December 15, 1997
Volume 1, Issue 2
Inside this Issue
Kill the Messenger
Interviewing Job Applicants
Who's Who
15-Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness
Milk Price Outlook
Hay Auction Prices
Calendar of Events
Year End Inventory
Proper Freestall Design
Effect of Freestalls on Feet and Legs
Kill the Messenger!
1997 was not easy. Across the nation, dairy farm income took
a plunge, a net effect of low milk prices and high feed costs. Dairy
producers are asking for solutions.
Through a series of meetings, OSU-Extension and the OSU Dairy Restructuring
Team are educating producers and agri-business personnel to some unpleasant
facts. Ohio’s dairy industry is trailing the rest of the country
in productivity, efficiency and profitability. Even Michigan is beating
us at the dairy game! In these meetings, we outline four specific
long-term strategies for Ohio dairy enterprises. One of them is expansion.
All four are targeting family farms, not factory farms. Unfortunately,
some people are concluding that, as carriers of the bad news, we should
become the targets. Would you fire the weatherman because he is forecasting
rain for the weekend? Would that help bringing the sunshine back?
You may ponder over these questions as you read this issue of Buckeye Dairy
News. Learn on how to conduct a job interview, about free-stall
designs and how they affect your cows, about what you should do on January
1st (or shortly after), about milk and feed prices and what to expect,
of upcoming events and how you can better your management skills.
Enjoy!
Normand St-Pierre
Dairy Extension Specialist, Editor
Interviewing Job Applicants
Bernie Erven
Department of Agricultural Economics
I don't enjoy interviewing job applicants. It is frustrating and time consuming! I never am sure I hired the right person." These words often fit dairy farm employers who depend heavily on interviews in deciding which of their applicants to hire. Some interviewing guidelines can help dairy farmers conduct better interviews.
Preparing for Interviews
Address the following questions before starting to interview:
1. Who will be on the interview team? Include the person who will be the employee's immediate supervisor and at least one other person. Have each member of the interview team conduct a one-to-one interview with each applicant. This serves as a check on the consistency of the applicants' answers. It also forces each interviewer to provide independent judgements about each applicant.
2. What questions will be asked in the interview? Avoid questions that can be answered yes or no: Do you like dairy farm work? Can you milk cows? Instead of yes/no type questions, use open-ended questions that encourage applicants to explain experiences, characteristics and ideas in their own words. Include open-ended questions about: previous job accomplishments and achievements, non-job accomplishments and achievements, motivation and ambition, hobbies and use of leisure time, and "what if" situations. A similar set of questions should be asked each applicant.
Examples of open-ended questions are: What has been your most important accomplishment in your current position? What are you looking for in an ideal job? Outside of your work, what has been your most important accomplishment thus far in your life? What is your most important strength that would help our dairy farm?
"What if" situations present the applicant a practical problem for solution.
For example, an applicant who will be driving a tractor might be asked
what he or she would do if a "tractor won't start on a sub-zero morning."
A general guideline is to ask only about those things which are unquestionably
related to the job and any applicant's ability to perform the job.
For example, national origin and religion are unlikely related to the ability
to do a dairy farm job.
3. Where will the interview be conducted? If possible, select a private and comfortable setting. A location away from the telephone and other employees is desirable. A desk or table between you and the applicant suggests that the interview is less like a conversation and more like an interrogation.
Interviewing
Divide the interview into nine steps:
1. Relax the applicant and build rapport (2-3 minutes)
2. Describe the job in considerable detail using a written job description
if available (3-5 minutes)
3. Determine the accuracy of the information on the application form
(4-7 minutes)
4. Ask a series of open-ended questions previously prepared (10-15
minutes)
5. Encourage the applicant to ask questions (2-5 minutes)
6. Summarize your farm's mission, objectives, and business philosophy
(2-4 minutes)
7. Summarize the opportunities provided to the person in the position.
Emphasize the opportunities that the dairy industry provides (2-4 minutes)
8. Encourage the applicant to ask questions (2-10 minutes)
9. Close with information about plans for making a decision (2-4 minutes)
The total interview time should range from thirty to sixty minutes.
