Minnesota DHIA News
A PUBLICATION OF MINNESOTA DHIA	Volume 10,  Issue  3	March 2010

Seven Important Monitors
The DHI-403 Transition Cow Management Report provides analysis of seven important monitors that will help you discover opportunities for improving management of the transition period:

-Dry Periods - were they the proper length?
Studies found that dry periods < 30 days = 5% to 15% less milk; >70 days = 10% less milk
If shorter dry periods are targeted, are they being achieved? Are there too many early dries?

-First Milk - are cows producing well?
Cows and heifers that have low first test milk weights likely had a problem in transition. Higher milk
indicates dry matter intake is adequate and these cows should reach their potential for peak milk

-Fat Protein Ratio (FPR) - is it appropriate on the first test?
A normal FPR of 1.0 to 1.6 on the first test indicates that cows began the lactation eating well, are
maintaining bodyweight, and there are few metabolic and infectious disorders.

-Udder Health - what percent of the herd does not have an SCC infection on the first test?
A high percentage of infected cows on first test (SCC score >4.0) indicates problems in the dry
cow treatment program or dry pen conditions.

-Reproduction - are cows ready to breed soon enough?
If cows have transitioned well and are healthy, and if breeders are doing their job, most cows
should be bred within 30 days of the voluntary waiting period.

-Turnover - are cows surviving to 60 days in milk?
Excessive fresh cow culling is financially devastating. Fresh cow culling is a critical measure of fresh cow health. Healthy fresh cows are likely to perform very well during lactation. Cows leaving prior to 60 days in milk most likely will not have paid for the cost of the dry period.

-Distressed Cows - what percent of cows were not distressed during transition period?
Stressors during the transition period can cause cows to fail during the lactation for any of the reasons listed in the chart. In addition to a graph showing the percent of cows not distressed, a list of recently calved cows with low milk and/or high SCC is provided highlighting the reason(s) why she
 is considered distressed.

Try it Out!

Top Reasons to be on Scout:

10.  Lactation curve and detailed identification information on every animal.

  9.  Create customized dry off, to calve, and to breed lists for daily management.

  8.  Manage Vaccination programs for Modified Live, J-5, Scout Guard or Bangs.

  7.  Summarize inventory for year end book keeping (i.e. How many bulls calves sold, how many cows culled).

  6.  Record Johne’s disease testing.

  5.  Analyze conception rates by sire, breeding code (i.e. standing heat vs ovsync), and breeding technician.

  4.  Analyze pregnancy rate after each vet check.

  3.  Track and analyze health events (i.e. DAs, Ketosis, Mastitis, Pneumonia) with consistent treatments.

  2.  Manage PreSynch, OvSynch, or Resync breeding programs.

1. Create a customized Vet Check List

2010 Scholarship Winners Announced
 
National DHIA and Minnesota DHIA have combined to provide 125 scholarships to Minnesota DHIA affiliate members over the last decade. We are happy to announce another 14 winners for this year.
 
All Scholarships are $500. Applications for 2011 scholarships will be available on line later this spring.
 
Eligibility is defined as a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, or a family member of a DHIA employee, or employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a member of National DHIA (we are). All scholarships are $500. Previous National DHIA or Minnesota DHIA scholarship recipients are not eligible. If you have questions, call Robyn at 1.800.827.3442, ext 19.
 
Congratulations to these highly qualified winners. 
 

2010 DHIA Scholarship Winners ($500 each)

l Jacob Achen of Sauk Centre (Craig & Cindy)

l Brett Boyum of Battle Lake (Al & Jean)

l Kevin Davis of Cokato (Loring & Carol)

l David Hanson of Goodridge (Michael & Linda)

l Kayla Holscher of Twin Brooks SD (Loren & Karen)

l April Johnson of Heron Lake (Dean & Elizabeth)

l Sam Olson of Chetek WI (Lowell & Patricia)

l Katie Peper of Centuria WI (Greg & Karen)

l Kelsey Petit of Plainview (Bob & Barb)

l Brenda Reiter of Elgin (Craig & Cathy)

l Laura Rosenhammer of Sleepy Eye (John & Patty)

l Isaac Solum of Rice Lake WI (Chuck & Cathy)

l Ashley Swenson of Nicollet (Paul & Cindy)

l Tyler Warren of Watkins (John & Karen)

Will Rogers Quotes

  1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco. 
2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day. 

3. Always drink upstream from the herd. 

4. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. 

