Gregory R. Jones Idaho Regional Sales Manager Nutrition Physiology Co.

Joel W. Pankowski Baldwinsville, New York Manager, Field Technical Services Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition

The term “preg check” is a misnomer that has been used in the dairy industry for decades. No matter how you determine the reproductive status of cattle following insemination, the goal of the task is to actually find the open cows.

Cows experience heat stress when the temperature-humidity index (THI) is above 72. During heat stress, respiration rates increase, while milk production and reproduction decrease. One practice in heat stress control is to install sprinkler systems over the feed line and in the holding pen. The objective of the sprinkler system is to wet the cow’s back, but to avoid moisture accumulation on the udder or in freestalls. Evaporative cooling occurs when the moisture is evaporated by natural or mechanical ventilation.

Jim Lewis Colfax, Wisconsin Dairy Field Service Specialist Vita Plus

The spring of 2011 will be recorded as a wet and cool one for central Michigan. I spent two weeks at home in Gratiot County and heard this statement from everyone. Our winter wheat, for instance, is at least three weeks behind its normal growth stage. As of the middle of May, most crop fields had not yet been planted. In any field potholes or depressional areas, water stands, making tillage difficult.

Dairy managers continue catching up economically after a disastrous 2009 and 2010 business year, said Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois professor of animal sciences emeritus. “Milk producers need $17 per 100 pounds to cover feed, variable, fixed and labor costs with a modest return on assets,” Hutjens said. “Currently, milk prices have been favorable, but dairy managers need a full year of these margins to replace lost equity in 2009-2010.” Several factors will be critical to maintain a successful 2011 dairy business model.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced they will be holding a hearing on June 30/July 1 to consider changes to the minimum price formulas for Class 4a (butter/nfdm) and Class 4b (cheese/whey) milk. In this article, we’ll focus on the changes being proposed to the Class 4b formula, with specific attention paid to the way our Class 4b formula accounts for the value of the whey stream generated as part of the cheese-making process.

Here are some of the new products or updates to previous products that have been announced as of June 23, 2011. Return to this section of the Progressive Dairyman website periodically to find out what new products will be impacting the dairy industry.