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VITA PLUS AND UW-MADISON ANNOUNE ZWALD AS DAIRY NUTRITION AND MANAGEMENT FELLOW (9.2.10) Annette Zwald has been named to the Vita Plus Dairy Nutrition and Management Fellowship in the Dairy Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This one-of-a-kind program combines leading university research with practical experience in the field.
Zwald is a 2009 graduate of UW-Madison with a double major in dairy science and life sciences communication. She has worked as a Vita Plus Dairy Service Specialist in Michigan for the past year. This fall, she will return to Wisconsin to continue working with Vita Plus as she pursues a master’s degree in dairy science.
Zwald has an extensive background in the dairy industry and worked on her family farm since childhood. She also gained experience as a membership assistant for the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin and as a sales and marketing intern for Elanco Animal Health. On campus, Zwald was active in many student organizations, including the Sigma Alpha Sorority, Badger Dairy Club and National Agri-Marketing Association. In addition, Zwald participated in research projects with the UW-Madison Dairy Science Department and served as a member of the UW-Madison Dairy Challenge Team, which placed first at national competition.
Through this fellowship, Zwald will work part-time with Vita Plus as she pursues her graduate studies. She will also participate in an extensive on-farm research project in collaboration with the dairy science department. The fellowship is funded and directed by Vita Plus.
Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. For more information about the organization call 1-800-362-8334 or go online at www.vitaplus.com.
MESSING NAMED VITA PLUS DAIRY SERVICE SPECIALIST (8.27.10) Ashley Messing recently joined the Vita Plus team as a dairy service specialist. She will provide ration balancing, nutrition consulting and management expertise to dairy producers in central and west central Michigan. She will coordinate with Vita Plus technical staff to offer customers customized solutions to meet their dairy production goals.
Messing grew up working on her family dairy farm in Bad Axe, Mich. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2009 from Michigan State University where she was active in the Michigan State University Dairy Club and Dairy Judging team. She held several research and production internships during her collegiate career. Most recently, she worked as a sales representative with a genetics company in eastern Michigan. Messing is a member of the Michigan Jersey Cattle Club and the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. For more information about the organization call 1-800-362-8334 or go online at www.vitaplus.com.
VITA PLUS CHICK DAY PARTICIPANTS GROW STRONG FAMILIES WITH CEREAL DONATIONS (8.26.10) (Madison, Wis.) – Vita Plus recently donated more than 200 boxes of cereal to the Good Samaritan Food Pantry in Hillsboro, Wis. as part of its mission to “Grow Strong Families” at the 2010 Chick Day event on August 20. This food pantry is affiliated with the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, which aims to serve the more than 141,000 southwestern Wisconsinites who are food insecure. The cereal donation will help local Hillsboro residents grow strong families, starting with the most important meal of the day.
Dr. Jim Mlsna and his family welcomed nearly 150 Vita Plus Expedition/Chick Day participants to Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wis. Cris Peterson, a Grantsburg, Wis. dairy farmer and children’s book author, shared her story of managing a farm and following her passion for writing and family. As producers are just starting to see better milk checks, Kelli Mitchell of Hillsprairie Dairy offered her insights into big employee motivation with a small milk check. Bob Hagenow with Vita Plus assisted with her breakout session. Participants were also treated with a full farm tour of Ocooch Dairy. During his feature presentation, Ron Hanson provided tips for solving conflict on the family farm. With more than 30 years of experience in counseling farm families, Hanson said the key to approaching any disagreement is to focus on effective communication with the goal of improving family relations.
“Chick Day is a great way for today’s women agriculturists to learn from each other and increase their knowledge of today’s farming industry,” said Kim Bremmer, Vita Plus nutrition consultant. “We are also proud to donate to the Good Samaritan Food Pantry and help our neighbors who are food insecure.”
Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. For more information about the organization call 1-800-362-8334 or go online at www.vitaplus.com. BRANTSEN NAMED VITA PLUS DAIRY SPECIALIST (8.13.10) John Brantsen recently joined the Vita Plus team as a dairy specialist. He will provide ration balancing, nutrition consulting and management expertise to dairy producers in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. He will coordinate with Vita Plus technical staff to offer customers customized solutions to meet their dairy production goals.
Brantsen earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Iowa State University. Since 2002, he has worked at Trans Ova Genetics in Sioux Center, Iowa, first as an embryologist and lab manager and then as the calving department manager. He was responsible for 1,200 gestating cows and 200 calves. He developed a calving and calf rearing system as the program grew from 20 to 150 bottle calves per month. Brantsen resides in Sioux Center with his wife and two children. He serves as a volunteer EMT for the Sioux Center Ambulance Service and he and his wife coach for the local youth tee ball program.
Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. For more information about the organization call 1-800-362-8334 or go online at www.vitaplus.com.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ADSA/ASAS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING - NUTRITION (7.11.10-7.15.10) More than 2,800 abstracts were presented at the 2010 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) July 11 through 15 in Denver. Fifteen Vita Plus employee owners attended the event to learn what’s on the cutting edge of science and gather new ideas for products and nutritional services. Staff reported back on some of their key take-home messages from the event. Check out the summaries below to learn from our employee owners. Note that multiple attendees may have reported on the same topic with different takeaway messages.
Multiple studies on fat sources and inclusion in the diet Dr. Beede’s graduate student showed some effects of coconut oil in the incidence of ketosis in lactating dairy cows. The downside of the study was that cows initiated the treatment diets between 10 to 14 days in milk. Most of the ketosis cases will happen before that. Thus, the application of the study in the field is questionable.
Studies from Virginia Tech are evaluating the effect of omega-3 fatty acid-rich algae and their oil on dairy cow performance and fatty acid profile in milk. The algae supplementation increased omega-3 fatty acids in milk.A Canadian study evaluated the effects of flaxseed and vitamin E on rumen biohydrogenation by the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Inclusion of flaxseed increased the levels of saturated fatty acids and decreased the levels of PUFA. Vitamin E had no effect on biohydrogenation of fatty acids.
The Moallem group from Israel evaluated the effects of high rates of extruded flaxseed fed to dairy cows on omega-3 fatty acid enrichment in milk fat. Feeding extruded flaxseed increased the concentration of Linolenic acid (C18:3; omega-3) 5.1 times compared to control cows not fed fat.
Time course of recovery from diet induced milk fat depression in dairy cows A trial was designed to determine how long it takes cows to recover from milk fat depression. Cows were fed a diet low in NDF and high in oil to induce a milk fat depression. Following that period, they were put on a normal diet and measurements were taken daily. DMI decreased progressively on the MFD diet and was significantly reduce at day 6. It took 15 days to recover. Milk fat progressively dropped and was significant by day 3. Again, recovery was progressive, but wasn’t the same as controls until day 11 for fat yield and day 19 for fat concentration. The bottom line: We can induce milk fat depression quickly, but recovery is much slower.
Additive effects of propionate, trans-10, cis-12-CLA and acetate on milk fat production and composition in dairy cows Maxin observed that propionate depressed butterfat in addition to Trans-10, cis-12 C18 (long known butterfat suppressant). This is interesting work and we are still finding out new things about butterfat depression. More evidence shows that milk fat depression in low forage diets is not due to pH only.
