FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S = DESK –
TURNING UP THE HEAT

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>As I write= this article it is late May and the temperature is 95 degrees. I can’t help wondering if this sweltering day is a fluke or a harbinger of a hot summer = to come. In the North Country, who really k= nows what the weather will be? But I do feel strongly that heat stress is often overlooked in the region because we do have some cool summers and our typic= al summer is certainly not the long slog that cows experience in the southeast= or south west. I always feel duty-bound this time of year to review the key components of heat stress and successful abatement strategies.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Heat stress is associated with = rumen acidosis. Data from the 1970s show clearly that heat stress conditions redu= ce rumen pH to levels well below 6.0. If we feed a diet that is borderline low= in fiber and high in starch, that will only make the problem worse. Heat-stres= sed cows ruminate less, drool, pant, and are more likely to sort their diet or slug-feed. All of these changes in hot, humid weather contribute to lower r= umen pH. Management factors such as overcrowding inhibit normal rumination (by as much as 1 to 2 hours per day) and the negative consequences of high stocking densities in our pens will be even worse during heat stress.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Heat stress also increases the incidence of lameness and claw lesions. Because heat stress exacerbates acidosis, the incidence of laminitis increases. In addition, hot cows stand= in the alley nearly two hours per day more than comfortable cows. So, more str= ess is placed on the hoof. Recent research indicates that risk of lameness begi= ns to increase at a temperature-humidity (THI) index of ~68, which may not feel very uncomfortable to us, but is stressful to a lactating dairy cow. These researchers noted that problems could occur at a temperature as low as 70°F.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>The THI an= d core body temperature mediate cow behavior, especially standing and lying. Body temperature rises when cows are lying in stalls. When it reaches about 102 degrees, the cow stands up in an effort to cool off because more surface ar= ea will be available for evaporative cooling. Use of sprinklers and/or fans wi= ll speed the rate of body temperature reduction. Once body temperature drops back be= low 102, the cow is then more likely to lie back down. This research clearly po= ints out the importance of cow cooling if we want to keep cows off their feet du= ring heat stress.<= /o:p>

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Feeding more digestible NDF may improve performance during heat stress. Recent studies s= how greater milk production when some forage fiber is replaced with nonforage sources of fiber such as soybean hulls. Alt= hough the mechanism is unknown, it may be related to less heat of digestion for t= he highly digestible NDF in the soybean hulls compared with the forage. Another study found that feeding 50% of the TMR after 7 p.m. resulted in a 7% improvement in efficiency of milk production. Although research results have been variable, you cannot go wrong by feeding highly digestible NDF from hi= gh quality forage and non-forage feeds, especially during heat stress.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>We keep lea= rning more about heat stress effects on the cow, and the negative consequences of heat stress on cow behavior, feed intake, and health. All of this new information is useful, but we can never forget the basics of heat stress abatement.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The prioritized “to-do list” for reducing the negative effects on your herd are: 1) Provide ample water – the heat-stressed cow’s water requirement is 1.2 = to 2.0 times normal, 2) Provide shade when cows are outside to reduce solar he= at loading, 3) Reduce walking distance to the parlor. The elevation in body temperature that occurs when a cow walks excessive distances in the heat of= the day will last six to 10 hours, 4) Improve cow cooling in the holding pen and exit lanes, 5) Cool close-ups, fresh, and early lactation cows to improve f= eed intake, 6) Cool mid-late lactation cows, and 7) Adjust rations. Ration adjustments (such as increasing digestible NDF) will not be fully effective unless cows are also cooled.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>By the time you read this artic= le it will likely be mid-June and it may be 90 degrees or 50! Regardless, now is = the time to seriously evaluate your plans for dealing with heat stress and make= any changes needed to be fully prepared. Although we= may want to simply bask in the pleasant spring days and ignore the hot ones, he= at stress for our cows will most likely be here before we know it.<= /span>

─ Rick Grant, grant@whmin= er.com

SEEDING RATES FOR ALFALFA

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>How much alfalfa seed should yo= u use per acre? This depends in part on seedbed preparation; the better the seedb= ed, the less seed you need for maximum potential yields.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> Agronomists from several universiti= es seeded glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa at four rates ranging from 7.5 to 22.5 lbs/acre. We’ll assume that the seedbed was well-prepared and didn’t limit yield. The objective was to determine = if using glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa could permit a reduction in seeding rate. Using glyphosate dec= reased weed growth and increased alfalfa yield, but had no effect on seeding rate. However, what may be more important at this point is that even when no herbicide was applied, the only positive response to seeding rates higher t= han 7.5 lbs/acre was for the first harvest in the seeding year. Lower seeding rates had less plant mortality, thus leveling the playing field so to speak. I’m not ready= to recommend a 7.5 lb seeding rate for clear alfalfa, but it certainly appears that 12.5 lbs combined with good seedbed preparation is enough. =

