Walking Dry Cows. Management 2 Walking Dry Cows 3/2/2016 1/8. Before the walk. Feed Facilities. Arriving at the farm. Silage Analysis.

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1 Walking Dry Cows Fast Start Mod #3 Before the walk Download and review available records DHI, DC305, Afi-Milk, Digistar, TMR Tracker Milk lbs, Components, MUN, SCC, DIM, DMI, Body Weight Cow numbers Grouping strategies - where Arriving at the farm Bio-security protocols Must have clean clothing and boots Recommended Order Visit Feed facilities Visit Calf facilities Visit Growing Heifers Visit Dry Cows Visit Lactating animals Visit Hospital group Feed Facilities Cleanliness of facilities Silo Condition rips, tears, holes Possible sources of contamination Effluent flowing towards bunker or away Dirt contamination Ash content? Manure contamination (tires) Inventories Feed Quality Check Feed Quality Temperature 3 vs. 12 measurement Moisture - Too Dry/Too Wet Evidence of Mold/Yeast Silage Analysis Compaction Min of 14 to 15 lb/ft 3 Removal rate 2-4 inches per day ph of Silage, HM Corn Lab report On Farm test Smell is it well ensiled 1/8

2 Butyric Acid in Dry Cow Can increase the risk of Ketosis Qualitative Values Do not feed more than 30 grams/hd/day Knock down night before. Particle Size in Dry Cows - Key 3 Common Classes of Molds Maturity Processing Forages 0.75 TLC Molds Grains 800 microns Moldy/Yeasty Tools Z- Box PSPS Rotap Lab test Fusariums Penicilliums Aspergillus DON Corn Silage Fusarium Molds Most common mold in grains Common Toxins Produced DON (vomitoxin) Zearalenone T-2 Toxin Other toxins Fumonisin B1 & B2 Fusaric Acid DAS 2/8

3 Fusarium Molds Over Generalization Red Molds Starch eaters Grow best w/ big temp swings Like drier feedstuffs Grow in pockets Fusarium Toxins DON Feed refusal Reduced milk production Unthriftiness Immunosuppression Diarrhea Repo problems (poor heats) Fusarium Toxins Zearalenone The Repo Toxin Infertility Prolonged heats (Crazy Heats) Off heat cycles Pregnant Cows showing heat Lower conception rates Prolapses Abortions Feed take, milk production, diarrhea Fusarium Toxin T-2 Toxin Feed refusal Coughing Higher SCC Bloody manure (dark color) Diarrhea Rough coats Penicillin Mold Penicillium Molds Blue Molds Starch eaters (found in grain) Like wet feeds Common Toxin Ochratoxin Other toxins Secalonic acid, Patulin, PR toxin, Roquefortin 3/8

4 Penicillium Toxin Aspergillus Mold Ochratoxin High SCC Poor Milk Production Fatty Livers in Fresh cows Poor urine output Slow growth in calves Thin cows Low BF% Aspergillus Molds Grey Molds mix blue/green (glow) Like it Hot Like high humidity Drought Molds Soil-borne spores Grain, forage, (Cottonseed) Toxins Aflatoxin & Gliotoxin Aspergillus Toxins Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, B2A, Ga) Liver damage (ketosis in fresh cows) High SCC Bleeding (slow clotting) Poor digestion => weight loss (poor repo) Poor BF% (higher DA%) Passes to milk (FDA test) Aspergillus Toxin Gliotoxin Bloody diarrhea Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS) Inoculants If there are silage issues, then perhaps there is an inoculants opportunity for the next harvest 4/8

5 Into the Barn Sneak In Cud Chewing Cud Chewing 80 % of the cows laying down (6/10) Chews per min (20-30 chews) Chews per day (24,000) Stall Usage How many cows are using them correctly? How are they using them? Desired Stall Usage (+80%) <10% Standing <10% Perched >10% Legs Forward Darwin's Theory for Free Stalls Stall Dimensions Cows will use the highest free stalls in the barn first (same as hills in pastures, high areas in exercise lot) Want to see Saber Toothed Tiger from a distance further is better Tie Barn Dimensions 5/8

6 Manure/Sand Pack Barn Steve Likes!!! Min of 125 ft 2 /cow (10 X 12.5) Research showing 150 ft 2 /cow Feedbunk Pushed up 2 3 X per day? 30 inches of bunk space Well Mixed? Check 3 places and shake top screen Skittles test Is bunk 4 above feet? Curb no higher than 18 When Next Feeding? Sorted? - Shake leftovers <10% change on Top very important in dry cows Headlocks vs. Pass-thru vs. Rail/Cable Feed Bunk Measurements Waterers Free Stall Waterers More than 1/pen Clean, Clear, Cool 2 inches/cow? 30 max height Min 4 water depth 2 ft of waterer space for each cow leaving the parlor 1 hole/15 cows (summer)? Castrate ball waterers Drinking Behavior How are cows drinking? Dunkers Normal Behavior Slurpers Water not deep enough Incorrect water height (neck too short) Lappers Water quality may be in question Stray voltage? Darwin s Theory for Waterers Unobstructed views, Saber tooth tiger free Are they dark holes where Prehistoric Crocodiles may be lurking can you see the bottom 6/8

7 Ventilation Ventilation rates Cold Mild Hot W eather W eather W eather Pen Area cfm/hd Parlour cfm/stall to 5 mph air flow through barn ft /min over cow s backs Smoking a barn to check ventilation patterns Insect fogger with mineral oil ROT on Ventilation Roof Slope 3 4 in rise/ft of run Ridge Opening 2 in for 10ft of width Overshoots 3 in for 10 ft of width A symphony of sounds Urine duration Manure consistency Cow grunting Acidosis? Chewing wood/rails/cables/dirt Acidotic behavior Cows drinking sounds Lapping and slurping A symphony of sound Coughing air quality Sneezing acidosis Histamine reaction Free Stall Size Banging/creaking into poorly sized stalls Cow handlers Whistling, shouting, hitting, poor handling A symphony of sound Crowd gates Bells and buzzers Can be aggressive Air Gates on sorting gates Head gates banging Is feed pushed up Bulls Bells/Bellowing Overall Barn Usage Cows will crowd Dark areas flies Especially <15 ft candles Best air movement Closest to water/food Freestall Usage See above 7/8

8 Is Barn Over Crowded? Maximum Over-Crowded amounts Dry Cows 100% Prefresh 80% High/Fresh 110% Med Cows 115% Low Cows 125% Body Condition Score Too Fat? Too Thin? About Right? Are they changing? Lost = Ketosis Gain = Fatty Livers Measure and record Overall Condition Hair coat Breathing/Panting breaths/min Movement Jumpy? Locomotion Scoring Avoid Stirring Cows up Walk Freestalls, not the Feed Alley Cows in Lock-ups Measure and record 8/8