1. Bedding

Winter temperatures bring additional challenges and considerations to the table for dairy producers. As temperatures drop, calves’ energy requirements increase. Calves under 21 days of age require more energy when temperatures fall below 60° Fahrenheit and also require 30 percent more energy simply for maintenance when temperatures fall below 30° F.

Bedding is a good source of insulation; as such, to reduce heat loss, keep calves dry and well-bedded. Dry straw bedding up to their knees provides good insulation and reduces their chance of contracting respiratory disease. In addition, clean, dry calf jackets can increase the internal temperature of a calf by up to 25° F.

2. Feeding

Feeding calves three times a day will help stabilize the rumen pH while simultaneously adding more energy during cold temperatures. Additionally, provide free-choice warm water right after feeding to get the calves drinking water before they lie down. Remember, warm water freezes faster than cold water.

3. Water

Speaking of water, dairy cows must drink water or they will not eat. Since water is a key ingredient in making milk, be sure that the waterers are clean and not frozen. Cows prefer plate cooler water because it is warmer than well water. With a thermometer, check waterers with heaters to determine if elements are working properly. An ideal water temperature is between 40–65° F.

4. Ventilation – Prevent drafts

Dairy cows will do quite well in cold temperatures, provided they are dry and protected from wind and drafts. Cows can tolerate temperatures as low as -20° F if wind speeds are below five miles per hour. On the other hand, high winds of 35 miles per hour and temperatures above 15° F can cause problems for dairy cows.

With cold weather, it is important to prevent drafts; cows need a dry, draft-free resting place. Patch holes in curtains, minimize gaps at the ends of curtains and seal around doors where wind can blow through. In stall barns, proper maintenance of barn wall fans is key to good ventilation. Adjust and replace belts and keep shutters and other parts clean and lubricated. Fresh air inlets must allow air into the barn to replace “old air.” Regardless of the type of barn, it is important to have ample amounts of dry bedding. Keep the back of the stall groomed or scraped. If walkways become frozen and slippery, put down lime to allow for better traction.

5. Prevent frostbite

Another critical area to consider when it comes to mature cows is whether they are exiting the parlor into wind chill conditions that can lead to frostbite and frozen teats. It is very important that teats are dry when leaving the parlor during cold weather. Dairy scientists suggest that, in severely cold weather, even the film of milk should be dried before cows leave the parlor. Instead of skipping the post-dip, it is better to post-dip the teats and allow 30 seconds of contact time before wiping the teats dry. Use germicidal dips that contain 5–12 percent multi-skin conditioners to reduce chapping or cracking of teat skin. Avoid washing teats with water in cold weather.

 6. Mastitis – Dry teats and singe udders

Finally, in cold weather — or during the summer — reducing the places that organic matter can stick to a cow is critical to managing somatic cell count and mastitis. To prevent this from happening, singeing udders just prior to calving, at dry-off and during lactation, when the hair is visibly long, is suggested. Following this standard operating procedure (SOP) reduces the sediment load in the milk filter, makes it easier to prep cows and reduces the risk of environmental mastitis. This procedure can be done in head-locks or in the close-up area — but not in the parlor, if all possible.

I want to learn more about on-farm support for my dairy.

Harvest time is here. During this busy time, remember to not only monitor what’s coming in from the field, but also to think about what could be happening in other regions from which you may be purchasing feed ingredients.

Molds and yeasts can grow very rapidly as the weather warms in the spring and in the heat of the early summer months. But what about the end of summer and early fall? The weather across North America was extremely variable this summer — from extremely hot temperatures to drought to floods, week after week. How do these weather patterns affect the crops, and what should you be looking for in your feed this fall?

It is commonly understood that drought-stressed fields do not yield well. Digestibility and overall quality will be poor from feed grown in drought-stressed areas. Can living organisms like molds grow during a drought? The answer is yes: many species of molds will still grow during a drought, or they become dormant and wait for the right growing environment to return. One example of a drought-tolerant mold is Aspergillus. Many times, Aspergillus molds will appear olive green to yellowish in color on infected plants. Aflatoxins come from the mold species Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic and thrive in hot conditions. Aflatoxin B1 can convert into M1 and can be found in milk. If this toxin is found over a set limit, the milk must be discarded. When fed to livestock, aflatoxins cause liver damage, suppress the immune system and reduce protein synthesis.

What about areas under heavy rain?