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>This agrees with an experience = I had in the early 1970s, when a farmer screwed up his seeding rate and wound up = with only half as much alfalfa seed as he wanted—8 vs. 16 lbs/acre. By the time he realized his mistake the alfalfa was already up an inch or so, and = when I looked at the field it sure appeared that there were enough plants to res= ult in a good stand. He didn’t have many choices at this point anyway exc= ept to plow up the stand and start over.
I told him to grin and bear it, not to do anything rash. I followed the stand’s progress, and about 12 weeks later the farmer said he couldn&= #8217;t imagine a better first cut than he just got. Over the next year or two I sp= ent a lot of time in that alfalfa field since it was one of the fields where we were monitoring alfalfa weevil activity, and it remained a productive stand= for a long time.

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<= i>Reference:<= /span> The effect= s of glyphosate tolerant technology on alfalfa seeding rates. Marvin H. Hall, Nichol= as S. Hebrock, Paulette E. Pierson, John L. Caddel, Vance N. Owens, R. Mark Sulc, Daniel J. Undersander, and Ralph E. Whites= ides. Agron J 2010: 102 911-916

= = &nb= sp;

─= E.T.

A GROWING NEED FOR SULFUR?<= /span>

L= ast year we noted that decreased atmospheric depositions of sulfur are increasing the need for the supplemental applications of this essential nutrient. Reducing sulfur dioxide emissions, primarily from Midwestern coal-burning power plan= ts, is good for the environment— less acid rain —but sooner or later farmers will have to start buying some of what they’ve been getting f= or free. The accompanying graph shows just how dramatic the decreases in atmospheric sulfur emissions have been.

<= o:p>

I= n N.Y. State, sulfur emissions fell by 27% just between 2008 and 2009. The reason that bo= th U.S. and regional sulfur emissions have decreased so much is that there’s been nearly 100% compliance by industry, something even the most ardent environmentalist couldn’t envision in his/her wildest dream.

<= o:p>

<= st1:State w:st=3D"on">New York “sulfur on alfalfa” trials ove= r 20 years ago found little yield or quality response, but Cornell

University has been revisiting the subject, so we soon should have new data. Some recent univer= sity trials in the Midwest have gotten an eco= nomic response to supplemental sulfur.

─ E.T.

CORN HYBRIDS AND SILAGE QUA= LITY

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>A recent question from a farmer: How much impact on milk production does hybrid selection have when the corn is harvested as whole-plant silage? With the exception of BMR (brown midrib) hybrids, which will be discussed shortly, t= he answer: For milk production per acre, hybrid selection matters greatly; for milk production per ton of silage, not nearly as much. But as usual, the de= vil is in the details.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>In univers= ity corn silage hybrid trials there’s usually only about a 5 percentage p= oint difference in (non-BMR) NDF digestibility between the top and bottom hybrid= s, when they’re ranked by this characteristic. This is often true even w= hen large numbers of dual-purpose and leafy hybrids are included in the trial. = For instance, in a Virginia Tech hybrid trial including 61 dual-purpose and lea= fy hybrids, there was less than a 5-point difference from highest to lowest ND= F-d. We occasionally see a 10-point difference, but that’s unusual and oft= en not repeatable. In recent years some seed companies have been marketing cer= tain non-BMR corn hybrids as having high NDF-d, often with no more than modest success. In fact, in one = Cornell University trial the “high digestibility” hybrid was below trial average for digestibility. This doesn’t mean that you should ignore NDF-d when choosing dual-purpose and leafy hybrids; I checked several hybrid trials for consistency and the hybrids that had above-average NDF-d in one trial gener= ally were above average in others. But don’t expect miracles; the differen= ces are small enough that I don’t think you’re likely to notice a m= ilk production response when switching from one dual-purpose hybrid to another = if both were well-eared and harvested at approximately the same stage of matur= ity. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a response, but so much stuf= f is going on in a dairy herd, both good and bad (not the least of which are wea= ther changes), that any small milk response due to non-BMR hybrid is unlikely to= be noticed.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>There are = big differences in whole-plant yield and grain per plant, and both contribute greatly to potential milk production per acre. That’s why even with modest differences in NDF-d it still pays to carefully select corn hybrids = for silage. It’s not uncommon to see small differences in quality but big differences in yield. For instance, in the 2009 Cornell University<= /st1:PlaceType> silage hybrid trial at Miner Institute, 91-95 day RM dual-purpose hybrids h= ad less than a 6 percentage point range in NDF-d but 26 and 27% ranges in sila= ge yield and milk per acre respectively.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Finally, there’s BMR. I tell people that BMR corn is so different from dual-purpose and leafy hybrids that it acts like a different species. Yield= is usually lower, and NDF-d is always higher. BMR looks different growing in t= he field, and it tastes different to people who do crazy stuff like munch on c= orn stalks. (This includes #2 son Matt, who when he was a crops consultant in Northern NY insisted that he could tell BMR from other hybrids in the field= by its sweeter taste.) In that 91-95 day Cornell trial, the top non-BMR hybrid= was 62% NDF-d while the BMR entry was 76% NDF-d. In a trial in Madrid, NY comprising the same hybrids, the NDF-d of the top non-BMR hybrid was 59% wh= ile the BMR was 72%. Love it or hate it, BMR corn is just different stuff.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; ─ Ev Thomas, thomas@whminer.com