Some Interviewing Do?s and Don?ts
The following interviewing do's and don'ts can help improve your interviewing
skills. DO:
After the position is filled, ask the new employee for suggestions on how the interviews could have been improved. Plan for a better set of interviews the next time a position needs to be filled.
Who's Who
Lanny Anderson
(614) 292-2366
Lanny will be leaving the OSU Extension at the end of the year after more than 30 years of work for Ashtabula County residents. A 1963 OSU graduate in Agronomy, Lanny remembers how he first struggled with the diverse agriculture in the county: grape growing, dairy, agronomy. He earned his credibility by spending time with the best farmers to learn their business and their technology. Many memorable events occurred in his career, but the bus trip to Wyoming County NY that he organized in the late 1980's had a profound effect on the rest of his career. He became a charter member of the Dairy Excel Team and has served as an educator to innumerable producers in the northeast. Lanny is taking new responsibilities as Sales Manager for Western Reserve Farm Cooperative. His enthusiasm and professionalism will be missed. Best of luck to you, mon ami!
Rick Stowell
(614) 292-2366
Rick is a faculty member and Extension Ag. Engineer in the Department
of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at OSU with responsibilities
related to livestock production systems. His background, expertise
and primary interest is in planning dairy facilities. He consulted for
a time with dairy producers considering expansion before joining OSU. Rick
is recognized nationally for his work in natural ventilation and handling
of sand-laden dairy manure. He is active in ASAE, including serving
on the program committee for the upcoming International Dairy Housing Conference.
Rick’s input is frequently being sought to address manure handling issues
that producers face in Ohio. Now he just has to figure out which
Big Ten team to follow on Saturdays!
15- Measures of Competitiveness
Dianne Shoemaker, Agriculture Agent
This Month: Solvency: Debt to Asset Ratio
Competitive Level: Less than 40%
Calculation: (Total farm debts/total farm assets) x 100
Example:
$200,000 debt/ $500,000 assets = 0.40
0.40 x 100 = 40% D/A ratio
Around January 1, every farm manager should complete an inventory of the farm's assets. This is the easiest time to construct a balance sheet and calculate your debt to asset ratio (D/A). The D/A ratio measures the ability of a business, at one point in time, to meet all debt obligations following the sale of all assets. This is a measure of the solvency of the business.
High D/A ratios are stressful to the farm business. They usually result in tight cash flow. If a business is new or expanding, the D/A ratio may be high for a period of time. If the business is profitable and can quickly pay down debt, that is fine. If the business is not profitable, changes must be made, or the farm will quickly use up net worth.
Most competitive farms will always have some debt. A manager's
goal to have no debt may hold the business back. Farms should continually
invest in new technologies that will improve the bottom line. Look
at the other 14 measures for clues if the business has a low D/A ratio
and is still unable to meet all obligations.
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Milk Price Outlook
Gary Schnitkey
Location
First
Second
Third
Large Round/bale
Damascus (/bale)
$1.00 - 3.00 $1.00 - 3.00
$1.50 - 3.50
Ashland County (/ton) $90 - 160
$92.50 - 190 $177.50 - 210
$29.00 - 32.50
Farmerstown (/ton) $90 - 150
$100 - 205
$100 - 205
$20.00 - 42.50
Mt. Hope (/ton)
$100 - 175 $97.50 - 180
$130 - 215
$22.50 - 52.50
Calendar of Events
1/14,28, & 2/11/98
St. Henry
Managing for Future
For more information call 419-586-2179
1/20/98
10A.M.-3P.M., OARDC, Wooster
Milk Futures and Options
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
1/23/98
10A.M.-3P.M., Mt. Hope
Dairy Up-date for Small Farms
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
2/5,12,19/98
10A.M.-1:30P.M., Mt. Hope
Dairy Series, Is Your Dairy Farm Competitive?
