December 2002
Testing Year Will End
12/31/02
Year End for the 2002 testing
recognition and awards will remain the traditional December 31st. Herds will
need to be processed by midnight on the 31st in order for that test to be
included in the Annual Summary. Herds must also have a test after September 30
to be included.*
Johne's genome identified
USDA and University of Minnesota
scientists have sequenced the genome of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the
bacterium that causes Johne's disease. Scientists believe the breakthrough
research could speed development of new tests, vaccines and ultimate eradication
of the infectious disease. More than 40% of large herds and 20% of small herds
in the U.S. are infected, according to a 1996 study.*
November Sire Proofs Available for Dairy
Comp Users
Members who have Dairy Comp 305 can now download the new November Sire Proofs
from the LOOP. The files are named
dcupdate.zip and jones.bat. To install them, type "exec\bjones" on the command
line and hit "enter". This command will unzip the file very quickly so you may
not see it happening.*
Disney movie will help promote milk
McDonald's, Disney and Dairy.
Dairy
Managment, INC is teaming up with Disney to promote the entertainment company's
2003 animated holiday movie, "Home on the Range." The movie stars three cows,
with voice overs by Roseanne Barr and Cuba Gooding, Jr. The movie will be
cross-promoted with McDonald's to feature plastic milk chugs in Happy Meals. The
whole project is an incredible marketing coup for Dairy Management, Inc.*
Dairy Trivia
Did you know?
* Number of cartons of milk the average McDonald's restaurant sells in a day: 3
* Average number of dairy servings U.S. consumers eat per capita per day: 1 1/2
* Increase in commercial cheese disappearance in 2002: +0.6%
* Retail cheese market
share held by WalMart: 13% *
Somatic Cell Counts less than
100,000!
Congratulations to the following 33 members - your
November Somatic Cell Counts were under 100,000.
We also had another 95 herds with 150,000 or less. Thank
you for your quality to the dairy industry!
|
ROLLING GREEN HOLSTEINS |
42,000 |
OAKLAND |
|
|
KEVIN KRUIZENGA |
87,000 |
CUMBERLAND, WI |
| DENNIS PLAETZ DAIRY |
56,000 |
LUCAN |
| |
DALE SCHWARTZ |
87,000 |
ARLINGTON |
| ROBERT SLATER |
57,000 |
MAHTOWA |
| |
BEVENDALE FARMS 2 |
87,000 |
GREENISLE |
| SELKE FARMS |
58,000 |
DAKOTA |
| |
DAVID BUCK |
87,000 |
DENNISON |
| MERTON + TRUDY NELSON 2 |
63,000 |
ELLENDALE |
| |
EITEL HOLSTEIN FARMS |
88,000 |
SEBEKA |
| ROGER + WENDY SORENSON |
68,000 |
EAGLE BEND |
| |
RICHARD POHLMANN |
93,000 |
GREY EAGLE |
| MIKE & LINDA MATOUSEK |
69,000 |
GLENCOE |
| |
LEO LENZMEIER |
94,000 |
SHAKOPEE |
| JOHN KLEHR |
69,000 |
WINTHROP |
| |
TRACY SCHAFER |
95,000 |
OWATONNA |
| STEVEN ASHER |
70,000 |
PINE CITY |
| |
DALE RAUSCH |
95,000 |
WATKINS |
| MICHAEL AND KRIS BANSE |
70,000 |
EITZEN |
| |
JOHN WUOLLET |
95,000 |
NEW YORK MILLS |
| KEVIN ANDERSON |
72,000 |
BATTLE LAKE |
| |
CURT & KARLA BAER |
96,000 |
RUSHFORD |
| STEVE SEARLES |
72,000 |
PINE ISLAND |
| |
SCHERPING FARM |
96,000 |
FREEPORT |
| STEVE AND SANDY SIEGLE |
74,000 |
COLOGNE |
| |
MARTI'S HOLSTEINS |
97,000 |
SLEEPY EYE |
| ROD LORENTZ |
74,000 |
JANESVILLE |
| |
BRIAN NORTON |
98,000 |
KELLOGG |
| DAVID HALLBERG+STEPH LAR |
75,000 |
PENNOCK |
| |
JEREMY E BEYER |
98,000 |
UTICA |
| MIKE BERNICKER |
83,000 |
PRAIRE FARM, WI |
| |
DAN MICHAELIS |
100,000 |
WINONA |
| BRYCE ANDERSON |
84,000 |
BARRETT |
| |
|
|
|
Minnesota Dairy Days set at eight locations
in January, 2003
The dairy cow of the future, robotic milking and cow health will
be topics at Minnesota Dairy Days at eight locations in January. The University
of Minnesota is offering the events, which are designed for producers and others
interested
in dairying. The program will be similar at each site.
Registration at each location will
open at 9:30 a.m. The program will begin at 10 a.m. with a University of
Minnesota research update. Then there will be a session on keys to success in
dairying, including people considerations and cow considerations. Speakers at
the various locations will be U of M regional Extension educators Lee Gross,
Chuck Schwartau, Vern Oraskovich and Jim Salfer, and U of M Extension dairy
scientists Marcia Endres and Jim Linn. Mike Hodgman, a veterinarian with
Monsanto Dairy Business of St. Louis, Mo., will wrap up the
session with a presentation on cow health.
