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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '90, 1990-03-21, Page 28B12. FARMING ‘90, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21. 1990. Using forages more effectively saves money BY ANNETTE MOORE DAIRY CATTLE SPECIALIST Feed costs can represent up to 50 per cent of a typical dairy farm's operating costs. Better forage man­ agement, both in the field and in the barn, can help you reduce feed costs and improve production. The following points are some sugges­ tions on how you might reduce feed costs and improve production in your herd. •1. Making Quality Forage Harvesting and storage losses are two major sources of nutrient variability. Over-conditioning or Think safety first with chemicals Proper safety precautions are particularly important when mixing and loading pesticides into your sprayer. This is the time when risk is at its highest because you are working directly with the undiluted pesticide product. This means that in addition to the standard use of rubber gloves, coveralls and rubber boots, the following safety equip­ ment should also be used. Eye protection should be worn when handling pesticide concen­ trates, particularly those with labels carrying the words Warning or Danger. Goggles offer superior protection to glasses because they completely enclose the eyes. Gog­ gles are now available which fit over glasses. Most goggles are designed with vents to prevent fogging, while some have specially treated lenses for the same pur­ pose. Goggles with a rubber or plastic strap, rather than cloth or elastic, should be purchased for ease of cleaning. Contact lenses should not be worn around pesticides, especially the soft or gas permeable type. weathering of forages will increase the amount of leaf loss and leaching of nutrients that decrease the amount of nutrients available to your cow. Improper moisture levels and/or poor storage facilities (silos with air leaks or hay stored uncovered) encourages mould growth and spoilage through im­ proper fermentation. Moulds can produce mycotoxins which can impair intakes and/or breeding efficiency, while the end-products of a poor fermentation can either reduce forage intake slightly or all together depending upon the severity of the spoilage. The capital investment in making quality for- Pesticide vapors can be absorbed by the contacts and concentrated near the cornea even when goggles are worn. Although respirators are requir­ ed when working with pesticides identified by the Danger or Danger Poison sign, a respirator is a good idea to prevent exposure through inhalation when working with any pesticides. Not every respirator fits every face. Shop around until you find one where the perimeter of the mask fits tightly against your face so that air enters only through the filter system. Perhaps most important of any of the safety measures when mixing and loading pesticides is the use of a liquid-proof apron in addition to your standard protective clothing. It will greatly reduce exposure risk due to spilling of the pesticide concentrate. For men, the scrotal area is the most vulnerable to pesticides, absorbing at a rate 11.8 times that of the forearm. In the event of a direct spill onto your clothing, it is important to remove the contaminated clothes age may seem high at first glance, but long term benefits will be highly profitable in terms of im­ proving milk produced per hectare. •2. Laboratory Testing of Forages’* and Feeds The chemical composition of forages can vary widely depending upon such factors as plant species, soil type, weather conditions and harvesting practices. All of these factors if not considered can drasti­ cally affect the success of your ration. Laboratory testing of for­ ages and feeds take the guess-work out of rations by increasing ration accuracy, and more importantly, and shower immediately. Any heavily contaminated clothing should be discarded and buried. Fresh water should be available at all times near the sprayer area to flush your eyes or skin in the event of pesticide splashes or spills. Soapy water should also be avail­ able so that you can wash your gloves and hands when you are finished mixing and loading. Keep in mind that it’s important to protect not only yourself but also the environment when mixing and loading pesticides. Work well away (150 feet) from sources of drinking water, like wells and dugouts, and water courses in order to avoid any possible contamination. Work safely with pesticides, because farm chemical safety is in your hands. Ufe have all the inputs you need including our own allow you to use your feeds more effectively. Recommended Tests: •Hay, Haylages and Corn Silage: dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (MDF), energy estimate (Total Digestible Nutrients - TDN), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K). •Grains: DM, CP, Ca, P, Mg, K. Additional Tests: If heat damage in hay or haylage is suspected a digestible protein test or acid detergent-nitrogen (ADF-N) test is recommended. If a mineral balance is suspected then the following minerals in addition to the regular test should be requested: manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). When collecting feed samples for testing, a good rule of thumb is to test all your forages