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
2/16-17/98
Ramada Plaza Hotel, Akron
Great Lakes Grazing Conference
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
2/17,19,24 & 26/98
Site unknown at this time
Dairy Nutrition Short Course
For more information call 419-586-2179
2/18, 3/3 & 3/18/98
St. Henry
Mgt. Excel Hiring Workshop
Featuring - Bernie Ervin
For more information call 419-586-2179
3/4/98
10A.M.-3P.M., Ashland
Discovering Your Future in The Dairy Industry
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
3/5,12,19/98
10A.M.-3P.M., Shreve
Dairy Excel
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
3/24-26/98
ATI, Wooster
Dairy Farm Employee Short Course
For more information call Tom Noyes 330-264-8722.
4/15&16/98
Hyatt Regency, Columbus
Dairy and Food Industry Conference
4/21&22/98
Fort Wayne, IN
Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference
For more information call 614-688-3143 .
Year End Inventory
Joe Beiler- Agriculture Agent
A year end inventory is one of the most important and valuable bookkeeping activities you can do on your farm each year. It is required to determine the growth of your business capital, and a vital part of analyzing your farm in good years and bad. Gains and losses of inventory must be considered in computing earnings. It is needed to compare the cropping enterprise with the livestock enterprise and to determine feed efficiency of livestock and value of home grown feeds. When its time for a major project, it will provide the details required to get the best deal when shopping for a loan. So often, lack of an inventory prevents a farmer from getting the best interest rate. A good track record cannot be shown without a year end inventory. In case of a disaster such as a fire, it shows the proper records and can substantiate what was lost to the insurance agency.
A good inventory is not hard, although it may be a little time consuming.
The time spent now will save you a lot more than time later on. A proper
inventory means you count and value everything on your farm on the same
week year after year. Actually go out and count or measure - Livestock
by age, feed raised and purchased, growing crops, supplies of seed and
fertilizer, equipment and everything else. Actually go out and measure
grain bins, silos and count bales. Most Extension offices have charts available
to determine silo capacities. Don?t forget to inventory land and
building and improvements such as tile. Check your equipment against your
depreciation list. Its also a good idea to go through your records and
inventory debts and accounts receivable. Don?t forget your paper assets
stocks , checking and farm saving accounts. Is it correct?
Inventories done at the kitchen table in March for Jan 1 wouldn?t get you
the best loan rate and may not even get you the loan. Plan now for your
1997 year end inventory.
Proper Freestall Design
Richard Stowell
Extension Agricultural Engineer
Cow comfort is a very important issue for dairy producers today. A 1996 study by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (Fort Collins, CO) reported the top four reasons given for culling cows were, in order: reproductive problems, udder or mastitis problems, poor production, and lameness and injury. Together, these factors accounted for over 90% of culling activity. Cows culled for the reasons listed other than poor production are considered involuntary culls. When many or most cows leave a herd involuntarily, the potential for owners to generate a profit, improve their herds, and expand their operations is severely limited.
Poor stall design is rivaled only by poor air quality as the major environmental culprit behind many of these problems. Environmental mastitis and teat injuries are definitely attributable to the condition of stalls. Lameness and injury can be directly caused by stall conditions, and may be an underlying cause of breeding and production problems if cows don’t want to stand when in heat or at the bunk. Stalls must be clean, dry and comfortable!
Of utmost importance, is ensuring that cows have the opportunity to lie down and rise up easily in freestalls by providing lunge space. Stall dimensions and placement of other stall features, such as the brisket board and neck rail, should be suited to the more productive animals that are being housed. Specifications are readily available for mature Holstein cows and have also been developed for younger cattle, different breeds, and cows with special needs.
Choice of bedding material and design of the stall bed are important considerations as well. The lying surface must have adequate cushion and should have fresh bedding added regularly to keep the stall clean and dry, and to prevent cows from injury, especially to their hocks. A simple stall bed made of a deep layer of sand is the preferred choice if clean sand can be obtained at a reasonable price and handling of sand-laden manure will not be a significant ordeal. A quality stall bed can be achieved using mattress materials where sand is not considered a viable option. Periodic maintenance of the stalls is important for long-term use.