SOME NEW SEED TREATMENTS

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Some new and recent seed treatm= ents promise much more effective management and/or control of nematodes. Syngenta has a nematicide included in its Invicta® seed treatment, Mo= nsanto has one being readied for release, and Bayer recently received EPA clearance for VOTiVO, a biological nematode seed treatmen= t used in combination with Poncho® for corn and soybeans. Bayer claims a 7 Bu/= acre increase in corn yield in 35 VOTiVO trials in f= ields with nematode pressure. That’s equivalent to about a ton of corn sila= ge per acre, nothing to sneeze at. But as noted, these trials were done where there was nematode pressure. Do you have a nematode problem? Darned if I know, but populations of nematodes have been found in Northern NY corn fields that at least suggest the potential for damage. The only way to find out is to dig up some corn roots this summer and submit them for nemat= ode analysis.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>At some state agricultural coll= eges the responsibility for nematode research and education programs falls throu= gh the cracks: Entomologists don’t consider them to be insects, and fewer and fewer plant nematologists are being trained= these days. Cornell University is fortunate to have tw= o nematologists on staff, but both focus on vegetable c= rops. Cornell plant pathologist Gary Bergstrom says: “Honestly we know very little about what nematodes are doing or not doing to field crop yields in NYS. These new ‘tools&#= 8217; may help in answering that question. “

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

WATER ADDITION TO TMR<= /o:p>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>The additio= n of water to total mixed rations (TMR) is considered by many farmers and nutritionists a beneficial management practice to improve palatability and reduce feed sorting when a dry diet is fed. I’ve been thinking about adding water to a dry cow TMR that we’re using for a study. The dry c= ow TMR contains about 25% straw on a dry matter basis and is a bit on the dry = side (~53% dry matter). I don’t really like the idea of adding water to the TMR because of the hassle. There is no system in place at Miner Institute to efficiently add the water. However, I decided to do a quick literature sear= ch and see if I could find enough documented benefits of adding water to TMR to outweigh the hassle. I was a bit surprised by the results.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>University = of Wisconsin researchers found that water addition to dry TMR (80% dry matter) containing 30% hay, 10% alfalfa silage, and 60% concentrate was a cost-effective management practice to reduce sorting by cows. The TMR with = the water added was 64% dry matter. A limitation of the study was that both TMRs were much drier than TMRs typically fed here in the Northeast and some other parts of the country. Mo= re recently, University of Guelph, Kemptville researchers found in two studies that addi= tion of water to TMR (less than 60% dry matter) containing 27-30% corn silage and 27-30% alfalfa silage actually increased sorting and decreased dry matter intake. The TMR with the water added was 44 to 48% dry matter. Interestingl= y, addition of water increased TMR temperature in the hours after feed delivery presumably due to spoilage. Wetter TMRs are less stable and more prone to spoilage when ambient temperature increases.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>I decided not to add water!

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<= i>= References:

<= span lang=3DIT style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;mso-ansi-language:IT'>= Leonardi C, F. Giannico, and L. E. Armentano. 2005. Effect of water addition on selective consumption (sorting) of dry diets by dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 88:1043–1049.

