farmers have increased stocking density to the point th= at 120% appears to be normal as I have spoken to farmers this past winter. A f= ew months ago the same Wisconsin group publ= ished another paper that found that service rate and conception rate were reduced with higher stocking densities, further bolstering the relationship between stocking and reproduction. Greater aggression at feedin= g, reduced access to feed and compromised metabolic status, reduced lying time= , and fewer available lock-ups and the associated negative effect on compliance w= ith estrus synchronization programs all could contribute to the negative impact= of overcrowding.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>We know that overcrowding inter= feres with natural feeding, resting, and rumination behavior and may impact milk production and health. We need to add poor reproductive performance to this litany of negative outcomes if we choose to overstock our barns.

<= o:p>

─ Rick Grant, grant@whmin= er.com

HORSEWEED, MARESTAIL AND HORSETAIL

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>With the increased concern about glyphosate-resistant we= eds you’re seeing increased mention of horseweed and marestail in the farm press. These are two names for the same weed (Conyza canadensis), which is increasingly being found = in fields with a history of glyphosate use. Marestail was the first documented case in the U.S. of= a glyphosate-resistant weed, and it’s been spread= ing ever since.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Horsetail = (Equisetum arvense), also called scouring rush) not only s= ounds quite similar but also looks a lot like marestail, especially when marestail is still fairly small. Horsetail won’t grow to more than about a foot tall, while marestail will grow to a height of 5 or 6 feet. (See accompanying photos.)

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<= span class=3DSpellE>Marestail<= /span> isn’t a common weed in m= any parts of the Northeast, but horsetail sure is! Many years ago it was mostly confined to wet, sandy areas but in the past few decades has infested farmer fields, nurseries, lawns — you name it. It’s been around since = the age of the dinosaurs — literally — and is very hard to control.= I used to say that about the only control was several inches of asphalt, but = that was before I discovered it growing through a recently-paved asphalt sidewal= k in Hokkaido, Japan. Most Land Grant College and commercial weed cont= rol guides don’t even mention horsetail; the most complete herbicide recommendation I could find was from the Univers= ity of Guelph in Ontario. Their research indicated that= for corn production, postemergence applications of a combination of a Group 2 herbicide (a class that includes Accent Q®) pl= us a Group 4 broadleaf herbicide such as Banvel II&r= eg; resulted in the best control. Application was made when the horsetail was 4” to 8” tall. Even so, our experience suggests that it takes m= ore than one year to achieve anything approaching satisfactory control. For the details consult the following link, but for specific recommendations on horsetail control you should check herbicide recommendations for your state= :

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/eng= lish/crops/field/weeds/field_horsetail.htm

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Observant readers might note the botanical name of Marestail – species Canadensis — plus the fact that Ontario government weed scientists are the most involved in horsetail control and conclude that this is a nefarious plot by our Neighbors to the North, who may still be ticked off that Washington, D.C. stole the Expos from Montreal. (Although with the performa= nce to date of the Washington Nationals, this may be a case of “Be careful what you wish for,” eh?) We’re just glad that someone is investigating control methods for horsetail, regardless of on which side of= the border they reside. =

<= i> ─ Ev Thomas thomas@whminer.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON T= HE FARM

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>The routine= of a farm – the weather starts to warm and tree buds swell, machinery is o= ut around the shop, plows and harrows heading down the road, clods of dirt on = the road mark the entrance to each field – it is a sign of spring in any farming community. Barn= doors are opened up, letting in a warm breeze and the strong smell of manure from= a pit that was just agitated. T= he farm is gearing up for the next season…doesn’t it seem like we = just picked a bunch of stones out of that field?!

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>One thing t= hat is constantly changing at our farm is the students who come and go each year.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The Advanced Dairy Management (ADM) students are finishing up their semester here at Miner and have already finished their required barn chores with us. Three mornings a week they c= ome over to the barn to help us with feeding, milking, calves, or herd health.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Many of the students in this progr= am come from farms, but working at another farm is usually beneficial, giving a perspective on different management strategies, protocols, and ways of runn= ing a dairy farm.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Later this = month, our summer farm management interns will arrive. Unlike the ADM students, these stu= dents generally have limited farm experience, but work with us for the entire sum= mer.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Most studen= ts are here for just three to four months, but many look back on their time at Min= er as an important part of their college experience. Some students keep in touch, send = us updates of how they are doing in their respective careers and even come bac= k for a visit. Positive feedback on= how their experience at Miner influenced them is always encouraging. We recently realized that there are three “Miner alums” currently in vet school at Cornell – = Tonie Domino and Blake Nguyen were both summer intern= s in 2007 and Glenn Palmer finished a year-long herdsman internship with us in 2009. To= nie and Glenn are finishing up their first year of vet school that has been ful= l of anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, histology, c= ell biology, a class on the Disorders of Large Animal Neonates, one called Vets= in Food Production Systems, just to name a few things…they have been very busy!!

