The Benefits of Feeding Calves on the BIG Program

PO Box 39
3216 Mill Lane
Gordonville, PA 17529
Tom Nauman
briefly talks about
toxins found in
forages and feeds
Ron continues his
discussion on
heat stress in
dairy cattle
Grain highlights
featuring the
latest in crop
information from
Brad Wagner
The Benefits of Feeding Calves
being said, what
on the B.I.G. Program they eat during their growth
By: Ashley Fritz
It’s been shown time and time again
that early calf development impacts
lifetime milk production. The successfulness of the dairy herd begins at the
start of each calf’s life. Proper management is critical. If calves aren’t managed properly, they won’t reach their
full potential once they are in the milking herd.
From birth through six months of age,
the calf/heifer requires higher levels of
protein, for that is when she is most
efficient in utilizing those proteins for
frame growth and muscle development. The B.I.G. calf program takes
advantage of this window of opportunity and offers calves/heifers higher
levels of protein to meet their nutritional needs, improve immune function, and promote maximum growth.
Animals must first meet their maintenance requirements before they can
utilize energy for growth. With this
period is critical. Naturally, calves
are designed to drink their mother’s
milk, which meets their nutritional
requirements. Unfortunately, it is not
always possible to feed whole milk to
calves, so milk replacer is used as a
substitute. Keep in mind that not all
milk replacer is the same. Traditional
20/20 milk replacer (20% protein and
20% fat) is similar to feeding low-fat
milk, which limits the calf’s growth
potential. The B.I.G. 30/32 milk
replacer (30% protein and 32% fat) is
formulated to mimic feeding whole
milk from early lactation cows. Feeding in this way promotes optimum calf
health and allows for maximum
growth.
Whole Milk
20/20
25/15
28/19
26/28
30/32
Protein
(13% solids)
3.2%
2.5%
3.0%
3.5%
3.25%
3.7%
Volume 14 Issue 7
With a typical milk replacer, the calf is
fed 1 gallon per day (2 quarts morning
and evening). With the B.I.G. program,
the calf is fed increased amounts of
milk the older it gets. The goal is to get
calves to drink as much as they can,
increasing their caloric intake. What
makes the B.I.G. milk replacer stand
apart is that it is formulated to match
the fatty acid composition of whole
milk. To do this, cream and coconut
fats are used as part of a unique fat
blend. Unlike other milk replacers,
calves on the B.I.G. program don’t get
that false sense of being full, so they
actually want to drink more, thus
utilizing their full growth potential.
This article is continued in “The Nutritionist’s Notepad”
Fat
(13% solids)
3.8%
2.5%
1.9%
1.9%
3.5%
4.0%
Protein
(% DM)
26%
20%
25%
28%
26%
30%
Fat
(% DM)
30.5%
20%
15%
19%
28%
32%
This chart compares the fat and protein in various milk replacers with that of whole milk.
Grain Comments and Commodity Information
to also deal with heat and humidity.
Maximize your efforts and your management plan by keeping the very hot,
humid times of summer in mind.
CORN:
On June 30, the USDA reported 91.6 million acres of corn to be planted, 4% less than last year and the
fewest number of acres since 2010. Last year farmers had 95.3 million acres of corn in the ground.
Despite few acres of corn, corn stocks were 3.85 billion bushels 39% larger than the amount reported on
June 30, 2013. The increase in ending stocks number indicates the feed and residual corn use was less
than projected. Furthermore, national corn crop ratings list 75% of the corn crop “good-to-excellent”
compared to 67% last year and a 5-year average of 65%. So, with a large crop in the bin and the promise
of a large crop to come, corn prices have moved lower and quite quickly. Current corn prices are $4.55/bu
compared to $6.95 per bushel last year and $8.35/bushel in 2012.
SOYBEANS & SOYBEAN MEAL
The USDA surprised everyone with their expected soybean acreage to be planted – 84.8 million acres of
beans are expected to be in the ground this year. This is 11% more than last year and if realized would be
about 7 million acres more than previous record. Grain traders were expecting acres to top at 84 million
acres. Soybean inventory was reported at 405 million bushels; which matched trader’s expectations. The
effect of this news has already started to take effect as both soybean and soybean meal prices have
started to drop. Current soybean value is $13.90/bushel; not too long ago prices were over $15.00/bu. .
Trailer load prices on soybean meal are approximately $524/ton compared to $604.30/ton last year.
