With the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) on the horizon and going into full effect Jan. 1, 2017, producers from all livestock sectors will be required to conform to these new regulations. For some, this will only require a little more paperwork; for others, a whole new business plan will be required.

A healthy start for calves begins with colostrum

With producers looking for ways to operate within the new law, the answer may be found in a fresh look at their management practices, beginning with calving. The first day of a calf’s life, especially the first few hours, is critical to its health and survival, setting the stage for lifetime performance.

The most crucial time is shortly after birth when the calf receives colostrum, which is naturally high in the nutrients necessary to increase the calf’s metabolism and stimulate the digestive system. Most importantly, it is the only source of immunoglobulins (IgG), or antibodies, which provide the passive immune protection essential for keeping the calf healthy.

Antibodies are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract during the first 24 hours of life and provide the basis of the calf’s immune system for the first three to six months of age. Not only does colostrum provide the necessary antibodies needed for survival, but it provides a source of fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Ensuring passive transfer of antibodies in colostrum feeding 

Colostrum feeding is the most important practice for getting the calf off to the right start. However, just because a calf receives the amount needed at the desired time does not guarantee the calf will remain healthy. A study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) showed that almost 20 percent of dairy calf heifers had failure of passive transfer, or a concentration of IgG in the serum less than 10 grams per liter (2007).

When the topic of colostrum quality comes up in conversation, one can hear “No, I do not test my colostrum, I can tell by physical appearance” or “I do not have issues with my calves, so the quality must be good.” However, there are many factors that affect colostrum quality that cannot be seen by observation only. It is recommended that a calf receive at least 100 grams of IgG, ideally 150 grams, from a minimum of 4 quarts of colostrum to help ensure passive transfer (USDA, NAHMS, 2007).

Factors affecting colostrum quality

What defines “good” quality colostrum? Research suggests that the concentration of IgG in the colostrum should be at least 50 grams per liter, with many factors affecting that level (USDA, NAHMS, 2007). There are other factors that contribute to and affect colostrum quality that are imperative to consider in your calves’ first feedings:

• Breed plays a big role in affecting the concentration level of IgG. Jerseys average 66 grams per liter of IgG compared to Holsteins at 48 grams per liter (BAMN, 2001). As a cow produces more colostrum, we tend to see dilution affecting the concentration level of IgG.

• Production of more than 18 pounds of colostrum at first milking (BAMN, 2001). Again, the tendency is to see a reduction in quality due to dilution of antibodies.

• The age of the cow. Typically, the younger the cow, the less quality colostrum she produces. Younger animals have not been exposed to pathogens as the older animals have. Therefore, the concentration of antibodies in the colostrum is much lower compared to older animals.

• The exposure a cow has to pathogens, whether young or old, varies from operation to operation. Each operation deals with its own issues when it comes to diseases. This is why a sound vaccination protocol needs to be in place not only to help promote animal health, but also to aide in producing good quality colostrum that has the needed antibodies for the calf to fight disease.

• The management of the cow during the dry period. A minimum of a three- to four-week dry period is needed to help ensure antibodies in the blood stream eventually concentrate in the colostrum.

• Along with length of dry period, nutrition can have an effect. If a dry cow is deficient in protein and energy, there will be a decrease in quality compared to cows with adequate nutrition.

• Cows that have colostrum removed by milking or leaking before calving will produce poor quality colostrum due to the removal of antibodies and the dilution of what colostrum is left.

• Colostrum that has a low concentration of bacterial contaminants (<100,000 cfu/ml total bacteria count, <10,000 cfu/ml coliform count) (Godden, 2008). To keep counts low, be sure proper handling of colostrum after milking is practiced to ensure a clean product.

• Seasons that impact the cow, causing cold stress or heat stress and affecting forage quality. Stress from environmental temperature not only has a direct effect on the cow, but also affects the quality of forages that are fed.