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<= span class=3DGramE>Miller-Cushon, E. K., and T. J. DeVries= . 2009. Effect of dietary dry ma= tter concentration on the sorting behavior of lactating dairy cows fed a total m= ixed ration. J. Dairy Sci. 92:3292–3298.

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<= span class=3DGramE>Felton, C. = A., and T. J. DeVries. 2010. Effect of water addition to a total mixed ration on feed temperature, feed intake, sorting behavior, and milk product= ion of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 93:2651–2660.

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─ Heather Dann, dann@whminer.com

LIMITING CROW DAMAGE IN
EMERGING CORN

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Kevin Fry, = Armstrong County (Pennsylvania) Extension Educator, had an excellent article in the Penn State Field Crop N= ews on managing crow damage in emerging corn. We’ve excerpted and slightly edited parts of the article below.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Limiting cr= ow damage to corn begins at planting. Your best defense is to plant at least 1.5” deep (Ev recommends 2” minimum) and make sure the seed tre= nch is properly closed. This will make it difficult for the crows to pull up the seedling exposing the desired kernel.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>Crows are h= ighly intelligent animals; not all people are smart enough to be crows! It’s important to remember this, because controlling crows will involve multiple techniques. Crows will quickly adapt to control tactics and change their behavior to avoid them. Unfortunately there is no single silver bullet that= can be applied, multiple tactics will be necessary. Following are a few crow management options:

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>• Scarecrows ─ can be effective but usually need to be used with an additional control tactic. The scarecrow must be moved regularly, every 5 t= o 7 days to maintain effectiveness.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>• Effigies ─ A crow effigy is = when you hang a dead crow upside down about 3 feet from the ground to discourage crows from coming into an area. This works best in roosting areas but can a= lso deter feeding in fields. Move the effigy to a new location
every 5 to 7 days.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Pyrotechnics ─ Th= ere are variety of pyrotechnics, from the handgun type “bird bangers̶= 1; to state-of-the-art CO₂ cann= ons. Gemplers catalog (available on-line) has a wide selec= tion of pyrotechnics. Remember the intelligence of crows: They will eventually figure out the pattern of the CO₂ cannon, and that your bird banger doesn’t hurt. Reinforcement by other methods will be necessary.

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<= span class=3DGramE>• Shooting ─ This tactic works best= in conjunction with pyrotechnics. Once crows learn the habit of either the pyrotechnics or shooting, switch from one to the other to reinforce the message.

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<= span class=3DGramE>• Poisoning ─ Th= ere are no legal poisoning products available to farmers, even those with a Pesticide Applicators license. Poisoning crows on your farm is not a recommended practice and can attract a lot of unwanted attention to your fa= rm. Leave the poisoning to the pros at USDA Wildlife Services, they are the only ones licensed to use DRC–1339, a very safe and effective toxicant for birds.

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<= span class=3DGramE>• Trapping ─ T= his can be a very effective means of controlling crows on your farm, but it can bring more crows into the area. Building plans for a crow trap can be found= in an informative fact sheet from the University of Nebraska: http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/bi= rd_e33.pdf The key to successful trapping is getting the first crow in the trap. This can be d= one by placing an injured crow from shooting into the trap or by baiting. Once a crow is in the trap it begins calling for help and others enter the trap. It’s important to empty the trap regularly, and most importantly DO N= OT leave the same crow in the trap every time. Once left = in the trap a time or two, it will change its call for help to a call telling the others to stay away.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.2pt'>Bird damage= to emerging corn can be extreme. I have been to fields that have been complete= ly wiped out, not a single stalk of corn left standing. It’s important to begin harassing crows early and often, just when you think you don’t = have enough to do already. But remember, it is not a season-long battle. There’s a fairly narrow window when the corn is vulnerable to bird damage. Once the corn is about 6 inches tall, you can move on to managing t= he next pest!

