The Huron Expositor, 1981-06-17, Page 15THE SWINKELS BROTHERS John (left) and Harry Swinkels lust
started in the dairy industry two years ago. Dairy specialist at the Huron
OMAF office, Dennis Martin, described Seaforth - area dairy farms, such
as the Swinkels', as well-run and well-managed.
(Photo by Rimmer)
Understanding the plate count
BY E.L. ROTHMEL,
ASSOC. AG. REP.
ALAN SCOTT, AG. REP
Every month, each pro-
xlucer receives a card outlin-
ing to' him the number of
bacteria in his milk. This is
the Standard Plate Count
(S.P.C.) It is the most basic
quality test. It reveals gener-
al sanitation and health con-
ditions. A favourable test
Might, be 3000. A test ap-
proaching, 50;000 certainly
could -need sattve mention.
Some causes of high bacteria
count could be: failure to
wash all contacting milking
surfaces after both night and
morning makings. using the
necessary dairy compounds
and hot •water; slow cooling
or failure of •cooling equip-
ment; poor sanitation in milk
hantHing and mastitis: -
If the Coliform count is
done on high S.P.C.'s. it
could reveal the existence of
unsanitary conditions. Coli-
form organisms in milk indi-
cate contamination. Causes
of high counts' are drippings
from washed but undried
udders: very old, cracked.
broken inflations or other
1.6036' parts: contaminated
water supply; milksto ne in
tank or-pipelines and failure
to replace gaskets (if re-
quired) in the pipeline often
enough,
The Leucocyte count
(Somatic cell count) indicates
abnormal 'amounts of white
blood cells or tissue 'cells in
the milk. All milk normally
contains someof these cells.
High counts would indicate a
herd health problem. hence
loss of production and hence
income. A good test wonlcibe
about 200.000 cell/ml. A test
of 600.000 would indicate
that your veterinarian should
be consulted. The C.M.T. or
1v1.Q.1, is an aid in determin-
ing the amount of Of Leuco-
cytes and tissue cells in your
milking cows. From the Un-
iversity of WiscOnsin comes
the followinc table: .
M
• !- • v'e
C.M.T.
, 0
Trace
1
2
S.C.C. (thousands)
140-225
260-380
420-1..200.
1.280-2.280
Lost Milk Production
0-3
5'
8-12
'16-20
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t
Martin said herds have increased in size, records of the cow's name and pedigree. The Swinkels artificially inseminate their
but the number of farmers has been cot in and a diagram of the cow's markings. cows because it ensures good dairy
half. "The cows have stayed, but the THEY'RE YOUNG character, said John.
farmers moved out." He predicts there will The Swinkels . are relatively yOung in They also have their food checked
be a further reduction in the number of comparison to most area dairy farmers. regularly by sending samples of the
herds within the next five years. Mr. Martin estimates the average age at 50 haylage to the University of Guelph, to be
The averagc'Azo of dairy herds in Huron • . "Most of the dairy. farmers have been tested for mineral and protein content. County` is 40'cvOty*. but the range ts,-from.1 . olitkitw'-coWs for most of their` liyca-...'s -hg - .19hp ik0 tf Arry . emphasize n that ' ii .-4 #!P1130f'e than sp. said MM? Kanto, Otho, ootgs, Tficre aren't v0.1' ,Tuaoy young' ,.. we,sary.tcl.,i.thorougo 04.400.0yei sp,
W:404t4igtlko-bootty,vo.porcoOt. or.ruore; ,,fai-mc4.0: the dairy industry,. /000,1,0e, Offr:,, , . Lilo illt pr9a4c.tigntele„4,01t '.4. VOL -‘,1010. are . Holstein. 014,01044A are a *Mire. ' :' lb0:41llellSei, he, 44 ,..101 t,Y1-0,4 1h!ig' were -' '' coutmentedibatiti$4,'WV4104StA000. .....
:Ii4i!*-.01' 414:11!°4.,,..',0y.",1410:ifttl:!:',,r file1;iii`P...q4.,:, ,.. ,t . ..: Tym...R*99Rmis.,.. . . ,, °,01,110:4str4.0":00trii41-4440.:t;000.- tio, right ahoiroi ,...orgrelltr 61;1404,11fort.1461:•04.cohgYalifiltb...:41-$;air aware
.. .. , . , ..,. . , . . , ,
.--•-• Y'''41* tix1120.VT's[l .4ev-4:tot *O. ,,,, .. , Ther4.- #g • tof, 04:Pgirol,10ailatito..tii'
titT1444. effort TO caring `fStITO# Cows„., . Ea rths; •Alo "1.7.046.r.iKtr,c1., ItoPtT,' vci — .404- -,11-‘it'-,,wirt,1,t w ,4-..611tht*: .7 94.P:1..'°"'',0,ry:g.. 14.1'.4.70 ,,,,'",..t.114.0000u1;i44, ,Irtt;.14.t111,11"0:10P.:7414tho...ttl./Y"..-.
