Dairy Center Dairy Center Research ProjectsResearch Projects

Information about studies Information about studies included in this included in this presentation:presentation:

The conclusions presented in this The conclusions presented in this Power Point are general conclusions. Power Point are general conclusions. We encourage producers to research We encourage producers to research more thoroughly on these topics. We more thoroughly on these topics. We are presenting the information for are presenting the information for general use only. general use only.

Skin tests as a predictor of Johne’s Skin tests as a predictor of Johne’s disease in cows and heifersdisease in cows and heifers

An attempt to find an inexpensive and An attempt to find an inexpensive and simple way to detect Johnes earlier than simple way to detect Johnes earlier than other tests currently available.other tests currently available.

Samples were collected four times over a four Samples were collected four times over a four year span on animals 10 months of age – year span on animals 10 months of age – aged cows.aged cows.

Different test results were compared. The Different test results were compared. The study is still in progress in other herds.study is still in progress in other herds.

CONCLUSION – Skin testing is a CONCLUSION – Skin testing is a simple, effective and inexpensive simple, effective and inexpensive way to test for Johne’s in a herdway to test for Johne’s in a herd

Calf Starter & Rumen DevelopmentCalf Starter & Rumen Development

60 calves were assigned to 1 of 4 calf starter 60 calves were assigned to 1 of 4 calf starter treatments. Daily monitoring of calves was treatments. Daily monitoring of calves was used to evaluate the starters for 10 weeks. used to evaluate the starters for 10 weeks.

Daily starter intake Daily starter intake Daily scour scoreDaily scour score Daily body temperatureDaily body temperature Weekly bodyweightsWeekly bodyweights Weekly blood drawsWeekly blood draws

Blood samples were then frozen and sent to ISU Blood samples were then frozen and sent to ISU for evaluation. for evaluation.

CONCLUSION – most effective CONCLUSION – most effective program was using Calf Starter with program was using Calf Starter with 7.5 % grass hay7.5 % grass hay

This calf program showed: This calf program showed: Increased body weightIncreased body weight Increased feed efficiencyIncreased feed efficiency Alters rumen VFA productionAlters rumen VFA production Creates a more stable rumen environmentCreates a more stable rumen environment Decreased starter costsDecreased starter costs

significantly improved feeding profitabilitysignificantly improved feeding profitability 4 lbs chopped hay per 50 lb bag of starter4 lbs chopped hay per 50 lb bag of starter

Practical Applications of Practical Applications of “Accelerated Calf Feeding “Accelerated Calf Feeding

Programs”Programs” Study looked at: Study looked at:

– Daily starter and water intakeDaily starter and water intake– Daily scour score/Milk replacer Daily scour score/Milk replacer

refusalrefusal– Weekly bodyweight and heightWeekly bodyweight and height– Weekly blood drawWeekly blood draw– Recorded the time it took to feed Recorded the time it took to feed

each treatment groupeach treatment group

Comparison of Economic Comparison of Economic EfficienciesEfficiencies

VARIABLEVARIABLENATIONAL NATIONAL AVERAGEAVERAGE

EARLY EARLY WEANINGWEANING

ACCELERATEDACCELERATED

Birth weight, lbBirth weight, lb 9595 8787 9595

Weaning Age, dWeaning Age, d 5656 3131 5656

ADG, lbADG, lb .98.98 1.51.5 2.12.1

8-Wk Weight, lb8-Wk Weight, lb 150150 165165 212212

MR Intake, lbMR Intake, lb 6464 3030 121121

Starter Intake, lbStarter Intake, lb 7474 130130 4545

Gain:Feed RatioGain:Feed Ratio .40.40 .49.49 .70.70

MR Cost, $MR Cost, $ 5454 2525 121121

Starter Cost, $Starter Cost, $ 1313 2424 99

Total Feed Cost, $Total Feed Cost, $ 6767 4949 130130

Feed $/lb GainFeed $/lb Gain $1.20$1.20 $0.63$0.63 $1.12$1.12

CONCLUSION: Early weaning is by far CONCLUSION: Early weaning is by far the most effective when looking at feed the most effective when looking at feed

cost per pound of gain. cost per pound of gain.

