past Elizabeth A. Tomlin

"For the typical dairy herd in the northeast, lowering the average DIM (Days in Milk) from 200 to 160 will effect in around 10 lbs./moo-cow/day more milk simply because you now have a fresher herd," said CCE CNY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Area Dairy Management Specialist, Dave Balbian. "There's a lot of economical advantage to getting these cows turned around in a hurry."

This requires getting cows bred back sooner and getting heifers started sooner.

The 2019 annual CNY Dairy Twenty-four hours program coordinated by Balbian, Dr. Robert Lynch, Dairy Herd Health & Management Specialist, Cornell CALS, PRO-DAIRY; Kevin Ziemba, Genetic and Reproductive Counselor, ST Genetics, and Dr. Ben Laudermilch, Endless Mountains Veterinary Middle, PC, presented strategies and economics for achieving this goal.

Dr. Lynch kicked off the program, advising attendees on financial impacts of implementing various programs. "If I'chiliad spending $10 to make $5, it's not a great investment strategy."

Lynch showed charts and graphs with inquiry results of oestrus detection rates and conception rates obtained from diverse trials. Economic research data complied by Jason Karszes, Dairy Subcontract Business organisation Management, Cornell CALS, PRO-DAIRY, was shown and discussed.

"If nosotros want to make more milk with the same number of cows. We but have ii options. We can just take amend care of them, feed them better and business firm them amend and do all of the things we know that work, to enhance those peaks and improve those lactation herds. The other matter we can do is move the front end end of their lactation for more of their lifetime. Spend more lifetime days in the tiptop of the product of milk, in the college product of milk, and fewer lifetime days on that tail-stop, where they're barely paying for themselves," said Lynch.

Pregnancy rates and pregnancy risks were considered, with a focus on fertility and oestrus detection.

Estrus detection is paramount. Breaking cycles upward to 21 days, or a normal wheel, how many cows were successfully inseminated on your farm? For each moo-cow missed, another 21 days of added feed and care must be realized.

Lynch advises looking at lactating cows and start fourth dimension heifers as two separate groups to be considered differently. Studies confirm that heifers generally show stronger and longer heat than lactating cows.

An boilerplate, consistent, pregnancy rate of xxx per centum on kickoff service may be considered successful on nearly farms.

Equally preg-rates go up, and so does milk per cow, per twenty-four hours.

"One dominion of pollex is for every 1-point increase in your average preg-charge per unit, you'll get another $25 per cow, per year."

Then, if you are at a twenty-pct preg-rate now, and raise it to 25-percent, that would be a v-point enhance.

How much will information technology toll to brand that improvement? Information technology is important to document all expenditures to make that determination — and Lynch cautions folks that these changes don't show up in the milk tank over nighttime, simply may take most eighteen-months to get a return.

Servicing cows naturally with a bull, if done correctly, actually leads to more additional expense than timed A.I. strategies. Setting cows up with shots before sending them to the bull is beneficial. Bull testing, although not frequently washed in the dairy industry, is an important step, as fertility tin can be an outcome and by the time you discover that upshot, more time and expenses are lost. Lynch figures to run a good bull plan averages near $100 per-cow, per-year.

Some other reward of timed A.I. over running a farm bull is potentially improving genetics.

Lynch advises using both oestrus detection and timed A.I. to achieve college preg-rates. "If we are only doing timed A.I., we are missing cycles."

Missed cycles equals lost opportunity and lost money. Catamenia.

Setting individual goals for your farm and having everyone on the same page matters.

Setting a voluntary wait menstruum (VWP) gives yous a base to brainstorm on. Research led past Dr. Julio O. Giordano, Cornell, was shown and results were discussed.

A longer VWP in older lactating cows may exist more advantageous due to sub-clinical endometritis or other factors causing low fertility and recovery from calving. All the same, the optimal VWP shifts from grouping to group.

Cows that don't conceive on first service should be watched carefully and possibly added to a more avant-garde synchronized program. Consider culling cows who do non conceive subsequently the tertiary serving.

In one case your herd reaches high efficiency, there is less need to hang on to replacement heifers. And although college preg-rates mean more calves, Lynch said, "More calves mean more options."

Kevin Ziemba spoke to attendees nearly breeding to Angus bulls and finding a better market for their calves.

"I think as the dairy industry becomes an industry with reduced margins for farms to remain in business it is important for them to suit with the markets to proceeds any efficiencies we tin can," remarked Ziemba. "Backlog heifers on our farms, above our needs for herd replacements, are actually liabilities as it costs more to raise them than the value they bring."

Currently, it costs about $2,000 to heighten a dairy heifer to 23-months of historic period for starting time calving, while springing heifers are bringing most $one,300 — peradventure.

Ziemba advises raising only the number of heifer replacements actually needed, while breeding for beef-cantankerous calves to gain value and reduce heifer-raising costs. Beefiness-dairy cross calves are bringing more per-head on the marketplace than beefiness, and certainly more than than dairy calves, at this time, with $120/head or more for a beefiness-cantankerous under 5 weeks quondam, and perhaps $50/head for dairy.

He emphasized that farms should retrieve about raising 200 less heifers per year at the estimated raising average, and replacing that with 200 (or whatever number fits your heifer circumstances) marketable calves. This tin bring real money to the table, while also reducing labor costs.

Ziemba says this would not inundation the market with beef calves, but would only supervene upon what is existence used now, as Angus and Angus-cross calves are in demand.

Protocols, such every bit colostrum and health programs do apply.

Bull selection for calving ease and other traits should exist considered.

Dr. Laudermilch spoke to attendees nigh rubber and protocols for balderdash handling and maintenance. Every producer attending this presentation had experienced negative encounters with bulls, with two deaths in New York cited for 2018.

"This is certainly an issue in which farmers must use vigilance — and never let upwardly their guard around these animals," Laudermilch advised. "Acceptable facilities and precautions must be in place, but unfortunately, many producers still proceed in the mode they've always done it."

Farmers can visually translate a balderdash'south body language through ascertainment. Bull safety includes the use of a bull ring and halter and 8-x pes rope or atomic number 82 looped through and dragging behind or under the bull. This slows him down and allows for possible restraint. "This can exist left in the bull at all times; he will even so breed cows and eat/drink."

Laudermilch also advises using a well-trained canis familiaris who can move the bull. These dogs can also provide a lark and safety for bull handlers. "These dogs are well worth the investment."

Balbian advised attendees on changes to the "Dairy Margin Coverage," formerly known as the Margin Protection Program (MPP). "Herds with a base over five meg pounds will be able to accept separate coverage levels for that first five million pounds then be able to select a different coverage level for whatsoever additional base production," explained Balbian. "So, you lot could select $9.l coverage for the first 5 1000000 and then simply select catastrophic coverage for anything over five million, at possibly no cost. That's our interpretation at this time. Final, detailed rules will be coming to the local FSA offices in the coming months, and then keep your ears open."

For more than data contact Balbian at drb23@cornell.edu.