I-29 Moo University
A newsletter for dairy producers & industry~December 2019
Calendar of Events
2020
January
6-10: I-29 Moo University Winter Workshop series & Mid-west Dairy Updates; 6th -Perham, MN; 7th - Brookings, SD; 8th - Pipestone, MN; 9th - Orange City, IA; and 10th - Wayne, NE. Click here for the details and to register.
March
24th: I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course; Sioux Falls, SD. Agenda & registration details coming soon!
24-26: Central Plains Dairy Expo: Click here for more information
Proper Ventilation Crucial for Health Calves
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (11/13/2019) - Having good and adequate ventilation for your calves is crucial for overall health and the prevention of respiratory disease. With winter on its way, it’s a good idea to review your ventilation now so you can avoid problems down the road.
A component of ventilation that is sometimes overlooked is the stocking density of your calf pens. Just like cows, calves of all ages have space requirements that need to be met in order to keep them comfortable and healthy. Simply measure your pens and calculate total square footage, then divide by the number of animals in the pen. Do your numbers match up with the following suggestions?
For baby calves aged 0-2 months, they need a minimum of 30 square feet per animal. For weaned calves aged 2-4 months, they also need about 30 square feet. Heifers aged 4-8 months require 40 square feet of space per head, and heifers aged 8-12 months require 50 square feet. Those square footage measurements are for a bedded pen or pack area, and do not include feeding area. For weaned calves, feeding area requirements are 18 inches with slant bar dividers. For 4-8 month old heifers it’s 15 inches per animal and for 8-12 month old heifers it is 17 inches per animal. Continue reading here.
Email: krek0033@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu/dairy
Phone: (605) 882.5140
Raising calves that thrive in the winter
By Jim Salfer, University of Minnesota Regional Dairy Educator
Calves must be born in a very clean, dry environment
Calves are born with only three to four percent body fat. They are also born with a special layer of fat called brown fat. Brown fat’s only purpose is to release energy as heat. To prevent using all the fat within a few hours of birth, dry off calves rapidly.
The calving area should also be draft free. Warming boxes or rooms should be considered if calving in outside cold facilities. Four quarts of colostrum should be fed as soon as possible after birth to provide passive immunity and nutrients to the newborn calf.
Increase nutrition
In cold weather, calves need more energy just to maintain body temperature. This is particularly important during the first three weeks after birth, before calves consume much calf starter. Once calves consume starter and begin to ruminate, heat produced by feed digestion helps keep calves warm. Click here to continue reading.
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/dairy
Dairy profitability webinar series
Dairy Extension in Nebraska recently hosted a series of webinars related to the economic impact on the dairy farm. Dr. Jan Shearer from Iowa State University discussed the costly disease of lameness. Dr. Victor Cabrera from the University of Wisconsin discussed income over feed costs and provided tools to measure this cost. Lastly, Dr. Andreia Bianchini from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln discussed how spores on the dairy farm impact milk quality.
Each webinar was recorded and you can access each recording here. We request you complete a short survey after viewing each webinar.
Email: kimclark@unl.edu
Website: dairy.unl.edu
Location: Lincoln, NE
Facebook: facebook.com/nedairyext
Preparing for a 3-day Standstill: Cattle, Milk, Feed
Danelle Bickett-Weddle, DVM, MPH, PhD, DACVPM
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Swine producers are watching the growing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in China and Eastern Europe. Iowa producers participated in a “mock” ASF outbreak this fall and one of the first things they experienced was a 72-hour movement standstill order. Animals were allowed to get to their destination and then STOP. No new movements were allowed, nor was feed movement allowed, for 72 hours. You read that correctly…no animal or feed movement for 72 hours.
While ASF does not affect cattle, foot and mouth disease (FMD) does. The 72-hour movement standstill would also be used nationally to control the spread of this highly contagious animal disease if it were found in the United States. For dairies, milk movement in Iowa could be stopped. How would this affect your business?
Workshops in Sioux Center and Calmar
These are some of the topics we will be discussing at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)/Iowa State University workshops on January 27 in Sioux Center and February 11 in Calmar. Registration is free, lunch will be served, along with the current plans IDALS is considering should FMD be found in the U.S. I encourage you to attend and be part of the conversation, get your questions answered, and share your concerns. The meeting is aimed at dairy producers, processors, haulers, veterinarians, extension personnel, and emergency managers. Free registration at: https://forms.gle/okgMNAVtRHVMpiALA, by emailing fad@IowaAgriculture.gov, or calling (515) 281-5305.
What Does FMD Look Like?
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) causes blisters on the feet and in the mouth of cloven-hooved animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats). It does NOT affect public health or food safety. Meat and milk are safe to eat and drink.