I enjoy talking with you when you call in to our office, please feel free to call me to discuss grain purchasing and forward contracting opportunities. Important dates and reports to keep in mind for the future are:
July 11th – USDA Crop Production Report
August 12th – USDA Crop Production Report
September 30th – USDA Grain Stocks Report
Ron’s Points to Ponder
Heat stress and the impact on cow reproduction
Summer is officially here and now that
it is upon us, let’s talk a little more
about heat stress on our animals. The
article I wrote for last month’s issue of
“The Feedbag” had a lot to do with heat
stress and in this article, I want to
elaborate a bit more on the many challenges our cows go through because of
the heat and humidity.
A cow’s normal body temperature runs
between 100.4 to 102.8°F unless she is
fighting some type of infection that
causes her to have a fever. Cows weigh
approximately 1,250 lbs as a first calf
heifer up to 1,600 - 1,700 lbs as a
mature cow. Large Holstein cows can
even weigh as much as 2,000 lbs. No
matter her exact weight, that is a lot of
body mass and muscle to try and keep
cool.
I’m going to share some information
with you that was written by Faith
Cullens from Michigan State Univer-
sity in an article she wrote back in 2011
entitled, “Managing for reproductive success of dairy cattle during
the heat”. Within this article, Faith
makes some excellent points that
relate directly to the hot, humid
weather that we experience here in
and around south eastern Pennsylvania. One point she makes is that that
pregnancy rates in dairy cows can be
drastically reduced when temperatures and humidity rise in late spring,
summer, and early fall. Around here,
our biggest heat challenge months
tend to be June, July, and August, but
don’t rule out the last two weeks of
May or the first two weeks of September. One thing to always keep in mind
is that cows will produce more body
heat while they are lactating compared
to when they are considered dry. I hear
dairy producers say that their cows are
really working hard. I think that some
folks in the industry don’t truly under-
By: Brad Wagner
stand how much work a dairy cow puts
out each day as she is trying to make 90
to 140 lbs of milk or more each day.
During these hot periods of the year,
lower estrus detection and conception
rates are evident. Impaired egg quality
and abnormal follicular function,
including cystic and anovular (not
ovulating) cows are abundantly
evident. Early embryonic death is
significantly higher when cows are heat
stressed due to altered uterine environment, reduced blood flow to the
placenta, and sensitivity of the embryo
to elevated temperatures during the
first three days after breeding. Many
dairy producers try to get their herds
synchronized so they breed the majority of their cows during the cooler
months of the year. I know that it takes
a few good years of excellent management to get that done but remember
what it costs every time you don’t get a
cow bred. Try to avoid having cows
freshen during these hot months as the
stress level for a cow during calving is
extremely high, especially when having
We talked briefly in last month’s issue
about cooling cows with fans and water
evaporation. Please do not underestimate the problems with heat stress.
Good management techniques are the
only way that a cow can get the advantage she needs to keep cool, milk at
peak production, and get pregnant.
Let’s talk a little bit about the effects of
heat stress when breeding cows using
your own bulls. Although bulls are
sometimes used to help compensate
for cows not showing signs of heat
cycles, they cannot improve the altered
uterine environment, blood flow to the
placenta, or embryo sensitivity. In
addition, bulls can also be affected by
heat stress. They are less active, will
breed fewer cows, and have lower quality semen. Just 2-3 days of exposure to
temperatures over 85°F can reduce
semen quality for at least the next 8
weeks. That can cost a whole bunch of
money when attempting to get cows
bred.
One more thing I would like to point
out in regards to heat stress is to always
maintain a good, solid nutrition
program. This is important year round
but especially critical during the hot
periods of the year. Remember, cows
are going to eat less when it’s hot.
Negative energy balance is correlated
with impaired reproductive performance. When cows reduce their dry
matter intakes as a result of heat stress
and fall into that dreaded negative
energy balance situation, there are
negative effects on plasma concentrations of insulin, IGF-1 (stimulates cell
growth), and glucose which results in
poor follicular development, poor
quality of oocytes (immature ovum, or
egg cell) and reduced expression of
heat. Minimizing dry matter intake
losses during heat stress is critical.
What does the term, “negative energy
balance” really mean? It means that if a
cow is burning more calories a day
than what she is taking in through her
diet, she is going to start losing weight.
That’s why cows oftentimes thin down
when milking their heaviest; they
simply cannot eat enough to keep up
with the work load they are performing. If a cow burns more calories than
what she takes in, you are going to have
real challenges in getting her bred.
Cow’s thinning down during the peak
of their lactation can be a challenge all
year round, but if it is also occurring
during very hot weather, the challenges
can be even more significant. That is
why it is so important to keep dry
matter intake under control (as high as
possible) when the weather is hot.
