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Dairy Herd Management Research in a Changing World1
Dairy Herd Management Research in a Changing World J. L. ALBRIGHT and W. M. DILLON Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana 4 7 9 0 7
Animal management is founded upon two basic principles, to survive and to reproduce. Management goals for the livestock producer are satisfaction and profit. Stated another way--pleasure, the profit motive, self-preservation, and the production of young become the environment where man and his domesticated animals interact in a bioeconomical world. W i t h modern husbandry and management practices the "feed-weed-breed" concept eventually came under the control of man. Under man's rules a) first one feeds the animal enough to obtain a response, b) followed by culling of the inferior producers, and c) breeding the remainder to animals of superior genetic background. No small p a r t of man's success on earth is due to the many animals that have fed him, clothed him, carried him, and cultivated his fields, l=Iow man has repaid this debt to his animals is subject to debate. From the standpoint of ecology and resource management, a natural community is likely to be more productive than any unfertilized system we may substitute for it. Our short-grass prairie produced more meat when it was cropped by buffalo (American bison) than it does today, when it is cropped by cows. Similarly, African game is more productive than the cattle replacing it. This conclusion appeals to one who has compared the lush forest and many animals of the Amazon with the farms trying to take its place (1). The question should be asked, then, does man make the correct decisions--in nature? in agriculture? in nmnagement? I t is presumed that all attending this Conference are knowledgeable in current technology. The following concepts are among those needing further scrutiny and research. Many of these ideas were formulated at an Animal Sciences Research Review Sub-committee on Dairy Cattle Management composed of W. M. Dillon, Chairman, E. E. Carson, R. W. Taylor, and J. L. Albrlght: 1. Animal waste management needs more study to evaluate : (a) Most efficient method of liquid manure 1Presented at the Tri-state (Michigan, Ohio and Indiana) Extension Conference, Memorial Cellter, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. October 4, 1968. 808
handling in confinement housing systems. (b) Influence of handling systems on fertility value, ground water pollution, and contiguous populated areas. (c) Feasibility of deep lagoons utilizing anaerobic digestion on the bottom with mechanical floating aerators on the surface to reduce odors. (d) Drying techniques--mechanical, solar, and nuclear sources of heat. (e) Mutual recognition that there are two ends to the cow. Ogden ~¢ash's poetic idea of a cow as one end is for moo, the other end is for milk, could be replaced with one end is for feed and the other end is for manure! 2. Economic pressure will continue to encourage increased efficiency on dairy farms. Individual dairy farmers need improved methods to identify the next step they should take to improve returns. This means: (a) Establishment of guidelines for expansion through increased production per cow, or increased cows. W e need better guides to the cost of each small increase in milk production, both on an individual cow and on a herd basis. (b) Calculation of the optimum output per unit under varying cost-price relationships, the unit being the cow and the amount of land needed. (c) Determination of input-output relations for feed, labor, housing, udder health, breeding efficiency, and genetic improvement. (d) Optimum balance between individual and group handling of cows. (e) Consideration of corporation vs. family farm dairying. (f) Evaluation of one man vs. multiple-man dairy farms. 3. Competition for labor will cause further mechanization of dairy work. How best can : (a) Present facilities be improved by mechanization ? (b) Routine operations be modified to take advantage of mechanization? (c) New dairy facilities be designed and constructed for optimum returns and maximum long-time operator satisfaction? Consideration should be given to
OUR INDUSTRY
4.
5.
6.
7.
the design of an "ideal" milking, housing, and feed storage system as a guide to new construction or a goal for remodeling. (d) The advent of a 40-hour week for agricultural workers (national law in Sweden) affect dairy fanning? (e) Development of herdsmen, milker, management and skilled dairy workers' schools affect dairy farming? (f) Competent labor be trained and motivated to perform more efficiently? Records to aid in management will continue to increase in importance. Dairy Herd Improvement Association Records and Faa~m Aecount Records should be studied jointly so that better enterprise accounting for dairy business analysis is available to the dairyman and research worker. More extensive use of records should be encouraged by the development of simplified systems that help guide management decisions. Technical information is needed to facilitate calf raising in order to: a) Supply replacements for the possible factory-type dairy farm on a least-cost basis and b ) utilize the potential that exists in dairy-beef production. Motivation of a dairy farmer to evaluate the weakest point in his operation, gain eomfidence, and then correct it, deserves special emphasis. More effort is needed to develop simple tests that can be easily applied by milk producers interested in increased income. Determine actual resources needed. Dairyman-writer Louis Longo of Connecticut advocates a) milking parlor; b) free stalls;
TODAY
809
c) corn silage; d) bunker silos; and e) registered cattle. 8. The reasons dairy cow numbers are declining : (a) High cull-cow (beef) prices. (b) Affluent societies with decreasing cow populations, such as North America and European countries outside the Common Market, have what sociological traits in common? All other nations show increases in cow numbers. (e) Gross income: net income (traditionally was 2:1, now at least 3:1). (d) Historically, low volume of output, low production, and unprofitable operations cause a reduction in number of cows and exit of dairymen. 9. Measurement of man in management: (a) Individual competition (b) Man versus man (two separate milking parlors) (c) Incentive programs (d) Other? 10. Competing with imitating products on which basis : (a) Least-cost production from the cow (b) Quality of dairy products (c) New dairy products (d) Advertising (e) Milk purchased and sold as a beverage (f) Using milk as a raw material (g) Public health and nutritional standards (h) Legislation and labeling standards (i) Other? Reference (1) Leigh, E. G. ]968. Making ecology an applied science. Science, 160: 1326.