Time course recovery from diet-induced milk fat depression A study conducted at Penn State showed that milk fat percent and yield are significantly reduced as soon as day 3 after feeding a diet formulated to induce milk fat depression (27% NDF and 3% soybean oil). Switching to a recovery diet (32% NDF, no oil) after 21 days caused milk fat concentration and yield to progressively increase, stabilizing at about 2 weeks. This data shows that recovery from diet-induced milk fat depression occurs progressively with a very short lag when diets are corrected for NDF and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Effects of a low energy diet prepartum on subclinical ketosis in dairy cows This study by University of British Columbia researchers compared the incidence of ketosis in 78 cows using a high-straw, low-energy, one-group dry cow diet to a two-group dry cow diet system using a higher energy prefesh diet. These diet systems were similar to the ones that we typically see in the upper Midwest. Cows on the one-group, low-energy system had a lower incidence of subclinical ketosis and lower BHBA levels overall. They also had lower dry matter intakes, both before and 2 weeks post-calving.
Multiple studies on amino acids Several amino acid papers were presented this year. A few were well designed and others were not. Thus, we saw a lot of variation in the results. A dose response trial looked at graded levels of Megamine-L compared to a control. All treatment diets showed significant results in milk yield, FCM, ECM, fat and protein yield. An Aminoshure-L trial had a positive control (blood meal), negative control (no blood meal) and a treatment diet (negative control with RP lysine and histidine). The negative control produced less milk than the positive control and the treatment diet had similar production to the positive control. Thus, blood meal can be replaced with a lower CP diet and an RP lysine source.
Three trials were looking at another lysine source due to enter the market (Ajinomoto). Results were variable, which I believe was due to not knowing whether methionine was a limiting factor. The conclusion of a trial comparing the efficacy of Mepron and Smartamine showed similar results. However, they used DL methionine infusion as the standard and their own data showed a poor correlation between infused and measured due to a lack of precision.
Effects of methionine analogues on rumen fibrolytic activities and fibrolytic micro-organisms Devillard found that methionine supplements did not affect fiber-digesting bacteria.
Effect of feeding ruminally protected lysine, with or without isoleucine, valine and histidine, to lactating dairy cows on productive performance and plasma amino acid profiles Rumen-protected lysine still leaves other amino acids short if replacing other protein sources.
Effect of supplementing a combination of lysine and methionine on growing cattle performance and carcass composition While the concept of amino acid balancing has been in practice for some time in swine diets and more recently in dairy cattle, little data is available for the effects on growing beef cattle. Authors from Balchem and Adisseo provided this study.Lysine and methionine have been identified as the 2 amino acids most limiting to growth in beef cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing metabolizable lysine and methionine on growth and carcass composition of growing bulls.
The bulls were fed a diet consisting of corn (57%), dry distillers (15%), grass hay (25%) and a mineral and vitamin premix (3%). The estimated lysine and methionine levels were 5.43% and 1.95% respectively for the control cattle and 6.41% and 2.18% respectively for the treatment group. The cattle were fed a TMR.
The treatment cattle gained 0.44 lbs/head/d more than control cattle with greater backfat. The study showed no effect on ribeye area or marbling.
The authors concluded that supplementing a balanced ratio of the 2 most limiting amino acids can improve growth and ADG in growing bulls.
The effect of feeding ruminally protected lysine (RPL) on production performance and plasma amino acid profile of early lactation dairy cattle / Evaluation of a ruminally protected lysine product to increase milk protein production and plasma lysine concentration / Productivity of lactating dairy cows as impacted by feeding lysine in a ruminally protected form All 3 of these experiments were conducted using Ajinomoto’s Rumen Protected lysine. The first 2 experiments showed increases in plasma lysine as rumen protected lysine was increased. The first experiment showed mixed results on milk (150 g RP lysine being the highest) and fat corrected milk (75 g RP lysine being higher than control). The second study had no milk production impact when feeding RP lysine. The first study used Alimet® as the methionine source and the second used Met Plus. In my opinion, these experiments should have used Smartamine-M as the methionine source and the diets formulated to make sure they were adequate in methionine in order to see any potential response to RP lysine.
The third experiment fed 18 to 22 g of RP lysine versus a control to cows in pens on a large California dairy. Cows in early lactation did not increase DM intake, but milk was increased by 4.4 lbs for the RP lysine diet, from 105.8 lbs to 110.2 lbs. Milk fat, protein and lactose were also higher in RP lysine-supplemented cows. Cows fed RP lysine in early lactation also had less body condition loss. Cows in mid lactation had higher milk fat when fed RP lysine. Plasma lysine levels did not change between treatments. The authors suggested that lysine needs may have been met at this level of supplementation and that early lactation cows prioritize body protein turnover first and then milk protein synthesis. In contrast to the other 2 abstracts, this trial had a lot of corn products in the diet (distillers grains), possibly supplying an adequate level of methionine, so the production responses were seen when the RP lysine was added.
Impact of biotin on production performance of lactating dairy cows: A meta-analysis Bo Chen presented a fairly convincing review study of literature already published on biotin. He analyzed 9 studies with over 1,000 cows, finding that biotin increased DMI by 0.39 kg and increased milk production by 0.42 kg.
Effects of heat stress and Niashure™ (NI) supplementation on winter acclimated lactating cattle Lance Baumgard’s group presented a poster finding no effect on DMI or milk with cows under heat stress.
Response of dairy cows to the supplementation of fatty acids from calcium salts of soybean oil or heated soybeans Megalac E® results in decreased DMI and butterfat.
The relationship between milk urea nitrogen concentrations, diet and milk production on Northeast dairy farms We keep hearing about low crude protein trends on northeast dairy farms, but this field study showed a positive correlation between MUN and milk production. Are northeast dairies actually underfeeding protein so that they get a milk response with more MUNs?
Nutrient balances in California dairy farms 2. Factors associated with feed conversion and nitrogen utilization efficiencies As cows produce more milk, they’re more efficient with nitrogen.
Effects of limit-feeding on the feeding behavior of dairy heifers Limit-feeding of heifers has been applied to target desired growth and has shown benefits of improved efficiency and reduced feed costs. Negative behavioral changes observed with limit-feeding include increased standing, vocalization and licking activity. Feeding times for the TMR alone, TMR with straw choice and TMR with straw mixed in were 76, 207 and 279 min respectively. Idle standing time for the same 3 treatments were 556, 409 and 340 min respectively. This study confirms that addition of 2 kg/head/d straw as a choice alongside the formulated TMR can diminish some of the negative behavioral responses seen with limit-feeding heifers.
Effects of limit-feeding on the feeding behavior of dairy heifers Conducted by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, the objective of this study was to explore adding straw to diets in an attempt to alleviate some of the behavior concerns with limit-feeding. Heifers were placed on 1 of 3 replicated treatments for 28-day periods:
TMR was fed to 2% BW. To no surprise, the DMI was lowest and feed efficiency was highest for this group. The ADG was numerically lower for TMR-M group, though not significant. The addition of straw increased the eating time significantly with heifers spending almost 2 hours with feed at the bunk. Inactive standing time, however, was significantly higher for the TMR-fed group compared to both other groups. Heifers on the TMR ration were numerically lower in ruminations compared to the TMR-M group. In summary, straw offered free choice or mixed into the TMR provides a suitable forage source that heifers can use to satisfy their natural behavior.
Evaluation of potential carry over effects associated with limit feeding gravid Holstein heifers Heifers that were limit fed to 85% of control diets or 80% with 325 mg/head/d lasalocid for 180 days gestation had greater ADG and lower feed:gain ratios than control diets. Rumen volume, weight or density were not affected between diets nor were rumen environment parameters different. At calving, no differences in dystocia index were noted. Post-partum BW, DIM and feed efficiency were similar between diets at 45 and 90 DIM as were milk yield, milk fat and milk protein. This study showed no measurable carry over effects (post-partum) of limit feeding pregnant heifers for 180 days during gestation and should be considered to target growth rates, decrease feed costs and increase efficiency for customers.
