Reports: Clearland Holsteins and Frizzell Valleyville Farm Inc.

Fall 2010
Spring
2011
Free copy
!
Reports: Clearland Holsteins and Frizzell Valleyville Farm Inc.
Rob Lister, BSc.
Dairy Technical Specialist
Atlantic Canada Region
Ken Smith
Business Manager
Atlantic Canada Region
Shur-Gain’s
New Heifer Program
effective feed program
“forAnheifers
can make a huge
The Power of Research Within
your Reach
This edition of At A Glance focuses extensively on heifers. An effective
feed program for heifers can make a huge difference in terms of health
and profitability. We know that the first two months of a calf’s life
are critical to optimizing future milk production performance. The
better the feed program, the more potential the animal will have when
it starts to produce milk.
difference in terms of health
”
and profitability.
The OPTIVIA Heifer Program
The research on heifer nutrition looked really promising to us, so we
undertook an exhaustive scientific review and conducted numerous
experiments at our research facilities. Today, we are proud to introduce
our line of OPTIVIA products and feed programs for heifers, based
on everything we have learned. We will also introduce you to
“Flavour Burst”, our exclusive taste stimulator (page 11).
This is how we can help you optimize the growth of your heifers to
enable them to express their full genetic potential when they enter
your milking herd.
IN THIS ISSUE
Your comments
are always welcome!
2
Send them to Rob Lister
By mail:
50 Saunders, Fredericton
(New Brunswick) E3B 1N1
By e-mail: robert.lister@nutreco.ca
2
Editorial
3
OPTIVIA Milk Replacers:
6
9
12 Clearland Holsteins
for an Optimized Future Performance 14 Frizzell Valleyville Farm Inc.
Intensified Growth Program:
16 OPTIVIA
a Profitable Choice!
Calf Starter: the Other Important
Feedstuff for Proper Calf Growth
and Development!
Douglas F. Waterman, Ph. D.
Director, Dairy Technology Application
Nutreco Canada Agresearch
OPTIVIA
Milk Replacers: for an
Optimized Future Performance
How you feed and manage your herd replacements during
the first 56 days of life has a significant impact on first lactation
milk yield and this extra milk potential should carry through
to subsequent lactations!
Remarkable Results
The concept of “Intensified” Milk Replacer was introduced to the
industry in the late 1990’s by Dr. Mike VanAmburgh. He showed
that calves would consume significantly higher amounts of dry
matter from milk than was recommended and that they would gain
more weight, be taller and have more lean tissue growth. Tikofsky
et al. (2001) showed that calves raised on a 28:15 versus a 22:20
milk replacer gained 5.9 kg (13 lb) and 9.07 kg (20 lb) more weight
by weaning and the end of the transition period (Graph 1).
Optimized Milk Performance
However, did these animals maintain the advantage in growth and,
more importantly, produce more milk? We now know that they indeed
did produce more milk and the research now indicates that they
produced approximately 818.18 kg (1,800 lb) more milk in the first
lactation. A summary of seven trials that compared cows raised
conventional vs intensified milk replacer programs reported the milk
yield advantage ranged from 453.6 to 1,360.8 kg (1,000 to 3,000 lb)
(Table 1). Graph 2 illustrates the benefit of higher average daily
gains from birth to breeding on lactation milk yield.
Table 1
Study
Additional first-lactation milk,
kg (lb)
Graph 1
Foldager and Krohn (1994)
1,405.5 (3,092 lb)
Effect of Feeding Isocaloric Amounts of 22:20
CP:Fat and 28:15 CP:Fat Milk Replacers on Growth
Under Identical Management – data of Tikofsky et al.
Bar-Peled et al. (1998)
453.7
(998 lb)
Foldager et al. (1997)
519.6
(1,143 lb)
Ballard et al. (2005)
701.4
(1,543 lb) at 200 days in milk
Rincker et al. (2006)
500.0
(1,100 lb) based on projected
305d milk
Moallem et al. (2006)
1,136.4 (2,500 lb)
Drackley et al. (2007)
836.8
246
(111.82)
250
(113.64)
200
(90.91)
150
(68.18)
226
(102.73)
172
159.2 (78.18)
(72.36)
Weaning
weight
Transition
weight
22:20
(1,841 lb)
Hoards Dairyman January 2011
Courtesy of Mike VanAmburgh
Weight, lb (kg)
300
(136.36)
28:15
3
y = 8240.6x + 13481
R² = 0.2762
40,000
(18,181.82)
35,000
(15,909.09)
30,000
(13,636,36)
Courtesy of Mike VanAmburgh
Milk yield, lb/yr (kg/yr)
First Lactation Milk Yield vs ADG Birth-Breeding
25,000
(11,363.64)
20,000
(9,090.91)
15,000
(6,818.18)
10,000
(4,545.45)
1 (0.46)
1.5 (0.68)
2 (0.91)
2.5 (1.14)
3 (1.36)
Average daily gain, lb/d (kg/d)
Significant Weight Gain
Based on work from Cornell, higher rates of gain resulted in more milk
and 22% of the variation typically observed in first lactation yield
can be explained by pre-weaning growth rate! “Intensified” milk
replacer programs may cost more to implement upfront, but are more
profitable from the standpoint of lifetime profitability.