J. DAIRY SCIENCE VOL. 52, NO. 6
Animal management is founded upon two basic principles, to survive and to reproduce. Management goals for the livestock producer are satisfaction and profit. Stated another way--pleasure, the profit motive, self-preservation, and the production of young become the environment where man and his domesticated animals interact in a bioeconomical world. W i t h modern husbandry and management practices the "feed-weed-breed" concept eventually came under the control of man. Under man's rules a) first one feeds the animal enough to obtain a response, b) followed by culling of the inferior producers, and c) breeding the remainder to animals of superior genetic background. No small p a r t of man's success on earth is due to the many animals that have fed him, clothed him, carried him, and cultivated his fields, l=Iow man has repaid this debt to his animals is subject to debate. From the standpoint of ecology and resource management, a natural community is likely to be more productive than any unfertilized system we may substitute for it. Our short-grass prairie produced more meat when it was cropped by buffalo (American bison) than it does today, when it is cropped by cows. Similarly, African game is more productive than the cattle replacing it. This conclusion appeals to one who has compared the lush forest and many animals of the Amazon with the farms trying to take its place (1). The question should be asked, then, does man make the correct decisions--in nature? in agriculture? in nmnagement? I t is presumed that all attending this Conference are knowledgeable in current technology. The following concepts are among those needing further scrutiny and research. Many of these ideas were formulated at an Animal Sciences Research Review Sub-committee on Dairy Cattle Management composed of W. M. Dillon, Chairman, E. E. Carson, R. W. Taylor, and J. L. Albrlght: 1. Animal waste management needs more study to evaluate : (a) Most efficient method of liquid manure 1Presented at the Tri-state (Michigan, Ohio and Indiana) Extension Conference, Memorial Cellter, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. October 4, 1968. 808
handling in confinement housing systems. (b) Influence of handling systems on fertility value, ground water pollution, and contiguous populated areas. (c) Feasibility of deep lagoons utilizing anaerobic digestion on the bottom with mechanical floating aerators on the surface to reduce odors. (d) Drying techniques--mechanical, solar, and nuclear sources of heat. (e) Mutual recognition that there are two ends to the cow. Ogden ~¢ash's poetic idea of a cow as one end is for moo, the other end is for milk, could be replaced with one end is for feed and the other end is for manure! 2. Economic pressure will continue to encourage increased efficiency on dairy farms. Individual dairy farmers need improved methods to identify the next step they should take to improve returns. This means: (a) Establishment of guidelines for expansion through increased production per cow, or increased cows. W e need better guides to the cost of each small increase in milk production, both on an individual cow and on a herd basis. (b) Calculation of the optimum output per unit under varying cost-price relationships, the unit being the cow and the amount of land needed. (c) Determination of input-output relations for feed, labor, housing, udder health, breeding efficiency, and genetic improvement. (d) Optimum balance between individual and group handling of cows. (e) Consideration of corporation vs. family farm dairying. (f) Evaluation of one man vs. multiple-man dairy farms. 3. Competition for labor will cause further mechanization of dairy work. How best can : (a) Present facilities be improved by mechanization ? (b) Routine operations be modified to take advantage of mechanization? (c) New dairy facilities be designed and constructed for optimum returns and maximum long-time operator satisfaction? Consideration should be given to
OUR INDUSTRY
4.
5.
6.
7.
the design of an "ideal" milking, housing, and feed storage system as a guide to new construction or a goal for remodeling. (d) The advent of a 40-hour week for agricultural workers (national law in Sweden) affect dairy fanning? (e) Development of herdsmen, milker, management and skilled dairy workers' schools affect dairy farming? (f) Competent labor be trained and motivated to perform more efficiently? Records to aid in management will continue to increase in importance. Dairy Herd Improvement Association Records and Faa~m Aecount Records should be studied jointly so that better enterprise accounting for dairy business analysis is available to the dairyman and research worker. More extensive use of records should be encouraged by the development of simplified systems that help guide management decisions. Technical information is needed to facilitate calf raising in order to: a) Supply replacements for the possible factory-type dairy farm on a least-cost basis and b ) utilize the potential that exists in dairy-beef production. Motivation of a dairy farmer to evaluate the weakest point in his operation, gain eomfidence, and then correct it, deserves special emphasis. More effort is needed to develop simple tests that can be easily applied by milk producers interested in increased income. Determine actual resources needed. Dairyman-writer Louis Longo of Connecticut advocates a) milking parlor; b) free stalls;
TODAY
809
c) corn silage; d) bunker silos; and e) registered cattle. 8. The reasons dairy cow numbers are declining : (a) High cull-cow (beef) prices. (b) Affluent societies with decreasing cow populations, such as North America and European countries outside the Common Market, have what sociological traits in common? All other nations show increases in cow numbers. (e) Gross income: net income (traditionally was 2:1, now at least 3:1). (d) Historically, low volume of output, low production, and unprofitable operations cause a reduction in number of cows and exit of dairymen. 9. Measurement of man in management: (a) Individual competition (b) Man versus man (two separate milking parlors) (c) Incentive programs (d) Other? 10. Competing with imitating products on which basis : (a) Least-cost production from the cow (b) Quality of dairy products (c) New dairy products (d) Advertising (e) Milk purchased and sold as a beverage (f) Using milk as a raw material (g) Public health and nutritional standards (h) Legislation and labeling standards (i) Other? Reference (1) Leigh, E. G. ]968. Making ecology an applied science. Science, 160: 1326.
J. DAIRY SCIENCE VOL. 52, NO. 6