Effect of capisicum oil on feeding behavior and milk production in lactating cows Capsicum oil is derived from hot peppers. It is one of several essential oils that have been investigated over the past decade for a potential effect on nutrient metabolism, either directly or by influencing the microbial population of the rumen. In beef cattle, this compound fed at the rate of 1 g/head/d was shown to increase dry matter intake. At 0.5 g/head/d, it stabilized eating behavior in cattle. West Virginia researchers tried the compound in lactating dairy cows at the manufacturer’s suggested rate of 0.25 g/head/d. At this rate, it had no effect on dairy cows except to shorten the first major meal of the day. The researchers then tried feeding the compound to 40 cows at the rate of 1 g/head/d. The good news was that the cows continued eating the TMR with this level of capsicum. The bad news is that the cows showed no response to the compound at this level. Once again, although we all recognize that breakthroughs will be made and at some point we will begin feeding these essential oils, we cannot find the right compound at the right dosage just yet to make them a part of our standard feeding routine.
Digestive fate of free ferulic acid in lactating dairy cows One of the things that prevents lignin from being digested is the ferulic acid that serves as a building block of lignin formation. Researchers in silage inoculants have been working to find a bacteria that will excrete enough ferulase enzme to release the ferulic acid and thus increase the digestibility of the feedstuff. Researchers at Cornell asked the question – if we can release this ferulic acid in the rumen, where does it go? Will an untended consequence of our advances in silage fermentation (if that can be commercialized) be a depositing of this compound in the milk? The results of their study showed that the free ferulic acid is either degraded in the rumen or quickly excreted via the urine. None of the ferulic acid that the researchers put into the rumen via a bolus was detected in the milk.
Shifts in fermentation and intermediates of biohydrogenation induced by potassium supplementation into continuous cultures of mixed ruminal microorganisms / Effect of feeding potassium carbonate on milk fatty acids in early lactation cows Potassium carbonate is pricey, but given all the challenges with milk fat this year, this is an important and timely topic to consider. Likewise, challenges such as heat stress point to the value in raising DCAD. Researchers have been adding potassium carbonate to diets in those milk fat depressed situations where they just plain can’t figure out what is going on and have seen some nice responses in butterfat. These 2 abstracts together tell a good story. They are a good example of situations where invivo and invitro studies corroborate.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ADSA/ASAS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING - MANAGEMENT & COW COMFORT (7.11.10-7.15.10) More than 2,800 abstracts were presented at the 2010 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) July 11 through 15 in Denver. Fifteen Vita Plus employee owners attended the event to learn what’s on the cutting edge of science and gather new ideas for products and nutritional services. Staff reported back on some of their key take-home messages from the event. Check out the summaries below to learn from our employee owners. Note that multiple attendees may have reported on the same topic with different takeaway messages.
Effect of heat stress during the dry period on mammary gland development of dairy cattle Dr. Dahl’s group (including myself) showed for the third consecutive year that heat stress abatement during the dry period increases milk production by 8 lbs in the subsequent lactation. This is possibly due to increased mammary epithelial cell proliferation, improved immune function and stimulation of the prolactin signaling pathway.
Voluntary use of showers: Effects on behavior and physiology of dairy cattle in summer A study by University of California-Davis researchers evaluated voluntary use of showers by heat-stressed dairy cattle. They built a two-cell self-service shower to which the cattle had free access. The showerheads were activated, showering in half of the shower’s area when the cows stepped on the floor of the shower. They monitored 12 treatment cows for 5 days and compared them with 12 control cows that had no access to the shower. Treatment cows spent 3 h/d in the shower with considerable individual variation – they ranged from 0 h/d to nearly 6 h/d. They averaged 23 visits/d to the shower with a range of 0 to 78 visits – one cow visited the shower 78 times/d and spent less than 25% of her time in the shower. Shower use increased with warmer weather and cows with access to the shower had lower peak body temperatures than those without.
Behavioral changes of dairy cows during dry-off using abrupt cessation of milking Typically, lactating dairy cattle are dried off by abruptly stopping milking. Researchers from the University of Guelph were interested in how this abrupt ceasing of milking affects cow comfort and welfare by assessing lying and standing times. Cows were split between high producers (more than 60 lbs per day) or low producers (less than 48 lbs per day). The high producing cows had significantly lower lying times immediately after being dried off. The researchers proposed that higher producing cows have much more pressure in the udder than lower producing cows, causing them to spend less time lying in their stalls. However, after day 4, these differences subsided. A significant difference of 3 hours less lying time in first lactation cows versus multiparous cows was also noted.
Association between stall surface and various welfare measurements on dairy herds utilizing recycled manure solids for bedding freestalls Recycled manure solids have been used by producers to replace sand as a bedding material. An observational study conducted by a group from the University of Minnesota focused on herd hygiene, hock lesions and the presence of lameness in 34 freestall herds. Roughly half of the animals were placed on mattresses while the other half were placed in deep-bedded stalls. The researchers found that herd hygiene, hock lesions and lameness prevalence are similar between sand and manure solids. So, when it comes to cow comfort, bedding choice should make no difference on these three comfort factors. However, the study did see a significant difference in cow comfort comparing mattresses versus deep-bedded stalls. Mattress herds showed more severe hock lesions and more cows with severe lameness were observed. It would be interesting to see what the SCC and milk quality is between the different bedding materials, however, this was not an area covered in this study.
Relationship between udder and leg hygiene score and somatic cell count An observational study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota in 5 commercial freestall herds showed that 1 unit increase in hygiene score (composite rear leg and udder hygiene scores, scale 1 to 5 with 1 representing clean and 5 representing very dirty) was associated with a 59,000 cells/ml in somatic cell count and that every 9,700 cells/ml increase in somatic cell count was associated with 2.2 lbs reduction in milk yield. Maintaining clean cows can contribute to improved milk quality and milk yield.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ADSA/ASAS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING - FORAGE MANAGEMENT (7.11.10-7.15.10) More than 2,800 abstracts were presented at the 2010 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) July 11 through 15 in Denver. Fifteen Vita Plus employee owners attended the event to learn what’s on the cutting edge of science and gather new ideas for products and nutritional services. Staff reported back on some of their key take-home messages from the event. Check out the summaries below to learn from our employee owners. Note that multiple attendees may have reported on the same topic with different takeaway messages.
Forage yield and quality assessment of tall fescue varieties Debbie Cherney presented grass digestibility data that suggested we should cut grasses based on NDF content, not maturity stage.
Effect of bunker silo sidewall plastic on fermentation, nutrient content and digestibility of corn silage Plastic on sidewalls of bunkers increase NDF digestibility and decreased acetic acid and ethanol (negative attributes). We can probably start putting some economics to this management step now.
Influence of maturity on leaf fiber and protein fractions of different alfalfa varieties As alfalfa matures, the leaves (protein) and stem (NDF) undergo physical changes, making them less digestible. Bottom line: cut earlier.
Relationship of vomitoxin levels in corn silage to in vitro dry matter digestibility Bob Patton presented a paper showing no relationship between toxins and NDFd.
