Animal Antibiotics, Resistance and Human Health

Amanda NolzAnimal Health, Animal Welfare, Production, Research

dairy-logo Adam Anson, from TheDairySite, recently wrote an interesting article on use of antibiotics in animals, antibiotic resistance and how it relates to human health. This thorough report deals with both sides of the issue in an educational platform that reminds all of us just how far the agriculture industry has come.

Antibiotics are a vital component to rearing healthy livestock, but many researchers argue that mismanaged use is having a detrimental effect on the industry. When antibiotics were first introduced back in the 1930’s they had an instant and momentous impact on life. Nowadays, it is easy to take the use of these drugs for granted and their importance can be overlooked. They haven’t only helped humans live longer, healthier lives, but they have also been used for the same effect on livestock. Consequently, the meat and animal products which we consume are safer as well.

Farmers have benefited from the advantages of higher outputs as healthier animals put on more weight. Inputs have also been reduced, not only through feed, but also space. Whether it is deemed for better or for once, antibiotics have enabled farmers to restrict the space and movement of livestock whilst keeping their health at an optimum. Without antibiotics intensive livestock systems may never have become a lucrative form of trade.

Link to TheDairySite to read about the long debate and who to believe. Come to your own conclusions, and don’t forget to leave your thoughts for discussions on World Dairy Diary!

Export Incentives for Dairy Products

Amanda NolzGovernment, Production

Dairy producers should keep a watchful eye on the new provisions Secretary Vilsack is making on the Dairy Export Incentive Program, with allocations of 68,201 metric tons of nonfat dry milk; 21,097 metric tons of butterfat; 3,030 metric tons of various cheeses and 34 metric tons of other dairy products, as well as individual product and country allocations will be made available through Invitations for Offers. Country and region quantities may be limited by the invitation. More information can be found at Southwest Farm Press.

vilsack_tom_ag_secretary_crop-300x0 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has begun implementing provisions of the Dairy Export Incentive Program, partly in response to the reintroduction of direct export subsidies by the European Union earlier this year.

Vilsack announced the allocations under the program for the July 2008 through June 30, 2009 period. The allocations, which are allowed under World Trade Organization rules, are designed to help U.S. dairy exporters meet prevailing world prices in areas where U.S. dairy products are not competitive due to subsidized dairy products from other countries.

“These allocations illustrate our continued support for the U.S. dairy industry, which has seen its international market shares erode, in part, due to the reintroduction of direct export subsidies by the European Union,” said Vilsack.

Congrats to Youth Dairy Promoter, Brittany Arnold!

Amanda NolzCompetition, Education, Health, Industry News

brittany-arnold I would like to extend many congratulations to Brittany Arnold, the recent crown winner of the Frederick County Dairy Princess contest in Frederick, MD. Arnold is a sophomore agriculture education student, who is incredibly passionate about the dairy industry. Arnold will compete along with other regional princesses for the title of Maryland Dairy Princess at 7:30 p.m. July 15, at the Francis Scott Key Holiday Inn in Frederick . (Photograph courtesy of photography Sam Yu)

For all past and present dairy promoters, what did you like about your time serving the dairy industry? What did you learn? What can be done to encourage the next generation to get involved in dairy production and promotion? What are your thoughts? The Frederick News-Post released an article about Arnold titled, Young educator takes on new role as dairy promoter, and here are the highlights from the story…

As part of the competition, Arnold presented a skit, based on “The Wizard of Oz,” she will use to educate the public about the industry during her reign. As Dorothy, she carried Betsy the cow as she traveled down the Yellow Brick Road of cheese. Instead of Oz, Arnold found herself in Dairyland, where she said rivers of chocolate milk flowed and rose petals were made of butter. Arnold explained the path milk takes from farm to tank to truck to plant, and the processes the beverage undergoes to ensure its safety.

In her various roles as a dairy promoter, she has visited various schools and child care centers with her dairy animals, given milk toasts touting the beverage at meetings and events and presented speeches at her school, Penn State University, on the importance of the dairy industry.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop preaching that chocolate milk does not come from brown cows,” she said.

Cheers to Day One of Dairy Month!