OPTIVIA: An Important Innovation
With these facts in mind, Shur-Gain is introducing OPTIVIA - A new
Herd Replacement Program. OPTIVIA incorporates the latest
science based around the “Intensified Concept” in regards to milk
replacer products. In this article, we will outline the improvements
we have made to the milk replacer product line, while starters will be
addressed in a subsequent article.
OPTIVIA Milk Replacers Aim for Performance
For the OPTIVIA Program we developed two different milk replacers.
The 22-18 (protein-fat %) is our “High Performance” product. It was
designed to provide adequate protein and energy to support lean
tissue growth and a gain of around 454 g (1 lb) per day. The
“Advantage” product is a 26-16 (protein-fat %). This product was
developed to support 600-900 g (1.75 to 2.0 lb) of gain per day. The
protein to fat ratio and feeding rates were based on the metabolizable
energy (ME) and apparent digestible protein (ADP) requirements for
the targeted ADG and intake (adapted from Davis and Drackley, 1998).
Table 2
OPTIVIA Milk
Temperature
Quantity
High Performance
13 °C and 21 °C
(55 °F and 70 °F)
600 g
(1.5 lb)
0 °C (32 °F)
900 g (2 lb)
13 °C and 21 °C
(55 °F and 70 °F)
900 g
(2 lb)
0 °C (32 °F)
1,200 g (2.5 lb)
Advantage
*For temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), a third feeding is recommended!
4
For the times of the year when the environmental temperature drops
below 0 °C (32 °F), preliminary research would suggest that calves
cannot maintain a target growth rate of 0.9 kg (2 lb) at the above
recommended feeding rates. At these extremely low temperatures,
it is highly recommended that a third feeding be provided if you want
to continue growing your herd replacement. In addition, research has
clearly shown that a higher caloric intake will have a positive impact
on the animal’s immune function.
100% Milk Protein
The key to formulating a high quality milk replacer is to start with
the right ingredients. The best sources of protein and carbohydrates
are from milk ingredients (whey, whey protein concentrate, skim milk,
delactosed whey, casein, lactose). These ingredients are highly
digestible and provide lactose which is an excellent source of
carbohydrate to a young digestive system. Calves raised on milk
replacers formulated with ALL MILK proteins consistently outperform
those raised with alternate proteins. Tomkins et al. (1994) reported
a trial that compared milk replacers formulated with varying amounts
of alternative proteins and at different percentages to an ALL MILK
formula. Calves fed the ALL MILK milk replacer gained significantly
more weight in days 1-14, recorded lower mortality and lower morbidity
(Graph 3).
Graph 3
Results: Calves Included in Analyses
(A higher number indicates better survival)
30
30
Number of Calves
Graph 2
29
28
28
27
27
26
25
20
24
1
2
SPC
3
Wheat
4
5
Plasma
6
7
8
Milk
A typical alternative protein milk replacer will save $5-10 per bag, but
if you lose one calf or more, have higher morbidity and/or lower
growth rates, the alternate protein will not be more economical.
Make sure your milk replacer contains only milk protein!
Next to lowering mortality and morbidity the success of your calf
program will be measured by how well they grow. The growth goal
should be that the calves will double birth weight by 56 days. This can
be achieved by providing more total nutrients as mentioned above.
You can enhance your chance of success by also providing the highest
quality milk replacer possible.
Graph 4
Milk Acidification Reduces Scour Producing Bacterial
Growth in the Stomach
6
x x xx
xxx x x
xx
xx
Period of
no bacterial
growth
xxx
xx
xx
2
xx xx x
4
Period during
which bacterial
growth could occur
x x x x xx
xxxx x x
x
xx x x
pH
Feeding
x xx
xx x
Time
Graph 5
Amino Acids Reduce the CP Required in a Milk Replacer
1.2
(0.55)
No AA
w/ AA
17% fat MR fed at 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) per day
1.0
(0.45)
Adapted from Hill et al. (2008)
Gain, lb/day (kg/day) (0-28 days)
Acidified Milk Replacer for Optimized Results
Another feature incorporated into O PTIVIA milk replacers is
acidification. Mild acidification was chosen over full acidification
because the primary goal was to reduce the time the pH of the
abomasum was elevated versus complete preservation of the milk
replacer. Text books have shown that the bacteria that cause scours
do not grow well below a pH of 4.5. A calf’s abomasum is generally
around a pH of 3, but when sweet milk replacer is fed the pH increases
to 6-7 which is optimal for many bacteria (see Graph 4). By mildly
acidifying the milk replacer, you lower the amount of time that the gut
pH is above 4.5 thus reducing the optimal time for the bacteria to grow.