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>It has been= great to hear that the dairy experience they gained at Miner has helped them be m= ore confident and feel more prepared for some of their labs. Glenn says he has had some “ah-ha” moments when he put some aspect of science (anatomy, biology, etc.) together with an experience he had as a herdsman at the farm. For Tonie, her time at Miner opened her eyes to the world of dairy farming; she knew s= he wanted to be a veterinarian, but her summer at the farm helped shape her ca= reer plans to include working with dairy cows.&= nbsp; Blake is finishing up his second year of vet school and is planning = on working in Ecuador this summer, studying the correlation between dairy management and milk quality. His time at the farm helped to broaden his understanding of dairy management, which has not only helped in vet school, but is also something he knows will be very important when he begins practicing and is working closely with dairy farmers.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>We hope tha= t all the students who come to Miner Institute gain hands-on experience and insig= ht into farm management that will benefit them whether they work on a dairy fa= rm, own and manage a farm or work in a supporting industry.

&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp;
─ Anna Pape, pape@whminer.com

─ St= eve Couture, couture@whminer.com

= ;

SUMMARY OF NORTHEAST AG &am= p; FEED ALLIANCE

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The annual Northeast Ag & F= eed Alliance Dairy Health and Nutrition Conference was held in Syracuse, N= Y on April 13 and West Lebanon, NH on April 15. The speakers included Bob Patton (Nittany Dairy Nutrition, I= nc.), Joe Hogan (The Ohio State University), Michael Hutjens= (University of Illinois), and Rick Hermonot (Farm Credit East). For those of you who could not attend the conference, h= ere are some of the key points from each presentation.

<= b>

<= b>Amino Acid Nutrition – Bob Patton

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• We are in the middle of understanding amino acid nutrition of lactating dairy cows.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Even though we don’t have all of the answers, getting familiar with amino acid balancing now will allow you to judge how nutrition models work.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• By working on amino acid balancing, we will be better prepared to take advantage of new knowledge and research on amino acid balancing when it becomes available.

<= span class=3DSpellE>Colifor= m Mastitis – Joe Hogan

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• The genera classified a= s coliforms are Escherichia, Klebs= iella, and Enterobacter.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• These are environmental mastitis pathogens that are ubiquitous in the cow’s environment, particularly in bedding and manure.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>• The= dry period and early lactation are the greatest periods for new intramammary infections with coliforms.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>• Red= ucing pathogen load and enhancing the cow’s ability to resist infection dur= ing the dry period and at calving should pay off during lactation.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= b>Lessons Learned With Low Milk P= rices – Mike Hutjens

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Critical factors to evaluate in the ration are forage quality, use of by-product feeds, and use of computer models to fine-tune rations.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>• Performance, herd health, and reproduction should not be sacrificed when ma= king adjustments to rations.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>• Man= aging and monitoring weigh-backs can increase profitability.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'> =

<= b>Financial T= oolbox to Business Success – Rick Hermonot=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>• Fiv= e Keys to Profit:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>1. Gross sa= les – pounds or dollars of milk per cow is a good way to measure this key= to profitability.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>2. Efficien= cy – how effectively are we converting raw material into finished produc= t.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>3. Capacity – how effectively is the farm using its “plant and equipment.”