Abrupt changes in forage dry matter of one to three days affect intake and milk yield in early lactation cows The objective of the research was to observe 1-, 2- and 3-day changes in forage dry matter (simulating rainfall on pile or bunker forages) on dry matter intake and milk production yield. 44 first calf heifers and 22 mature cows averaging 65 days in milk and averaging 95 lbs milk were used in a study from October to December 2009.
In control diets, no water was added and, in treated diets, water was added to decrease forage dry matter by 8 percentage units. As-fed amounts remained the same on diets - no adjustment was made to the dry matter of the forages on the treated diets. As expected, dry matter intakes decreased on day 1 with addition of water. Pen intakes were adjusted and increased the second and third days of the trial. The largest increase (spike) in intake occurred the second day of the trial. Daily milk decreased slightly on day 1 with the largest decrease on day 2. The decrease in milk was over 6 lbs per cow.
The take-home message: abrupt changes in forage DM that are not adjusted for can cause significant reductions in daily milk yield and thus have a significant economic impact on the dairy. The duration of the change (1 versus 3 days) did not worsen the loss if intakes were adjusted for – more feed was laid down to meet intakes.
The effect of length of storage on the composition and nutritive value of corn silage The objective of this study was to evaluate length of storage on composition and nutritive value of corn silage. A BMR and a non-BMR hybrid were utilized and each ensiled at 2 different dry matters (32% and 41%). Silages were stored to 365 days.
The concentration of acetic acid increased with length of storage. NDFd (30 h) was greater at all time points for the BMR (68%) versus non-BMR (52%). Increasing maturity did not affect the non-BMR, but decreased for the BMR by 5 percentage points. Fiber digestibility did not change significantly for increased length of storage regardless of hybrid. Starch digestibility (7 h) was highest at day 0 in the non-BMR silage (80%) versus 65-68% in the BMR hybrid.
Starch digestibility (7 h) increased about 6-8 percentage units for non-BMR silages and 15 percentage units for BMR silages over the ensiling period.
The take-home message: Increasing ensiling length did not dramatically change fiber digestibility, but resulted in marked increases in starch digestibility. Allowing corn silage to ensile for period of time can improve starch digestibility. Side note: BMR silage hybrids are based on some old (flinty) genetics and can have lower starch digestibility than some non-BMR hybrids.
Silage management practices on California dairies A survey was sent out to dairy producers in the Tulare, Stanisluus and San Joaquin Counties of California with 120 dairies reporting. Several statistics were measured on silage management. Interesting responses: more than 60% of producers with more than 800 cows were using an inoculant on corn silage. More than 40% of herds with 800 to 1,000 cows were using an oxygen-barrier plastic and greater than 30% of herds with more than 1,600 cows were using an oxygen-barrier plastic. Corn silage dry matter was determined at least once a month on 52% of dairies. Only 8% of dairies determined dry matter weekly. Most dairies (86.6%) relied on an outside nutritionist to determine forage dry matter. Top spoilage was removed by 70% of those dairies suspecting they had mycotoxins and 55% of those dairies not suspecting mycotoxins.
Feed and silage management practices on California dairies This survey was conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension. Although it was not very technical, it was interesting to compare trends to the Midwest. Key statistics included:
Relating dry matter density to dry matter loss within corn silage bunker silos The authors packed nylon mesh bags filled with fresh corn silage into a bunker with wrapped sidewalls. When the bags were reached during feedout, the bunker was cored for DM density, the contents of the bag were weighed and DM loss was determined.
DM loss averaged about 7% and was affected by depth and level, but not location – likely suggesting that wrapping the sidewalls decreased dry matter loss. Interestingly, DM density had a poor relationship with DM loss, suggesting that factors other than DM density play a role in DM loss. The authors also showed that dry matter loss decreased linearly when drier silage was packed tighter. DM losses in wetter silage did not change when it was packed tighter.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ADSA/ASAS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING - CALVES (7.11.10-7.15.10) More than 2,800 abstracts were presented at the 2010 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) July 11 through 15 in Denver. Fifteen Vita Plus employee owners attended the event to learn what’s on the cutting edge of science and gather new ideas for products and nutritional services. Staff reported back on some of their key take-home messages from the event. Check out the summaries below to learn from our employee owners. Note that multiple attendees may have reported on the same topic with different takeaway messages.
Evaluation of serum protein-based arrival formula and serum protein (Gammulin) on growth, morbidity and mortality of stressed dairy calves Research presented by the University of Illinois showed benefits to feeding Gammulin for the first 14 days of a stressed calf’s life. Gammulin is a serum-based product manufactured by APC and has the same core ingredients as Inner Shield, a Vita Plus product.
93 stressed Holstein male calves were fed a control diet and a diet with the addition of Gammulin and then evaluated for 56 days. At the end of the 56 days, calves fed Gammulin were found to have increased early growth and decreased mortality.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ADSA/ASAS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING - NEW TECHNOLOGIES (7.11.10-7.15.10) More than 2,800 abstracts were presented at the 2010 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) July 11 through 15 in Denver. Fifteen Vita Plus employee owners attended the event to learn what’s on the cutting edge of science and gather new ideas for products and nutritional services. Staff reported back on some of their key take-home messages from the event. Check out the summaries below to learn from our employee owners. Note that multiple attendees may have reported on the same topic with different takeaway messages.
Evaluation of the hand-held Precision Xtra system for diagnosing ketosis in early lactation dairy cows Dr. Oetzel from the University of Wisconsin-Madison evaluated the hand-held Precision Xtra system for diagnosing ketosis in early lactation dairy cows and reported 98.4% specificity and 98.7% sensitivity. The cost for testing is around $1.30 per cow. Dr. Neil Michael of Vita Plus recommended this devise and it has been used in some Michigan herds.
Practical uses of nutrigenomics and gene expression patterns to develop and evaluate nutritional strategies This study looked at nutrition’s impact on genetics. This will be an awesome science in the future, but we’re not there yet. Alltech is leading this research, but they’re not much beyond chickens and pigs as models. Selenium (Sel-Plex®) alters the expression of many genes.
Maternal nutrition differentially influenced gene expression responsible for fetal bovine adipocyte development One of the most intriguing topics in the beef cattle research world is fetal programming. Essentially, this concept revolves around changing the way an animal can perform after it is born by nutritionally altering the dam’s diet while the fetus is still in utero. Authors from South Dakota State University provided this study.
Maternal nutrition during mid-late gestation influences adipose development in the fetus of various species. However, bovine research is limited. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of maternal nutrition on the expression of genes in bovine fetal tissues.
22 Angus crossbred heifers were randomly broken up into 3 groups. Each group was to receive one of 3 diets to provide 80%, 100% and 150% of maintenance energy requirements. The heifers received the diets from day 85 to day 180 of gestation.At the end of the treatment, the study showed differences in heifer weight and body condition as you would expect. It did not show a difference in calf weight, rump length or liver weight.
The authors then evaluated gene expression for a gene that regulates marbling. The high plane of nutrition heifers gave birth to calves that expressed an increase in the gene of interest.
The authors concluded that collectively these results suggest that fetal growth characteristics are not affected by maternal nutritional manipulation during mid-gestation in beef cows. However, differences in expression of fetal genes regulating adipose tissue growth and development could lead to differences in composition of growth and warrants further investigation.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 2 OF 4-STATE DAIRY NUTRITION AND MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE (6.10.10) Provided by Jon Urness, Vita Plus National Forage Specialist
The second day of the 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference held June 9 and 10 in Dubuque, Iowa focused on management strategies for quality forages and feeds.