Amanda NolzIce Cream, Milk, Yogurt

junedairylogo Today is June 1, and I probably don’t have to remind any of you that today launches the first official day of June Dairy Month. In honor of this celebratory month, I found an interesting column written by Roxie Rodgers Dinstel in the News Miner that is worth highlighting. The column is titled, June is dairy month, so drink milk for your health, and while it notes the benefits of milk, it also provides some great ideas for summer dairy treats just for kids. Enjoy!

Raise a glass of ice-cold milk and toast the dairy farmers across America who make it possible to enjoy an abundance of fresh, dairy-licous products like milk, cheese and yogurt, every day. Besides the great taste, three servings of dairy provide calcium and eight additional nutrients that help keep bones strong and bodies fit.

Milk is big business today in many nations, particularly those in Europe and North America. Thirty-five countries produce 85 percent of the world’s supply. Cows are major sources of milk, although the milk of sheep, goats, horses, water buffalo, camels, donkeys, reindeer and llamas also is consumed by humans. We all drink milk, eat cheese and dine on yogurt. But sometimes, it can be just a little boring. Here are three ways to make your dairy more fun.

Link here for cool ideas for summer dairy treats using yogurt, pudding and of course, ice cream!

Holstein Herds of Excellence Recognized

News EditorHolstein Association, Industry News

Holstein Association USA is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2009 Herd of Excellence recognition. An elite group of eleven members from around the United States have met the strict criteria to qualify for this prestigious award.

The herd standards for the award include: Must be 25 percent above breed average Mature Equivalent (ME) for milk, fat, and protein; must have classified within the last year and have an actual average classification score of 83 points or higher; must have at least 70 percent of the herd homebred; and must be enrolled in the Association’s TriStar program. Congratulations to all of the hard-working winners!

bakerTim and Jennifer Baker
Star-Summit Holsteins, Byron Center, Mich.

Tim Baker took over managing his 75-cow operation from his parents, Henry and Ruth, in 1997. Today, the herd is 92.21 percent homebred, with ME production averages of 32,010 pounds of milk, 1,170 pounds of fat, and 1,005 pounds of protein, and has an average classification score of 87.76 points. This is the second year that Star-Summit Holsteins has been honored as a Herd of Excellence, and they have been named a Progressive Breeders Registry herd for 26 years. Tim and his wife, Jennifer, have three children, Gerrit-10, Jack-8, and Elise-4.

brantmeierJoseph Brantmeier
Hilrose Holsteins, Sherwood, Wis.

Hilrose Holsteins is a family farm, managed by Joe Brantmeier, and sons Andy and Jeff. They have received the Progressive Breeders Registry award for 19 years, and been named a Progressive Genetics Herd twice. The herd is 83.5 percent homebred, with an average classification score of 85.5 and ME production averages of 32,827 pounds of milk, 1,265 pounds of fat, and 957 pounds of protein. They also received the Herd of Excellence award in 2008. Joe’s wife, Chris, is a long time school teacher, and daughter Sarah works for Pfizer.

hendricksonJeffrey and Kate Hendrickson
Jeffrey-Way Holsteins, Belleville, Wis.

Jeff and Kate Hendrickson have a 75-cow herd, of which 97.44 percent are homebred. Their average classification score is 85.26, and ME production averages are 31,506 pounds of milk, 1,173 pounds of fat, and 953 pounds of protein. Jeff has been working with Registered Holsteins for almost 30 years, having grown up on a dairy farm. He worked as a herdsman for a few years, and purchased a cow when that herd dispersed, which was the beginning of his own herd. All of the Hendrickson’s five children are involved on the farm in some aspect. Brandon, 32, works for the county and assists with field work when he can, Kelsi, 22, works as an assistant editor for Agri-View newspaper and helps in her free time, and Trent, 21, is in college and comes home on the weekends and during the summer to work. Breinne, 17, and Brooks, 15, both help with chores on a daily basis.

houserJay and James Houser, Barbara Kerstetter, and Karen Aumen
Penn-Dell Farms, Spring Mills, Pa.

