HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-10-22, Page 20THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1986. PAGE 21.
Nutrition key to milk production, vet says
Good nutrition, not miracle
hormones, is still the key to good
milk production, Dr. Bill Schilthuis
of the Goderich Veterinary Clinic
told farmers attending the annual
meeting of the Huron County
Cream Producers in Belgrave
Thursday night.
Dr. Schilthuis called for a “back
to the basics’’ approach to nutri
tion, saying he is not a great fan of
supplements. Cows have the genes
to produce more milk without
hormone implants, he said, but
“we’re not getting the most from
those genes at present.’’
He also issued a warning about
the harm that could be done to
cattle from microtoxines produced
in mouldy corn. Conventional
wisdom is that the toxins are
harmful to pigs but cattle can
handle it, he said, but he thinks
although cattle with a ruminary
system are not as susceptible they
can still be weakened to bring on
other ailments. There has been an
increase in other ailments such as
pneumonia in recent years, he
said, and although he can’t prove
it, he thinks mouldy corn is behind
it.
He also said that large round
bales are a detriment to the dairy
industry because they are left out
in the rain, the outside gets wet and
moulds are put into the cattle feed.
Dr. Schilthuis made the com
ments during a question and
answer period at the meeting.
Chairman Cecil Cranston, RR 2,
Auburn, in his report from the
Cream Board said there is still no
decision on the possibility of
producers being able to convert
their cream quota to milk quota. It
is the board’s position, he said, to
try to keep cream quota in the
cream industry and not let it be
eroded until it is non-existent.
The new quality testing program
for cream producers was explained
by Dave Dixon from the Markdale
office of the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food. He explain
ed Ph testing now taking place once
a month at each creamery saying
the amount of lactic acid in the
cream is a measure of its quality.
Cream tested since the program
began in July ranged from a rating
of 6.8 (barely on the acid side of
neutral) to 4 (too acidic). He rated
cream testing 6.8 to 6.25 as good;
6.25 to 4.95 as fair and under 4.95
as poor.
The testing has show results, he
said. In July only 37 per cent of
samplestestedwere rated good
but this increased to over 50 per
cent in September.
Part of this could be attributed to
cooler weather, he said, but he
thought the major reason is the
increased awareness of producers
in the need for more care. Under
the program, O.M.A.A.F. officials
have been visiting farms which
have sent in two or more pails of
poor quality cream to give assist
I
Huron County Cream Producers elected their 1986-87 executive at a meeting in Belgrave Thursday night.
Members are: [front, left to right] Jean Vollmer, secretary-treasurer; William Irvin, vice-president; Cecil
Cranston, chairman; [back row] directors John Duskocy, Leland Harkness, Bill Deichert and Barry
Mason.
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ance in solving problems and, he
said, of 700 visits across the
province the response from farm
ers has been excellent.
Bob Ferguson of the Walkerton
OMAAF branch offered help in
preparing applications under the
Cream Assistance Program which
provides grants of 40 per cent of the
cost of capital improvements such
as new separators, coolers and
milkhouses, up to a maximum of
$2,000.
Three resolutions were discuss
ed which will have been formulated
by the Huron and Perth cream
producers. The first urged the
cream board to continue the policy
which allows cream producers to
borrow or lend unused cream quota
in order to maximize use of quota.
By lending, a producer can let
someone else use his unused quota
without losing it for good.
A second resolution called for
the cream board to keep its word
when it promises not to repay
farmers levies for over-quota
cream. In the past year the board
had said it would not refund
over-quota levies so many farmers
had gone out and bought more
quota (some borrowing money to
do so) while other farmers had fed
their surplus to farm animals.
Others, however, had gone ahead
and overproduced. In the long run,
the board changed its mind and
repaid the levies leaving those who
had tried to comply with the
board’s earlier decision at a
disadvantage.
Mr. Cranston explained that the
reversal of policy on the part of the
board was because it discovered
that if the levies were not refunded,
they would go to the dairy
commission.
Thefinal resolution said that
since some farmers fill only 85 per
cent of their quota (the minimum to
keep from losing quota) while
others find it difficult to find
enough quota, the minimum use of
quota should be raised to 95 per
cent (milk producers have a 96 per
cent level). With loaning of quota
this shouldn’t be a hardship said
Jean Vollmer, secretary-treasurer
of the group.
Mr. Cranston warned that if
cream producers don’t use their
cream quota they’re likely to see it
taken away and allocated to milk
producers.
Although there was no vote on
the resolutions none met any real
opposition.
Mr. Cranston was returned for
Irvin, RR 7, Lucknow was named
the new vice-chairman and Jean
Vollmer, RR 2, Wingham was
returned as secretary, all by
acclamation.
Two directors and two alternates
were elected. They will be chosen
from among Barry Mason, RR 1,
Belgrave; John Duskocy, RR 4,
Brussels; Bill Deichert, RR 1,
Zurich; and Leland Harkness, RR
1, Clifford.
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