Inside this Issue
First Harvest of Forages is Just Around the Corner!
Supplementation Of The Lactating Cow In A Grazing System
15-Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness
Emerging Technologies for Estrous Synchronization
Common Questions Regarding Coliform Mastitis Vaccines
Milk Price Outlook
Hay Auction Prices
News Updates

First Harvest of Forages is Just Around the Corner!
Mark Sulc & Thomas E. Noyes

The first harvest of forage crops is just around the corner, in fact orchardgrass for dairy cattle will be ready for harvest in the southern part of the state as soon as fields dry out, if it isn't ready already. First harvest of forage crops and planting of row crops will probably be in conflict this spring. This is a tough choice to make, but for dairy farmers high quality forage is essential, and should be given priority over row crop planting, especially if the row crop to be planted is silage corn.

The optimal time of harvest depends on your forage quality goals. Harvest in the boot stage for high quality orchardgrass, ryegrass, tall fescue, and reed canarygrass. Timothy and bromegrass harvest should be delayed to the early heading stage, because they are not very tolerant of cutting in the pre-heading stages.

For pure stands of alfalfa, we can estimate the quality of the standing forage, and base the optimal timing of harvest on that estimate.  Fiber concentration, particularly neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, is the primary variable of concern when evaluating quality of alfalfa for use by ruminant animals.

On May 1st, the estimated NDF content of alfalfa was 32.4% at Columbus, 32%
near Millersberg, and about 29% northeast of Wooster in Wayne county. Last spring, alfalfa did not reach 32% at Columbus until May 20, so alfalfa development this year is well ahead of 1997 (this should come as no surprise, given the early spring this year). The optimal NDF content of alfalfa for lactating dairy cows is 40%. We would expect alfalfa NDF to increase by about 5 or 6 NDF units in the next 7 to 10 days. The bottom line is that alfalfa development is well ahead of last year, so be prepared to make an earlier harvest this year to achieve quality forage. Hopefully the rains will slow down soon so we can get planting and harvesting done in a timely manner!

Supplementation Of The Lactating Cow In A Grazing System
Thomas E. Noyes
Extension Dairy Agent, Wayne Co.

Spring is upon us and it's great to see green grass, although winter was very kind to Ohio this year.  Spring management and supplementation of the lactating cow is the most challenging time during the grazing season.  At this time forage growth is the most rapid and quality changes quickly make management more intense during the spring flush.

Ideally we would like to keep the grazing height of the forage under 12 inches if you're grazing the tall species (orchard grass and red clover) and under 10 inches if you're predominantly bluegrass and white clover.  If you're able to manage your pastures in this manner you will be grazing forage that can be from 24-30 percent crude protein with relatively low fiber with NDF values in the 35 percent range.

The goal of a supplementation program is to feed the cow to capture as much of the protein as possible and to perhaps provide some fiber to slow down the rate of passage.  This can be accomplished by continuing to feed a TMR while you begin to turnout on grass, gradually reducing the amount fed over a 7 to 10 day period.  Over that period of time your length of grazing has increased from several hours to now all day grazing.  If a TMR is not being used follow a similar program of gradually reducing hay and silage feeding as you increase the length of grazing.

Many beginning graziers ask about the continued feeding of a forage throughout the grazing season and on many farms this is practiced.  I think there can be continued use of the TMR mixer to feed what I call a PMR (partial mixed ration) while grazing.  For the high producing cow this is an ideal way of getting adequate grain intake without "slug" feeding.  It slows down the rate of passage capturing more of the degradable protein.

In a grazing system the nutrient most lacking for high production is energy.  Therefore, grain feeding should be at a rate consistent with the production goals of the herd but limited to a maximum of 18-22 pounds per day.  The content of the grain mix should be primarily a combination of finely ground and coarsely ground corn and perhaps a fibrous carbohydrate like soy hulls along with salt and minerals.  By varying the grind of corn and using a fibrous CHO source you vary the rate of fermentation in the rumen thus capturing more of the degradable protein.  By incorporating this grain mix with corn silage you've further improved the efficiency of the fermentation process while the cow is grazing.