Several molds are typically found during summers of heavy rain, including Fusarium, Penicillium, Mucor, Rhizopus, etc. Fusarium is commonly found in both normal growing conditions and during wetter months. Many times, this mold first appears white and will change to a reddish-pink color. Under stress, both in the field and during storage, this mold can form many mycotoxins, including the trichothecenes family (DON or Vomitoxin, T-2, etc.), fusaric acid, fumonisins, and zearalenones. Clinical signs that these are present include immune suppression, bowel hemorrhaging, reduced intakes, poor milk production, reduced weight gains, abortions, conception challenges, vasodilation and even mortality.

The Penicillium molds will typically show blue to greenish in color, or potentially white, depending on the host crop. Penicillium molds will typically infect feed during storage, but abnormal weather patterns — such as heavy rains or, sometimes, cooler temperatures — can cause more mold to form. Certain tillage practices can also influence mold growth. When stressed, Penicillium molds can form patulin, Penicillic acid and ochratoxin. Clinical signs that these are present include edema, rumen upsets, loose manure, bowel hemorrhaging and increased rates of mortality.

This is a minute sampling of the mycotoxin challenges that can exist during harvest in your fields. Remember: the commodities or other purchased feedstuffs that are shipped in by boat, train or truck may present their own mold and mycotoxin challenges. Check the origin of purchased feed to determine what stress or abnormal weather was experienced in that region. Your local dealers, nutritionists or Alltech representatives can put together information on mycotoxin results from other regions. If you want to be especially diligent in lessening mycotoxin challenges, an on-farm RAPIREAD® mycotoxin test or Alltech 37+® mycotoxin test will check your feeds for any concerns. Remember, more information on mycotoxins is always available online at knowmycotoxins.com.

I want to learn more about protecting my feed from mycotoxins.

The KEENAN “Green Machine” has made its way from Ireland to Northern India, with Gurpreet Singh Grewal being the first KEENAN machine owner in the area. Gurpreet has worked in the dairy business for the past eight years and is currently milking 105 Holstein dairy cows on his farm.

Gurpreet is the owner of HG Grewal Dairy farm in Chimna village, Jagroan Tehsil, in the state of Punjab — an area with a continuously growing dairy sector.

Jagroan Tehsil is one of the leading milk belts of Punjab and is home to most of the Progressive Dairy Farmers Association’s active farmers in the state. Milk is the main product from livestock in Punjab, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the total value of livestock output.

Punjab is considered one of the most progressive states for the dairy industry in India. Dairy farmers in this area are adopting the latest techniques and technology rapidly, and Gurpreet is among those early adopters. He bought a KEENAN ECO50 in December 2017 after attending an Alltech event, completing research and receiving recommendations from his brother. This is the first time Gurpreet has used a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) wagon.

The KEENAN machine in action at HG Grewal Dairy farm.

“I am very much satisfied with the KEENAN machine performance and its contribution to the overall profitability of the farm, as well as with Alltech solutions and technical support,” said Gurpreet. “I highly appreciate Alltech’s technical help in TMR formulations and Alltech In Vitro Fermentation Model (IFM) lab facilities for testing silage samples.”

Gurpreet is particularly pleased with:

• Gentle mixing of TMR — the cows do not separate the feed, so there is less feed waste
• Uniform mixing of TMR, which leads to no sign of Acidosis
• Uniform Body Conditioning Score
• Good processing and mixing of rye grass, which maintains the structure of the fodder
• Increase in milk production

Soon after Gurpreet started using the KEENAN machine, his farm attained peak milk production of 1,660 litres from 56 dairy cows, from December 2017 to January 2018. This was even without changing the TMR formulation.

HG Grewal Dairy farm currently uses the following Alltech products: Yea-Sacc®, Optigen® and Mycosorb A+®.

Please contact india@alltech.com with an questions.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my dairy herd.

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a cool season, perennial bunch grass native to Europe. Since its introduction in the early 1800s, it has spread widely throughout the southeastern and lower midwestern United States. Due in large part to its tolerance for heat and low-quality soils, and its adaptability to a wide range of conditions, tall fescue is now grown on more than 37 million acres of land in the U.S. (Thompson et al., 1993), and it is estimated that more than half of these fields are infected with the fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala (Jones et al., 2004). This endophyte provides positive characteristics to the plant, but the secondary metabolites (ergot alkaloids) produced by the endophyte have negative consequences to animals grazing on infected fescue.