February Milk Quality Top 100 based on Raw SCC
 

	SCC	cows		SCC	cows
DAN AND JOLENE SCHLANGEN	35	68	KIDMAN DAIRY	76	118
TIM & SUE HOESE	38	33	NORBERT BROWN	76	34
SCHEFERS BROS	45	80	PAUL&AMANDA SEEDORF	77	46
CRAZY DAISY DAIRY	46	132	GOLBERGS LAKEVIEW DAIRY	77	117
BRUCE AND JILL BOETTCHER	48	154	BRUCE AND JODI HEIM	77	177
GLEN CHRISTEN	49	42	ZUMBRO VIEW FARMS LLC	77	51
DAVID BUCK	50	66	R + R FUNKE	77	76
CB FARMS LLC	51	49	DARYL KOELLER	78	37
INTRIGUE JERSEYS & SWISS	52	16	MICHAEL AND KRIS BANSE	78	65
TRAVIS-RICHARD SCHLOSSER	52	33	RICK HEUER	78	102
ROBERT MILLER	52	58	SIGEL DAIRY COMPANY	79	58
CIRCLE DRIVE HOLSTEINS	52	18	LYLE AND WANDA HONEBRINK	79	106
GENE SCHMIDT	53	34	DONALD AND BRIAN ENTINGER	80	73
RKB DAIRY	56	99	AUSMUS FARM	81	99
MIKE + DONNA TELLERS	59	59	TROENDLE FARMS	81	109
BRAD GLENZ	60	58	JULIAN + DAVID SJOSTROM	81	79
BETH DEPPA	60	64	STEVE AND SANDY SIEGLE	81	53
PANEK DAIRY	61	60	BERNING FAMILY DAIRY	82	73
FRANK PATRICK	61	59	RONALD AND SUSAN JOHNSON	82	60
BENGTSON FAMILY FARM	61	46	KEVIN&DIANNE ILIFF	83	21
JOHN WASNER DAIRY	64	26	PETER SKAJ	84	60
SCHLIEP FAMILY DAIRY	66	66	PAUL WEIDENBORNER	84	145
DON-LE BROOK FARMS	66	186	T J ZABEL FARM	84	142
MATT BERKTOLD	66	168	STEVE + DEB HEUER	85	28
ERIC CRABTREE	66	62	MARK KLEHR	85	57
GREG AND KRISTIN MAHONEY	66	2	KIMM'S DAIRY	85	83
JOHN ROBERS	66	20	DAVID SCHUUR	85	53
RONALD FIELD	67	32	CLETUS FISCHER	85	39
GERALD+LISA BURG	67	48	CURVECREST FARMS II	86	85
JEFF PETERMEIER	67	25	CURT + JACKIE BEKIUS	86	62
DEWEY HERBER	68	145	HOWARD STUEBER	86	37
DAVID SMITH	70	31	ART AND JANE STUMPF	87	53
TOM FUECHTMANN	70	99	DONALD LEE	87	120
STEVE & ALAN OELTJEN	71	76	TED TEWS	88	152
JAMES HESSE	71	106	BILL MILLER	88	205
CURT MAREN JEREMY HOLST	71	105	MIKE BLOMMEL	88	37
DONALD + DARLENE MATROS	71	77	REUBEN AND JANICE STOMMES	89	70
SONDAG DAIRY	71	38	DEAN + ELIZABETH JOHNSON	89	77
SCHREIBER BROS	71	86	DENNIS +DARREN JOHNSON	90	141
JIM KULINSKI	72	50	CHARLES NELSON	90	34
KEVIN ANDERSON	72	48	SCOTT & JACOLYN RICKEMAN	91	77
ROLLING RIDGE ACRES	73	304	EARL FELLING	92	78
TODD SORUM	73	140	ART + KAREN HOFFMAN	92	115
ROGER ALDINGER	74	63	STEVE BRAITH	92	52
JERRY + BEV POHLMANN	74	70	DAVID & CINDY HOESE	92	32
MARVIN RADEMACHER	75	62	DENNIS AND WAYNE WOLTERS	93	105
DAVE LEMKE	75	32	RICK MARSCHALL	93	154
RICK STOCKER	75	82	DEAN FRISLE	94	72
HOEFS' DAIRY	75	218	SPEEDLING GRANER FARMS-	94	264
MAYNARD&JEREMY SCHUMACHER	75	76	LANGHORST BROS DAIRY	94	51