VET’S CORNER: DIAGNOS= IS
OF HEAT ABATEMENT PROBLEM

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Armed with renewed focus on heat abatement problems, our practice is picking up some indications of the effect of heat and humidity on local dairy herds. Dr. Je= ff Brose led our farm discussion group last month and left us with some method= s to prioritize the problem of heat abatement.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Climate= 217;s effect on milk production, milk fat depression, lameness, and clinical mast= itis cases can be tracked on DHIA. As herd health veterinarians spending a lot of time on breeding programs, we took a look at the effect of excess heat on Conception Rate with the help of the following graph generated on Dairy Com= p. In the following herd CR is very good, ranging between 35 to 44% for 8 mont= hs of the year. Then in July, CR begins to drop and does not recover until October. As you may remember, last summer was not very hot in Vermont; there were no periods of exce= ssive heat that lasted more than 3 days so if heat abatement problems existed in = that mild summer, this herd could be headed for severe repro performance loss in= a hot summer.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Walking ar= ound the barn revealed that a primary goal of construction was to retain heat duri= ng our cold Vermont<= /st1:State> winters so that the automatic barn scraper wouldn’t freeze. Unfortunately there wasn’t m= uch flexibility in construction to allow for the barn to be opened up during wa= rm weather. An adequate overshot roof ridge opening of three feet for the six-= row barn was open but there was a constriction in the ability for air to enter through the sides of the barn. There’s only 6 feet of curtain wall an= d 2 ½ feet are obstructed with freestall horizontal angle iron structure and a wide plank that keeps cows from lungi= ng into the curtain wall. Side wall space was limited to 3 ½ feet and we would recommend a 14 to 16 foot high side wall. Eaves were blocked off but = it will be an easy fix to remove them so air can enter and follow up the ceili= ng to the ridge opening. =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Obviously = this is a barn that will have to be ventilated mechanically, and at present there are only two rows of fans directed over the feed bunk. The best solution th= at we could come up with was to add two rows of fans over the face-to-face freestalls. We recommend 48-inch fans spaced 36 feet = apart over the double row free stalls. After this project is completed, we’= ll look into sprinklers installed over the headlocks, because Dr. Brose’s work shows greater heat abatement from soaking than forced air.<= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Are these investments in heat abatement cost effective? Going from 2.5 services to concept= ion to 3.5 for four months in this size dairy cost the farm $5,000 in last year’s mild heat conditions. When the losses from milk production, mi= lk fat depression, and increased mastitis flare-ups are added in, there will be plenty of financial incentive to add the two rows of fans.

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

─ Ke= nt Henderson

Northwest Veterinary Associates, Inc.

Hugamoo@co= mcast.net

CHLORIDE AND FORAGES REVISI= TED

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Adequate chloride (Cl^-) in the soil is critic= al for ensuring maximum yield and quality of field and forage crops. Chloride is involved in several important plant functions including water uptake/transport, photosynthesis,= cation neutralization, and disease suppression. Chlor= ide is highly mobile in the soil solution and can be limiting in humid regions, particularly on sandy soils. In addition, fields that don’t receive regular Cl^- inputs (e.g., from manur= e or fertilizer) can also become deficient in Cl-. Coastal areas receive large Cl^- inpu= ts from the ocean, but inputs decrease rapidly inland.

<= 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'>Due to it= s role in the cation-anion balance of plants, Cl^- fertilization can influence what is kn= own as the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD). The= DCAD of forages can strongly influence the incidence of milk fever (low blood calcium) in dairy cows. Ender= et al. (1971) first hypothesized that milk fever incidence depended on the amo= unt of dietary cations relative to anions, and prop= osed an equation to estimate DCAD (DCAD =3D (Na⁺ + K^{+) –=
(Cl^- + S²^{-<=
/sup>)). With =
this
equation, the target ration DCAD to prevent milk fever is about -50 mmolc/ kg of dry matter. Studies have repeatedly show=
n that
cows fed a ration low in K or Na tend to have a lower incidence of milk fev=
er compared
to cows fed a ration high in these cations. Sin=
ce
grass and legumes tend to accumulate K beyond what is needed for metabolic
functions (luxury uptake), reducing K inputs from fertilizer and manure can
lower forage K and thus reduce DCAD. However, there is not always a clear
relationship between soil K and forage K, as other factors affect the amoun=
t of
K uptake by forages (soil moisture, compaction, forage<=
/span>
species). For example, previous research at Miner Institute showed that ree=
d canarygrass on low and very low K soils with no ferti=
lizer
applied still had K levels of 2.37% and 2.17% for first and second cutting,
respectively. Since nutritionists suggest that forage K levels fed to dry c=
ows
should be <2%, achieving a proper DCAD even on low K fields may be
difficult. To achieve acceptable forage DCAD, nutritionists add chloride to=
the
ration, but this can influence palatability and dry matter intake.}}

<= 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:-.35pt'>Another approach to lowering DCAD is to fertilize forages with chloride. Some research has shown that fertilization with chloride can significantly lower the DCAD of alfalfa and grass. However, the economics and practicality of chloride fertilization as compared to adding it to the ration have not been addressed. This year we are conducting a stud= y to look at whether chloride fertilization might be a viable option to reduce forage DCAD on NNY dairy farms. The objective is to determine how much chlo= ride is taken up and its impact on forage quality, yield, and DCAD. Grass and alfalfa-grass plots located on different soils will receive either 70 lb/ac= of chloride (as liquid calcium chloride) or no chloride. Findings from this st= udy will help clarify whether fertilizing forages with chloride makes sense for producers in the region.