The day kicked off with a talk by Tom Oelberg from Diamond V on “Improving TMR Consistency through TMR Audits.” A TMR audit, according to Oelberg, is an on-farm evaluation of the preparation, mixing and delivery of the TMR. It is designed to help find solutions to improve the efficiency of the feeding operation.
So far, Oelberg has conducted over 135 TMR audits across the U.S. in the past couple of years that have focused on two areas: factors causing TMR variation and labor/feed wasters. The results show that the biggest factors in descending order that affect variation in TMR nutrients and particle size include:
Oelberg found the following factors to be major feed and labor wasters:
Pat Hoffman, University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher, talked about the “Chemistry of High Moisture Corn” and offered these conclusions: Traditional chemical analysis of HMC in regards to ADF, NDF, CP and starch indicate a static condition throughout the storage period, but are not well suited for determining factors that influence starch digestibility of HMC in ruminants. The truth is, HMC is not a static feedstuff with a fixed value nutrient composition. Nutrient availabilities change and are dependent on physical processing, the strength of the starch-protein matrix at ensiling, fermentation conditions at ensiling and the length of the storage period.
An important take-home message from Hoffman’s presentation was that the starch/protein degradability is far different on the day of harvest than it is weeks and months later. Ration adjustments need to be made to account for these differences.
Low starch dairy rations have received a lot of attention lately and UW-Madison’s Randy Shaver offered comments that complimented Hoffman’s presentation. Shaver showed data that supports these low starch rations as long as the corn is replaced with a highly digestible fiber source such as soy hulls. Research work has shown that low starch diets in the 18 to 20 percent range yielded lower milk production when formulated with beet pulp or citrus pulp. However, lactation performance was not reduced in diets as low as 16 to 17 percent starch when soy hulls were used to partially replace corn grain. It’s imperative that the starch sources in these low-starch diets be highly digestible.
Shaver has also been doing some work regarding the addition of amylase products to low-starch diets to improve starch digestibility. The results show some promise and the inclusion of these products may play a role in the future.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 1 OF 4-STATE DAIRY NUTRITION AND MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE (6.9.10) Provided by Jon Urness, Vita Plus National Forage Specialist
How are you dealing with the recent dairy economic turndown? That was the question posed to speakers and panel members on day one of the annual 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference held June 9 and 10 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Mike Hutjens from the University of Illinois opened the afternoon session by listing the top “good” decisions made during this period as defined by a group of nutritionists, veterinarians and educators in a recent survey.
A renewed focus on forage quality was the No. 1 good decision made by dairy producers to cope with low milk prices. Surprisingly, the second-ranked good decision was to stay the course in terms of management practices on the dairy. This of course implies that many things were already being done right and any changes could result in lower production. The third highest priority listed was a greater emphasis on ration nutrient balancing, particularly amino acid balancing in an effort to gain ration and production efficiency.
Rounding out the top four decisions was greater attention to strategic culling. Conversely, the top “bad” decisions revealed in Hutjens’ survey included:
Hutjens said the use of forage inoculants would certainly be a part of producing high quality forages. He recommended their use and said, ”With the quality if inoculants that we have today, the value of forage inoculants is astronomical.”
Regardless of strategies used in the past few months, Hutjens emphasized his take home message: “You can’t afford to lose milk!”
From the perspective of a lender, Vita Plus Director of Dairy Development Gary Sipiorski urged dairy producers to try to understand the banker’s point-of-view. “Bankers are bottom line people and they sometimes think producers need to be cutting cost. However, they need to understand the value of some of these strategies,” said Sipiorski.
In addition, Sipiorski noted that three things worry bankers during this downturn and may affect their ability and willingness to extend funds. Cattle and land values top that list as equity erodes and pressure from regulators sometimes hamstrings a bank’s ability to work with producers. Regardless of what strategies are implemented, Sipiorski reminded attendees that the basic financial rules cannot be broken:
So what are producers saying about management strategies during the last year or so? Doug Scheider from Sheidairy Farms Inc., Freeport, Ill., in a sort of tongue-in-cheek manner, quoted Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Scheider related how he was able to convince his lender that a major capital improvement was a good thing during this time of low prices.
“We switched to sand bedding and of course this was a major capital expenditure,” explained Scheider. “Had we known the depth of the dairy economy downturn we probably would not have proposed this project to our lender. However, by making that expenditure and realizing the benefits of sand bedding, we feel now that we’re in a better position to weather low milk prices.”
According to Scheider, the immediate response to sand bedding was a lowered somatic cell, a lower cull rate and better production.
The 4-State Dairy Nutrition Conference continues with day two on Thursday, June 10.
VITA PLUS EARNS SAFE FEED/SAFE FOOD CERTIFICATION (5.26.10) Marjorie Stieve, Marketing Services Manager - 608.250.4284 (Madison, Wis.) – Vita Plus, an employee-owned company based in Madison, Wis. and serving customers throughout the upper Midwest, has been certified by the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program administered by the American Feed Industry Association. All eight of the Vita Plus feed manufacturing facilities earned certification.
AAA STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT: IN DEFENSE OF FARMING (4.29.10) The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a tradition of “sifting and winnowing” to provide students with a well-rounded and socially aware education. When Chancellor Biddy Martin announced “In Defense of Food” for the inaugural year of Go Big Read last spring, the UW common book program, farmers and agriculturists across the state came together to “sift and winnow” through author Michael Pollan’s form of advocacy journalism and provide consumers with the true stories of food production in Wisconsin.
As part of the program 7,000 books were purchased and used in freshman classes. In addition, several book discussions throughout the community were also held. The highlight event was having Pollan visit the UW campus last September for a “rockstar-like” speaking engagement at the acclaimed UW-Madison Kohl Center – a venue with an audience of about 7,500. Marjorie Stieve, Vita Plus marketing services manager, shared the three-pronged strategy used by producers, Vita Plus and other industry advocates during the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit in Washington D.C. April 29.
Stieve said it was important for everyone involved to not just criticize the program, react with anger and risk shutting down dialog with the organizers of the reading project. However, because the university was already committed to bringing Pollan to campus, it was much more valuable to take a proactive role in balancing the discussion and work with the university to find opportunities to express other points of view.
Stieve said, “It took a great deal of thought and effort to identify the opportunity in Go Big Read.”
The effort, which became known as “In Defense of Farming,” capitalized on three areas according to Stieve. First, organizers reached out to the UW leadership of the project to determine what event details of Pollan’s visit could be impacted. Through numerous conversations, farmers and agriculturists respectfully shared their concerns and widened the narrow spotlight that was given to Pollan. Organizers soon came to realize that not everyone shared all of author’s views.
Those conversations led to several positive outcomes. First, the chancellor acknowledged agriculture’s significant $60 billion contribution to the state’s economy during her introductory comments at Pollan’s Kohl Center appearance. The following day, Pollan’s scheduled talk was modified into a panel discussion that included a local journalist and Madison farmer’s market vendor, a progressive dairy producer and a UW-Madison agricultural journalism student with a strong farming background.
The next key aspect of the In Defense of Farming campaign was that it “helped to give farmers a voice.” Approximately 100 farmers and 150 students and industry partners joined in the effort, donned green t-shirts with “In Defense of Farming” written across the back and shared their stories with event attendees. The overall goal was to call attention to modern agriculture, share producers’ values and discuss production practices. Participants were encouraged to respectfully engage consumers and were provided with suggested talking points.