In the earlier years of adopting management intensive grazing it was thought that due to the high rate of protein degradability of forage being grazed that a rumen undegradable protein source would be needed.  However, feeding trials as Purdue University, here at OSU-ATI and recently at Penn State showed there was no increase in milk production by feeding by-pass protein supplements or by increasing the protein percent in the grain mix to 16 percent.

Recent Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN) studies in New York and in Pennsylvania showed as much variation in MUN levels of grazing herds as with confinement herds and there appears to be no advantage to feeding expensive RUP sources.  Excess protein actually utilizes energy for removal therefore avoid overfeeding protein.

In regards to mineral supplementation, probably the most important mineral to pay attention to in spring grazing is magnesium.  With all species of livestock magnesium tetany is a common deficiency without supplementation.  Pay attention to potassium levels in the forages being grazed.  On many dairy farms potash levels of the soils are pretty high causing forages to be 4 percent and higher in potassium.  This further reduces magnesium absorption.  Reducing potassium by feeding low potassium forages like corn silage and increasing magnesium supplementation is needed.

With the remaining minerals, beware that, in grazing, less grain is fed and cows eat less when pasture quality is high.  Adjust the mineral content of the grain mix to account for lower dry matter intake of grain.

When it comes to vitamins, don't waste your money.  The high quality forage and the sunlight will provide an abundant supply.

In summary, some producers adopted management intensive grazing as a way of lowering feed costs and simplifying feeding.  So keep it that way.  Supplementing lactating cows on pasture need not be complicated.  The management of your pastures is the key to high production using a grazing system.  Happy Grazing!

15- Measures of Competitiveness
Dianne Shoemaker, Agriculture Agent

This Month:   Maintain Family's Standard of Living
Competitive level: Increase herd size by at least 60% every 10 years

Example:  137 cows in 1996
                  /  80 cows in 1986
                  = 1.71
A 71% increase in cow numbers over 10 years.

In a look at what happened to herd size over the last 40 years*, Jim Polson and Gary Schnitkey found that herd sizes had increased approximately 60% every 10 years.  At first glance, one would think that farm income increased nicely over those 40 years.  While net farm income per cow did increase, the farm family's overall standard of living did not.  Why?

Inflation was the major factor influencing standard of living.  Income went up, but the buying power of those dollars didn't.  Also, as net farm income increased, tax obligations also increased.  Income can be increased by improving net farm income per cow.   However, this is easiest for a farm that has relatively low net farm income per cow.  Net farm income per cow usually averages between $350 and $400 per cow.  For a farm with above average net farm income per cow, adding cows is the easiest way to increase income.

Not every farm wants to or is able to expand.  Those that don't or can't need to consider:
- Retiring existing debt (reduce future payments)
- Investing in financial assets  (to provide future income)
- Looking at off-farm employment opportunities
- Looking at other agricultural enterprises
- Selling the business at a favorable time (before net worth takes a hit!)

One of the most far-reaching implications of this need to increase herd size  is how it affects the decisions you make now.  It is important to site buildings, silos, lagoons, barns, etc, so that you can add on in the future.

*  "Increasing Number of Dairy Cows Needed to Support a Farm Family", Dept. of Agricultural Economics.  The Ohio State University, April 1995, E.S.O. 2214.

Emerging Technologies for Estrous Synchronization
Dr. Mike Day, Associate Professor
Department of Animal Sciences

The development of new approaches and systems to regulate estrous cycles in cattle have been occurring at a rapid pace for the past 5 to 6 years.  The recent progress in this area is a direct result of discoveries of how ovarian follicles grow, and what regulates this growth.  Armed with this information, we have begun to develop systems of estrous cycle control that can consistently produce a precisely timed, fertile ovulation, that is associated with a readily detectable heat.

One key component of many of the most successful systems of estrous control is the capability to administer progesterone or a progesterone-like compound to the cow for  a short period of time.  Progesterone is the hormone that is normally secreted by the ovary which suppresses heat.  If we can give progesterone from an outside source, we can, by removal of the progesterone along with regression of any existing CL to remove internal sources of progesterone,  set the time when an ovulation will occur.  From a practical standpoint, we also know that while progesterone is in the cows system, she will not show heat and we therefore can't miss a heat.  Furthermore, if we give progesterone for a short period of time to a cow that is not cycling, often we can induce her to ovulate after the period of progesterone exposure.