= ;

─ Er= ic Young, young@whminer.com

LET THEM EAT GRASS

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>I spent a = few days in late April in Aguascal= ientes, Mexico, speaking at two farmer meetings including one with over 400 in attendance. A prominent Midwestern agronomist at one of the meetings commented to me that there’s recent interest by farmers in his region in grass for dairy c= ows. Cornell University’s Jerry Cherney has remarked that the typical Midwest opinion has been to consider grass a weed t= hat must be eliminated, but apparently the times they are a-changin’.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Here in the Northeast, we’re so stubborn that we’ve never given up on grass= as a valuable forage. And the results of recent university lactation trials support feeding high-quality grasses to lactating c= ows. (Note the italics.) If you applied N to your cool-season forage grasses ear= ly this spring, the first cut will have been harvested by now and the second c= ut will soon be nearing the proper time for harvest. Don’t wait for head= ing on second and subsequent harvests. If there’s enough there to warrant mowing, go to it. Often this is less than a month after an early first-cut:= If you took first cut pre-heading you might have been surprised at how quickly= the grass came back. There’s a big difference in reg= rowth when you harvest first cut grasses early. Farm Report readers who are glutt= ons for punishment might be interested in checking out my website, www.oakpointagronomics.com It isn’t fancy, primarily consisting of monthly postings.

─ = Ev Thomas,
thomas@whminer.com

PROBLEMS & POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
WITH ON-FARM WELFARE AUDITS

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Most curre= nt auditing systems in place in the U.S. are part of a labeling s= cheme that allows producers into a value-added market. Recent depictions of tail docking = and dehorning occurring on a dairy farm in the news (ABC’s “Nightline”) may erode consumer support of dairy farmers. Implementation of on-farm welfare = audits are one potential means of alleviating some of this public concern. The challenges and potential solut= ions are using on-farm audits were reviewed by scientists from the University of Aarhus= and the University of British Columbia= with their results published in Livestock Science. There were four main problems with current auditing programs that must be addressed before they could be = used for regulatory purposes. These are summarized below:

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

<= b>Problem 1:= Standards acceptable to multiple shareholders. Voluntary programs have the freedom to design standards reflecting the goals and values of the individuals behind = the program as well as those buying into it. Furthermore, research has highligh= ted large discrepancies of what individuals involved with animal production val= ue in terms of animal welfare, and what those not involved do. The clearest ex= ample of this is the importance placed on “natural” living as a means= of providing for the welfare of an animal by those not involved with production vs. the priority given to access to food, water, and basic health. This is somewhat simplistic as geo= graphic region, income, level of education, age, and pet ownership can also influen= ce attitudes towards what consists of adequate welfare.

<= b>Potential solutions: The option most likely to produce a satisfactory outc= ome is the formation of panel comprised of a mix of producers and non-producers. The key factor for a positive result is a commitment to increasing their knowledge basis and open discussion. The end goal should not be complete agreement on all issues, but rather a limited number of measurements that c= ould be uniformly agreed on.

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

<= b>Problem 2:= Establishm= ent of minimum score that provides sufficient animal welfare. For an auditing syst= em to have validity among the various shareholders, the distinction between a passing and failing farm must be clear.

<= b>Potential solution: Establishment of practices that are unacceptable at any level and t= hose than must remain below predetermined level of occurrence. For example, the auditing system utilized in slaughter plants defines dragging a conscious animal as unacceptable while setting a minimum percent for stunning animals= on the first attempt.

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

<= b>Problem 3:= Ensuring = the fairness of the audit and avoiding false failures. Unlike voluntary program= s, the use of an auditing system for regulatory measures requires its overseer= s to be cognizant of the potential costs to the producer resulting from a failure.

<= b>Potential solution: Science and education are the keys to avoiding false failures and ensuring the fairness of the measurements. Research tri= als validating the repeatability of measurement (which will ensure that each fa= rm is evaluated in the same manner) and the meaningfulness of the focus of tho= se measurements. Addition= ally, an appeals process must be in place to ensure that all from have an adequate opportunity for a proper assessment.

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

<= b>Problem 4:= Efficiency= of the system. For any regulatory system to be meaningful it must evaluate a l= arge number of farms in a timely fashion as well as demonstrate a meaningful out= come for the dollars spent.