Other Economic Considerations for an Early Other Economic Considerations for an Early Weaning program: Weaning program:

Labor costsLabor costs– drop over 50% after weaning in conventional drop over 50% after weaning in conventional

programprogram greater labor costs associated with accelerated greater labor costs associated with accelerated

programsprograms– early weaning (~30 d) cuts total labor costs early weaning (~30 d) cuts total labor costs

associated with rearing to 56 d by about 40%associated with rearing to 56 d by about 40% Housing costsHousing costs

– Reduce number of hutches required by over 45%Reduce number of hutches required by over 45%

Fresh Cow Multiple Milking Project

Study looked at: 100 head : 34 heifers; 66 cows 3X; 6X-21 days; 6X-14 days.

milk production: 1st 30 day + DHI test weekly milk component

weekly body condition scoring (10 w) Weekly teat ends / teat skin (8 wks)

CMT at calving: culture

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Series2

Series1

Series3

3X3X6X146X146X216X21

DHI milk production by test day - HolsteinsDHI milk production by test day - Holsteins

NEIDF animalsNEIDF animals

******

**

P < .1P < .16X for 14d6X for 14d

4 # increase4 # increase

DHI testDHI test

Lb

s. m

ilkL

bs.

milk

NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROUPS for body condition score, teat ends or CMT quarter testing!

CONCLUSION: Cows milked 6 times a day for the CONCLUSION: Cows milked 6 times a day for the first 14 days of lactation averaged a 4 pound first 14 days of lactation averaged a 4 pound increase. Multiple milkings did not have to be increase. Multiple milkings did not have to be evenly spaced – milking fresh cows at the evenly spaced – milking fresh cows at the beginning and end of milking shifts was effective.beginning and end of milking shifts was effective.

POST MILKING TEAT SANITATIONPOST MILKING TEAT SANITATION TO DIP OR NOT TO DIP IN TO DIP OR NOT TO DIP IN

WINTER?WINTER? THAT IS THE QUESTIONTHAT IS THE QUESTION..

Weekly data collection Weekly data collection included:included:

CMT scoreCMT scoreTeat Shape scoreTeat Shape scoreTeat Skin scoreTeat Skin scoreTeat End scoreTeat End score

CONCLUSION: ASC CONCLUSION: ASC Barrier dip was the Barrier dip was the

most effective winter most effective winter teat dip at the time of teat dip at the time of

this study.this study.

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Initial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 14 16 20Week

Teat

Sco

res

(1-5

Sca

le)

ASC Barrier Dip - Skin Control Dip - Skin ASC Barrier - End Control Dip - End

*

*

*

*

*

* Signif. P < 0.05 Week 1-15 Control Dip = CHX Week 16-20 Control Dip = I2

• * Poor dip removal by milkers* Poor dip removal by milkers• no other significant differencesno other significant differences

COMPOST BARN DEMONSTRATION COMPOST BARN DEMONSTRATION PROJECTPROJECT

Study ran from 12/2005 – 5/2007 and looked at:•DHIA SCC/ milk, etc•Lameness scoring 2X/week•Ammonia levels: before/after stir 2X/wk•Compost bacteria counts 2X/wk (before/after stir)•Cleanliness, hock/ leg, comfort scores 3X/week•Compost temp: 27 spots daily: 0,6,12,18”

COMPOST BARN PROJECTCOMPOST BARN PROJECT• Temperature < 100Temperature < 10000F; Moisture> 65%F; Moisture> 65%• Leg/hock and comfort: score 1 (great)Leg/hock and comfort: score 1 (great)• Cleanliness scores: average 3 (dirty)Cleanliness scores: average 3 (dirty)• Bact counts: Gram - & streps: >10Bact counts: Gram - & streps: >1066! (high)! (high)

CONCLUSION: The bedded pack did not heat as CONCLUSION: The bedded pack did not heat as expected, but the cold, wet compost proved expected, but the cold, wet compost proved comfortable for the cows. There was a lot of comfortable for the cows. There was a lot of bedding and dirty, content cows. There were very bedding and dirty, content cows. There were very low ammonia and other gas levels. low ammonia and other gas levels.

