Minnesota DHIA News
A PUBLICATION OF MINNESOTA DHIA Volume 3, Issue 8	August 2003

QUALITY COUNT$ IN MINNESOTA

During the first two weeks of August all dairy farmers in Minnesota will be getting a folder entitled Quality Count$. The Quality Count$ campaign is being promoted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the University of Minnesota, and many industry organizations, including Minnesota DHIA. Minnesota has the highest average SCC of the top 10 milk producing states, and the goal of this campaign is to make a significant difference in improving milk quality in our state. It can be done! Folders will be delivered by milk haulers.

Inside the folders you will find an introductory letter from Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson, some information on the financial impact a high SCC count can have for you, and some recommendations that you can implement to improve milk quality on your dairy.

Quality Count$ promotes four "C's" to improve milk quality.

• Culturing helps identify what organisms you are dealing with, and where they may be coming from.
• Cleanliness includes keeping cows clean, and doing a thorough job of udder prepping when milking cows.
• Care: Cows that are well managed have lower stress levels and increased resistance to disease.
• Consistency: Proper milking procedures, stall maintenance, etc, needs to be followed consistently, including busy times of the year such as planting and harvesting to achieve and maintain a low SCC.

The Quality Count$ campaign includes more than just sending out some information to dairymen. During July, Veterinarians from the University of Minnesota conducted meetings throughout the state to update industry professionals on different aspects of mastitis management and methods to improve milk quality. Many people from all sectors of our dairy industry attended those meetings, including DHIA personnel. Some of those meetings included hands on use of DHIA records, culture results, cow and stall cleanliness scoring, and milking procedure evaluation. The goal is to be able to provide support for dairymen who want help in evaluating their current operation and making changes to improve it.

Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association recently recognized Field Representative, Ron Klindworth for his exceptional performance in 2002. Ron was chosen as the MN DHIA New Herd Leader by signing on 11 new herds to his unit in 2002. Ron is no stranger to providing great service to his producers. He previously received the Outstanding Field Rep Award in 2002.

Ron Klindworth from Northfield, has been a Field Representative for Minnesota DHIA since March 2000 for Dodge, Goodhue, Lesueur and Rice Counties. Currently, in his unit, Ron services 68 herds.

In his spare time, Ron enjoys his small hobby farm, where he raises rabbits and guinea pigs. He also plays an active role in the LeSueur County ADA as well as doing relief milking and field work for some of his DHIA producers. Please extend your congratulations to Ron the next time he makes a visit to your farm.

• Reduce Costs
• Reduce Labor
• Improve Animal Health
• Improve Net Profit
• Enhance quality of family life
• Protect the Environment

Then a Dairy Profit team would be for you. Producers have seen dramatic changes in their profit potential after participating in a team. What would an extra $.50-$1.00/cwt do for your profit potential? Whether it is helping you capture additional milk premiums, controlling cost or getting some much-deserved time off the Dairy Profit teams can help you accomplish your goals.

Plan to continue in the Dairy Business;

Work with a team to develop short and long term plans for your farm;

Be willing to make changes;

Provide production records for your farm (All records are kept confidential)

Network with other producers to share ideas and information that works on your farm;

Participate in program for at least one year.

Funding from the program can be used for Dairy Software—Scout or Dairy Comp, mastitis cultures, and DHIA testing for new herds on test (talk to your neighbor who isn’t testing), as well as other areas that affect dairy management.

The Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) and the Dairy Planning Grant Program have been funded for the 2003-04 year. The funding provided by the Minnesota Legislature has made the Dairy Development and Profitability Enhancement Program possible for producers to work with these two programs.

MDI is a federation of six- regional partners (Diagnostic Teams) and several statewide partners including the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA), Minnesota Milk Producers (MMPA), the University of Minnesota (U of M), and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities through Farm Business Management and many other industry groups. This producer-led initiative to coordinate a comprehensive approach to the delivery of on-farm services to Minnesota’s dairy producers through the Dairy Profitability Teams.

