Farm Briefs: Jan. 1, 2012

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January 1, 2012

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Sun Jan 01, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

November milk production decreased

ALBANY — New York dairy herds produced 1,013 million pounds of milk during November. Milk cows were down and production per cow was down from the previous year resulting in a 1.3 percent decrease in milk production compared to November 2010. The number of milk cows averaged 610,000 head, down slightly from November of the previous year.

Milk per cow averaged 1,660 pounds, down 1 percent from last year at this time.

Dairy farmers in the Empire State received an average of $21 per hundredweight of milk sold during November, down 70 cents from October but $1.60 more than November a year ago.

Milk production in the 23 major states during November totaled 14.7 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from November 2010. October revised production at 15.2 billion pounds, was up 2.5 percent from October 2010. The October revision represented an increase of 1 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,738 pounds for November, 16 pounds above November 2010. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major states was 8.48 million head, 108,000 head more than November 2010, but unchanged from October 2011.

Pork producers report inventory decline

ALBANY — Pork producers in New York had 91,000 hogs and pigs on hand Dec. 1, 2011, according to King Whetstone, director of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York office.

This total was down 16 percent from the 108,000 head on hand a year earlier. Of the current inventory, 11,000 hogs are for breeding purposes, down 1,000 head from the previous December. The remaining 80,000 hogs and pigs are being raised for home use or the slaughter market. This total decreased by 16,000 head from a year ago.

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on Dec. 1, 2011, was 65.9 million head. This was up 2 percent from Dec. 1, 2010, but down 1 percent from Sept. 1, 2011.

Breeding inventory, at 5.8 million head, was up slightly from last year, but down slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.1 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The September to November 2011 pig crop, at 29 million head, was up 2 percent from 2010. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.89 million head, up slightly from 2010. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.02 for the September-November period, compared to 9.89 last year.

Presenters set for cow management training

PLATTSBURGH — Participants must register by Jan. 10 to learn how strong management of a dairy's transition cows can positively impact farm profitability.

To help North Country farm owners and employees learn more about this critical period in a cow's life, the Northern New York Dairy Institute (NNYDI) is offering four training sessions on Transition Cow Management with Cornell University researchers, veterinarians and industry professionals.

The 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. interactive lectures and hands-on learning opportunities begin in mid-January, Thursdays Jan. 19 to Feb. 9 in Franklin and Clinton counties.

Nearby on-farm workshop sites have been selected to provide participants the opportunity to visit progressive dairy farms in their area. W. H. Miner Agricultural Institute at Chazy is among the host sites.

Registration is open for single sessions at $35 per session or $100 for all four sessions. The fee is due to the local Extension office by Jan. 10 and for all single sessions one week before that session begins. Lunch will be provided.

"Although the sessions are offered as stand-alone classes, there will be tremendous value to be gained in attending the entire course on the critical transition period for dairy cows," said Cornell Cooperative Extension co-organizer Rick Levitre with CCE Franklin County.

The first session will focus on What Transition Cows Need with Dr. Thomas R. Overton of the Cornell University PRO-DAIRY program and veterinarian Dr. Paula Ospina, a senior lecturer with the Cornell University Department of Animal Science.

"There are many things that relate to rations fed to transition cows or to other management and facility factors that can have huge impacts on not only cow health but also milk yield and reproduction. Farms that stick to key principles in these areas can have really successful transition cow programs," Overton said.

Ospina, who will complete her PhD in Epidemiology in the spring of 2012, will talk about her research on risk factors that predispose transition cows to negative outcomes at the time of calving.

Cowside Care and Decisions at Calving and Post-Calving is the second session topic with veterinarians Dr. Mark Thomas with the Countryside Veterinary Practice in Lowville and Dr. George Palmer, Palmer Veterinary Service, of Plattsburgh. They will address the observation, evaluation and treatment of conditions that commonly affect transition cows in the critical weeks before and after calving.

The next session will focus on Pen Moves and Herd Dynamics: Take Advantage of Natural Cow Behavior with President Dr. Rick Grant and Research Scientist Heather Dann, Ph.D. of Miner Institute.

"How and how often a farmer introduces and moves transition cows into and out of pen groups impacts the cows' adjustment period and milk production during that period. Farmers need to manage cow movement in a way that encourages a dairy cow's natural behavior, which supports her well-being, optimal productivity, fertility and health, and the farm's economics," Grant said.

Week four's session with Dr. Bill Stone, DVM, Ph.D. (Dairy Cattle Nutrition) with Diamond V in Auburn will talk about controlling variability in feeding programs, and Dr. Ken Sanderson of Balchem, New Hampton, will discuss opportunities with dietary additives.

"Three years ago, Diamond V began offering TMR audits to help producers reduce the variability in their rations," Stone said. "Feeding a consistent TMR supports the goal of successfully transitioning cows into the milking herd with the best opportunity for maximum milk and premium components production."

Registration contacts with Cornell Cooperative Extension are CCE Clinton/Essex: 962-4810, Ext. 0, essex@cornell.edu; and CCE Franklin: Rick Levitre, 483-7403.

FSA borrower credits are available to anyone completing all four sessions. ARPAS credits will be available pending approval.

The course is made possible with funding from the New York Center for Dairy Excellence and the Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program with support from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Miner Institute.