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>4. Dairy husbandry – overall herd management skill.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>5. Cost con= trol – price shopping in the right areas.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'> =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>This is jus= t a summary of the information presented. For more information you can access t= he presentations at http://www.northeastalliance.com<= /p>

<= i>

─ Sarah Boucher,
boucher@whminer.com

<= i>

ADVANCED DAIRY NUTRITION & MANAGEMENT
for Agriservice Professionals

When: June 7 - 10, 2010

Where: Cornell<= /st1:PlaceName> University in Ithaca, NY

Cost: $500, includes course materials, lun= ches, and dinner on Monday and Wednesday

Some Topics Include:

Em= erging concepts in metabolic regulation in transition cows

Am= ino acid balancing for dry and transition cows

Insulinogenic diets and fresh cows

Us= ing energy-related metabolites to identify opportunities for improved transition cow management

Ni= trogen recycling (opportunities in the rumen and whole-animal)

Cu= rrent concepts in peNDF, NDF digestibility, and fragi= lity

For course content information, contact: =

Dr. Tom Overton, tro2@cornell.edu
phone: (607) 255-2878

For registration information, contact:

Heather Howland, dmconf@cornell.edu

phone: (607) 255-4478<= /p>

BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN DAIRY COWS
IN RESPONSE TO CALVING

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The past 6,000 to 8,000 years of domestication hasn’t eliminated the innate drive of dairy cows to per= form specific behaviors related to the onset of parturition. Understanding these behaviors may facilitate management practices that reduce the stressors tha= t a cow is challenged with at calving. Management strategies that allow for the most “natural” calving event may also help to reduce some welfa= re concerns of consumers. A recent article in Hormones and Behavior reviewed t= he literature on calving behavior, summarized below:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Isolation from herd. Cattle on pasture will separate fr= om the herd prior to calving. This has not been observed in cows housed indoors. It isn’t clear if the inability to separate from the herd represents a stressor. Cows at higher pasture stocking densities will increase the dista= nce they keep from their herdmates, especially the = mature cows. This suggests that the inability to separate may represent the greate= st stressor for cows housed in mixed parity pens during the close-up period.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Increased activity. Leading up to calving, cows demons= trate their discomfort by increasing by twofold the number of times they shift fr= om lying to standing. As technology for monitoring behavior becomes more readi= ly available for on-farm applications, this change may allow for more effective identification of cows approaching calving.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Consumption of the placenta. During the 12 hours= prior to and the 24 hours following calving, cows are highly motivated to consume placenta and amniotic fluids. This is thought to occur for two main reasons= . First, to reduce the risk of attracting predators to the calv= ing site. Second, the amniotic fluids are thought to reduce the percepti= on of pain. Due to this behavior, it’s critical to avoid using only sand bedding for calving areas to prevent cows from consuming sand attached to t= he placenta and amniotic fluid.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Increased vocalizations= . Cows will emit the greatest number= of vocalizations immediately following calving. If left to= gether the number of vocalizations decreases rapidly over the three days following calving. It’s likely that this is done to provide for the cow-= calf pair to recognize one another within the herd. An increase in the call rate= is observed following the separation of cow and calf. This response increases = as the duration the cow and calf remain together increases. This suggests an e= arly separation of the pair may reduce bonding, which reduces the stress of the separation.

─ Peter Krawcel,
krawczel@whminer.com

Reference: von Keyserlingk, M. A. G. and= D. M. Weary. 2007. Maternal behavior in cattle. Hormones and B= ehavior. 52:106-113.

&nb= sp;

BACK IN FARM REPORT TIME

Ten years ago, in the May 2000 issue of the Farm Report, = Ev Thomas ─ E.T. ─ included a short called: “Neuticles.” Here it is:

Gregg Miller in Buckner, Missouri manufactures replacement testicles (Neuticles) = for animals. Though the implants were originally designed for castrated dogs and cats, he’s custom-made testicles for rats, a prairie dog in Kansas and a water buffalo in Colorado. How many real neurotics are = out there? Since 1995 Miller has sold 25,000 sets of fake testicles to pet owne= rs at a cost of $36 to $187 per pair depending on size and compostion. Installation is extra.

Miller has begun to make Neuticles for horses and cattle at $1000 a pair. However, there’s concern that unscrupulous farmers could decieve buyers into thinking they’re buying a stallion or a bull when they’re really getting a gelding or a steer plus a life-like pair of silicone falsies. Mil= ler defends himself by stating: ‘It’s just as = tramatic for (farmers) to have their horse neutered as their dog neutered.’ Eh= ? Seems like the trauma is to the animal, not the farmer. Katie Ballard has assisted in the gelding of several horses here at the Institute, and if she was traumatized, she hid it really well. However, next time you = buy a stallion or bull, you might want to check to see that= they’re the real McCoys.

Update: Accoring to neuticles.com, more than 25= 0,000 canines, felines, equine and bulls have been ‘Ne= uticled’ worldwide.