<= b>Potential solution: Again, the solution comes down to scientific inquiry. Enough resear= ch needs to be available to the committees organizing the standards that a relatively small number of measurements per farm are able to consistently separate those that are adequately addressing the welfare of their animals = from those that are not.

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

<= i>Reference:= Sorensen, = J. T. and D. Fraser. 2010. On-farm welfare assessment for regulatory purposes: Issues a= nd possible solutions. Livestock Science.&nb= sp; 131:1-7.

─ Pe= ter Krawczel

krawczel@w= hminer.com

CRITTER NEWS<= /b>

= • A Seattle-based company has been selling hundreds of pair of underpants for dogs. These are intended for dogs with incontinence problems or to prevent unspayed females from the unwanted attentions of male dogs. They sell panties in a wide variety of si= zes for female dogs, and what they call a “cummerbund” designed to cover the appropriate part of a male dog’s plumbing.

= • Scientists have conc= luded that cow flatulence does not contribute meaningfully to greenhouse gases and global warming. This contradicts a 2006 United Nations report stating that = meat production was responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases; according to EPA the figure is less than 3%. Between this and the well-publicized erroneous glob= al temperature data, it appears that a good share of offen= sive gas emissions are from the U.N itself.

TIME TO MOVE ON<= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>It’s a crystal clear day = here in the North Country. The temperature is= about 75º with a light breeze. I look out my window and see the horse barn a= nd newly planted corn just starting its growth. Days like these are when I am grateful to be living in North= ern NY. However, just a few wee= ks ago it was about 30º and snowflakes fell from the sky. Those are the days = when I ask myself: Why did I move here?

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Well, the answer to that questi= on is simple: I moved here two years ago when I accepted a position as Postdoctor= al Research Associate at Miner Institute. When I arrived, I knew it was a temporary position, and I knew I would only have to survive two infamous North Country winters. What I did not anticipate, o= ther than the absolutely frigid temperatures, was how fast the two years would go by. I am sitting down today to write my last Farm Report article as a Miner Institute employee.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>I came to Miner Institute after completing my Ph.D. in Animal and Nutritional Sciences from the University of New Hampshire. My job here was to = assist in the research efforts and help coordinate and run research trials in the tie-stall area of the dairy barn. The research I was involved with here continued to focus on protein and amino acid nutrition of lactating dairy c= ows, and I will be presenting this research at the American Dairy Science Association Meetings this summer.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Other than research activities,= some of the highlights from my time at the Institute were interacting with dairy producers and industry professionals in several different capacities, with = my “speaking tour” with Vermont DHIA being one of the highlights. I also enjoyed working with our Advanced Dairy Management students in the spr= ing and our research interns in the summer. Overall, Miner Institute was a great place to be, and I had an incredible experience here.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Speaking of watching corn grow,= I will be packing up and leaving the Institute in mid-June and heading west t= o Iowa. I have acc= epted a position in Technical Services at Kemin Agrifoods North America that I will be starting in Ju= ne.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>So, it is with a mixture of sad= ness and excitement that I write my last Farm Report article. It has been a great two years. Thank you to everyone at the Institute for making my time here so incredible, and thank you to the readers as I truly enjoyed writing the articles.

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

─ Sarah Boucher

boucher@whminer.com<= /span>

DAIRY MONTH ─ GOT MILK?
MAKE MINE CHOCOLATE

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>The recent debate over the nutritional value of chocolate milk has motivated my Dairy Month Farm Report article. Critics are claiming that chocolate milk has too much sugar, nearly equivalent to the amount in soda, and thusly pushing for= its removal from school cafeterias. Ann Cooper, director of nutrition services = for the public school system in Bo= ulder, Colorado, has expelled choc= olate milk from the lunchroom claiming, "Chocolate milk is soda in drag.&quo= t; Not certain if as director of nutrition she read the labels of each product= to compare the protein, minerals and vitamins and not to mention the differenc= e in sugar sources, lactose vs. fructose between milk and soda. The dairy indust= ry responded with a campaign of "Raise your hand for chocolate milk." The full article "Dairy groups fight to keep chocolate milk on menu" can be found at (www.npr.org) Dec 9 2009.=

<= 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'>Research in support of chocolate milk includes studies of its effectiveness as an energy drink aiding in post exercise recovery. A study was conducted comparing chocolate milk with a fluid replacement drink and a carbohydrate replacement drink in 9 male endurance-trained cyclists. The chocolate milk and fluid replacement drink resulted in greater athletic performance in terms of time= to exhaustion and total work. The results were statistically significant in fa= vor of chocolate milk as an athletic performance recovery aid. (International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism: 16(1), Feb 2006).<= /o:p>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Another st= udy compared chocolate milk to a carbohydrate beverage on muscle strength, sore= ness and other metabolic responses in college soccer players. The data showed chocolate milk to provide similar muscle recovery as the carbohydrate drink= . (Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2010, = 7:19). Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps drank Carnation Instant Breakfast between races. Unfortunately, we n= ow know what he consumed after races too.