Mild acidification will not reduce DMI and will not require additional
mixing to prevent separation. Another benefit which cannot be
overlooked is that you do not have to handle dangerous acids yourself,
as we have blended it directly into the OPTIVIA milk replacer line.
0.8
(0.36)
0.6
(0.27)
24
26
% Crude Protein
28
Please Read the Milk Replacer Tag!
Other milk replacer may list supplemental lysine and methionine
on their tag, but this may not necessarily mean extra amino acids or
protein. Synthetics can be added just to meet a targeted crude protein
level. This method simply replaces some of the milk protein
ingredients in the formula with synthetic amino acids, which lowers
the overall amino acid balance and potentially makes it less expensive
compared to a product with just ALL MILK protein.
It is always important to read the milk replacer tag to make sure you
are comparing equivalent products. Look at more than just the protein,
fat and mineral levels. Check the ingredient listing and make sure the
product is made with ALL MILK ingredients and don’t be afraid to ask
your nutrition advisor to explain any differences.
Addition of Amino Acids
Another feature of the O PTIVIA Advantage milk replacer is the
addition of Amino Acids (lysine and methionine). The purpose
of including additional lysine and methionine was to achieve levels
similar to those present in whole milk. Hill et al. (2008), reported
higher ADG days 1-28 for a 26% CP milk replacer with supplemental
amino acids (AA) compared to a 28% CP milk replacer with or without
supplemental AA. The overall benefit is that less total protein is
being fed so the calf is more efficient and it is more economical
for the producer.
O PTIVIA milk replacers are formulated too
supply highly digestible sources of nutrients
that will support higher rates of gain, support
lower mortality and morbidity by:
• Using ALL MILK proteins
• Being mildly acidified
• Containing supplemental amino acids
• Providing a higher plane of nutrition
5
Daniel Fournier, Agr.
Technical Services-Polygastrics Director
Ruminant Group
East Region
Douglas F. Waterman, Ph. D.
Director, Dairy Technology Application
Nutreco Canada Agresearch
Intensified
Growth Program:
a Profitable Choice!
BEWARE OF FALSE PERCEPTIONS
For years now, you as producers have heard the debate between
conventional and intensified calf programs. Some disregard the
intensified program because the initial input costs were greater due to
increased milk replacer powder being consumed. Others might say,
“What difference does AFC (Age at First Calving) make, as long as she
makes it into the milking stream at some point in her lifetime.”
Perhaps we (nutrition advisors and producers) have been thinking
about this the wrong way.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER:
THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Rather than label a calf raising program as “conventional” or
“intensified”, we should be focused on what the calf requires to grow
efficiently and through these increased efficiencies we may get a
healthier animal of proper size and weight that potentially gets into
the milking stream at an earlier age and produces milk to her genetic
potential. This is a win-win... raising heifers that will make more milk
and have a lower mortality and morbidity rate. In addition, calving
at a younger age means that less replacements will be required
to maintain your herd size or allow for greater internal herd growth
if you are in fact growing your herd or wanting to sell animals.
6
YOU CAN CALCULATE IT: INTENSIFIED GROWTH PROGRAM
IS PROFITABLE
Dr. Galligan illustrates in Graph 1 the time required for a heifer to cover
her raising costs... basically how long before she is profitable.
We all know that a heifer isn’t considered “profitable” until the amount
of money she generates (milk in the bulk tank) is greater than the
amount of money invested. The average heifer will be 40 months of
age and into her second lactation before she starts becoming profitable.
So how does lowering the AFC impact her profitability? With the
current cost of raising a heifer from birth to calving (5 $3,100 CND
direct costs) the sooner an animal is introduced into her lactation the
sooner she can start paying you back. In addition, the younger she
calves the more productive days she will potentially have or in other
words the greater her productive life will be, assuming the same age of
leaving the herd. Dr. Alex Bach at the 2010 Shur-Gain Seminar reported
that the younger a heifer calves, as long as she is at least 22 months
old, the greater the probability of her completing her first lactation
compared to older heifers.