Tools for quality colostrum

To help ensure a good quality colostrum, it is beneficial to get into the habit of using either a colostrometer or Brix refractometer. The colostrometer measures specific gravity using a color coded scale that converts the measurement to determine the concentration of IgG. Lately, the use of a Brix refractometer has shown to be useful in testing colostrum. Normally used to measure the amount of sucrose in a solution, the Brix refractometer can use the values to determine IgG levels in colostrum.

There are many ways to help improve the quality of colostrum that is fed to newborn calves. Ensuring that colostrum quality is high improves calf mortality and morbidity rates and provides additional insurance when producers are faced with reduced use of antibiotics.

¹Bovine Alliance on Management and Nutrition. Rev 2001. A Guide to Colostrum and Colostrum Management for Dairy Calves.

²Godden, S. 2008. Colostrum Management for Dairy Calves. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. Mar, 24 (1): 19-39.

³United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2007. National Animal Health Monitoring System  (NAHMS) Dairy 2007, Heifer Calf Health and Management on U.S. Dairy Operations, 2007. USDA-APHIS-VS, CEAH. Fort Collins, CO.
 

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With temperatures exceeding 80⁰ Fahrenheit (F), cows can produce 4,500 to 6,000 British thermal units (BTU) per hour, an amount similar to the output of a 1,500-watt hair dryer. Heat can have serious manifestations in the dairy cow, resulting in effects such as (but not limited to):

• Lower production

• Rumen acidosis

• Milk fat depression  

• Poor reproduction

• Laminitis/lameness

• Weakened immune system

• Mastitis

• Transition disease (retained placenta, displaced abomasum, etc.)

• Lower body condition  score

It is only natural when cows are moved to a small space, such as the holding pen, that body temperatures rise. Research shows that a cow’s body temperature will increase by 3⁰ F in 20 minutes in a holding pen where there’s no cooling. By contrast, a cow’s body temperature will drop by 3.5⁰ F in that same 20 minutes when fans and a soaker system are used. Research by the University of Arizona showed that simply cooling cows in the holding pen increased milk production by 1.7 pounds per day in the summer.

There are can be adverse effects when developing a cooling system for holding pens if incorrectly applied. Water without fans will lead to increased humidity and heat stress in the holding pen, creating a “sauna” effect. Heat stress is a result of both temperature and humidity. The temperature-humidity index (THI) threshold for reproduction is 65,which is lower than the THI of 68 for milk production

Holding pen cooling tips:             

• Mount fans in rows, with airflow toward the back of the holding pen.
• Place 36-inch fans every 20 to 24 feet, or place 48-inch fans every 24 to 36 feet.
• Put 3 feet between fans (for example, between 36-inch fans mounted on 6-inch centers).
• Fan height should be a minimum of 8 feet, as low as possible but out of reach of cows and machinery.
• Mount fans higher if drop hose soakers like i-Wobs are used.
• For narrow holding pens (less than 24 feet) or pens with low ceilings, fans can be alongside the pen.
• Move air across and toward the back of the holding pen.
• Take advantage of prevailing winds.*

*Prevailing winds may be blocked by cattle, freestall dividers or headlocks. Wind speed is typically variable and is not dependable for adequate cooling of cattle.

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Many in the U.S. Midwest have had the luxury of increasing their forage inventory over the last couple of years, and this year continues to be on pace.

Dairy cows have the ability to transform fibrous plant materials and byproducts into high-quality milk, but the rumen microbes require available protein to perform these fiber digestion functions. Protein prices in the last month have continued to rise, and many dairy producers are now looking at ways to reduce their out-of-pocket costs and feed more of their housed forage, which typically represents 50 to 70 percent of the total mixed ration.

The rumen bacteria need ammonia-nitrogen

In order to keep the rumen bacteria working more efficiently, an effective source of ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) is needed to enhance fiber-digesting bacteria. Research has shown that the bacteria in the rumen primarily use NH3-N in the ruminal fluid, which is derived from a non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source in the feed.

