Shrink management: Reducing storage losses 
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 | | David Greene Diamond V |
Without shrink management, losses can mount quickly. For example, for a farm with a 1,000-cow herd, where feed cost is $7.00 per cow per day, figure a cost of $25,550 per year for every 1% shrink. At 8% shrink, that's additional cost of $204,400 annually for the herd.
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Producer Spotlight
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Partners bring diverse skills to growing a top-notch dairy
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Milk Street Dairy partner John Ferry, DVM, speaking to media in 2013. Photo by Joanna Richards, used with permission of North Country Public Radio.
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Who: Mike Hill, Dr. John Ferry, and Dr. Mike Griep
What: Milk Street Dairy
Where: Tylerville, NY
"Cost control and internal growth through healthy cattle are two of the big areas our dairy is focused on," says Dr. John Ferry, partner in Milk Street Dairy, which has grown over the past half dozen years to become one of New York State's leading operations.
While the state's dairy production has been expanding slowly, averaging 2% increase per year, growth in Jefferson County bordering Lake Ontario has averaged more than 20% annual growth, even as the number of dairy farms in the county and the state has continued to decline. Milk Street has contributed significantly to the county's recent growth in dairy production.
The new dairy was born when the opportunity came up in August 2008 to purchase an existing 400-cow dairy at Tylerville, near Watertown, the county seat of Jefferson County. Dr. Ferry, a veterinarian and consulting nutritionist, joined Mike Hill, the owner of a 900-cow dairy in the area, in initial discussions on a joint partnership to purchase the 400-cow dairy.
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Milk Street Dairy barn and parlor (Photo: Mark Anderson)
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With Dr. Ferry maintaining a substantial consulting business and Mr. Hill involved with his 900-cow dairy, the missing link was a potential third partner who could tend to the new dairy full time. Enter Dr. Mike Griep. At the time, Dr. Griep was involved in a large veterinary practice in Cortland, NY. However, after further discussion, Dr. Griep joined the other partners in the newly formed Milk Street Dairy.
Starting in 2008, the partners were short on housing, so 200 stalls were added immediately. Over the next few years, Milk Street added both a 320-stall cow barn and a 350-stall heifer barn. Their most recent expansion in 2012 included a new double-24 milking complex and an additional 800 stalls, putting the dairy at 1,400 milk cows, going to 1,700 within the next year.
The combined skill set and experience of the three partners has been a big asset contributing to their success. Dr. Ferry's extensive experience in financial advising with many of his consulting dairies, combined with Mr. Hill's strong experience in running his 900-cow dairy and Dr. Griep's background as a practicing veterinarian, has grown Milk Street into one of the largest and most sustainable dairies in the area.
As Dr. Ferry notes, cost control is key to the Milk Street philosophy, which includes tight focus on controlling feed cost. The dairy keeps a close eye on grain cost and currently has protein feedstuffs locked in below current market prices. Dr. Ferry scrutinizes any potential feed additive and says that Milk Street feeds only two.
"Diamond V Original product is one of them," Dr. Ferry points out, "backed by their strong research and meta-analysis." Internal growth through healthy cattle is another focus of the dairy. Milk Street has a calf death loss of less than 2%, a cull rate just over 25%, and a pregnancy rate of 27%.
The partners feel high forage feeding -- currently 60-65% -- contributes to healthy cows at Milk Street. Milk is New York's leading agricultural product with milk sales accounting for half of total agricultural receipts in 2010 at a value of $2.2 billion.
Going forward, the Milk Street partners are using their resources, experience, and foresight to position Milk Street Dairy for continuing success in the state's dairy future.
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Advisor Access
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China: Better dairy can boost beef
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Clayton Gill
Editor
Diamond V
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China's growing dairy industry is hungry to improve cow and calf health and performance. Also, advances in dairy production are helping to accelerate improvement of Chinese beef cattle production.
The 2014 Beijing International Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Management Seminar, April 2-3, attracted nearly 600 nutritionists, veterinarians, and top producers from across China. Presenters were:
- Dr. Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois - "Transition Feeding and Management Considerations"
- Dr. Gavin Staley, Diamond V - "Key Factors for Successful Reproduction"
- Dr. Raphael Chen, Diamond V China - "Calf Health, Nutrition, and Management"
- Craig Belknap, MS, PAS, Diamond V - "Feedlot Cattle Management and Nutrition in the U.S."
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Julia Hamann, DVM
Diamond V
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Stateside, Julia Hamann, DVM, with our headquarters staff, joined Dairy Field Technical Specialists Don Martell, PAS, and Mark Tegeler, MS and Regional Sales Managers Dorothy Pastor and Bernie Eash at the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, April 14-16 in Fort Wayne, IN.
Out of nearly 30 papers presented, Julia flagged the following for close attention:
- "Nutrition and Immunity for Pre-weaned Dairy Calves" - Michael Ballou, Texas Tech University
- "What Do We Know About Rumen Development?" - Kristy M. Daniels and Taylor T. Yohe, The Ohio State University
- "Maternity Pen Design and Management from the Cow's Perspective" - Katy L. Proudfoot, The Ohio State University, and others
For the complete list of papers and abstracts, visit http://tristatedairy.osu.edu/agenda.htm.
When you have questions, the North American Dairy Team can help. Contact the team members above or through DiamondV.com (www.DiamondV.com).
Or, if you'd like to share the question and see the answer in
DairyAdvisor, let me know -- Clayton.
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Tip of the Month
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Dry matter: What's the matter with a little rain?
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| David Greene
Diamond V |
Rain on forage can result in inaccurate dry matter (DM) values unless DM content is adjusted accordingly. A good way to monitor DM content is to use a food dehydrator to dry all forage samples over night. Once dry, the proper DM content can be recorded and rations can be adjusted accurately on a daily basis.
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Here's another installment of monthly human immune health tips and updates from Diamond V's sibling company, Embria Health Sciences, maker of EpiCor nutritional supplement. This month's offering explores how an out-of-balance immune system not only fails to protect the body but can even attack it, mistaking "self" cells for invading pathogens. Enjoy in good health!
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