Graph 1
Table 1
Animal Age Versus Dollars Spent or Gained per Month
Number of Replacement Heifers Required
for 100 Dairy Cows
5,000
250
22
24
26
28
30
20
40
44
48
51
2,000
55
100
1,000
50
0
25
50
55
60
65
69
30
61
66
72
77
83
35
71
77
83
88
93
0
40
82
88
94
100
106
-1,000
45
92
97
102
107
112
-50
-100
Total dollars
Dollars per month
Herd Cull Rate %
3,000
150
-150
Age at 1st Calving
4,000
200
-2,000
0
10
Daily
20
30
40
Cow age
50
60
70
Cumulative
Chart courtesy of David T. Galligan, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
BENEFITS ON CALVING AGE AND HERD REPLACEMENT
Another important point to take into consideration when assessing
AFC is the impact it can have on the number herd replacements
needed to maintain your herd size. Table 1 illustrates the impact on
the number of herd replacements required per 100 cows based
on cull rate and AFC. As you would expect as the cull rate increases it
will require more replacements to maintain the herd, but for every
month that the AFC is above 22 months the farm will need 1.0 to
1.5 more heifers per 100 cows, depending on the specific cull rate.
So there are three direct benefits of lowering the AFC to 22 months:
Table 2
Based on the Assumptions Used in this Model:
Net Results in US $: (Intensive vs Conventional)
Feed costs
$74.29
Labor costs
$(14.66)
Health/ vet med
$(14.65)
Interest cost
$(15.50)
Reproductive culls
$(7.45)
Other costs
$(20.36)
Total “dead calf” costs
$(21.49)
Net Result (Savings):
$(19.81)
• Add in value of additional milk - $170 – and the advantage for Intensive Rearing ˜$190
Mike Overton, AABP 2010 courtesy of Mike VanAburgh
1. higher probability to complete the first lactation,
2. less herd replacements to maintain the current herd size
3. a higher number of productive days.
Dr. Overton illustrates the potential income that can be generated with
an intensified program versus a conventional program by comparing
input costs and the extra income from milk (Table 2). In addition,
you could add another $3,100 CND direct costs in savings for every
animal not raised by simply lowering your AFC.
7
AND ABOVE ALL: INCREASED MILK PERFORMANCE!
As mentioned in an earlier article, Dr. Van Amburgh has been an
advocate for intensified growth programs and a summary of data
suggests that an intensified growth program increases milk production in a heifer’s first lactation by as much as 818.18 kg (1,800 lb)
and this extra production should continue into future lactations. At
$0.70 CND milk, that equals an additional $1,200 CND in milk income
for that first lactation alone. Leonel Leal summarized numerous
papers on intensified milk replacer programs in a recent literature
review. The literature supports significantly higher ADG at weaning for
9 of the trials listed for an average increase of 160 g/c/d (0.35 lb/c/d).
That is 9 kg (19.8 lb).
Seven of the 11 trials recorded AFC with 4 reporting less days
to calving for heifers raised on an intensified program compared
to conventional. The differences were not significant but calves raised
on the intensified program were numerically younger at first calving.
In addition, the first lactation milk yields were significantly higher for
6 of the 11 trials while all the trials reported numerically higher milk
yields (+488 kg or +1,077 lb) for heifers raised intensively.
FIN
FINALY,
HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS
YOU SHOULD ASK TO YOURSELF:
Reg
Regardless
of what type of calf raising program
you are using, the most important questions
to answer are these:
1. Am I meeting the nutritional
requirement of the calf?
2. Am I meeting those requirements
under times of environmental stress?
3.
my milk income profit by having
3. Am I maximizing m
heifers calve in a timely manner at an appropriate size
and weight?
4. Have I provided her every opportunity to cover
her raising costs?
Now it’s your turn to decide what feed strategy you want.
Your Shur-Gain Dairy Nutrition Advisor is there to help you find
the right plan based on your needs and objectives.
8
HEALTHY HEIFERS WILL COVER THEIR RAISING COST,
AND EVEN MORE!
Dr. Van Amburgh detailed the importance of adequate nutrition for
the first few days of the new-born calves’ life. Calves are born with only
3 to 4% body fat, much lower than other animals. If calves do not
consume enough calories to meet their maintenance requirements,
they will begin to use body fat. With such little fat reserves, they will
ultimately begin to use body protein as an energy source, and this has
substantial long term delays in growth and leads to a weakened
immunity system. Calves that have a weaken immune systems
are more prone to sickness which can slow or inhibit growth, delay
AFC, or die. These so called “poor performers” may make it to calving
but a high percentage fail to complete the lactation. Animals that don’t
make it to calving (die or culled) or don’t complete their first lactation
are never able to cover their raising costs, thus losing the producer
money.