Keeping cows cool will result in cows
eating more and reduce slug feeding
intakes. It is important to feed fresh
feed more often, place extra waters in
return alleys, and provide as much
shade as possible in and around the
bunk area. Another good management
tip is to use an acid additive in the TMR
that will reduce heating after the TMR
mix is fed. Please review your ration
before the heat is at it’s worst and be
pro-active in helping to control these
stresses within your herd. Adding
some extra water to the TMR or adding
additional water stations so that cows
can drink more will do a lot for a cows’
well being. Studies show that if you can
get 7 - 8 lbs (approximately a gallon)
more water into your cows each day,
she will eat 1 more pound of dry
matter. In turn, that will translate into
2 more pounds of milk which today is
around 45 - 50 cents more cash flow
per cow. If you can achieve 50 cents
more income per cow per day in a 60
cow herd, that is $10,950/year!
Meet Ashley Fritz
“
Lastly, for those that are currently not
feeding a P-1 Program with us, now
would be a good time to consider doing
so. The P-1 Program in and of itself
helps cows cope better with the
stresses of heat and humidity, in addition to many other added health
bonuses. Ask your Hoober Feeds Representative to explain the advantages
seen by many dairy producers across
the country and around the world
when feeding the P-1 Program.
Until next time, “Keep Lookin’ Up”!
By: Ron Moore
What You Don’t Know
(continued)
there is a challenge we may need to
put several types of binders into the
feed to get full coverage on the various
toxins that might be in there.
5. Now is good time to evaluate your
storage facilities and harvest practices
to see where you might be able to
improve. You might not be able to
reduce the amount of toxins coming in
from the field, but proper harvesting
and storage will go a long way towards
preventing the problem from getting
worse once the forage/grain is
harvested.
For more information on this topic
speak with your Hoober Feeds representative or call our in house nutrition
staff during normal business hours.
the Nutritionist’s Notepad
The Benefits of Feeding Calves on the
B.I.G. Program (continued from cover)
Age of Calf
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Milk Replacer
per Feeding
2 quarts
2 quarts
3 quarts
4 quarts
5 quarts
5 quarts
5 quarts
2 quarts
0 quarts
Amount of Powder
10 oz=1 cup
USE COLOSTRUM
1 cup
1 ½ cups
2 cups
2 ½ cups
2 ½ cups
2 ½ cups
1 cup
0 cups
Starter Pellet per
Day
0 lbs.
¼ lb. (Offer on Day 4)
¼ lb.
½ lb.
1 lb.
1 lb.
2 lbs.
4-6 lbs.
6 lbs.
This chart is breakdown of how the calves should be fed on the B.I.G. Program.
The key to this program’s success is
the higher liquid feeding levels
(with high protein and fat content),
combined with the right starter
grain that compliments feeding
more milk, and followed up with a
grower that promotes lean growth.
Grain consumption encourages
rumen development and growth. If
the rumen is not properly developed, the calf will have a hard time
transitioning from milk to grain.
Both the B.I.G. Calf Starter Pellets
and the B.I.G. Heifer Grower Pellets
are designed to meet the calf’s
needs, improve her immunity, and
promote lean growth from birth
through weaning and beyond. The
goal is to match the grain with key
amino acids to grow frame size and
lay down lean muscle tissue instead
of fat. At the same time, the grain is
made up of a blend of carbohydrates that are utilized as energy
sources. The starter contains
lactose and soluble fiber and is low
in starch. Because the starter and
grower pellets provide plenty of
calories, vitamins, minerals, and
amino acids, calves are going to
have healthier immune systems,
which will result in less illness and
lower treatment costs.
The starter pellets are highly palat-
able and very digestible. B.I.G. Calf
Starter Pellets are 21.6% protein, 3.4%
fat, and 9.1% crude fiber. The starter is
designed to improve rumen papillae
development. Papillae are finger-like
projections that increase the surface
area of the rumen and allow for better
absorption of nutrients. The longer the
papillae are in length, the more efficient
the animal is, allowing for better nutrient uptake. When the rumen needs to be
responsible for nutrient uptake, it is
crucial to have good papillae there to
work with. When the papillae growth is
weak, calves will stop growing, stall out,
or even go backwards. The improved
papillae growth from the B.I.G. starter
will allow for a smooth weaning transition, avoiding the typical post-weaning
growth slump. Starter pellets should be
offered to calves on day 4 and fed
increased amounts as they get older.
Once weaned, they should be fed 6 lbs
per day.
The B.I.G. Calf Starter Pellets are 21.6% protein,
3.4% fat, and 9.1% crude fiber designed to
improve rumen papillae development.
The grower pellets are also highly palatable and digestible. The B.I.G. Heifer
Grower Pellets are 25.6% protein, 3.9%
fat, and 6.0% crude fiber. The grower is
formulated to meet the heifer’s needs,
while promoting maximum growth. It’s
no surprise that feeding higher levels of
protein allows for calves to gain more
body mass. Because this is still a critical
period for growth, it’s important that
calves receive adequate amounts of
protein. Grower pellets should be fed
from 3-6 months of age at a rate of 6 lbs
per day.