<= 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'>The point = being that chocolate milk is not soda. Chocolate milk is a healthy, energizing dr= ink, rich in milk sugars, highly digestible protein, minerals and vitamins, and = is proven to maximize muscle recovery in athletes. Who knows what it might do = for young students’ mental acuity as well. So for Dairy Month and all months, whether running, biking, hiking, stacking hay, yard work, whatever your activity needing to be fueled and energized, make it milk. Make mine chocolate.

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

─ Kurt Cotanch

cotanch@whminer.com<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>

JUNE DAIRY MONTH ─ HOW IT STARTED<= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>June Dairy Month, an annual tradition developed to celebrate the dairy industry and its many contributions to our society, originated in 1937. During its first two years, in 1937 and 1938, it was called National Milk Month and ran from Jun= e 10 to July 10. The 1937 event, sponsored by chain stores, was given the theme "Keep Youthful ─ Drink Milk." Originally supported by the National Dairy Council (NDC), June Dairy Month was established to help stabilize dairy demand during periods of peak production. To assist in that effort, NDC provided promotional materials to the 6,300 stores participatin= g.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>"June= Dairy Month" became the official title of the promotion in 1939 and focused = on greater use of dairy products. Campaign material, prepared by NDC, was offe= red to producers, processors and dairy product distributors. June Dairy Month w= as initially funded by a one cent per pound butterfat assessment in June.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>During the war years, less emph= asis was placed on promotion, more on surviving the war. The retailers helped customers receive an adequate supply of dairy products and provided informa= tion to help use them properly.

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

─ Info from Midwest Dairy Association

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FAR= M

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>At the end of May, we welcomed = 11 students to our three Summer Experience internship programs. In the Summer Experience in Farm Management program, the students will work with our dairy barn and crops cr= ews in all areas of the farm. The= se activities include milking, calves, herd health, crops, and feeding. The students are also training a g= roup of heifers to show at the Clinton County Fair in July. The students who joined us this ye= ar are Laura Turek from Michigan State University, Annelise Myers from the University of Maryland, and A= shley Jones from Virginia Tech.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>In the Summer Experience in Equ= ine Management program, students are training young horses in a variety of disciplines both riding and driving in addition to reproduction management = for both the stallions and mares. Students enrolled in this program are Pauline Davis from SUNY Cobleskill, Katie Maguire from West Virginia University, Bridget Rozek of Vermont Technical College, Cassi Lukas from the University of Minnesota, and Samantha Rodgers from Rutgers University.

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

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>The work experience for Agricultural Research students includes learning research techniques and processes in a variety of areas including nutrient managemen= t, dairy cattle nutrition, agronomy, reproductive physiology of dairy cattle and horses, and dairy cattle behavior. Forage quality assessment procedures are taught in Miner Institute’s Forage Laboratory. Students also gain work experience in the dairy research facili= ty: feeding cows for individual feed intakes, measuring in situ digestibilities in ruminally cannulated cows, milk sampling, urine/fecal sampling, blood sampling, and assessing da= iry cattle behavior. The students= who joined us this year are Chelsea Whitehouse from the University of Vermont, Trevor Beaudry from the University of New Hampshire, and Stephanie Thibeau from Louisiana State University.

<= 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 all enjoy integrating these students into our work environment and making the opportunities available to put good classroom learning into hands-on experi= ence at Miner Institute. I recently received a vet school graduation announcement from one of our students who = was with us in 2003. She wrote, “I just wanted to say ‘Thank You’ for giving me that experience. It has been one o= f the most helpful things I have done in my student career. I always look back on that summer = with fond memories and I’m sure that will continue throughout my life.R= 21;

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

─ Wanda Emerich

emerich@whminer.com<= /span>

Closing Comment

The first protective cup was used in hockey in 1874,
and the first helmet in 1974. It took exactly 100 years for men
to realize that their brain is also important.