Possible nitrogen sources in the dairy ration

Feed-grade urea is a common form of NPN used in dairy rations, but because of rapid ammonia release, it leads to nitrogen inefficiency and wasted energy in the dairy cow. Vegetable protein sources, such as soybean meal and canola meal, can also be a source of slow-release nitrogen, but these ingredients can have variability in nutrient composition and take up valuable space in the ration. Many producers are trying to find ways to make the ration more energy dense, especially during periods of heat stress, and feeding less bulky ingredients may help to achieve this goal. 

Optigen^® is a unique protein alternative that is 256 percent equivalent crude protein from NPN and provides a sustained release of NH3-N in the rumen. This slow release allows for better synchronization with microbial protein needs while dramatically increasing nitrogen efficiency in the dairy cow. The key is to synchronize the ruminal carbohydrate and crude protein degradability in the rumen to increase microbial protein production and energy derived from rumen microbes. A combination of effective protein sources available in the rumen and post-ruminally — matching essential amino acids in the small intestine — has the potential to increase the cow’s efficiency. 

How does Optigen work?

Many rations can implement up to 6 ounces of Optigen and allow for some removal of protein from vegetable protein sources, such as soybean meal. For example, 6 ounces of Optigen provides 0.9 pounds of protein, which will replace 1.9 pounds of soybean meal, with space for 1.5 pounds of dry matter of corn silage. This will create space in the ration, which will allow the dairy producer to utilize more forage in the ration and to lower out-of-pocket costs.

In a recent trial done at the University of Wisconsin (Journal of Dairy Science 02, Suppl. 1, 290), 16 commercial dairy farms in Wisconsin incorporated Optigen into the ration and removed soybean meal. The space that it created was filled with corn or corn silage. The results show a 1-pound milk production response. You can find the full article on this research here. 

For more information, visit our Dairy page or contact your local Alltech representative.

Income over feed cost (IOFC) can be a critical metric when evaluating a farm’s profitability and the sustainability of a current or proposed feeding program. During times of low milk prices, understanding your costs can be crucial to a farm, effectively riding the wave to the next high or low in the milk price storm.

Understanding IOFC

IOFC is defined as the portion of income from milk sold that remains after paying for purchased and farm-raised feed used to produce the milk.  

Information you need to calculate IOFC:

1. Milk price average per month
2. Total milk produced per day over the period of a month
3. Number of cows as it relates to production during that month
4. Inputs (amount of feed used)
5. Cost per ton of feed input (to purchase or produce)

To illustrate with an example, we will use a 142-cow milking Holstein herd in Kentucky.

• Income
  • Milk price:  $15.50
  • Number of cows: 142
  • Average pounds produced per cow per day: 78 pounds
    • Income per cow per day: $15.50 * .78 = $12.09
• Feed costs:

IOFC = $12.09 (income) - $5.53 (feed costs) = $6.56 per cow per day

Feed to succeed

When evaluating your ration to maximize IOFC, there are potential changes that carry minimal to no cost but can have an impact on your bottom line.

1. Slow release non-protein nitrogen provides a concentrated source of ruminally-degradable protein. Due to the concentrated nature of the protein, a small amount provides the same nutrients as a larger amount of vegetable protein, allowing for reformulation potential to reduce feed costs. Optigen®, a product from Alltech, was utilized by Penn State in an example of IOFC calculation. You can read more here: http://www.dairyherd.com/news/industry/production-financials-cash-flow-mechanics.
2. Yeast: Feeding yeast has been widely researched and has shown to improve dry matter intake, stabilize rumen pH, maximize nutrient release and reduce overall feed costs.
3. Enzymes: Looking at the use of enzyme technology can be another avenue to maximize IOFC.  When feeding high-forage or high-corn diets, adding an enzyme that helps break down the key components in these diets, such as starch or plant fiber, can increase feed efficiency and improve milk production.

Using tools such as IOFC can lead to opportunities to gain a better understanding of your ration, to improve profitability of your herd and to understand your spending power when it comes to other on-farm purchases.  

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