Jay Houser has been operating Penn-Dell Farms since 1963. The herd is 96.05 percent homebred, with an average classification score of 85.07 points, and ME production averages of 32,518 pounds of milk, 1,359 pounds of fat, and 972 pounds of protein. The herd is enrolled in Holstein COMPLETE and uses Tag ID to register their calves. Penn-Dell has received the Progressive Breeders Registry award for 37 years and have been a Progressive Genetics Herd for 18 years. Jay is very proud to have all five of his children involved in the dairy industry. His son James and daughter Karen Aumen take care of milking their 70 cows twice a day. Daughters Barbara Kerstetter and Sandra Haagen help Jay with the bookkeeping and finances for the farm. Another daughter, Mary Ellen Storm, lives in Wisconsin on a dairy farm. Jay’s grandchildren are taking an interest and enjoy being involved with the dairy as well.

jafralAllen Johnson
Jafral Holsteins, Hamptonville, N.C.

Jafral Holsteins is a 40-cow herd owned and operated by Allen Johnson. Their average classification score is 84.04, with ME production averages of 34,354 pounds of milk, 1,301 pounds of fat, and 1,009 pounds of protein on twice daily milking. The herd is 100 percent homebred, with most of the cows tracing back to two cow families, Rilara Mars Las Ravena EX-91 2E GMD and Bonnyside Bova Brenda EX-90 2E GMD. This is the second year that Jafral has been honored as a Herd of Excellence. They have also received the Progressive Breeders Registry award for 11 years, and the Progressive Genetics Herd award for 14 years, with a 2008 average CTPI of 1578. The herd has been on Holstein COMPLETE for three years. Working alongside Allen is his nephew, Kevin Huie. The two are responsible for all of the day-to-day labor on the farm.

jurbala_janiceJan Jurbala
Spotlite-J Holsteins, Orangeville, Pa.

Jan Jurbala started Spotlite-J Holsteins in 1977, and is now milking 46 cows twice daily. The herd has ME production averages of 32,220 pounds of milk, 1,173 pounds of fat, and 995 pounds of protein, is 79.63 percent homebred and has an average classification score of 83.2 points. Friend Sandi Hock assists with milking, raises the calves and heifers for the farm, and owns some cattle with Jurbala. Jan’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren all live at the farm and enjoy being involved.

Bruce and Brenda Long
B-Long Holsteins, New London, Wis.

blongBruce and Brenda Long own and operate B-Long Holsteins with their sons, Bryant-19, and twins Bret and Brandon-17. Currently milking 55 cows twice a day, the herd’s ME production averages are 35,190 pounds of milk, 1,219 pounds of fat, and 1,025 pounds of protein, with an average classification score of 83.66. The herd is 96.23 percent homebred.B-Long Holsteins was also recognized as a Herd of Excellence last year, and has been named a Progressive Genetics Herd for 13 years. Bruce and Brenda received the Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders Award in 2007. The Longs enjoy working together as a family and exhibiting their cattle at shows. They take pride in their homebred animals, and have not purchased any replacements in several years.

Paul, Tom, and Tim Schmitt
morningviewMorningview Holsteins, Durango, Iowa

Morningview Holsteins is an 88-cow operation that is 83.8 percent homebred. The herd has an average classification score of 84.8, and ME production averages of 32,046 pounds of milk, 1,202 pounds of fat, and 948 pounds of protein. Morningview was also recognized as a Herd of Excellence last year, and has been named a Progressive Breeders Registry herd for 12 years. The Schmitts have been a Progressive Genetics Herd for 14 years and had the highest average CTPI in the country in 2008, at 1669.

Jake and Sallianne Tanis
Ideal Holsteins, Centre Hall, Pa.
tanis
At Ideal Holsteins, the Tanis family is currently milking 100 Registered Holsteins with ME Production Averages of 33,725 pounds of milk, 1,247 pounds of fat, and 1,004 pounds of protein. The herd is 100 percent homebred, has an average classification score of 83.37, and is milked twice a day in their tie-stall barn. Ideal Holsteins has been recognized with the Progressive Breeders Registry award for 13 years, and this is the second year they have qualified as a Herd of Excellence. Jake is quick to credit his wife and children for the success that they have attained with their farm. All of his children helped growing up, and his son, Adam, works there full-time now.

turnerBenjamin and Carolyn Turner
Maplelane-Manor Farm, Apulia Station, N.Y.