"Aill, 110-e. 'itq.-tfo'at • - *C IL' so- 'tjt0'1!• .,9 rnOtOitYR$0440tOgrIr *0014pial, ,.
:. pi*liiCe better., aay 'art*,,,-•• • . ,, - ' PrOgrgff.k....1*4,• now ''1440 P°4-4-ent',... "4' ' ' . °4Pt*Ohi4t f4'.nt'aPn.*::i141IltralCO;14,..4;3;f14..: 0.197: ' wouirict7d7t-' IhtV'Ohi*a4;1;4'''- time!4'itIt. ..!_!:11131:in;litin'e The ',Swinkels' operation - has been ' •RecOrd 'Of Performaree (ROP),; a federal.. Harry Swinkels said. that the qiitita, .a. , 43,ity is very time cOnSiittning. 'beeallso in successful these past two ye*TS. and it. 'PrOgr,n, The farmers pay p fee to i-1... ,, LK.-vnce tq produce a certain .amount of aPPeera to this care- fortheir • animals, participate and in return official records . ..- addition to the Chores. they have crops to
combined with a good business sense, and are kept for them on each Cow/ mils, is a manor . when starting attend operation..He ,estimaied •t hat it costs attend to in the summer. flatly commented
a ' willingness to work hard that is A supervisor makes monthly visits to test S90 to buy quota for a litre of milk.
that instead of a One-to-five job, they have
responsible. . each cow's production, for butter fat and The .Swinkels built their own barn, and a five-to-nine job.
Relatively new in the industry, John and the amount of milk produced. These facts Harry figured that saved them a great deal "It's a rewarding job, though," said
Harry own one of 525 dairy herdS, in Huron are then used for comparison and to predict in labour costs. ,
John. "You have to work hard for long
County. Dennis Martin, associate agricul- days of lactation and calving intervals,At present, the Swinkels have SS cows hours, but it's a guaranteed income and we
ture representative (Dairy SpeciiiliSt) for They can also make recommendations really enjoy it." but plan to increase their berd- to W. Mr, the Huron County OMAF office; said that aboutthe amount which each cow should be The Swinkels own 200 acres, and rent Martin estimated that a good 100 acres operations in Huron County, such as the fed.would be needed to support 30 cows and 150. so are able to' produce the food for
Swinkels , are well-managed and product-' Only 45 percent of the herds are on Dilltheir offspring, assuming that the bull their cows since Harry estimated that it
ive. and ROP, since both programs are calves were sold. cows. takes 1,25 acres to feed the Mr. Martin is very optimistic about the currently full, but Mi. Martin hopes that
' Huron is fourth overall in dairy production service.
dairy industry. • in the county. He said soon more herds can take advantage of the Huron's
in the province. "Huron Countylends itself The advantages of DHI and ROP are
to livestock production, especially in the nutnerous,azeontinuous record-keeping is
north. There is excellent farm- ground in extremely improtant in the dairy industry,
this.area, so thed,dairy industry seems to be explains John Swinkels. Knowing -the dairy.
moving this way," he said. performance of each cow he is able to treat
as many herds (1000) as it does. today. Mr. records, the Swinkels keep complete induslry Ten years ago, Huron County bad twice them accordingly. In ' addition to these
Careftil work briAgs rewards
BY JOANNE RIMMER
At the end of Swinkels brothers' barn,
there is a "hospital" stall where a cow, due
to freshen, is cared for. She is pampered
and checked regularly. Records concerning
her have been kept current and are
available to answer any questions that may
The treats:4004*s cow Is 'an example
of the orcto **glop whiOticlobo sod
rry savio,aoks., eye, To cacti of .thott
7.11,-.1.141r
THE HURON EXPOSITOR 0 JUNE' 11, 1
• Remember, 'it take but • a
moment to place an Ex-
. positor Want Ad. Dial
527-0240.
OUT WITH THE COWS , John Swinkels, a Seaforth area tame and friendly *and John Is able to call most of them by
dairy farmer, spends time each day with his cows. The cows are name. John is in partnership with his brother, Harry.
(Photo by Rimmer)
6
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