The third key aspect was to use the media. This included news briefs and personal calls to several news outlets in the Madison area. Stieve said In Defense of Farming made it as easy as possible for the reporters to include farmers’ perspectives in their stories. They reminded journalists that “leaving a farmer out of your story will really only be telling half of the story.”
Stieve readily admitted that the efforts did take away a lot of time and attention from other business and the producers’ operations. However, the work was worth it. Pollan seemed to change the angle of his speech and kept from criticizing modern agriculture as he had done in his books. Furthermore, the event was covered by most news outlets and picked up in 26 TV spots during a three-day period. Almost every story labeled “In Defense of Food” as controversial.
Stieve reminded Summit attendees that they need to invest the time into understanding exactly what message the other side is using to advance its agenda.
“Education is key to credibility,” she said. “Put time and effort into knowing the points of differentiation.”
She also said that farmers are the best individuals to communicate with consumers. They are the ones who can ensure consumer confidence in the products on grocery store shelves. Once they share their stories and values, consumers begin to see that – even though they may be miles and generations removed from the farm – their families and farmers really share the same values.
Stieve said, “When we can have farmers talk about their values and just be surrounded by consumers, that’s so positive.” AAA STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT: SOCIAL MEDIA NOT JUST FOR SHARING WHAT YOU ATE FOR LUNCH (4.29.10) Social media can easily overwhelm the common computer user with its vast lingo. With terms like “Writing on my wall,” “status update,” “tweets,” “dashboards” and “Blogspots,” it’s easy to give up on the newest media tools before you ever start. That fact - coupled with the idea that “I don’t really care what you ate for lunch” - prevents many agriculturists from engaging in online conversations.
Sarah Hubbart, communications coordinator with the Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA), told producers they shouldn’t give up so quickly. During her presentation at the AAA Stakeholders Summit in Washington D.C. on April 29, Hubbart cited a few statistics that she said prove the power of social networking:
Hubbart said the best way to begin using social media is to try it for yourself. She said, no matter your age or computer aptitude, you can grasp the technology in a short amount of time. Hubbart demonstrated that, within 30 seconds, you can log into Twitter, write a message and share your ideas with hundreds of followers.
Once you have a grasp of the technology, the next step is to effectively grow and reach your audience. Mary Kathryn Covert, Financial Dynamics assistant vice president of public affairs, highlighted three key steps to generate value from social media.
First, improve your search engine optimization (SOM). One way to do this is to link to as many web pages as possible. Another is to change your language and use key terms that the American public is already searching on the Internet. For example, a producer may want to talk about using freestall barns to improve cow comfort, but an average consumer is unfamiliar with those terms. Instead, use the words the consumers hear commonly. A myth-fact format is especially applicable. Use the myth of “factory farms” and then explain how you best care for your animals by providing comfortable housing. She said it’s important to debunk these myths with the public.
The next key for agriculture to capitalize on social media is to “find and follow digital heroes," according to Covert. Take a few minutes to find people in agriculture who are frequently posting captivating stories and information. Follow these people, re-post their messages and try to build upon their ideas as much as possible.
“Social media centers on people who have a big following,” said Covert.
Lastly, “be intentional about reaching beyond the choir.” Covert recognized that connecting with fellow producers and strengthening those relationships is very valuable. But don’t stop there. Build relationships with neighbors, consumers, media and policymakers. These people make up your target audience because it’s their opinions that will effect how food is produced in the future. By connecting with consumers and putting a face to the issues, farmers will be able to explain their technology and practices as well as their values and commitment to producing wholesome, nutritious foods.
Covert said, “It’s meeting all of you that will ultimately change consumers’ minds.”
AAA STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT: HSUS STRATEGICALLY TARGETING ANIMAL AGRICULTURE AT THE STATE LEVEL (4.28.10) (Arlington, Va.) - During his comments at the opening session of the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit, Mike Zumwinkle, director of government relations and corporate affairs with Cargill, said the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is targeting states for animal rights legislation instead of attacking at the federal level. The organization is doing that for a reason.
“Things move rather slowly in D.C.,” he said. “In the states, they move very rapidly.”
According to Zumwinkle, “the level of animal welfare legislation is unprecedented.” He said that 67 bills have been introduced in over half of the U.S. state legislators, beginning in 2002 with bans on sow gestation crates in Florida. HSUS started with states where animal agriculture accounts for a minor fraction of the agriculture industry. That change in 2008 with California’s 2008 Proposition 2 – the “deal changer” for the animal rights movement.
Zumwinkle said the “heart and soul of livestock” production will be next on the HSUS target list: this includes Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma. He estimated that Indiana, New York and Minnesota will follow a few years down the road.Once HSUS has pushed legislation through enough states, its agenda will advance to the federal level.
Zumwinkle said that currently 40 percent of the U.S. House of Representatives is composed of legislators from states that have already passed animal rights legislation. If HSUS has another three years that are successful as the past three, that number will increase to 50 percent according to Zumwinkle.
How can producers and industry organizations be proactive in dealing with animal rights? Zumwinkle said he supports strategies that deal with issues state-by-state and avoid federal legislation. Because he views the effort as bipartisan, Zumwinkle recommends collaboration from numerous industry groups and non-traditional partners, similar to the initiatives that successfully established the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.
During the question and answer session, another summit attendee said the issues of animal rights will continue to be a part of state and federal politics. The attendee said the Humane Party has just announced itself. It plans to endorse a Congressional candidate in 2012 and a Presidential candidate in 2016. AAA STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT: ANIMAL RIGHTS AND ANIMAL WELFARE NOT THE SAME THING (4.28.10) (Arlington, Va.) - Producers actively engaged in animal agriculture are committed to providing excellent care to their livestock. That’s animal welfare.
Animal rights is a completely different concept, according to Wesley Smith, senior fellow in human rights and bioethics with The Discovery Institute.
“Animal rights is not about treating animals more nicely,” said Smith. “Animal rights is an ideology. It is a dogma.”
While People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has become known for its extreme demonstrations, Smith said the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a “stealth organization” and bases its campaigns on “hyperemotionalism.”
He said this leads to consumers giving more consideration to animal rights than human rights. These individuals are willing to give up animal agriculture and the nutritious products provided by the livestock industry.
An even more extreme demonstration of this movement isn’t far off, according to Smith. Animal activists will soon be pushing for legislation that grants animals litigation power in lawsuits. In other words, if activists have their way, your herd will be able to sue you for an alleged infringement on animal rights.
Smith’s solution is to fight back by forming strong coalitions between industry groups. Citing a quote from Ben Franklin, Smith said, “If you don’t hang together, you will certainly hang separately.”
To learn more, check out Smith’s most recent book, “A Rat Is A Pig Is A Dog Is A Boy.” AAA STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT: HUMANEWATCH.ORG - ENGAGING IN THE ANIMAL RIGHTS DEBATE (4.28.10) (Arlington, Va.) - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has long been painting a negative picture of animal agriculture. Now it’s time to turn the discussion around, asserts David Martosko, director of research for the Center for Consumer Freedom and editor of www.humanewatch.org.
Within the last year, HumaneWatch has gained significant interest as a watchdog organization that exposes HSUS activities. The public’s interest is evident by the over 30,000 fans of the HumaneWatch Facebook page, which has only existed for 10 weeks.
Martosko said it’s time to change the direction of the game and place public scrutiny on HSUS activities. Most recently, HumaneWatch has called attention to the fact that HSUS gives less than 1.5 percent of its funds to local humane shelters. In contrast, more than five times that amount is invested in employee pension plans.
