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Symposium: Large Herd Management1
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119
Symposium" Large Herd Management
1
J. L. ALBRIGHT
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana Introduction
When does the owner-operator have a large herd? Within reason, the following definitions fit most areas of the United States: 1. When he manages resources such as feed, labor, and capital. 2. The manager handles and thinks of cows in reruns of groups rather than as individuals. The individual cow has identity at the time of parturition, when she is sick or in heat, when checking milk records for potential animals to be culled, and when she enters the dry period. 3. He no longer milks his own cows. 4. I f he raises most of the feed for his herd and owns at least twice the average number of cows enrolled in his state D H I A program. 5. I n general, he has 100 or snore cows in milk at one location. There are many unresolved problems to consider in the evolution toward larger herds. Most educators have followed the axiom, "Get good before you get big." What does one do with this working philosophy as it relates to existing facilities for small to medium size family farms which have been the backbone of the U. S. dairy industry ? I n the Midwest, at least, feed production has been immediately linked with animal agriculture. As concentrated dry lot dairying expands, how does one contract for feedstuffs within quality and price standards? I n other words, one should be able to initiate and close a business agreement involving a hay purchase over the telephone--similarly to other business yentures. I n addition to purchasing forage and grain, large commercial dairy herds need contractual and routine services such as readily available milking machine parts and service, downer and dead cow removal, hoof trimming, udder clip1Presented a.t the Sixty-second Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Associatio~r, Cotnell University, Ithaca, New York. June 1967.
ping, manure removal, veterinary care, qualified labor, conducting California Mastitis Tests on the herd at monthly intervals, accounting service, etc. Research answers are unavailable regarding the effects of cows confined to concrete lots upon health, disease, resistance, and longevity of dairy cattle: slats and ventilation in environmentally controlled barns; solving the manure disposal problem; complete automatic milking ; and management studies which blend husbandry, biological, and economic functions together. There is much research information which should be summarized and placed into a working model. The future scope of credit by banks, feed companies, and private investors entering the dairy business is not clear or understood. Extension personnel, administrators, and others entrusted with the well-being of their own or institution's dairy herds have pondered or have been approached by others concerning the future of large herds. Unfortunately, we are all somewhat biased by previous geographical backgrounds. Also, many approach management concepts with the thought of immediate transplant rather than the adaptation of the idea to snake it work in another part of the country. The role of the interpreter, innovator, problem-solving approach is being held in a new light. Since favorable salvage prices in 1965-66 caused close to 1,000,000 dairy cows to be removed from U. S. dairy farms, milk last fall and winter was scarce. Various milk companies have discussed the feasibility of producing their own milk. After some hesitancy, it now appears that certain companies plan to build and support ventures of a guaranteed supply of milk. I t is hoped that the excellent papers and discussion provided by the speakers and participants of this symposium from the U. S. and abroad will be of service to our industry.
J. DAI~Y S C I E N C E VOL. 51, NO,. 1
119
Symposium" Large Herd Management
1
J. L. ALBRIGHT
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana Introduction
When does the owner-operator have a large herd? Within reason, the following definitions fit most areas of the United States: 1. When he manages resources such as feed, labor, and capital. 2. The manager handles and thinks of cows in reruns of groups rather than as individuals. The individual cow has identity at the time of parturition, when she is sick or in heat, when checking milk records for potential animals to be culled, and when she enters the dry period. 3. He no longer milks his own cows. 4. I f he raises most of the feed for his herd and owns at least twice the average number of cows enrolled in his state D H I A program. 5. I n general, he has 100 or snore cows in milk at one location. There are many unresolved problems to consider in the evolution toward larger herds. Most educators have followed the axiom, "Get good before you get big." What does one do with this working philosophy as it relates to existing facilities for small to medium size family farms which have been the backbone of the U. S. dairy industry ? I n the Midwest, at least, feed production has been immediately linked with animal agriculture. As concentrated dry lot dairying expands, how does one contract for feedstuffs within quality and price standards? I n other words, one should be able to initiate and close a business agreement involving a hay purchase over the telephone--similarly to other business yentures. I n addition to purchasing forage and grain, large commercial dairy herds need contractual and routine services such as readily available milking machine parts and service, downer and dead cow removal, hoof trimming, udder clip1Presented a.t the Sixty-second Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Associatio~r, Cotnell University, Ithaca, New York. June 1967.
ping, manure removal, veterinary care, qualified labor, conducting California Mastitis Tests on the herd at monthly intervals, accounting service, etc. Research answers are unavailable regarding the effects of cows confined to concrete lots upon health, disease, resistance, and longevity of dairy cattle: slats and ventilation in environmentally controlled barns; solving the manure disposal problem; complete automatic milking ; and management studies which blend husbandry, biological, and economic functions together. There is much research information which should be summarized and placed into a working model. The future scope of credit by banks, feed companies, and private investors entering the dairy business is not clear or understood. Extension personnel, administrators, and others entrusted with the well-being of their own or institution's dairy herds have pondered or have been approached by others concerning the future of large herds. Unfortunately, we are all somewhat biased by previous geographical backgrounds. Also, many approach management concepts with the thought of immediate transplant rather than the adaptation of the idea to snake it work in another part of the country. The role of the interpreter, innovator, problem-solving approach is being held in a new light. Since favorable salvage prices in 1965-66 caused close to 1,000,000 dairy cows to be removed from U. S. dairy farms, milk last fall and winter was scarce. Various milk companies have discussed the feasibility of producing their own milk. After some hesitancy, it now appears that certain companies plan to build and support ventures of a guaranteed supply of milk. I t is hoped that the excellent papers and discussion provided by the speakers and participants of this symposium from the U. S. and abroad will be of service to our industry.
J. DAI~Y S C I E N C E VOL. 51, NO,. 1