Producers can achieve significant improvement in their freestalls by retrofitting current facilities or by incorporating proper designs into the construction of new barns. It pays to know what partition designs are appropriate for different circumstances. The figure at left (from Plan Guide for Free Stall Systems, Hoard’s Dairyman, 1997) shows four recommended designs. The so-called Michigan loop and wide/deep loop partitions shown in the left portion of the figure are excellent choices for retrofitting short (e.g. 7-ft) stalls, especially when the stall front cannot be adequately opened. In new construction, it is preferable to provide forward lunge space. In head-to-head stall arrangements, this can be accomplished by leaving the stall front completely open and utilizing shared lunge space. For stalls in other arrangements, especially in rows along the barn exterior, consider making the stalls longer (close to 8’-6”).
Note that the partition design and stall dimensions that are used must be compatible! If there is any doubt about whether enough clear vertical opening is provided in the front of stalls that are less than 8 feet long, then use a side-lunge partition. When forward-lunge space is properly provided, the type of partition selected is not critical, but it is often preferable to utilize standard loops from a cost and function standpoint.
Curb height should be kept as short as possible without letting manure be deposited into the rear of stalls while cleaning alleys (depends on frequency of cleaning). If a mattress is used, the total step into the stall will usually be higher than curb height. Allow for this increase (typically 4 inches) in all other vertical dimensions that are referenced from the top of the curb. The positions of the brisket board and the neck rail are both referenced from the curb. These two features and their proper placement are essential for encouraging cows to lie correctly in the stall.
Remember to consider cow comfort in your planning. Select freestall
designs that minimize cow contact and that prioritize construction that
is firm, but flexible, over rigidly solid construction. Do not pinch pennies
in this regard if it means cow comfort will be compromised by an inferior
design. For additional information refer to Dairy Freestall Housing
and Equipment, MWPS-7. The just-released Sixth Edition of this handbook
is available through Extension.
Effect of Freestalls on Feet and Legs
Mark Armfelt, D.V.M.
Poor freestall design can have a very negative effect on feet and legs. It can impact feet and legs directly and indirectly. We need to be concerned about feet and leg problems because foot lesions are very painful to cattle, and cause considerable economic loss to dairy farmers.
Improperly constructed freestalls contribute directly to musculoskeletal injuries to the upper part of the leg. These occur from the cow banging herself around as she struggles to get up or lay down. They also occur in freestalls with mattresses that do not have adequate bedding to prevent friction burns to the cow's hocks
Indirect effects of poorly designed stalls are manifest in several ways.
Poor freestall design is an important predisposing factor to the incidence
of lameness. Freestalls
that are not clean, dry, comfortable, and easy to get into and out
of will not be used readily by dairy cows. This causes cows to spend
extended periods of time on their feet, this contributes to increased sole
ulcers and abscesses. Excessive time standing in manure slurry also
makes cows more prone to foot rot, heel erosions and hairy heel wart.
Another indirect way proper freestall design promotes cow foot health is by promoting rumen health. Maximum time spent laying equals maximize rumination time. This works in concert with diets that are formulated properly and have adequate particle length. It is this rumination that produces saliva to buffer the acids produced by rumen fermentation.
The cost of sole abscesses has been estimated to be $257 per case and the cost of sole ulcers $627 per case. These losses occur as the result of decreased fertility, reduced milk production, body condition loss, culling, veterinary costs and medication. This contributes to an average cost of lameness to a herd of $90 - $150 per cow in the herd.
Increased milk production may provide the largest economic gain ascribable to cow comfort. Cows laying down more hours of the day will make more milk. In addition to improved rumen health, when a cow is lying down she has more blood flowing through her udder. Mammary blood flow has been measured at 3.7 liters per minute in the standing cow and 4.5 liters per minute in the cow lying down. This increased blood flow will carry more nutrients to the udder to make more milk.
In summary, many feet and leg problems on dairies today arise from poorly
constructed freestalls. Problems arise directly from the cows beating
themselves up in the stalls. They also arise indirectly due to the
fact the cows do not use the stalls. Economic losses are significant.
They come from lameness related issues, (body condition loss, reduced fertility,
reduced milk production, increased culling costs, and treatment costs),
and decreased milk production due to comfort related issues.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, The Ohio State University Extension.