M. J. Meyer

Relocation and expansion planning for dairy producers

Relocating or expanding a dairy facility requires a tremendous amount of time and planning. Owners or managers of dairies will go through a number of steps including: 1) developing a business plan; 2) choosing a design process; 3) developing specifications; 4) selecting location/site; 5) obtaining permits/legal; 6) obtaining bids; 7) selecting contractors; 8) buying cattle; 9) purchasing feeds; 10) financing; 11) managing construction; 12) hiring and training employees; 13) developing management protocols for the dairy; and 14) managing information flow. The dairy can be divided into these components: 1) milking parlor; 2) cow housing; 3) special needs facility (e.g., hospital, closeups); 4) replacement heifer housing; 5) manure management system; and 6) feed center. This article will focus on milking parlors, cow housing, grouping strategies, and site selection.

Assessment of mastitic infection in bovine milk using ATP bioluminescence

Few choices exist for a mobile, rapid, and nonsubjective assessment of mastitic infection in bovine milk. This project evaluated the effectiveness of using the Biotrace® raw milk quality ATP bioluminescence assay to serve this role. Milk samples with various somatic cell counts (13,000 2,500,000) and signs of mastitic infection were obtained from the Kansas State University Dairy Teaching and Research Center. Within 24 hr, raw milk samples were evaluated for microbial numbers and relative light units (RLU). The printed test procedure was modified to evaluate accurately clinical mastitic milk samples. As somatic cell count increased in raw milk, the RLU value increased. In addition, RLU values differentiated among milk samples with various levels of mastitic infection (none, subclinical, and clinical). Repeatability of the ATP bio-luminescence method was very good (CV = 4.76%). These results suggest that the Biotrace® raw milk quality test kit can served effectively as a nonsubjective, rapid assay to determine the degree of mastitic infection in bovine milk.

Relationship among concentrations of milk urea nitrogen and plasma urea nitrogen and feeding time

Summary Eight Holstein cows were used to determine the relationship among milk urea nitrogen (MUN), plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), and feeding time. We first established that MUN concentrations were similar in concentration among quarters by comparing milk samples from each quarter just before milking. In order to determine if collecting a sample of milk from a quarter influenced the MUN in samples taken later, samples were obtained from the right front quarter (RF) at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr after the AM milking and from the left front quarter (LF), right rear (RR), and left rear (LR) at 4, 6, and 8 h after the AM milking, respectively. The MUN in samples obtained from RF at 4 hr was lower (P<0.01) than corresponding samples taken from LF, but samples from RF at 6 and 8 hr did not differ from corresponding samples obtained from RR and LR. We concluded that by 6 hr , the effect of previous milking on MUN concentration disappeared because of dilution. To determine the influence of feeding time on MUN concentrations, cows were fed half of their normal PM feeding, injected with oxytocin at the subsequent AM milking to reduce residual milk, and offered surplus feed after the AM milking. Milk samples were collected at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hr after feeding from RF, LF , RR, LR, RF, and LF quarters, respectively. Blood samples were obtained from the coccygeal vein at hourly intervals after feeding with the last sample collected 12 hr after feeding. The MUN concentrations at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr were similar. The MUN at 10 hr was similar to those at 2 and 8 hr, less than that at 4 and 6 hr, and greater than that for the 12 hr sample. Concentrations of PUN peaked at 2 hr postfeeding, then gradually declined through 12 hr postfeeding. The MUN peaked at 6 hr postfeeding and then declined. Time after feeding significantly influenced PUN and MUN concentrations.

Intake and performance of dairy cows fed wet corn gluten feed during the periparturient period

Eight primiparous and nine multiparous Holstein cows were used in a randomized block design to determine the effect of wet corn gluten feed in the diet during the last 21 days of gestation on dry matter intake and early postpartum performance. Multilactation cows fed wet corn gluten feed maintained a higher dry matter intake and intake as a percentage of body weight during the last week before calving than cows fed the control diet. First-lactation cows fed wet corn gluten feed consumed less dry matter, both total and as a percentage of body weight, across calving than first-lactation cows fed the control diet. Milk, milk components, and blood metabolites were not influenced by diet. Wet corn gluten feed may help alleviate the depression in intake typically observed during late gestation for multiparous but not primiparous cows.

Extruded-expelled cottonseed meal with lint at a source of rumen undegradable protein for lactating dairy cows

Twenty-four pluriparous Holstein cows were used in six 4×4 Latin squares to evaluate the value of extruded-expelled cottonseed meal (EECM) with lint as a source of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) for lactating dairy cows. Cows were fed diets typical of those used by commercial dairies with all the cereal grain supplied as corn. Tallow was used to balance the fat level across diets. Experimental diets were: solvent soybean meal (16% CP:35% RUP)=SBM 16-35; solvent soybean meal (18% CP:35% RUP)= SBM 18-35; extruded-expelled cottonseed meal (16% CP:40% RUP)=EC16-40; bloodmeal/fishmeal (16% CP:40% RUP)=BMFM 16-40. Average milk production was approximately 82 lbs and did not differ among treatments. Cows fed BMFM 16-40 consumed less dry matter than cows fed the other diets and were more efficient in converting feed to milk. No difference was observed in body weight gain among treatments. Percentages of milk fat and protein were similar, but percentage of lactose was less in milk from cows fed BMFM 16-40. Urea nitrogen was highest in milk from cows fed SBM 18-35. Increasing RUP from 35 to 40% of the dietary protein tended to depress dry matter intake with no effect on milk production, whereas efficiency of milk production increased. The casein fraction of milk protein was not affected by diet, but the nonprotein nitrogen fraction was greater in milk from cows fed SBM 18-35. Feed costs/cwt milk were

Effect of protein level in prepartum diets on postpartum performance of dairy cows

4.24,

Effects of processing and fat removal on the value of cottonseed in diets for lactating dairy cows

4.29,

Performance of lactating dairy cattle in three different cooling systems

3.98 and

Effect of protein level in prepartum diets on metabolism and performance of dairy cows.

5.18 for SBM 16-35, SBM 18-35, EC 16-40, and BMFM 16-40, respectively, based on commodity prices in northeast Kansas. Extruded-expelled cottonseed meal with lint is an acceptable source of rumen undegradable protein for lactating dairy cows.

Evaluation of Wet Corn Gluten Feed in Diets for Lactating Dairy Cows

Seventy-five Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the level of dietary protein required to support metabolic functions and maintain body reserves during the periparturient period and subsequent lactation. Cows fed the 14.7% protein diet prepartum had a more ideal body condition score during the entire prepartum and postpartum periods. During the first 90 days of lactation, few consistent differences occurred among prepartum diets for milk production, but the response to rbST was greatest for cows fed 11.7, 13.7 or 14.7% protein prepartum. Full 305-day lactation records showed the most milk, fat, and protein for cows consuming 13.7 or 14.7% protein prepartum. Results of our study indicate that using 13.7 to 14.7% crude protein with approximately 45% undegradable protein in the close-up diet for dairy cattle produces beneficial outcomes during the subsequent lactation.