“These are people who plan to be doing what they’re doing for the long hall and retiring on the benefits,” Martosko said.
According to Martosko, HSUS is “in the business of creating conflict between you and your consumers.” He emphasized that HSUS is no different than People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The two organizations have the same agenda and goals. The only difference is that PETA is known for its extreme demonstrations while HSUS is calm and sleek. Martosko argued PETA’s whole purpose is to make HSUS look reasonable by comparison.
Martosko reminded the audience that “public opinion is everything” and that the livestock industry needs to do two things to take on the animal rights organization. In addition to telling your story and sharing your values, you need explain how HSUS uses its money and expose its real missions.
“You can’t win a football game without a defense and an offense,” he said.
Martosko recommended these three approaches to addressing HSUS messages:
PATTON NAMED VITA PLUS BEEF SALES SPECIALIST (4.15.2010) Marjorie Stieve, Marketing Services Manager - 608.250.4284 (Madison, WI) – Steve Patton, Frankfort, Ind., was recently named Vita Plus Beef Sales Specialist. In his new position, Patton will work with progressive beef producers in Indiana and Illinois. His primary responsibilities will include balancing rations and creating customized feeds to best meet customers' needs. He will also offer his vast experience and technical expertise to help producers strengthen their overall nutrition and management programs. AMARAL NAMED VITA PLUS DAIRY TECHNICAL SPECIALIST (3.29.2010) Marjorie Stieve, Marketing Services Manager - 608.250.4284 (Madison, WI) – Dr. Bruno Amaral was recently named Vita Plus Dairy Technical Specialist. Serving Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, Amaral will work to further develop dairy customer relationships by providing technical and management expertise. His key responsibilities will include service of progressive dairies, on-farm technical support for Vita Plus customers and staff, and coordination of technical training for eastern region staff. Amaral earned a bachelor's degree in animal sciences and a master's degree in animal production from the University of Lavras in Brazil. He then earned his Ph.D. in dairy nutrition from the University of Florida, where he also conducted his post-doctorate research in dairy physiology and management. Some of his research projects included "Heat stress abatement during the dry period" and "Effects of dietary unsaturated fatty acids on reproduction." He is a member of the American Society of Animal Sciences, American Dairy Science Association, National Scholars Honor Society and Gamma Sigma Delta, an agricultural honor society. Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. MICHAEL NAMED VITA PLUS DIRECTOR OF DAIRY INITIATIVES (3.12.2010) Marjorie Stieve, Marketing Services Manager - 608.250.4284 (Madison, WI) – Dr. Neil Michael, DVM, MBA, was recently named Vita Plus Director of Dairy Initiatives. In this newly created position, Michael will work with the entire dairy team to implement targeted initiatives in dairy nutrition and management. His activities will range from consulting on individual dairies to development and implementation of support tools for Vita Plus staff. He will serve as a resource for dairy customers and staff on dairy records, nutrition, management and reproductive strategies. Michael graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University. He continued his education at Purdue, earning veterinary certification in 1982 and a Masters of Business Administration in 2006. He practiced veterinary medicine, primarily in Wisconsin, from 1982 to 1997 before working in sales and technical services with Monsanto Dairy Business. For the past 10 years, Michael worked in technical services at ABS Global, Inc. in Deforest, Wis., most recently as Director of Global Technical Services. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Dairy Science Association and Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association. Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. VITA PLUS WORLD DAIRY EXPO SECURE SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS ANNOUNCED (10.30.2009) Marjorie Stieve, Marketing Services Manager - 608.250.4284 (Madison, Wis.) – Vita Plus Corporation is pleased to announce the winners of the World Dairy Expo Secure Sweepstakes promotion. These winners include: Viaduct Holsteins, LLC, David, Bangart, Greenwood, Wis. Each of these producers will receive a free case of Secure calf colostrum replacer, valued at $265. The Secure giveaway promotion began on Sept. 29 and ran through Oct. 9 in conjunction with a World Dairy Expo promotion. Five winners were determined Oct. 19 by a random drawing of entries received online and through the mail. Vita Plus wishes to thank all the producers who visited the Vita Plus booth at the 2009 World Dairy Expo and participated in the Secure sweepstakes promotion. Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. For more information about the organization call 1-800-362-8334 VITA PLUS NEWS BRIEF - BREAKDOWN ON THE CWT BUYOUT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED (8.17.2009) Gary Sipiorski - 608.250.4267 294 herds were selected in the latest CWT buyout program. This represents 87,000 dairy cows and 3,200 heifers. These cows account for 1.8 million pounds of milk and averaged 20,800 pounds per cow. The final numbers adding up to the 87,000 cows will be coming later. Here are some of the highlights.
Those with accepted bids will be notified by August 31, the cows will be purple tagged and sent to market in short order. VITA PLUS NEWS BRIEF - USDA MILK PRICE SUPPORT (8.6.2009) Gary Sipiorski - 608.250.4267 On Friday July 31, 2009 Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Obama Administration was increasing the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP). Due to the prolonged low milk price the USDA is extending a hand to help increase the milk price by elevating the purchase price of:
Many Midwest dairy producers are paid based on Barrel Cheese on the Class III market. This should result in a mailbox price of an additional 0.18 for cheese. Doing the math: 0.18 x 10 (10 pounds of milk to make 1 pound of cheese) = $1.80 x 90% (a general market discount from market price to milk mailbox price) = $1.62. Results may look like this: average all U.S. July mailbox price was $11.30 versus August price of $1.62 higher with the increase in USDA cheese purchase the mailbox price would be $12.92. We do not know what the August Class III will be as the writing of this brief. This gives you some idea of the impact of the $1.28 Milk Price Support. Some key points to remember: This additional Milk Price Support increase is only temporary. It is for the months of August through October 31, 2009. My guess is that the USDA is hoping the market will recover by October. This does take money from the MILC payment program. It is not real clear at this time how the mechanics work on the trade off but Congress is starting to mandate itself in new spending. If money is to be allocated it must have a neutral impact on the budget. Also remember that cheese processors must repackage the cheese to government specifications. The question is with only a three month new window will cheese makers spend the time and money to repackage, if they do not the Class III can fall below the support price as it has in the past. Results of additional government purchases:
ZWALD AND ZELDENRUST NAMED VITA PLUS DAIRY SERVICE SPECIALIST (6.4.2009) (Madison, Wis.) – Annette Zwald of Hammond, Wis. and Laura Zeldenrust of Fremont, Mich. have been named Vita Plus Dairy Service Specialists and will join the dairy nutrition and consulting team in Michigan. Zwald is a 2009 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in dairy science and life sciences communication. She has an extensive background in the dairy industry and worked on her family farm since childhood. She also worked as the membership assistant for the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin and as a sales and marketing intern for Elanco Animal Health. On campus, Zwald was active in many student organizations, including the Sigma Alpha Sorority, Badger Dairy Club and the National Agri-Marketing Association. In addition, Zwald participated in research projects with the UW-Madison Department of Dairy Science and served as a member of the UW-Madison Dairy Challenge Team which placed first at national competition. Zeldenrust is a 2009 graduate of Michigan State University with a major in animal science. She developed a diverse background in the dairy industry through various internship experiences during her college career. Most recently, she interned with ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. in dairy feed product sales. Zeldenrust was an active member of the Michigan State Collegiate Dairy Judging Program and was named the All American individual at the World Dairy Expo competition. She was also a member of the MSU Dairy Club, 4-H, Student Senate and the National Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Team. In their new positions, Zwald and Zeldenrust will assist dairy producers in Michigan as consultants and nutritionists. They will aid in on-farm servicing of current and prospective clients, complete nutritional training modules and attend industry meetings and conferences. These new employees will work closely with other members of the dairy team to add value to customer operations and promote Vita Plus products and services. Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Vita Plus has been serving livestock producers since 1948. More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information. For more information about the organization call 1-800-362-8334 or go online at www.vitaplus.com. "OUR FUTURE IS IN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM" SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED (5.26.2009) (Loyal, Wis.) – Two local students were named recipients of the 2009 "Our Future is in Agriculture Program" scholarship. This program, sponsored by Vita Plus Loyal and SoyPlus, awarded $1,000 in scholarship money to qualified and deserving students. Abby Walters of Wausau and Brett Gregorich of Spencer will each receive $500 toward funding their pursuit of agricultural related majors at various universities. WALTERS' PASSION DRIVES HER TO PURSUE VETERINARY MEDICINE