Ben and Carolyn Turner have a 93.44 percent homebred herd of 120 cows, the largest herd of this year’s honorees, with ME production averages of 32,558 pounds of milk, 1,278 pounds of fat, and 1,053 pounds of protein. Their average classification score is 83.16. Ben is a full-time veterinarian, and Carolyn helps on the farm daily. They have two key employees – John Young, Carolyn’s son, who manages the farm’s field and crop work, and also milks, and Jay Liddington, who has been with them over 15 years and works mainly with the animals. The cows are milked twice a day in their tie-stall barn.

zank_editClint and Heidi Zank
Ridge-Place Holsteins, Neillsville, Wis.

Ridge-Place Holsteins, owned by Clint and Heidi Zank, is a 40 cow herd milked twice a day, with ME production averages of 32,851 pounds of milk, 1,155 pounds of fat, and 968 pounds of protein. The herd is 97.78 percent homebred with an average classification score of 85.41 points.
The herd is enrolled in Holstein COMPLETE and has received the Progressive Breeders Registry award for five years. Clint is responsible for the majority of the labor on the farm. His wife, Heidi, works in the medical field, and they have a son, Brayden, who is five. Zank’s father still assists with the farm’s crops.

Dairyline Markets In Review

News EditorDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

Wholesale dairy product prices remain depressed but are showing a little strength. While retail dairy product prices are down from a year ago, to the delight of consumers, dairy farm milk prices remain far below the cost of production.

The Memorial Day holiday-shortened week saw block cheese close at $1.1525 per pound, up a penny and a quarter on the week, but $1.0775 below a year ago. Barrel closed Friday at $1.10, up 2 cents on the week, but $1.10 below a year ago. Thirty seven cars of block traded hands on the week and 24 of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price fell to $1.1485, down 1.7 cents. Barrel averaged $1.0994, down 0.7 cent.

Butter closed at $1.2650, unchanged on the week, but 21 1/2-cents below a year ago. Fourteen cars were sold on the week. NASS-surveyed butter averaged $1.2374, up 2.1 cents.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Friday at 90 cents per pound, up a penny on the week, and Extra Grade closed at 87.50, up a half-cent.

NASS-surveyed nonfat dry milk averaged 83.13 cents, down 0.4 cent, and dry whey averaged 23.90 cents, up 0.4 cent.

Price support purchases for the week totaled 1.5 million pounds of nonfat dry milk, raising the cumulative total to 239.8 million, compared to none a year ago.

Gear up for Dairy Month this June!

Amanda NolzDairy Business, Dairy Checkoff, Dairyline, Industry News

junedairylogo With May Beef Month coming to a conclusion, it’s time to start celebrating the wonderful product of dairy. Each year, Dairy Month highlights the dairy producers and the healthful dairy products to consumers around the country. So, how can you get involved and promote the benefits of dairy, while also giving a face to dairy producers? According to Associated Content, the National Dairy Council and the Midwest Dairy Association are both working hard to put dairy products and farmers first.

The National Dairy Council promotes its 3-a-day program to encourage Americans to reduce risks of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, obesity, and colon cancer through consumption of dairy foods. It is estimated that most Americans are not getting enough calcium from their diets, and are thus not benefiting from optimal calcium absorption and nutrition. The Midwest Dairy Association raises public awareness on behalf of dairy farmers, dairy producers, and the dairy industry in the media. Its focus is on the “Milk-Making Mission”, and it shows us how businesses and producers affect the American dairy market, and consumer.

June Dairy Month first became part of American culture in 1937. It started as National Milk Month, and many chain stores sponsored events to promote drinking milk. The programs were a success, and likely contributed to American’s habit today of drinking milk. The National Dairy Council first began these promotions with businesses in mind, and stores quickly ran offers and highlighted their dairy sales during this time. In 1939, the campaign increased to promoting all dairy products, not just milk. This slowly increased the promotion and sales of butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. However, the war era quickly reduced the publicity efforts.