Brian Tarr
Ruminant Nutritionist
Shur-Gain Central Region
Daniel Fournier, Agr.
Technical Services-Polygastrics Director
Ruminant Group
East Region
Calf Starter:
the Other Important
Feedstuff for Proper Calf
Growth and Development!
In the previous article we discussed the importance of feeding your calves a higher plane of nutrition.
Calves raised on an intensified program, grew faster, were healthier, calved earlier and produced more milk
in their first lactation. However, to grow a calf correctly and economically a calf starter must also be fed along
with the milk replacer.
From Milk Replacer to Dry Calf Starter
Figure 1
Figure 2
The calf is totally dependent on the protein and energy supplied by
milk replacer for the first 14 to 21 days of age. At this point in time the
calf will require more nutrients than the milk replacer or milk alone can
supply. To correct for this you must feed more milk replacer or dry calf
starter. Starter is much more economical and it is necessary for the
development of the rumen. Adequate calf starter intake is essential
for volatile fatty acid production, particularly butyrate, which enables
early rumen development and enables the calf to be transitioned off
of milk (Figure 1 and 2).
Only Milk
Milk and calf starter
When Should we Offer Dry Calf Starter?
As early as 5 days of age calves should be offered calf starter and free
choice water. The most important factor for the successful feeding of
the pre-weaned calf is the early acceptance and high intake of the calf
starter ration. There are many factors that affect the calf starter intake
but the two main factors are free-choice water and a starter that
is palatable. Kertz (1984) conducted a trial that showed calves
consumed significantly more dry starter and recorded higher average
daily gains (ADG) when they had access to free choice water
compared to no water (Graph 1, page 10).
9
Graph 1
Calves Need Water!
400
(0.88)
300
(0.66)
Source: Kertz, et al., JDS, 1984
Gain / Intake, g (lb)
500
(1.1)
200
(0.44)
100
(0.22)
0
ADG
Blue is ad lib water
Intake
Red no water
Trials and Studies on Ingredients for Palatability
Palatability generally means the feed “tastes good” but in the context
of the calf that may be more difficult to define. Several researchers have
examined different ingredients for palatability to calves. Dr. Quigley,
for example, suggests that soybeans and molasses improve palatability,
soybean meal and corn don’t appear to have any effect either way, while
canola meal and urea will reduce palatability. Some ingredients, such as
fats and bicarbonate may enhance palatability at low inclusion rates but
depress intake at higher inclusion levels. Work reported by Montoro
et al. (2010) in a preference trial showed that wheat was highly
palatable while gluten feed was not. Choosing the best ingredients
is important, but equally important can be the inclusion level of
these ingredients.
Shur-Gain has conducted several trials looking at ingredient palatability and followed these up with preference trials to determine which
feeds the calves actually prefer or would consume first given a choice.
The preference trials conducted at our Nutreco Research facilities
demonstrated a wide range of preference by the calves for several
products on the market today. We brought in calf starter products
manufactured across the company to evaluate the preference and
acceptance by new born calves. Interestingly, when our group
examined all the products for appearance and “smell”, the calf starter
10
that we deemed to be best based on these visual criteria, was not the
one the calves ate the most of!
OPTIVIA Textured Calf Starters,
for Optimized Palatability and Intake
The Shur-Gain 22% Express Textured Calf Starter out performed the
other textured products on trial based on early acceptance and overall
intake by the calves. These studies have been used to further refine
our calf starter formulations and we are confident that the ingredients
selected and inclusion levels used in the OPTIVIA rations optimize
the palatability for the young calf and thus ensure maximum intake.
Textured vs Pelleted Calf Starters
Both textured and pelleted calf starters are fed to pre-weaned calves
and they both can provide equivalent nutrients. However, numerous
research trials have demonstrated that feeding textured starters
helps prevent parakeratosis (keratin build up on the papillae) in
the developing rumen. Keratin build up on the papillae permanently
reduces their ability to absorb nutrients. Both textured and pelleted
forms of calf starter produce the Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) necessary
for rumen development but textured starters provide the scratch
or abrasiveness that prevents the build up of keratin on the papillae.
EXCLUSIVE
CALF STARTER
with a Special Flavour Enhancement:
FLAVOUR BURST
Palatability or what we perceive as “taste” can also be enhanced in a number
of ways, including flavours and sweeteners. The simplest of these and most
common is molasses. Calves and other small ruminants show a distinct preference
for starter rations that have molasses added “on the outside” of the feed. The
research reviewed indicates that 4 to 5% molasses is ideal. It is not entirely clear
if this is simply enhanced palatability or if there is an olfactory role as well.