and not just those fed to the lactating herd. Remember, heifers and dry cows are your future milkers and feeding unknowns to either of them can be a very costly mistake. •3. Accurate Sampling For accurate forage analysis it is essential that representative sam­ ples be obtained. Garbage in is garbage out! Contact your local OMAF office for advice on how to take accurate feed samples. •4. Getting Your Ration Balanced There are three possible rations that can exist in any barn: the one on paper, the one that is mixed and the one that is actually eaten by the cow. How well the formulated ration equals the consumed ration will affect the success and profita­ bility of your feeding program. But, the success of a ration begins at home. The more accurate and current the information you give your nutritionist, the more success­ ful your ration will be. •5. Feed Allocation Since not all your feeds will be ‘top quality’, better feed allocation can increase the efficiency at which you use your forages. Putting the right feed combination to the right cow can improve production, re­ duce feed wastage, and decrease health risks. For example, dry cows should have access to forages that are low in calcium to minimize the risk of milk fever. Saving your high quality hay for your early lactation cows can improve production and make more efficient use of pur­ chased feeds. Plan your feed storage system now before they are all filled with this year’s feeds. •6. Monitoring Your Feeding Program Growing quality forages, having your forages tested and your ration balanced is only half the battle. The continued success of your ration depends on the regular monitoring of your cows production. Things like: milk and milk composition levels, breeding efficiency, feed intakes and refusals, and body condition scores all tell you how well your feeding program is working. All in all, maintaining a profit­ able and productive ration is a continuous and arduous task, but like anything that is hard work the long-term benefits make it all worthwhile. OAC investigates new alternatives for hens the Arkell Research Station the University of Guelph, Frank Hurnik has created an concept 600-square-foot BY DR. FREEMAN McEWEN DEAN, ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE Are chickens happy in their work? At near Prof, open aviary for chickens, to address what he calls their “occupational vacuum.” Hurnik, a renowned animal wel­ fare researcher, has designed a system that answers criticisms some people have about chickens being deprived of their liberties. He’s starting to compare it to conventional battery cages. The aviary offers chickens seclu­ sion for laying eggs, perches for roosting and consuming food, floor space for roaming and socially interacting, and air space to fly - all the things that confinement rearing lacks. In theory, if the chickens like the design, their egg production will remain constant or increase (early indications are that it’s compar­ able). That’s crucial for industry acceptance. Part of any such evaluation is economic performance. It’s not a reliable indication of welfare, but it can’t be ignored. New systems must allow producers to at least maintain historic income levels, or they won’t be implemented. Confinement rearing for chick­ ens is a hot topic among animal welfarists. Some contend a caged environment restricts chickens from manifesting certain natural behavior patterns, like scratching, pecking, and associating with one another. At the same time, it fosters certain unusual behavioral and feeding habits. In nature, chickens might take eight hours to consume the same amount of feed that they do in two hours in confinement, says Hurnik. They have nothing else to do in their cages - they’re in an occupa­ tional vacuum. But not all natural patterns are beneficial, either. For example, free-range or barnyard chickens that roam unrestricted are subject to adverse weather, poor-quality water and predators. So Hurnik designed his chicken aviary to combine the best of both worlds. Collaborating on theoretical as­ pects of the project is philosophy Prof. Hugh Lehman, who co-edits the scientific publication Journal of Animal Ethics with Hurnik. This research is sponsored by the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency and the Animal Welfare Founda­ tion of Canada. I CLASSIFIED ADS R PAYOFF! .2 At Cook’s we pride ourselves on being a full-service business. Our 6 locations have everything you need this spring, from seed and fertilizer to crop protection products - and all at competitive prices. But Cook’s can give you more... whether it’s crop planning advice, soil testing and blending of fertilizers, crop protection products or custom application. Cook’s people have the expertise to help you get the ‘ ‘maximum economic yield” from your crop. For all your inputs this spring, to the experts at Cook’s. Part of the Cook's Crop Input Ttam (from left to right): Jim Bickell Kirkton Agri-Sales Representative, 13 years with Cook's Derwyn Hodgins Walton Branch Manager, 4 years with Cook's Dale Passmore Applicator Operator, 12 years with Cook’s Division of Parrish & Heimbecker. Limited Head Office . Hensall (519) 262-2410 Branches: Centralia (519) 228-6661 Kirkton (519) 229-8986 Walton (519) 527-1540 Amberley (519) 395-3601 Atwood (519) 356-2292