The positives and negatives of fescue utilization

Symptoms of tall fescue toxicosis in cattle

The pathology of cattle consuming infected tall fescue can vary greatly depending on the weather and alkaloid concentration. The signs most readily apparent to producers include reduced feed intake (up to 50 percent) and weight gain, decreased milk production, reduced reproductive efficiency, tissue necrosis and a rough hair coat. Collectively, this range of conditions is known as “fescue toxicosis.” The decrease in productivity caused by fescue toxicosis has been estimated to cost U.S. beef producers more than $2 billion per year due to reduced growth, diminished reproductive efficiency and market discrimination because of unthrifty appearance (Kallenboch, 2015). 

Consumption of the ergot alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue results in widespread vasoconstriction in cattle. This reduces the ability of the animal to dissipate heat, resulting in a variety of physiological symptoms, including increased respiration rate and elevated core temperature. This reduction in tolerance to heat leads to less time spent grazing and reduced weight gains, generally called “summer slump.” In colder months, the vasoconstriction from fescue can combine with natural vasoconstriction related to thermoregulation, resulting in tissue death in extremities such as ear tips, tails and feet, commonly known as “fescue foot.”

The vasoconstriction also reduces blood flow to the rumen, decreasing volatile fatty acidy (VFA) absorption. Consumption of ergot alkaloids also reduces passage rates of digesta from the rumen, likely by reducing rumen motility. These alterations work together to reduce nutrient availability, contributing to the reduced growth rate frequently observed in cattle grazing fescue. 

I would like more information on fescue and Alltech solutions for beef cattle.

Calcium is considered a macronutrient for the citrus crop because it is demanded in higher quantities for both structural and physiological functions of the plants. A calcium deficiency can result in leaf and fruit loss and cause cracking of the fruit peel, directly impacting the fruit’s market value for the producer. To ensure proper development, it is fundamental to be vigilant of the citrus plant’s calcium needs.

Marcos Revoredo, an Alltech Crop Science technical manager who specializes in fruits and vegetables, notes that, in addition to using calcium when performing soil management, it is important for the citrus grower to make foliar applications of the nutrient. 

“We know that calcium has a very low rate of translocation,” said Revoredo. “That is why when it is foliarly applied, whether during the vegetative, reproductive or fructification phases, we can maintain the necessary quantities for improved plant development.”

This practice has already been adopted by Miltom Boveloni, an orange grower in Mogi Mirim in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. According to the grower, when you’re looking for productivity, calcium is one nutrient that cannot be forgotten. 

“In citriculture, we use a lot of calcium, and we always need to make those corrections,” said Boveloni. “I have noticed greater plant development and fruit set, as well as an increase in production.”

Revoredo also notes that the macronutrient is a part of various plant structures, which makes it extremely important for foliar growth, pollination and fructification.

“Calcium is present in the cell wall of various plant tissues such as leaves, pollen tubes and even in the fruit. It is used in the formation of these structures,” said Revoredo. “It is important to maintain the necessary quantities for the leaves, stem, flowers and fruit to develop.”

Physiologically, calcium is linked to metabolism and aids in stress reduction for the plant. Because calcium favors constant photosynthetic activity, the leaf can generate more energy to sustain the flower and, consequently, the future fruit.     

I want to learn more about how my crop can benefit from foliar calcium application.

Mr. Satti Pandu Raju, a progressive fish farmer in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India, has been in the aquaculture business for over 20 years. Andhra Pradesh state is the largest producer of shrimp in India and one of the largest areas of shrimp farming in the world. Raju farms more than 80 hectares of fish culture. He started farming shrimp culture on 10 hectares two years ago after seeing a great opportunity for shrimp in the global market. Unfortunately, he lost all of his investment in shrimp culture on his first try.

This is the story of how he bounced back and turned a profit with his shrimp farm. 

The problem: 100 percent shrimp mortality due to elephant gill disease

Penaeus vannamei, also known as Pacific whiteleg shrimp, is an extensively cultured species along coastal India. Raju started farming Penaeus vannamei on 7 hectares — a single pond — in 2016.

At the beginning of the season last year, Raju lost approximately $60,000 due to elephant gill disease. His shrimp’s gill appearance resembled an elephant ear. Eventually, the shrimp mortality rate was 100 percent.

The shrimp’s gill appearance resembled an elephant ear due to elephant gill disease.

In the second season of the year, Raju restocked his farm with fresh shrimp seed. Within 10 days, he noticed the outbreak of elephant gill disease again. Many other farms in the surrounding areas had the same problem.

Strengthening the immune system to overcome shrimp health challenges

Raju discovered Alltech On-Farm solutions through an aqua dealer in Eluru who introduced him to Tausif Ahmed, an Alltech assistant business development manager. Ahmad recommended using Bioplex® as well as Sel-Plex® to support immune response in shrimp. To resolve other issues related to growth, gastrointestinal health, water quality, ammonia and sludge, he recommended a range of Alltech solutions.