To gain the highest intakes, Shur-Gain has developed a special flavour
enhancement that will only be available with O PTIVIA Calf Starters:
Flavour Burst. This flavour enhancer when combined with our carefully
selected ingredients led to a significant improvement in intake.
Keratinization can be partially mitigated in pelleted calf starter
formulations by supplementing the starter with chopped straw or hay.
Recent studies reported by Dr. Alex Bach from Spain showed that
feeding straw along with pelleted calf starter rations provided
sufficient “scratch” to help reduce parakeratosis. However, the straw
intake should not exceed 10% of the total daily feed intake. The advantage of a pelleted starter is it can be stored in bulk bins and attracts
fewer flies in the summer compared to textured feeds with molasses.
Optimum Protein Level
When selecting a calf starter which crude protein level is best?
In reality the crude protein level should not matter - the key parameter
is the amount (number of grams, kilos or pounds) of protein consumed.
The most important factor in optimizing protein consumption is
intake. More palatable calf starters promote higher intake and
supply more total nutrients.
Key Points
for a Good Start
High calf starter intake is the most important
factor determining the success and outcome
of the calf feeding program (higher growth
rates and better health). There have been
many studies looking at nutritional
composition of the diet in an effort to find
the optimal diet for growing calves efficiently andd costt
effectively. This is likely more difficult to determine than it appears
as it is confounded by palatability and intake. In addition, cold and
heat stress have important effects on the nutritional requirements
of calves, as do the environmental conditions that they are raised
in. We need to feed well balanced, highly nutritious diets to calves
that can be easily adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions.
11
AT A GLANCE, SPRING 2011
Clearland Holsteins
Where Farming Means Family
A Family Farm
There’s no single definition of “family farm,” but if there was one,
Clearland Holsteins would qualify in spades. With a lineage stretching
back to 1915, the farm has been owned by three consecutive generations
of MacDonalds, beginning with grandfather David, and the youngest
members of the clan are being groomed to take over some day.
The Farm Today
Malcolm, born and bred on the farm in Searsville, New Brunswick,
acquired Clearland Holsteins from his father, Ronald, in 1989. He
and wife Elaine are co-owners of the 58-kilo quota, 414-acre spread,
100 acres of which are leased. Some 260 acres are cropland for corn,
oat, hay and silage production. The head count is 140 Holsteins. The
herd, with 3 EX, 30 VG, 24 GP, and 3 G, has a BCA of 227-225-225. The
55 cows in milk produce an average of 10,369 kg of milk a year with
386 kg butterfat and 331 kg protein.
Malcolm and Elaine Off the Farm
Malcolm has always been interested in antique John Deere tractors
and is an avid collector. His favorite haunts are tractor shows and
events such as tractor pulls. Elaine is an incurable antique-hunter,
scouring the countryside for estate auctions, or travelling with her
family to competitions where they show their cows.
Recipes for Success
The cows are currrently fed an 18% prepared ration from Shur-Gain,
along with hay, haylage and corn silage. Cows up to 120 days in milk
also get a 44% top dress. Heifers over a year old are given firstand second-cut round bale silage and 17% heifer grower. Young calves
begin with calf starter and second-cut hay, then move on to firstand second-cut hay and 17% heifer grower at four to six months. Dry
cows get first-cut round bale silage and hay and 14% dry cow ration.
A Constant Focus on Agriculture
Andrea is a member of the 4H Club and the Sussex Holstein Calf Club.
She’s an athlete too, both on the rugby field and in the pool as a
certified lifesaver and instructor. Scott’s focus is on farming, even
after hours. He’s a director of Atlantic Holstein Promotions, the Sussex
Holstein Club and the New Brunswick Holstein Branch.
The Younger MacDonalds
Scott and Andrea, Malcolm and Elaine’s children, know that success
in agriculture today hinges on education and the ability to adapt to
change. Scott, age 23, is a graduate of Nova Scotia Agricultural College
(NSAC), where he obtained a diploma in Dairy Enterprise Management
in 2008. Nineteen-year- old Andrea is a student at NSAC and will finish
with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Business.
A Great Partnership
The MacDonalds do business with the Shur-Gain Feed Mill in Moncton,
New Brunswick. They describe their feed advisor, Jack Sadler, as
“approachable and knowledgeable.” They praise him for the excellent
service he provides and the solutions he comes up with for any
problems they encounter. Their relationship with Shur-Gain has
always been positive and they are satisfied with the supplier’s
products and services.