Secure Milk (SMS) and Beef Supply (SBS) Plans for Continuity of Business
The SMS and SBS Plans supports FMD control for infected farms and business continuity for uninfected farms. Producers can visit the Secure Milk and Secure Beef websites (www.securemilk.org and www.securebeef.org) to prepare now by:
· Having a National Premises Identification Number (PIN) issued by Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: https://www.iowaagriculture.gov/animalIndustry/pdf/premiseIDapp2.pdf or call (888) 778-7675
· Writing an operation-specific enhanced biosecurity plan
· Keeping movement records of animals, people, equipment, and other items onto your operation
· Developing contingency plans for their operation for times of restricted movement
Coping with Farm & Rural Stress
Farming is one of the most stressful occupations in the United States. This is particularly true for dairy farmers as they are experiencing an extended period of low milk prices.
Below are some resources available when dealing with stress.
Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline: 833-600-2670
Ted Matthews, Rural Mental Health Counselor, no cost, no paperwork; 320-266-2390
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 800-464-0258
South Dakota Ag Mediation Program: 605-773-5436 or 605-280-4745
South Dakota Rural Help Line:800-664-1349South Dakota Suicide Prevention Hotline: 605-339-8599
Iowa Concern Hotline & Resources: 800-447-1985
Illinois Agriculture Mediation Program: 618-549-1200, ext. 1001
Rural Services of Indiana, Inc.: 574-299-9460
Kansas Ag Mediation Services: 800-321-3276
Missouri Agricultural Mediation Program: 573-751-5520
New York State Ag Mediation Program: 518-687-2240 or 866-669-7267
New York Farm Net: 800-547-3276
North Dakota Mediation Service: 844-642-4752 or 701-328-4158
North Dakota 211 Help Line Mental Health Association in North Dakota: 800-472-2911
North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Services: 800-642-4757 or 701-328-2061
Wisconsin Farm Center Hotline: 800-942-2474
Disaster Resources Available with Recent Weather Events
Available resources include
South Dakota Department of Agriculture website (sdda.sd.gov)
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP)
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Emergency Loans
Farm Stress Help
University of Nebraska Lincoln website (flood.unl.edu)
- Cattle producers post flood checklist
- University of Nebraska feeding assistance program
- Dealing with flooded hay and grain
- Disposal of flood soaked grains and forages
- Emergency disposal of livestock carcasses
- Flood-related diseases in poultry and livestock
- Hay donations
Many more resources available at the websites listed above.
About Us
Location: I29 Corridor
Facebook: Facebook.com/I29DairyOutreachConsortium
University of Minnesota Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Jim Salfer: salfe001@umn.edu; phone: (320) 203-6093
Karen Johnson: ande9495@umn.edu; phone: (320) 484-4303
Brenda Miller: nels4220@umn.edu; phone: (320) 732-4435
Emily Wilmes: krek0033@umn.edu; phone: (320) 255-6169, ext. 3
South Dakota State University Extension
Contacts:
Tracey Erickson: Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu phone: (605) 882-5140
Heidi Carroll: Heidi.Carroll@sdstate.edu; phone: (605) 688-6623
Maristela Rovai: Maristela.Rovai@sdstate.edu; phone: (605)688-5488
Nebraska Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Kim Clark: KimClark@unl.edu; phone: (402) 472-6065
Robert Tigner: Robert.Tigner@unl.edu; phone: (308) 696-6734
North Dakota State University Dairy Extension
Vacant Position
Iowa State University Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Fred Hall: FredHall@iastate.edu; phone (712) 737-4230
Leo Timms: ltimms@iastate.edu; phone: (515) 294-4522
Jennifer Bentley: jbentley@iastate.edu; phone: (563) 382-2949
Allied Partners
Mitch Schulte: mitchschulte@iowadairy.org; phone: (319) 7745-3451
Western Iowa Dairy Alliance: Scott Schroeder: westerniowadairy@gmail.com; phone: (712) 441-5308
Minnesota Milk Producers Association: MNMilk.org
Lucas Sjostrom: lucas@mnmilk.org; phone: (320) 249-8701
North Dakota Livestock Alliance:
Amber Boeshans: amberboeshans@ndlivestock.org; phone: (701) 712- 1488
Nebraska State Dairy Association: NebraskaMilk.org
Kris Bousquet: KrisBousquet@NebraskaMilk.org
phone: (531) 207-4291
South Dakota Dairy Producers: SDDairyProducers.org
Tom Peterson tom.peterson@sddairyproducers.org; phone: (605) 251-2439
Minnesota Dairy Initiative-SW Region
Becca Schulze becca.schulze@co.pipestone.mn.us; phone: (507) 531-0443