The result

Within 15 days of proper technical guidance and good management practice, 80 percent of the shrimp recovered from the disease. By the end of the season, Raju harvested 30 tons of shrimp. Not only did Raju avoid a massive potential loss — he made $45,000 in profit.

 “The Alltech team gave me step-by-step technical guidance on how to make a profitable business,” said Raju. “Alltech solutions are world-class and amazing in performance. I highly recommend them.”

Currently, Raju is running his third crop of shrimp with Alltech On-Farm solutions and is anticipating another successful harvest.

I would like to learn more about aquaculture nutrition and best practices.

Derek Wawack, Alltech On-Farm Support forage specialist, has been a part of the company for over seven years and visits nearly 500 farms annually. Drawing from this experience, he explains the key things he looks for when inspecting a silage pile, and the steps farmers can take to avoid costly issues.

Safety

When I go on-farm for a bunker audit, the first thing I do is inspect the silage pile for any safety concerns. Large cracks, often found when there are two crops butted together, can come down, causing an avalanche or collapse. Are there overhangs? Tires falling down? Bales that could tip over? Always exercise extreme caution when around large piles.

Mold

Molds like Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium are often found in corn silage and are common mycotoxin producers.

Colorations can help us identify molds, especially in corn silage. White-to-red/pinkish molds are Fusarium, or field-borne, molds. Blue-green molds are typically Penicillium, which is more often storage-related but can occur in the field under certain weather conditions. Aspergillus, which is very common in dry climates, is olive green to yellow in color.

When I observe large mold lines, I do not touch, inhale, grab or sample those areas. Many molds cause health issues to both animals and humans, and they can also produce a fair number of different mycotoxins.

In humans and animals, Penicillium mold alone can cause dermal irritation as well as gut health complications if ingested. Mycotoxins can also cause performance and reproductive problems.

Facing

Increased surface area permits more oxygen to penetrate the feed, triggering mold and yeast growth, which increases heating. We look for a smooth face, with little loose material at the base and edges. The proper facing and feed out equipment can help reduce shrinkage. A shaver provides a very smooth and clean face and can help reduce losses with proper management. Rakes or claws will cause tine marks, increasing surface area, but they do limit oxygen penetration during facing. Finally, bucket facing leads to a lot of oxygen penetration due to lifting the pile face.

Infrared inspection

Along with evaluating facing techniques, we utilize infrared cameras for hot spot detection on the piles. These cameras are used to look for areas of aerobic instability that could be due to yeast, mold, bacteria or even the management of facing practices. Shavers tend to not allow oxygen very deep into piles. Rakes and buckets can allow oxygen into the piles, resulting in quicker spoilage.

Other issues we see on infrared cameras are yeasts. Yeasts have a tendency to show up as a large bubble on the images and, being water soluble, will drain down the pile. Yeast can contaminate the top and then drain down through the face. In contrast, molds have a tendency to grow in a linear or spherical fashion. This means molds will stay more toward the top of the pile and will develop in lines.

Plastic

We also look at how well the plastic has been managed. Has it been pulled back too far? How many sheets are being used? Are the tires touching? Are the sides covered well and is the plastic pulled out with sand around the edges if it’s a drive-over pile? Or is it a bunker in which the plastic has been, at the very least, run down the walls and double overlaid?

Due to the curvature of the pile surface area, taking proper precautions and good management of the top of the pile can result in reducing up to a third of spoilage and oxygen penetration:

• Tires: You don’t want to see large spaces between tires; in fact, the tires should nearly be touching. For ease of weight and placement, side walls work the best and reduce water-holding capacity, which can encourage bugs and pathogens.
• Plastic: One black and white sheet with an oxygen barrier film, or two layers of black and white plastic, will protect the top of the forage from the elements and discourage animals from penetrating your feed.
• Cutting: Depending on height, conditions and other safety factors, try to keep the plastic cut 6 inches to 1 foot from the face edge. Two to three feet is common, but air, rain and other weather conditions can truly damage your forage when it is exposed to the elements.
• Treatment: Most spoilage occurs at the top of the pile, where the packing density isn’t as high. A mold inhibitor can help counter the impact of increased oxygen flow in this area.

Up to 60 percent of the average farm’s expenses are feed-related. By increasing the quality of your forage and reducing shrinkage, considerable cost savings can be achieved without even leaving the farm. To learn more about proper forage management, watch Pat Crowley, Alltech’s forage specialist, explain the “4 unwritten rules for great silage.”