There are currently no commercially available products in the USA to deliver progesterone to cows.  We can deliver progesterone-like compounds (they do the same thing as progesterone) to beef cows in their feed (MGA) or an ear implant (SyncroMate - B) but neither is approved in dairy cattle.   In most other parts of the world, products to deliver progesterone are available to dairy producers.  One of the common products is called a CIDR-B (Controlled Internal Drug Release - Bovine) device.  The CIDR-B (InterAg, Hamilton, NZ) is inserted into the vagina of the cow, progesterone is released by the device, it is absorbed through the wall of the vagina and into the cows bloodstream.  The CIDR should soon be available for use in the USA for beef cattle and dairy heifers with the lactating dairy cow as a logical next step for approval through the FDA.

While treating cattle with progesterone in itself is a powerful tool, it is not the total answer, as we know quite well that many cows which ovulate are not detected in heat.  Therefore a second critical component to an effective system is a means to ensure that ovulating animals show heat.  We can achieve this by giving cows a small dose of estradiol shortly before the time that we would expect them to spontaneously show heat.  Estradiol is the same hormone that makes cows normally show heat and is produced by ovarian follicles.

Finally, as mentioned above, we must control the development of follicles on the ovary.  With appropriate follicle control, we ensure that a normal follicle is ovulated, which delivers an egg with a high chance of becoming fertilized and developing into a viable embryo.  We can achieve this by giving another injection of estradiol at the start of a progesterone treatment.  This estradiol starts the development of a "new" follicle which is ready to ovulate shortly after we withdrawal progesterone. A recently tested system of this type is outlined below in Figure 1.

Figure 1.  Timing of the treatments in this system is critical.  The first shot, containing 2 mg of estradiol (2 mg E) is given at the same time the CIDR-B is inserted into the vagina.  This starts the development of a new follicle that will be ready to ovulate by day 0.  No cows will show heat between days -9 and -2 due to the progesterone from the CIDR.  On the day the CIDR-B is removed, prostaglandin F2( (PGF) is given to cause regression of any CL that may remain on the ovaries.  Since the CL produces progesterone, this shot, in addition to withdrawal of the CIDR-B ensures that progesterone will be low at the time we want to AI the cow.  Finally, the second shot containing 1 mg of estradiol (1 mg E) will ensure that all cows that are ovulating will show heat.  In cows that are not cycling, removal of the CIDR-B, coupled with the shot of estradiol 2 days later will induce 70 to 90% of these cows to ovulate and show heat.

The system described in Figure 1 was recently tested using 551 Friesian dairy cows from 3 seasonal New Zealand Dairies.  Cows that were cycling were either not synchronized (CONT) or received the treatment described in Figure 1(SYNC).  All anestrous cows (non-cycling) were treated as in Figure 1(ANES).  The estrus behavior during the first 3 days of the AI season for this seasonal dairy is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2.  The system was highly effective in ensuring all cows were in heat.  In the non-synchronized cows (CONT), 26% were in heat in 3 days, an expected percentage.  In the SYNC and ANES cows, 98 and 92%, respectively were in heat in 3 days.

In addition to achieving excellent heat responses, the conception rate of cows in the SYNC treatment was equal to that of the CONT, while the ANES treatment was slightly lower than the CONT treatment.

Figure 3. As a result of detecting more cows in heat at equal fertility, the days to conception in the SYNC treatment was half that of the CONT treatment.  As importantly, reproductive performance of the non-cycling cows (ANES) was equal to that of cycling cows in the CONT treatment.  In addition, more cows in the SYNC and ANES treatments were pregnant at the end of the breeding season (numbers within bars).

The data presented is for cows from a production system that is quite different than most USA dairies.  However, these data indicate that we can make cycling and non-cycling cows have a precise, fertile heat if we adequately regulate the reproductive system. More work is needed to fully develop this type of system for US dairies and in all likelihood it will be a few years before we have these types of systems available in this country for lactating cows.  However, it is safe to say that with the rate of progress in this area from many scientists at various research stations, help is on the way to provide tools to aid in reproductive management in dairy cattle!