In 2005, Miller was awarded the IG N= obel Peace Prize for Medicine. The IG Nobel Prizes are awarded annually in Octob= er for achievements that “first make people laugh and then make them think.”

Also in the May 2000 Farm Report, this Closing Comment: <= o:p>

“To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little. T= o be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and try not to understand her at all.”

PACK THIN FORAGE LAYERS FOR=
INCREASED SILAGE DENSITY

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>In last month’s Farm Repo= rt, Ev discussed packing forage in bunkers and piles, and specifically noted our u= se of three packing tractors last fall on the BMR corn silage pile. We have be= en feeding from that pile for a couple months now and have measured silage densities consistently >14 lbs DM/ft³(45 lbs/ft³ as fed) using the Dairy One “Master Forage Probe.” Only at the tai= ls and top do we see density less than 14 lbs DM/ft³. When packing for= age for silage ─ aside from making certain of sufficient packing weight a= nd time relative to delivery rate of chopped forage, DM and particle length &#= 9472; my “favorite” variable to consider is layer depth. <= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>A thin layer of forage will pack faster and “tighter,” more densely than a thick forage layer. A standard recommendation is to keep forage layer at 6 inches or less for max= imal packing density. More than 6 inches of forage allows for dispersal of the tractor packing pressure. Through many of our research trials packing forag= e in mini-silos, midi-silos, five-gallon pails or just packing a forage sample b= ag, it is quite apparent that we can pack more forage into a container with gre= ater density if we pack small amounts at a time. And it seems that we can obtain greater density with less packing time. Considering that, I visited a University of Wisconsin website to determine how packing time varies with forage layer thickness. (www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/storage.htm).

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Using the Packing Factor (PF) equation below we can calculate time required to pack forage when initial l= ayer thickness varies. =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>PF =3D (W/L) x √ (T x D)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>W =3D Avg Tractor wt (lbs)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>L =3D Initial forage layer depth (inches)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>T =3D Packing Time (Tractor hrs= /T forage as fed)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>D =3D forage DM% (expressed as = decimal value)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>From the website, a PF of over = 432 results in silage density of >14 lbs DM/ft³. Holding PF constant at 432 and usi= ng a tractor weight (24,000 lbs), forage DM (0.35) and 30T of forage/hr, we can calculate the Tractor hours required to pack 3 inches, 6 inches or 12 inche= s of forage.   With these valu= es, to obtain similar Packing Factor requires only 15 minutes to pack those 30T wi= th a 3 inch layer compared to one hour of packing of a 6 inch layer and 4 hours = of packing a 12 inch layer of forage. *Note: In this example that equates to 2 min/T and 8 min/T to pack a 6 inch or 12 inch layer.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The question then is how best to gauge forage layer depth from the cab of the tractor? Here are some thought= s:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>1. Calculate cubic feet of forage delivered and area required to spr= ead over at 6 inches or less depth. Example:&n= bsp; 930 ft3 of forage at a depth of 6 inches or (0.5ft) in a 24-foot-wide bunker requires 77.5 feet of length in a bunker or pile. If it is spread over less than 77 = feet, the layer is too thick. Calcu= late cubic feet of forage delivered in your trucks and distance required to spre= ad that volume specific to your bunk or pile.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>2. Mark bunker walls for distance and height. Consider painting surveyor style height markings, alternating white/black with each foot of height. Space these every 50 feet to gauge surface length.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>3. For piles try cones at the e= dges to mark width and distance dimensions

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>And please, do not try to over-= fill bunkers. Big rounded tops do = not allow for adequate packing, and are wastes of time, fuel and forage quality, not to mention dangerous to the packer as well as potentially falling on pe= ople at feedout.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

<= span class=3DGramE>All the bes= t this cropping season.