Milk Quality Leaders for July 2003 sample days, SCC listed in thousands

	Cows	SCC			Cows	SCC
DAN AND JOLENE SCHLANGEN	62	42		SCHEFERS BROS	75	119
KEVIN ANDERSON	48	48		TWIN OAKS DAIRY	51	123
DONALD + DARLENE MATROS	62	57		LESTER SCHULZ & SONS	45	124
DAVID BUCK	66	60		BRYCE ANDERSON	71	124
SOUTHLUND DAIRY	40	62		JIM KULINSKI	47	126
ART AND JANE STUMPF	52	68		BOB L LIESER	58	127
LOWELL BAKKEDAHL	25	69		AARON HALLA	26	128
JASON SMELTER	56	73		MIKE + MANDI HOERNEMANN	91	129
JEFF BLENKER	44	75		VIRCHOW DAIRY	40	130
MICHAEL AND KRIS BANSE	69	75		DEAN/RAUSCH	60	130
MARK KLEHR	54	77		K + A DAIRY	34	131
WILLIS-MARY KRUEGER	30	78		TIMOTHY-MAYLA KLEMEK	33	132
PRAHL DAIRY	31	78		URBAN BROS	59	132
ROGER + WENDY SORENSON	29	81		PETER SKAJ	29	133
MIKE LEIFELD	32	81		LYLE AND WANDA HONEBRINK	80	133
STEVE/SEARLES	13	82		AL + MARK SCHMITT	96	134
DEAN OELTJEN	71	83		HOLLERMANN DAIRY	190	135
LEROY DROPPS	27	84		DAVE SCHROEDER	29	136
JOHN NATHE	210	88		HENRY THOMFORDE	37	136
STEVEN ASHER	33	89		DALE SEYKORA	28	138
KEVIN CARLSON	64	90		LEO LENZMEIER	54	138
JASON + NANCY BACHMANN	32	93		DENIS MULLEN	35	139
STAN WURTZBERGER	32	94		BARGMANN FARMS INC	50	139
LESLIE + TERESA BIERBAUM	41	96		SELMER & JOEL NELSON	49	140
DAVE CORBETT	36	103		JASON L VOLLRATH	61	140
SELKE FARMS	94	103		BYRON WOHLERS	97	140
KOWALSKI DAIRY	63	105		ORIN OSTLUND	22	141
SCOTT & JACOLYN RICKEMAN	71	105		OAK RIDGE DAIRY	47	141
TOM BUNKOWSKI	48	106		NORBERT BROWN	45	142
JAMES + MARY RAYMOND	54	108		PATRICK BRODEEN	49	142
KEVIN & CHERYL KRUIZENGA	62	108		RON+BRAD AUSMUS	57	143
ROBERT ZOUBEK AND SONS	63	110		JOHN KLEHR	58	143
QUINCY VALLEY FARM	76	110		JUDY EDSTROM	36	144
VEISETH FARMS	62	114		LITTLE COTTONWOOD DAIRY	67	144
ROGER NELSON AND SONS	60	115		MICHAEL BRUCE	107	144
SELMER FOSS + SONS NO 1	52	116		PHILIP HAUGE	41	145
PAUL NIBBE	40	117		LARRY & CAROL MOEN	69	145
ED WILLENBRING	44	117		RON AMY SHAWN BEMBOOM	95	146
JASON & JOHN SCHROEDER	51	118		MARK NEWTON	35	149
EUGENE ARNDT	76	118		LARRY KNICKREHM	38	149
MARTI'S HOLSTEINS	100	118		DENNIS FISCHER	61	149
LAKE SHORE FARM	25	119		LIZ KROCAK	106	149
DAN + STEVE NIBBE	49	119

Congratulations to those listed above. July and August are the highest months for SCC each year.

Johne's Tests Incentives Offered

The Board of Animal Health is implementing a new offering for their Johne's Herd Status Program effective July 1, 2003. The payment plan is designed so new herds can join the Johne's Program at no cost, and to give incentive to positive herds to advance into the Negative component of the Johne's Program.

For herds with no Board paid testing since July 1 of 2000, the Board will pay for Lab testing (ELISA) of up to 30 second lactation or older cows. If any cows show up as ELISA positive, the Board will also pay for follow-up Fecal Cultures on those cows. In addition, the Board is offering to pay veterinary fees of $3 for each blood or fecal sample collected, and a $27 stop charge for the visit to collect blood or follow-up fecal samples. In addition, the district veterinarian provides a farm visit for Risk Assessment/Management Plan at no charge.

There are additional incentives for Negative Herds in the Status Program regarding both lab and veterinary fees. Positive Herds on the Management/Testing Program must show that recommendations are being implemented in order to be eligible for incentives

To be eligible, you must use the U of M Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, and have a signed contract with the Board of Animal Health. Contact your veterinarian or Keith Friendshuh at the State Board of Animal Health (651.296.2942 extension 18 or keith.Friendshuh@bah.state.mn.us for more information.

By the Numbers

With the good help of our DHIA Field Reps and your cooperation, we have started summarizing SCC data based on a couple of survey questions each month. Your participation is voluntary and your answers are confidential and are used for summary only. Here are the results of the May question regarding Udder Care.

Singed Udders - 185 herds average SCC is 363,000

Clipped Udders - 246 herds average SCC is 375,000

Nothing done to Udders - 1088 herds average SCC is 412,000