Common Questions Regarding Coliform Mastitis Vaccines
Dr. Joe Hogan

Coliform mastitis vaccines have been commercially available throughout the US for several years.  These vaccines are based on the immunization of cows with Gram-negative bacteria that have common core-antigens naturally exposed whereby the cows can mount immune responses that will cross-react with a large number of bacterial strains.  Most of these vaccines use either Escherichia coli J5 or Salmonella typhimurium Re17 as the antigens.  While these vaccines are generally considered safe and effective, a large number of questions have arisen concerning the proper administration and expected results from using these vaccines.

Q: What improvements will I see in the herd?
A: The most common change seen in herds using these vaccines are fewer clinical cases at calving and during the first month of lactation.  The proper use of Gram-negative core antigen vaccines  reduces the incidence, severity, and duration of clinical signs due to intramammary infections caused by coliform bacteria.   These vaccines will not prevent intramammary infections, but enhance the ability of cows to fight the infections once bacteria enter the gland.

Q: Will I have to vaccinate each dry period or will one series of injections last the life of a cow?
A: Unfortunately, cows have little immunological memory toward these vaccines.  The protective antibodies in blood return to pre-vaccination concentrations within a couple of months after the last immunization. Cows should be vaccinated during each dry period to maximize protection at calving and during early lactation.

Q: Will the Gram-negative core antigen vaccines reduce all types of mastitis?
A: Most labels of Gram-negative core antigen vaccines specify efficacy against only Escherichia coli.  Data from field trials suggest that these vaccines also reduce clinical cases of mastitis by Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Serratia spp., and Proteus spp.   These vaccines have no effect on mastitis cause by staphylococci, streptococci, or other Gram-positive bacteria.

Q: Should I use a product that requires two injections or a product with three injections?
A: Some products instruct the use of two immunizations during the dry period while others direct the use of two injections during the dry period and a third at calving.  The three injection protocol does elevate antibodies in blood at 30 days after calving compared to the two injection regime.  Whether the increased antibody titers relate to a decrease in clinical cases during early lactation is currently unknown.

The timing of the first two injections is constant among products and crucial to the success of the Gram-negative core vaccines.  The first injections should be given at the time of drying off with a booster injection given 28 to 30 days later.  This will maximize protection during the weeks around calving in cows averaging a 60-day dry period.  A vaccination regime that does not protect cows is to vaccinate only at drying off and at calving.  The lapse of time between injections is too great for animals to adequately respond to the vaccine.

Q: Can I treat clinical mastitis with the vaccine?
A: Treating clinical cases of mastitis with Gram-negative core antigen vaccines is not recommended.  The average duration of an E. coli intramammary infection is less than two weeks.  The blood and milk antibody responses to vaccination is maximum 28 days after immunization.  Therefore, the infection has almost certainly been eliminated by the cow?s own defenses before the vaccine has an opportunity to affect the disease.  These bacterins act as preventative vaccines, not therapeutic drugs.

Q: Will vaccination cause my cows to abort?
A: Controlled trials have shown no adverse effects of these vaccines on pregnancy, feed intake, or milk production.  The concern voiced by some experts was that the endotoxin in these vaccines might cause elevated temperatures in cows.   Administering the vaccines according to label direction should not affect animal health during pregnancy.

Q: When starting my herd on a Gram-negative core antigen vaccine, should I immunize the whole herd at once or only as cows enter the dry period?
A: Vaccinating cows during lactation is not recommended.   The time of greatest susceptibility to coliform mastitis is during the weeks surrounding calving.  Label directions for use of the vaccines are intended to maximize protection during this time of greatest risk.  As lactation progresses, risk of coliform mastitis greatly diminishes.  The use of these vaccines in lactating cows will probably have little beneficial effects and not be cost effective.

Q: Will the use of coliform mastitis vaccines in first calf heifers be beneficial?
A: A trial recently completed in Ohio showed that the advantages seen in vaccinated cows also were realized in first lactation animals that received a primary injection 60 days prior to calving, a booster 30 days later, and a third injection within 24 hours after calving.