GREGORICH WORKS TO CONTINUE THE FAMILY FARMING TRADITION
BEHLING NAMED VITA PLUS DAIRY NUTRITION AND MANAGEMENT FELLOW (11.11.2008) (Madison, Wis.) – Linda Behling has been named to the Vita Plus dairy nutrition and management fellowship. Behling is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a major in dairy science. In the upcoming year, she will work with Vita Plus as she pursues a Masters of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison dairy science department. Behling grew up in Fox Lake, Wis. and was an active member of her local 4-H club and FFA chapter. During her collegiate career, Behling built her professional skills as a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association. Through her three years of involvement with the UW-Madison Collegiate Dairy Judging Team, Behling earned top individual and team honors at several national dairy judging events, contributing to her comprehension of physical type appraisal and defended decision making skills. Through this yearlong fellowship, Behling will work part-time with Vita Plus as she pursues her graduate studies. Her training will include product formulation and production, on-farm nutrition consulting, reproduction protocols and herd checks, cow comfort, and feed and forages management. She will also participate in an on-farm research project. The fellowship is funded and directed by Vita Plus. VITA PLUS MAKING A DIFFERENCE BREAST CANCER RAFFLE RAISES $6,500 (11.11.08) (Madison, Wis.) – Vita Plus Corporation recently raised $6,500 in the Making a Difference Breast Cancer Raffle. Proceeds were donated to the Marshfield Clinic Breast Cancer Research Fund and its Women Living with Hope Support Group. The raffle was held in conjunction with the annual Vita Plus Chick Day event. Marshfield Clinic is a multi-specialty medical practice that includes 41 centers around Wisconsin and serves more than three million patients. They are an aggressive research leader in cancer clinical trials of which the benefits and knowledge learned are shared nationwide. With advances in research, preventative care and awareness, the breast cancer survival rate has reached 89 percent. Because of this, Vita Plus Chick Day organizers were proud to partner with Marshfield Clinic to make a difference in the lives of millions of women. At Vita Plus Chick Day on August 29, 100 women met at Halls Calf Ranch in Kewaunee, Wisconsin to learn about dairy herd health, financial relations, and farm management. Jenne' Fromm, national spokesperson for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Campaign, shared her experiences as a cancer survivor and encouraged attendees to be the best of who they were meant to be. Kim Bremmer, Vita Plus nutrition consultant, said, "Chick Day is a great way for today's women agriculturists to network, share their experiences and increase their knowledge of today's farming industry. It was great that we could also use this event to raise $6,500 for breast cancer research through our Making a Difference Breast Cancer Raffle. We're proud to know that this event will have an important impact on women across our state and nation." Vita Plus Making a Difference Raffle Winners were:
SIPIORSKI NAMED VITA PLUS DAIRY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (09.17.08) (Madison, WI) – Gary Sipiorski, a long time Wisconsin dairy industry financial leader and enthusiast was named by Vita Plus to a newly created position of Dairy Development Manager. Sipiorski, who had been the President and CEO of Citizens State Bank of Loyal will join Vita Plus starting October 1. In his new role Sipiorski will be providing management and financial expertise along with other services focused on increasing the bottom line of producers while working alongside of the Vita Plus nutritional consultants. He will also be manager of ABC Consulting which is part of the Vita Plus organization. Sipiorski had spent the last seventeen years at Citizens State Bank of Loyal, serving as President since 2002. In addition to his role with the bank he currently serves as an appointee on the Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He is a Past Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on Growing Wisconsin Agriculture. He has served on the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. He started his career in the dairy industry as a sales representative for a feed company. He is a regular contributor to major dairy industry publications and is a popular speaker and moderator at numerous industry events. VITA PLUS ANNOUNCES STAFF ADDITIONS (07.10.08) (Madison, WI) – Two new employees recently joined the Vita Plus Corporation: Jarrod Bakker of Dike, Iowa and Peter Coyne of Spring Valley, WI Bakker Named Swine Consultant Jarrod Bakker, Dike, Iowa, has been named Swine Consultant for Vita Plus. He is a 2006 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. Bakker has a diverse background in the swine industry. He worked at several swine production facilities, where he was responsible for everyday animal care, artificial insemination and semen collection, communication with growers and customers, and marketing efforts. As co-owner of Bakker Bros. Genetics, Bakker used his skills and experience to make business decisions as he grew his company from the local to the national level. In his role at Vita Plus, Bakker will work in Eastern Iowa where his responsibilities will include assisting in research studies, implementing nutrition and management programs on farms, and designing recommendations to fill customers' needs. Coyne Named Dairy Field Service Specialist Peter Coyne, Spring Valley, WI, has been named Dairy Field Service Specialist for Vita Plus. Coyne has an extensive background in the dairy industry and has managed or owned a dairy farm for the past 26 years. Most recently, he worked as the production manager of Jon-De Farms in Baldwin, Wis., where he was in charge of overseeing herd health issues, managing employees and trainees, and increasing efficiency and profitability through introduction of numerous farm and employee systems. At Vita Plus, Coyne will work in Western Wisconsin to provide consulting and training in nutrition, management and production to dairy clients, formulate feed rations, coordinate feed production, and network with key industry influencers. Coyne enjoys using his expertise to support his children and other youth by serving as a 4-H Adult Leader and dairy judging coach. |
Abby Walters, a senior at Wausau East High School, has the dream of becoming a large-animal veterinarian. This dream is rooted in hard work from her family's dairy farm. Milking, cleaning, feeding and caring for cows and young stock is all in a day's work for Walters, but her day does not stop there. She participated in the Agriculture Apprenticeship program offered through her high school, taking courses at Northcentral Technical College her senior year. Walters is also active in her FFA chapter, serving as president and vice president, and participating on the dairy judging team. Besides FFA, Walters is a member of National Honor Society and her volleyball team for the past nine years. To work towards becoming at veterinarian, Walters will attend University of Wisconsin-River Falls for dairy science and pre-veterinary medicine.
Becoming the third generation dairy farmer in his family is exactly what this Loyal High School senior is working towards. Brett Gregorich has always been involved in the family operation, and enjoys working alongside his father and grandfather. The operation, consisting of 85-head milking herd and nearly 500 acres, is responsible for fostering many skills and has been a large part of Gregorich's life. Off the farm, Gregorich is very involved in choir, receiving all-conference honors for three years, cross country, basketball, baseball and National Honor Society. He is also a contributing member to the Loyal FFA, having served as vice president of community development. This fall, Gregorich will attend Northcentral Technical College studying dairy science.