There is more to the story than just
growing bigger calves at a faster rate.
While the larger frame growth is very
exciting, there are actually other noteworthy benefits that are related to this
outcome. Nutritionally, what makes
calves grow big is also what makes them
healthy. Amino acids that are formulated in the grain are building blocks of
protein, and protein is what grows
bones, muscle, and boosts the immune
system. The amino acids in the grain
allow for high levels of T-cell production. T-cells are what keeps the immune
system healthy and strong. Growth is
actually an effect of the calf having a
healthier immune system and can be
used as a measure of health.
While the B.I.G. milk replacer is more
expensive than other milk replacers on
the market, please don’t let the price tag
scare you away. The initial investment
put into your calves will pay off when
you are able to breed heifers at a
younger age. The average heifer calves
at about 26 months of age. Using the
B.I.G. program, calving should be easily
attained by 22 months. This earlier calving age allows for fewer days on feed, as
well as having them enter the milking
herd sooner. Heifers will be making you
money sooner, rather than just raising
feed costs. Studies show that heifers
that calve at 22 months actually produce
more milk than those that calve later.
- more on the back
Average actual 305-day
milk production by age at
calving of Holstein
heifers that began their
first lactation in 2011 in
Pennsylvania. Data from
DRMS, Raleigh, NC.
In addition, calves on the B.I.G.
program have also achieved
increased milk production throughout all lactations. The way the calf is
fed actually determines how her
mammary gland develops, which
in-turn determines how much milk
she will be able to produce over her
Expect to see healthier, bigger, taller,
leaner calves with more muscle tone;
less treatment days; shinier hair coats,
consistent growth, uniform body
condition and consistent manure from
calf to calf.
To learn more about this exciting new
program, contact your Hoober Feeds
representative.
lifetime. Because the B.I.G. program
feeds for more nutrients above maintenance, the calf is actually being setup to
be a better lifetime producers. The more
milk your cows produce, the more profitable you become in the long-run.
Herd-life can be enhanced through
better early life nutrition.
What You Don’t Know...
By: Tom Nauman
There is an old saying that goes “what you don’t know won’t hurt you”. The origin of that saying goes back to the idea that
if we don’t know something then we won’t be able to worry about it. However, we know that the old saying isn’t true. This
is especially so when it comes to toxins in our feeds. Toxins in forages and grains are very real and we at Hoober Feeds have
been learning a lot about them lately. Our education has been aided by a new testing program that has been made available
to us by the folks at Alltech. The testing program is called 37+ and it utilizes technology that allows the lab to determine
levels of over 37 different toxins that are typically found in various feedstuffs. Over the last several months we have run a
number of these analyses on TMR samples from some customers that have had problems that have been a challenge to
solve. Through these samples we have learned a number of lessons that we would like to share with you.
1. Feed can look sound but still
have toxin contamination. The
samples of TMR’s that we submitted did not show visible signs of
mold growth. In fact, in most cases
we were hesitant to run the tests
because when we evaluated the
odors and looks of the forages,
there was nothing to be suspicious
about. They did, however, have
higher than normal counts of mold
and/or yeast spores.
2. Animals react differently to
different toxins. You can go to a
text book and see normal symptoms
to various toxins, but the reality is
that every animal has a different
level of tolerance to toxins and a
different rate of recovery when the
toxin challenge is removed. The main
organ for filtering out toxins is the liver.
The liver is also the main organ involved
in energy metabolism. In addition, the
liver is also involved in immune function. Therefore, mid and late lactation
cows might be able to handle a toxin
load that could not be handled by a fresh
cow. The liver on that fresh cow is
already maxed out with processing
energy for the cow and helping her to try
to stay free of disease. Sometimes we
discount the idea of toxin challenges
because our assumption is that if all of
the cows are eating the feed, they should
all be sick. The reality is that cows that
are not under stress will not show as
much trouble with toxins as will the
cows that are under stress.
3. Toxin challenges are probably here
to stay. I remember being in a meeting
almost 30 years ago with DR Lon Whitlow, a mycotoxin specialist from North
Carolina. I remember his words very
clearly, when he said to us in that meeting “We’ve got ‘em in North Carolina
and they’re coming your way. You
better be ready for ‘em.” What we now
know is that the majority of these toxins
are produced during the growing season
out in the field and we simply bring
them into our storage facility.
4. We may need to rethink our binder
strategy. There are different types of
toxin binders and they have different
modes of action, therefore they have
different toxins that they can bind. If
- more on the inside