Milk Price Outlook
Gary Schnitkey
Dairy Farm Management Specialist

• The Basic Formula Price (BFP) for April 1998 was $12.01 per cwt., down $.81 from the March 1998 BFP.
• The May BFP likely will be in the $11.10 to $11.30 price range, substantially below the April BFP.  Much of the price decline is attributable to higher milk production.  In March, milk production rose by 1.4 percent over February levels in the 20 largest dairy states.  Milk production levels appear to be holding up in May.  For the year, projections are that 1998 milk production will be 1.6 percent above 1997 production.  The 1.6 percent increase is above the average increase of 1 percent, indicating that dairy production is expanding.
• The BFP price likely will not decline much during the summer.  Currently, BFP contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are trading at $11.20 per cwt. in May, $11.60 in July, and $12.32 per cwt. in August.  This suggests that May’s BFP will be the lowest, with price increases occurring in late summer.  However, there is considerable uncertainty.  Slight changes in production or demand could send the BFP lower.

Location                     First                     Second                 Third                        Large Round/bale
Damascus (/bale)        $1.00 -3.00         $1.35 - 5.75           $1.35 - 5.75
Ashland County (/ton) $67.50 -100.00   $85.00 - 120.00     $130.00 -170.00     $14.00 - 45.00
Farmerstown (/ton)     $40.00 - 165.00  $115.00 - 170.00   $115.00 - 170.00    $22.50 - 30.00
Mt. Hope (/ton)          $50.00 - 117.50  $85.00 - 160.00     $107.50 - 175.00     $22.50 - 32.50

News Updates

We bid farewell to Ms. Cheryl Hall. Cheryl will be leaving on June 12 to accept a job with Ohio River United Shippers in Wurtland, KY.  She, her husband Eric, and daughter, Amber, will be living in Minford, OH. In her role as an Extension Associate, she has organized the dairy cattle and goat skillathons at the Ohio State Fair, assisted in organizing and conducting many Extension dairy programs, especially the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, was active with the Ohio Dairy Team, responsible to two dairy web sites, assembled the Buckeye Dairy News, and many other responsibilities. She was regarded as the "computer expert" in the Department of Animal Sciences and thus assisted many Departmental personnel with computer problems. She also assisted Dr. Maurice Eastridge with his research program. Cheryl is very talented and will be severely missed. We wish her the best!

The annual Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference was held on April 21 and 22, 1998 in Ft. Wayne, IN. About 450 people registered for the Conference, the largest number since the Conference began in 1992. Attendees consisted of about 74% from the feed industry and the others included veterinarians, university personnel, and dairy farmers. Thirty percent of the attendees were from Ohio. The Conference was preceded again this year by a management program held by Monsanto. The Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference will be held April 20 and 21 in 1999 and will be preceded by a preconference program on April 20. Mark your calendar!

At a "Discovering Our Future in the Dairy Industry" meeting in northeastern Ohio, the following questions were addressed: What is the future of our dairy farm? What are options to dairy farmers in Ohio? Major points were:

•  The milk price trend, even though more volatile, is level. But, real after tax income per cow has decreased because of inflation of inputs, but not of milk price, coupled with progressive income taxes

• "Quality of life" issues for dairy families are: 1) time away 2) advantages of farm life 3) family income 4) retirement income.
• For most dairy farms to continue, farms will have to expand, specialize or find competitive advantage in some other way. Increased life span, longer retirements, farm transfer costs, lower real, after tax returns per cow and the need to continually update facilities to stay competitive make this the case.
• Four options were discussed for dairy farms: 1) quit now 2) milk it out 3) expand 4) specialize. Another option is to increasingly rely on off farm income.
•  There is help available. In NE Ohio the Dairy Expansion and Profitability Initiative involves a team of NE Dairy Excel that intensively works with individual operations to increase competitiveness. Also, two OSU Extension bulletins are available: "Dairy Excel's 15 Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness" and "Transferring the Family Farm". Contact your local OSU Extension Office for a copy.