December 2006  

Hay prices expected to remain high
Alfalfa hay production was down 1.6 percent and “other” hay was down 3 percent this year. Drought trimmed yields in many areas and led to feeding hay earlier. As a result, tight hay stocks have pushed prices higher. The alfalfa hay price will average about $108.50 per ton for the year. That’s an increase of 5 percent from last year, and nearly 10 percent above the five-year average. Hay prices are forecast to remain firm into next summer, says Greg Scheer, dairy analyst with Doane Advisory Services in St. Louis. Alfalfa hay acreage in 2007 is expected to hold stable, but “other” hay acreage will likely be trimmed due to the fierce competition for more corn and soybean acreage next year.


Welcome to the December edition of Calf and Heifer Adviser, published by Dairy Herd Management® magazine.

Calf and Heifer Adviser and its core sponsors are committed to providing you with the information you need to make informed and timely business decisions.


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Don’t restrict ventilation in winter
 Solid front and rear panels on calf pens may protect calves from the cold, but they also limit ventilation in naturally ventilated calf barns. This leads to high levels of airborne bacteria in calf pens, according to a study in the October Journal of Dairy Science. In fact, the average pen airborne bacterial count was more than twice as high as the average airborne bacterial count found in the barn alleys. For more details, see www.dairyherd.com.

Feed protein wisely
Feed more protein to heifers and they will grow taller. This belief is widely held in the industry, but it is only true to a point, says Pat Hoffman, dairy researcher at the University of Wisconsin’s Marshfield Agricultural Research Station. The neonatal calf uses protein more efficiently than an older heifer. For every 10 grams of protein consumed, a calf deposits 7 of those grams in her body. An older heifer, on the other hand, deposits only 1.3 out of 10 grams of protein in her body. “Spend your money on protein during the first year of life, and try to reduce protein cost the second year of life,” Hoffman advises.

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Bedding matters for a long winter’s night
Make sure your calves are bedded properly this winter, reminds Jerry Bertoldo, veterinarian and Cornell University extension dairy specialist. First, avoid inorganic materials when it’s cold because they encourage undesirable evaporative cooling. Second, make sure bedding is dry. And remember, calves groom themselves more if bedding material sticks to wet hair coats. “And this ingested material comes complete with a load of unwanted bacteria,” he warns.

Check calves' ears when resting
 When it comes to detecting mycoplasma pneumonia in calves, most producers know to look for droopy ears. However, if the only time you look at calves’ ears is at feeding time, you will probably miss the early signs of this disease, explains Ricardo Rosenbusch, professor of veterinary microbiology at Iowa State University. That’s because at feeding time a calf in the early stages of mycoplasma pneumonia will perk up her ears the same as a well calf. If you want to check your calves’ ears for droopiness, you must observe them when they are at rest — not right before feeding.

Mycoplasma organisms tough to eradicate
Mycoplasma bovis survives surprisingly well in the environment, as well as in animal respiratory tracts. At 39 degrees F, the bacterium survives for nearly two months in sponges, more than two weeks in water and 20 days in straw, says Fiona Maunsell, University of Florida veterinarian. While M. bovis is vulnerable to higher temperatures and disinfectants, there are several steps you can take to help combat mycoplasma. She recommends the following:
  • Give facilities a break between groups of calves to help reduce pathogen load.
  • Always practice good hygiene.
  • Prevent overcrowding.
  • Provide adequate ventilation.

Tips for handling animals during transport
 In today’s dairy industry, animals travel to and from the home dairy throughout their life. That makes proper handling protocols a must, especially on calf ranches that receive young animals. Two general rules for handling calves include: (1) be gentle and (2) don’t drag or pull on their ears or tails. For more on proper animal handling, check out Temple Grandin’s Web site.

Calf-care training materials
 A new CD is available from The Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research and Development to help you brush up on your newborn calf-care skills or to help train employees. The information is available in both English and Spanish. Cost is $25. For more information or to order a copy, follow this link.

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