The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 30BUILDS EVERYTHING
BETTER FOR BARNS
STABLING & EQUIPMENT
Sales, Installation Service
JACK GRAUL
R.R. 2, GADSHILL, ONT.
519-595-4530
(41))
West Wawanosh
Mutual Insurance
Company
Dungannon, Ont. NOM 1R0
FARMS AUTO
RESIDENTIAL
AGENTS
v, mk Foran R R 2. Lucknow 528-3824
Lyons 8 Mulhern.46 West St Goderich 5242664
Donald MacKay.R R 83. Ripley 395.5362
Kenneth B MacLean R R 82. Paisley 368-7537
John Nixon. R R 85. Brussels 867.9417
Donald R Simpson. R R 83. Goderich 529-7567
Delmar Sproul R R 83. Auburn 529-7273
Slade Insurance Brokers Inc
Kincardine 396-9513
FOR A OUOTATION ON YOUR
FARM. HOME, COTTAGE, OR
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE,
CONTACT THE AGENT
IN YOUR AREA.
DIRECTORS
Eldon Bradley Lucknow 528-2214
John Bryce. R R 83. Paisley 353-5631
Glen Coultes R R 85. Brussels 887-6124
Gerald Kerr PA Bon 62. Blyth 523.9275
Donald McKenrie 163 Elgin Ave West.
Goderich 524.7602
Gordon A Stewart RR 2 Ripley 395-5235
CLAIMS SHOULD BE REPORTED
PROMPTLY TO THE DIRECTOR
IN YOUR AREA.
Norris Peever. Manager
Dungannon, Ontario
NOM 1R0
519-529-7922
28 THE RURAL VOICE
FARM NEWS
Bruce hosts MP & MPP Dinner
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture met with their MPs and MPPs in Walkerton
recently. Members of the federation and commodity groups presented formal briefs
(see Bruce Cty. Federation of Agriculture page) and quizzed the government
representatives extensively. From lett: Murray Cardiff, MP Huron -Bruce riding;
Wayne Robertson, president, BCFA; Eddie Sargent, MPP Grey -Bruce riding, and
Garry Gurbin, MP Bruce riding.
Feeding affects breeding
Over 80 farm men and women
attended a dairy seminar at the
Knights of Columbus Hall March
4 in Walkerton.
Master of ceremonies Terry
James of the Bruce County OMAF
introduced Bob Berry, dairy cattle
nutrition specialist from OMAF,
Markdale. Berry divided his topic,
"How Feeding Affects Breeding,"
into three categories.
Raising Dairy Calves: Berry
pointed out that on a national
average 8 per cent of all calves are
born dead, 15 per cent of calves do
not survive beyond two weeks, and
15 to 30 per cent do not survive to
reproduce themselves.
Therefore, with these figures in
mind, one must examine the poten-
tial of each heifer being raised with
regard to her potential to grow, to
produce milk, and to reproduce.
Uniform heifer -calf growth re-
quires a balanced diet of energy
and protein, with adequate
minerals (calcium and
phosphorous in balance),
vitamins, and good clean water.
Protein content should be based
on total mixed -ration formulas:
for calves 18 per cent to 20 per cent
reduced to 14 per cent to 16 per
cent at the time that the heifers are
ready for breeding, and finally
reduced to 12 per cern to 13 per
cent at the springing stage.
Heifer growth charts can be
useful in raising heifers, said
Berry. Calves at puberty and ap-
proaching breeding age should be
maintained on a good growing ra-
tion and fed to maintain body con-
dition. If underfed, delayed puber-
ty (because of inactive ovaries) will
result. Likewise, if the calves are
overfed, excess fatty deposits may
impair reproduction and produc-
tion.
The national age for calving is
28.5 months across all dairy
breeds, with Jerseys and Guernseys
at the bottom end in the 27 -month
range. A good average calving in-
terval is 12.5 months; remember,
though, that poor calving intervals
are the number one cause of cow
replacement in the herd.
Bob Berry continued his talk
with a discussion of Dry Cow
Management. He advised drying
the cow off in about the same body
condition as you want her to calve
in, which means neither over-
weight nor underweight. Since
cows gain or lose weight more effi-
ciently while still milking, ad-
justments should best be carried
out in late lactation.
A dry cow treatment should be
used at the last milking. If she has