─ Kurt Cotanch,
cotanch@whminer.com

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION<= /o:p>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>A farm ma= gazine article recently questioned the current relevance of Cooperative Extension agricultural programs. The question isn’t the capability of the professional staff, but whether Extension can supply what farmers need and can’t get elsewhere. I have a dog in this particular hunt because from 1964 until 1981 I was an assistant county agent for two summers, then county agent for two years and finally regional Extension agronomist for 13 years.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>What’= ;s changed since I worked for Cooperative Extension? What hasn’t! In the late 1960s there were about 1000 dairy farms in the three counties in Northeastern N.Y.; now there are about one-fourth that many, though cow numbers haven’t changed much. Fewer farms but larger ones ─ a sig= n of the times. Computers used to take up whole rooms, and my first calculator that would do little more than sixth grade math cost $84. (It al= so calculated square roots, but have you EVER had to calculate a square root outside of a classroom?). The Internet was unknown because Al Gore hadnR= 17;t invented it yet. One of the jobs Extension dairy agents had back then was helping farmers with their rations. When is the last time your Extension educator helped you with ration formulation? Probably many years ago, becau= se feed companies now use computers to formulate rations and there’s much less “by guess-and-by-gosh” than there was a generation ago.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Much of the information Cooperative Extension once provided is now available via the Internet, including “how to” articles on just about anything. What’s not available on-line is the personal approach to farm problem-solving. During the 1970s the Dairy and Field Crops Team in Northeastern NY spent almost half its time on farm visits. We did so for three reasons: First, getting out and around was much more enjoyable and productive than sitting in the office; second, we discov= ered that there was indeed such a thing as a free lunch if you knew what farmer = to visit just before noon; and third, our advisory committee (composed mostly = of farmers) wanted us to. I’m not sure who was getting the most educatio= n, because we learned a great deal simply by listening to the top-notch farmer= s we visited, finding out what they were doing and why. Then we’d visit ot= her farms and tell those farmers what we’d learned… “extending” the new techniques or management idea= s. Extending — Extension — hmm, might have something there. Unfortunately, many Extension budgets have been slashed and some counties simply don’t have the resources for Extension educators to make nearl= y as many farm calls as we once did. (I used to drive over 2000 business miles p= er month, most of it involving farm visits.) However, even if Extension workers have to allot financial resources more carefully now, the time spent on far= ms can be an important teaching tool. Or, as Yogi Berra once said: “You = can observe a lot just by watching.”

            &n= bsp;            = ;                   = ─ E.T.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

SOYBEAN SILAGE <= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>This was an article topic suggested by one of our subscribers (actually soybean baleage). and we’ve = also had questions from others on this subject.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>There was= a fair amount of soybeans harvested for silage in the Champlain Valley in the 1990s and early 20= 00s, mostly in Vermont but in Northeastern NY<= /st1:place> as well. Local experience included both grain and silage-specific varieties. Some Maturity Group 0 and I varieties were planted with the intention of si= lage harvest, while some were ensiled when it became obvious that the crop would= run out of growing season well before the beans would mature enough to be combi= ned. Forage dry matter yields of these varieties are usually modest at 2-3 tons/acre, with crude protein in the high teens and NDF similar to early bl= oom alfalfa. However, palatability of soybean silage is just so-so, and I sure wouldn’t want to feed it as a major source of forage. This has seldom been a problem because of the low yield and limited acreage planted. Most farmers trying this did so for only a year or two, probably because farmers aren’t dumb. (Well, most aren’t, anyway.)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.35pt'>Forage so= ybeans are another matter entirely. These are tall, leafy varieties that are very = late maturing—Maturity Group 8 or 9—which in the Northern half of th= e U.S. me= ans that they never stop growing. Most of the crude protein is in the leaves, so rec= ent breeding efforts have been aimed at improving leaf yield and quality. Yields can be high—5 to 8 tons DM/acre—but both quality and maturity a= re “sticky wickets”. In many years of USDA/Cornell University fora= ge soybean variety trials at Miner Institute, some years the crop would reach = 30% DM by fall, while other years % DM was still in = the high 20s in late September. Because the quality is in the leaves you don’t want to wait until frost to harvest soybeans for silage. Forage quality appears to be fair until you look past the mid-teen CP and mid-40s = NDF and get a peek at fiber digestibility: In a word: Ugh. Maybe the newer varieties are better—they could hardly be worse—but I remain a Doubting Thomas because of the type of stalk (or is it a stem?) it takes to hold up the massive, top-heavy plants.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>With respect to soybean baleage, the grain-type soybeans can be ensiled as baleage but I wouldn’t recommend baling the tall forage types. One farmer in the Plattsburgh area tried this and to his great disappointment found that the stalks were = so woody that they poked holes through the plastic! ‘Nuff said.      &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;           = 472; E.T.

<= /span>

Closing Comment

Bureau= cracy: A method for transforming energy into solid waste.