See the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc. for details on June Dairy Month in Wisconsin.
Crayola.com also offers educational materials for June Dairy Month. Check it out for some fun activities for kids!

Minnesota Milk Producers Association Tour

News EditorEducation, Industry News

Minnesota Milk Producers Association and University of Minnesota Extension will team up with industry partners to host a six farm dairy tour in Southwestern Minnesota and Eastern South Dakota on June 16th and 17th. The overnight trip will provide a terrific opportunity for participants to learn as they tour these farm facilities, receive insight on new technologies and labor practices and have the chance to network with other producers at the same time.

The cost of the tour is $200 per person and only $125 for additional registrants from the same farm. Registration is due June 8th, 2009 and includes transportation, meals, snacks, hotel stay, and informational packet. While the tour is open to everyone, members of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association will receive a $30 scholarship.

This year the tour will include the Goblirsch Dairy operation where they have milked their 200 cow herd with four robots since 2006. Dick Kidman and his two sons renovated a stanchion barn into a low-cost parlor at Kidman Dairy. M&M Livestock custom raises 2,000 heifers on 2 sites for nine dairies in Minnesota and South Dakota. After growing up in the Netherlands, John and Berlinda Vander Wal with Newalta Dairy moved to Canada to dairy farm. Randy Gross and his wife are the managing partners of Prairie Gold near Elkton, SD. Randy grew up in Washington and worked in California and Wisconsin before starting Prairie Gold in 2005. Randy Pater, also uses a flush flume system with sand lanes in his cross-ventilated barn equipped with evaporative pads for cooling.

Two buses will be providing transportation from Minnesota. One will make stops in Melrose, St. Cloud, and Sleepy Eye. The second bus will stop in Zumbrota, Rochester, and Worthington before arriving at the first operation.

This tour is made possible with the support of Extension and the producer and associate members of Minnesota Milk Producers Association
including: AgStar Financial Services, Land O’Lakes, Inc, Bongards Creamery, Davisco Foods International, Inc, Elanco Animal Health, First
District Association, Nelson Dairy Consultants, Inc, Tiry Engineering, Inc, Central Minnesota Federal Credit Union and Midwest Machinery.

Caldwell Pa. Center Dairy Excellence Intern

News EditorEducation, Industry News

sarahcaldwellcdeinternPenn State University student Sarah Caldwell of Beaver Falls will serve as summer intern for the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence.

Caldwell will assist the center in meeting the goals of the Pennsylvania Dairy Task Force and its five committees by coordinating programs, activities and events such as the Dairy Advocacy and Resource Team (DART) meetings and the June Dairy Month celebration at the Capitol. She will also provide communications support to the center throughout the summer.

Caldwell’s family operates a seasonal grazing herd of about 100 cows in Beaver County. She is the president of the Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Association and is a former Pennsylvania Dairy Princess. Also an accomplished dairy judge, Caldwell was a member of the first place 4-H team at World Dairy Expo last fall and will travel with the team to Europe this summer to compete in an international judging contest.

An active junior at Penn State University majoring in agribusiness management, Caldwell is an Ag Advocate and member of the Dairy Science Club, Alpha Zeta Fraternity and the National Agri-Marketing Association at Penn State. She will serve as chair of the OsteoChallenge Race at Penn State this fall, a 5K race that raises money for the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Phosphorus Leaching Differs in Dairy Manures

Amanda NolzDairy Business, Waste Management

Ann Perry at the USDA summarizes a study done by the USDA Agricultural Research Service the pros and cons of solid and liquid dairy manure as fertilizer. Here is a brief excerpt from that study…

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that solid dairy manure is better than commercial fertilizer in mitigating the amount of phosphorus that can accumulate in water percolating through the soil. But using liquid dairy manure can make it worse.

These findings could help farmers in the semiarid western United States protect local watersheds from agricultural pollutants. Idaho is now the second-largest milk producer in the western United States, and farmers there are using substantial amounts of dairy manure for fertilizing irrigated crop fields. Phosphorus can fuel the excessive growth of algae and other plant matter in freshwater ecosystems.

To read the entire summary, link to USDA ARS.