The Children Love to Compete
Scott and Andrea have a passion for showing Clearland animals and
have brought home many prizes from local and provincial shows. Their
entries have made the family very proud over the years. Their best
memories include “having one of their cows make Grand Champion.”
The MacDonald children have participated at the Royal Winter Fair
in the 4H calf category since 2006. With Clearland cows continuing
to be high-scoring and high yielding, Scott and Andrea anticipate
the continuation of their tradition of ribbons, awards and distinctions.
12
12
Work on the Farm
Scott, the farm herdsman, has already begun working for his parents.
When his sister Andrea isn’t busy on the farm, she can be found on the
job at Green Diamond Equipment. Elaine does the bookkeeping for the
agri-business, which has one full-time and one part-time employee.
Malcolm loves owning his own farm. “I really like being my own boss
and being independent. It gives me great satisfaction to see the farm
grow and progress. On the farm, every day is different and there are
new challenges all the time.” The downside, if any? Malcolm doesn’t
miss a beat: “Fencing and rock-picking!”
Taking Stock
The MacDonalds see a future that is full of promise. On the strength
of their track record, they feel confident that the farm can continue
to move ahead, as long as they “remain open-minded about new
ideas and technology.” Every member of this family is proud of the
achievements of Clearland Holsteins and of the progress made with
the herd over time. When farming really means family, it’s pretty hard
to go wrong.
Clearland Fortune Julie VG87
Clearland Income Julia EX 3E
Clearland Holsteins
Scott, Elaine, Malcom and Andrea.
“(…) the farm can continue to move ahead,
as long as they ‘remain open-minded
about new ideas and technology’.”
Farm profile:
Clearland Holsteins, Searsville, New Brunswick
Owners: Malcom and Elaine MacDonald
Herd size: 140
Cows in milk: 55
Quota: 58 kg
Production average: 10,369 kg
Average annual components: 386 kg Fat − 331 kg Protein
BCA: 227-225-225
Herd classification: 3 EX, 30 VG, 24 GP and 3 G
Types of crops: Corn: 30 acres, Oats: 30 acres
and Hay / Silage: 200 acres
Available land: 414 acres / 100 acres rented
Service Center: Shur-Gain Feed Mill Moncton
Dairy Nutrition Advisor: Jack Sadler
A Strong Tradition
“It was a pleasure to work with Malcolm’s father, Ronald, when I first arrived in Sussex and it has been a pleasure to work
with Malcolm, Elaine, Scott and Andrea since 1989. The family really enjoys dairy farming and it shows in their continued
enthusiasm. In an era where the family farm is disappearing, it is great to see another generation of MacDonalds preparing
to continue the family tradition.”
Jack Sadler, Dairy Nutrition Advisor
13
AT A GLANCE, SPRING 2011
Frizzell Valleyville Farm Inc.
Geared Towards the Futurxe
Background
It all began in 1950 with Roy Frizzell’s mixed farm in Hunter River,
on beautiful Prince Edward Island. In the 1970s the switch was made
to dairy and pigs, with son Garth acquiring and heading the hog
operation. When Roy had a farm accident in 1979, Garth took over both
parts of the business. At the time, the dairy herd consisted of 40 cows.
Lifelong Learning...
For Cynthia and Garth, farming means learning something new every
day, through 4H programs, judging at fairs, hosting farm events,
or attending Holstein conventions, where, as Cynthia explains, they
“learn more about dairy animals and can talk to other farmers and see
how they do things.”
Growth and Change
As the 1980s drew to a close, the herd was upped to 50 milking cows.
The ’90s would turn out to be a decade of growth and transition,
with the herd increasing from 75 to 190 milking cows by 1999,
the construction of a new dairy barn in 1997, and the retirement
of the swine portion of Frizzell operations. There were 250 head of
milking cows in 2007.
...That Pays Off
Farming is a rewarding occupation for Garth. A few crushed ribs,
numerous kicks and being chased—occupational hazards when you
interact with animals every day— have never preventing him from
getting a genuine sense of satifisfaction from the whole process
of selecting sires for mating with a specific dam, then seeing their
offspring being born, and following them as they grow and develop.
As he puts it, “that’s the real accomplishment, whether the end result
is just a good functional dairy cow or one that can go on to compete
in the show ring.”
The Farm Today
The Frizzell farm, owned by Garth and Cynthia Frizzell and their sons
Chris and Alan, has 1,650 acres, with 1,150 used for growing corn
silage, cobblage, alfalfa and other grasses. The herd of more than
700 Holstein, with 250 cows in milk, has a BCA of 233-233-229
and 16 EX, 145 VG and 148 GP. With 285 kg of quota and an offical
production average of 10,730 kg, the Frizzells have plenty to be proud
of and a lot to look forward to.