The effect on the immune The effect on the immune system of no dry period vs. a system of no dry period vs. a

45-day dry period45-day dry periodStudy looked at: Study looked at:

25 225 2ndnd or greater lactation cows were or greater lactation cows were randomly selected to a dry cow treatment. randomly selected to a dry cow treatment.

Cows with no dry period:Cows with no dry period:► Low lactation ration Low lactation ration ► BSTBST

Cows with a 45 day dry period:Cows with a 45 day dry period:► Dry cow rationDry cow ration► Close-up ration 3 weeks pre-calvingClose-up ration 3 weeks pre-calving

Vaccination protocols were kept the same Vaccination protocols were kept the same between both treatment groupsbetween both treatment groups

Data collection of no dry period vs. dry Data collection of no dry period vs. dry periodperiod

► 3 weeks prior to calving3 weeks prior to calving blood draws 3 times a week until 3 weeks blood draws 3 times a week until 3 weeks

postcalvingpostcalving Analyzed for white blood cell counts and rabies Analyzed for white blood cell counts and rabies

antibody titer. antibody titer. ► WBC ability to produce gamma interferonWBC ability to produce gamma interferon

CONCLUSION: Calcium levels were the same in CONCLUSION: Calcium levels were the same in both groups, so milk fever levels were the both groups, so milk fever levels were the same. It is generally recommended that older same. It is generally recommended that older cows have a dry period as it hard on them cows have a dry period as it hard on them physically not to. (see graph, next slide)physically not to. (see graph, next slide)

Days Around Calving

Cal

cium

(m

g/dl

)

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

10.0

-14 -7 -6 to -4 -3 to -1 0 to 1 2 to 3 7 14

No dry periodNormal dry period

BVD Vaccination ProjectBVD Vaccination Project

This project is addressing whether This project is addressing whether the vaccination as a neonate will be the vaccination as a neonate will be negated by the presence of maternal negated by the presence of maternal antibodiesantibodies

Efficacy of multiple vaccinations Efficacy of multiple vaccinations with a modified live vaccine verses a with a modified live vaccine verses a combination of modified live and combination of modified live and killed vaccines. killed vaccines.

BVD Vaccination ProjectBVD Vaccination Project To date:To date:

Northeast Iowa Community Based Dairy Foundation Cattle Northeast Iowa Community Based Dairy Foundation Cattle have all been tested for BVDhave all been tested for BVD

200 heifers are enrolled in the vaccination trial200 heifers are enrolled in the vaccination trial Ages currently range from about 7 months –post freshAges currently range from about 7 months –post fresh

Data collection includes:Data collection includes: Vaccination recordsVaccination records Pre and post vaccination blood samplePre and post vaccination blood sample Health recordsHealth records

10 day temperature of neonates10 day temperature of neonates Weekly bodyweightsWeekly bodyweights Calfhood & Prebreeding BodyweightsCalfhood & Prebreeding Bodyweights

This study has not yet concluded. This study has not yet concluded.

Other Other DemonstrationDemonstration Projects Projects

Use of extended day lighting in free Use of extended day lighting in free stall barnstall barn – CONCLUSION: generally – CONCLUSION: generally recommended, and we will continue recommended, and we will continue using itusing it

Mortality and Manure CompostingMortality and Manure Composting – – CONCLUSION: Both can be successfully CONCLUSION: Both can be successfully used, we continue to compost used, we continue to compost mortalities after the demonstration mortalities after the demonstration project as it works well hereproject as it works well here