The 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference will be held June 11-12 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Progressive Dairyman staff asked presenters to give us a sneak peek into their presentations.
Economics of Automatic Calf Feeding Systems
Jennifer Bentley
ISU Extension Dairy Field Specialist
Why is this topic important?
With the growing interest of automatic calf feeders also comes a growing interest in the cost of the system. Anytime we add a new technology or practice on the farm many variables need to be factored into the profitability and financial feasibility of the system.
Variables that can make a negative or positive financial impact include investment cost, calf inventory, feed intake, calf health, labor change and supply costs both before and after installation. The economics of automatic calf feeding systems can have direct and indirect changes that affect management and viability, change management and efficiency with on-farm labor, and possibly provide some long-term gains or impacts.
What do you hope attendees take away from your presentation?
Producers have had many questions surrounding what to expect for production, financial needs and feed changes. This provided motivation for an economic spreadsheet tool designed to walk a producer through the different variables as described above to consider when changing their feeding practices and how it may impact their heifer raising operation.
This tool is to be used as a guideline and provide a general overview of management factors to be considered, so producers can make an informed decision. It will help them decide if it fits their situation with labor, management and facilities and allows them to weigh out the risks and rewards. Since feeders also have a larger capital investment, there is also an opportunity to educate ag lenders and other businesses involved with the operation.
Basic Aspects of Amino Acid Nutrition in Lactating Cows
Chuck Schwab
Schwab Consulting, LLC
Professor Emeritus, University of New Hampshire
Why is this topic important?
This topic is important because amino acids (AA) are required nutrients. It is understood that providing them in the right balance provides significant opportunities for minimizing the risk of cows experiencing AA deficiencies, for reducing the need for protein supplementation and expensive protein supplements, and for optimizing health, production and dairy herd profitability.
Amino acids have numerous functions in metabolism and it appears that less than optimal supplies can have profound effects on the metabolism of other nutrients, in addition to impacting milk protein and fat production.
What do you hope attendees take away from your presentation?
There will be several take-home messages, including these five:
- AA are the required nutrients, not crude protein, and that balancing for optimal protein nutrition requires formulating for rumen degradable protein (RDP) and the most limiting AA, which is usually methionine.
- The increase in milk protein and fat concentrations typically observed with AA balancing is a sign of improved protein status that can have far-reaching effects on the health and performance of cows.
- Balancing for RDP and the most limiting AA typically reduces feed costs, not increases them.
- While the benefits of AA balancing might be the most noticeable in transition and early lactation cows, benefits exist throughout lactation.
- Learn what questions to ask about rumen protected AA supplements before you feed them. PD