All in the Family
And speaking of pride, for the Frizzells, it’s all about family, community
and the young people who aspire to a life in agriculture. Garth and
Cynthia are the center of a family (Chris (Rayanne), Alan, Susan and
three grandchildren) that has farming in the blood. Garth grew up
on the farm and has always enjoyed working with animals, a trait
inherited by Chris, whose preference is cattle and herd genetics and
health. Alan, the gadget guy who loves to tinker with machinery and
keep the farm’s equipment humming, is the crop man in the family.
The Boys
Both Chris and Alan pitched in on the farm while growing up. Chris
attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Alan studied at
Holland College. As agricultural graduates, they returned to the
homestead to farm as partners in 2004 and to contribute to what was
fast becoming a tradition of excellence.
Division of Labor
With six full-time and two part-time employees, the Frizzell farm is a
busy place for all, and co-owner Cynthia is no exception. She wears
many hats—farm secretary, accountant, and the keeper of the farm’s
records. She’s always ready to drive into town to pick up supplies and
can often be found in the kitchen cooking up a meal for the farm hands.
In her spare time, she does scrapbooking and participates in church
activities and the Holstein Club.
Awards and Distinctions
The Frizzells are no strangers to the competition circuit, where they
have earned numerous prizes, medals and awards over the years.
Highlights include breeding the Junior Champion at the Royal Winter
Fair and the biggest honor of all—a lifetime achievement award—the
2006 Master Breeder Shield from Holstein Canada. Integrity Brenna,
who has helped to make the herd famous across the country, has
an EX-2E score, 13* brood, a BCA of 213-262-221, and 28 scored
daughters 1 EX-25 VG-2GP.
Trusted Advisors
Cynthia and Garth are quick to praise their dairy nutrition advisor,
Nicole Stewart, and the Shur-Gain team in Moncton for their professionalism and expertise. “Shur-Gain Moncton goes out of its way to send
our feed on the day requested and can make and deliver it the way we
want it, when we want it and where we want it. The team is more
knowledgeable than the team from any other feed company we’ve
ever dealt with.” The Frizzells describe Nicole as “extremely friendly.
She seems like a close friend, someone you never hesitate to phone if
you have a question or problems. If she doesn’t know the answer, she
finds it for you. She knows her work and always brightens your day
when you see her. She has personality plus.” They were enthusiastic
about touring the mill and getting to meet the people they talk to on
a weekly basis. The experience did not disappoint.
The Next Generation of Producers
Cynthia and Garth have a lot in common, including their dedication
to the young people interested in a career in agriculture. They are
both actively involved in the 4H Club, where farmers-in-the-making
“learn to do by doing,” something that Garth, a hands-on type, can
really relate to.
14
Brenna and Garth.
Frizzell Valleyville Farm Inc.
Back row, from left to right: Garth, Cynthia and Alan. Front row, from left to right: Chris, Rayanne, Curtis and Susan.
Looking Ahead
The Frizzells plan no major changes to the farm for the next few years,
but they do hope to continue to improve the herd’s genetics. When
asked how they view the future of their profession, their response
was both optimistic and realistic: “There will be a good future in dairy
if the person is willing to make the commitment.”
“There will be a good future
in dairy if the person is willing
to make the commitment.”
Farm profile:
Frizzell Valleyville Farm Inc., Hunter River RR4,
Prince Edward Island
Owners: Garth, Cynthia, Chris and Alan Frizzell
Herd size: 700 Plus
Cows in milk: 250 Holsteins
Quota: 285 kg
Production average: 10,730 kg
BCA: 233-233-229
Herd classification: 16 E, 145 VG and 148 GP
Types of crops: corn silage, cobblage, alfafa and other grasses
Available land: 1,650 Acres (1,150 cultivated)
Service Center: Shur-Gain Feed Mill Moncton
Dairy Nutrition Advisor: Nicole T. Stewart
30 Years of Team Work
“It has been a great honor for Shur-Gain to have worked with the Frizzells for almost 30 years now. This long standing relationship
is based on trust, understanding, cooperation and ability to reach farm objectives. It is always a pleasure to visit the farm; the
Frizzell’s are great people as well as informed producers who are continually progressing. There is a high level of cooperation
amongst the team at Valleyville. This is just one of the qualities that have contributed to their success over the years.
It has been my privilege and great pleasure to be part of this partnership for the last 5 years, during which time the Frizzell’s
have become not only customers but friends. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Frizzell family for their confidence in allowing me
the opportunity to work with them and help them achieve their goals.”
Nicole T. Stewart, Dairy Nutrition Advisor
15
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