There will be three presentations in the afternoon:
lowering somatic cell counts by U of M Extension animal scientist Jeff Reneau;
designing the cow of the future by U of M animal scientist Les Hansen; and an
overview of robotic milking by
Endres or Salfer.
A question-and-answer session will wrap up the day, with
adjournment scheduled for 3 p.m. The Dairy Days registration fee is $25 per
person and $15 for each additional person from the same farm. Pre-registration
is not required; however some locations have limited space. You may register at
the door, but please call
the local coordinator at least a day in advance so that meals count can be planned.
Dates, locations and local coordinators are:
--Jan. 7, McIntosh, Community Center, Gene Krause, (218) 634-1511;
--Jan. 8, Perham, VFW, Vince Crary, (218) 385-3000;
--Jan. 9, Mora, American Legion, Jim Salfer, (320) 255-6169;
--Jan. 10, Willmar, Health & Human Services Bldg., Jim Salfer, (320) 255-6169;
--Jan. 14, Edgerton, Pizza Ranch, Tim Dolan, (507) 237-4100;
--Jan. 15, Lewiston, Community Center, Chuck Schwartau, (651) 385-3100;
--Jan. 16, Gaylord, Sibley Co. Courthouse, Tim Dolan, (507) 237-4100;
--Jan 17, Cannon Falls, Grandpa's Garage Restaurant,
Chuck Schwartau, (651) 385-3100.
The Minnesota Dairy Days website is at
http://www.ansci.umn.edu/dairy/dairydays/2003mndairydays.html.*
"What our Members have to Say"
Quality requires vigilance in all areas
Joe Kenning, of St. Cloud says, we as dairy producers need to be
vigilant about producing quality milk. Since 1979, we have battled high SCC on
our dairy, with counts typically running between 1 and 2 million. Initially, we
put in an isolation transformer. That helped, but we still weren't producing
quality milk -
750,000 was about as low as we got.
Later, we hired a veterinarian to help us deal with poor
milk quality. We spent $10,000 in 1.5 years. Basically, he helped us follow
recommended milking practices,such as using individual towels and teat dipping
all cows. Milk quality
actually got worse and we were back up toward 2 million SCC.
Our dairy coop evaluated
our milk equipment. Our system was working very well -
nearly 100% efficient.
Still frustrated, we again
monitored voltage. It was less than 0.1 voltage.
Stray voltage was not a problem.
With the same meter,
however, we looked at amperage. We were way above the safe
level. The electrical magnetic field (EMF) wasn't correctly balanced.
To correct this problem, we put in ground stakes earlier
this year. The SCC has dropped significantly - to about 400,000 - in just a few
months. Plus, cows' feed intake is up and production increased 2- pounds per cow
- in spite of this
summer's heat and humidity. Cows now enter the milking parlor willingly.
If you'd like to
know more about how EMF or how we resolved this problem on our dairy, feel free
to call me at 320.251.4656.*
Minnesota DHIA 2002 Annual Summary
It's time once again to publish the Minnesota DHIA Annual
Summary. This year in addition to highlighting some of the many accomplishments
of our members, we plan to expand our listings of dairy service and resource
providers. Our goal is
to make the Annual Summary a handy reference book for our customers.
If you, or someone
you know, offers services or products that dairy producers
would find useful please let us know. We'll be happy to help spread the word.
We are offering advertising space to any of the following
resource providers:
| Heifer Raisers |
Hoof Trimmers |
| Cow De-horners |
Relief Milkers |
| Custom Harvesters |
Milking Equipment Dealers |
| Pest Controllers |
Dairy-related Artists |
Each listing will cost $50 per line with a maximum of 2 lines per listing.
All Minnesota DHIA members will receive a 50% member's discount.
In addition to the discount, we
will give referring member producers $5 for each name that gets published. We
also have full and 1/2 page ad space available for those with more to say. If
you know someone who would like to be included in the Annual Summary, please
call Barbara at 1-800-827-3442. Remember this summary goes to the top of the
dairy industry, including the top producers, consultants and extension
professionals.*
Cows for Sale
Cows for Sale: 60-cow Registered Holstein herd. Located in
Pierz. All AI, SCC @ 100,000 - 200,000.
Please cal Don & Darlene Matros 320.745.2467. (11/25/02)
FOR
SALE: 10 Holstein Springing Heifers out of a good herd. More springers for sale
next month.
Please call Roger or Teri Hommerding @ 320.764.7726 (11/11/02)
Cows For Sale is a service of
Minnesota DHIA. Members can advertise for just $2.50 per animal with a maximum
of $50 per herd (good for 60 days).
For more information, talk to your Field Rep on
sample day or call us at 800.827.3442.*
Happy Holidays!
Best Wishes for a joyous and safe holiday season
and successful 2003 from all of us at Minnesota DHIA.
We appreciate your continuing patronage. Thank You.*