Thank you to those who called or e-mailed me your thoughts on supply management.
After running that topic in our last magazine, I’ve heard from producers on both sides of the issue. Whether you support the idea or not, supply management seems to get everyone thinking about what the future of our industry should be. Even if this price downturn goes away on its own (and if we’re waiting for that I think it will be a long wait), our industry needs to look for how it will adapt itself for the future. Will we step up and become a global dairy provider? We still have much to learn and change if that is our goal. In this issue, contributor Ben Yale suggests some of the questions we will need to answer for ourselves if we want to take up the challenge.I’m curious to see your responses to our poll question. Will we see $15 mailbox milk prices by the end of the year? Earlier this year most said we probably would, but achieving that price level is more in doubt now. If you’re not an Internet person, call me or fax me your response to the poll.
This issue is full of tips to help take your ration to the next level. I’m sure there is something everyone could use. Here are a few of the highlights to consider reading first.
Do you know what’s new with amino-acid balancing? There may be added hoof and herd health benefits to rations balanced for methionine. If your ration is well-balanced for methionine, consider reading up on the other limiting amino acid for milk production – lysine. Are you throwing away ration cost on wasted protein?
The cost of protein sources is on the rise. One nutritionist in the Midwest shared with us one of his dairy rations. He balances his rations with protein specifically in mind. He tells why not all protein sources are the same and why it’s important to consider how they will interact with the ration’s fiber sources and forage quality.
If you haven’t been keeping track of feed efficiency on your dairy, or even within pens, doing so in our current dairy situation may be helpful. Bill Prokop explains how to get started recording feed efficiency and how it could help improve your nutrition management.
Don’t let your hard work to achieve great feed efficiency, high milk production and milk components be wasted on a decrease in milk quality. Premiums mean a lot today.
Lastly, here’s a potential cost-saver. Make sure your clean-in-place system is not working against you, both for milk quality and equipment durability. Precision use of cleaning chemicals in your system could save you money by extending the life of your parlor’s rubber and plastic components, such as inflators and hoses.
I’d also recommend reading the pick-me-up story about Minnesota dairy producers and the Saturday they spent talking with consumers in local grocery stores. Keep hanging in there. PD
Walt Cooley
Editor
walt@progressivedairy.com
