Boost milk components for a better bottom line

Photo by Jamiesrabbits on www.flickr.com.

According to current per-capita intakes, dairy products provide 18% of the daily protein requirements in the U.S. diet and are a major source of nine other essential vitamins and minerals. As obesity is of great concern in the United States, it is important to note that dairy products only contribute to 10% of the daily caloric intake.

Due to consumer demand, milk fat and milk protein use continue to rise. From 2000-2009, there was an increase in utilization of milk fat by 15% and milk protein by 18%. For producers, this trend indicates that milk component values are becoming more and more significant for profitability.

Last October, the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) hosted their 22nd Discover Conference, entitled "Milk Components: Opportunities for Maximizing Farm Gate Returns and Meeting Manufacturing Needs." Among the attendees was Tony Hall, Dairy Technical Services Manager for Lallemand Animal Nutrition. 

In Progressive Dairyman's January 1st issue, Hall graciously provided key points from the conference for those of us that could not attend. He identified the following as the three "clear take-home messages:" 

1. There is no guarantee of high milk prices and likely less regulation. Do not become a milk price victim in the future - make time for a milk price risk management plan with your team and implement it!
   
   
2. For those on milk component-based contracts, make sure you are doing all you can to leverage the best milk protein yield from your rations and feed management. At the same time, all farms - whether on fluid or component pricing - should look over their current feed practices to save on ration-N (CP*) and get MUNs (milk urea nitrogen) down.
   *crude protein
   
   
3. Where milk content is paid for, make sure the team is doing all that it can to minimize the conditions for t10;c12-CLA* production and achieving the best milk fat content for the ration fed.
   *potent milk fat inhibitor trans-10, cis 12 conjugated linoleic acid

Source: "Discovering new ways to boost milk components" article by Tony Hall. Progressive Dairyman. 
January 1, 2012, Issue 1. 

Count on Patz Vertical Mixers to Boost Your Milk Components!

SEEING IS BELIEVING! 

Experience time, labor, fuel, & feed savings with a Patz 1200 Series Vertical Mixer!

SEEING IS BELIEVING!

Click "play" on the YouTube video below to see what customers are saying 

about their Patz 1200 Series Vertical Mixers!

For further details on the benefits of feeding with a Patz 1200 Series Vertical Mixer, visit www.patzcorp.com.

Vertical Mixer Maintenance Tips

At the University of Wisconsin's Arlington Dairy Days, Matthew Digman of the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center noted that regular mixer maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and potential downtime. 

As featured in the January 10th issue of Hoard's Dairyman, here are several of Digman's mixer maintenance tips:

1. Grease. Regular grease points include universal joints, drive-line bearings, door guides, and linkages. Follow each grease line to its delivery point.
2. Chains. Clean off debris. Check sprockets for excessive wear or evidence that the chain isn't riding properly. Wear could indicate a misaligned sprocket.
3. Oil. For automatic oilers, make sure the reservoir is adequately filled and the oil dipper is positioned over the chain. If the oil bath level is too high, there may be contamination. 
4. Planetary gearbox. Check the oil level, and follow guidelines for change intervals.
5. Augers, paddles, and hoppers. Inspect for excessive wear.
6. Electrical system. Clear wires of buildup, check for damage, and tie up wires. Look for corrosion in the junction box. 
7. Load cells. Spherical joints on the check arm system should be tightly attached, yet the arm should be free to move in the joint. 

Source: "Winter's the time for mixer maintenance" article. Hoard's Dairyman, January 10, 2012 issue.

Visit www.patzcorp.com to view the full Patz Vertical Mixer Series!

Recent studies deflate impact of milk price on profitability

"It's attention to detail, it's excellent cow comfort, it's good animal husbandry, it's quality heifer programs, it's good financial management. There's no magic solution." 
-Mike Hosterman on profitability in the dairy industry

Instead of milk prices, Mike Hosterman, AgChoice Farm Credit agricultural business consultant, says that producers should focus on their net margin per hundredweight of milk produced to determine profitability. Using Dairy Profit Analyzer data, Hosterman found that milk price was not a significant factor in profitability among farms. Instead, lower cost of production and higher milk production were what set the top 10% of farms apart from the rest.

According to Hosterman, the top farms strike a healthy balance in these 5 areas:

1. Volume.
2. Efficiency.
3. Capacity.
4. Industry skills (i.e. ability to manage internal growth).
5. Cost of production and cost control.

A recent study by ag economists at Kansas State University confirmed that profitability is not strongly correlated with milk price over time. The results of the study indicate that the most profitable producers have higher milk production/cow and have similar (or slightly lower) overall costs/cow. Top farms actually had  higher feed costs than less profitable farms, but they also had a lower overall cost. One of the economists, Kevin Dhuyvetter, identifies a producer's individual management skills as vital to the survival of a business.

Click on the source link below to learn more about these studies!

Source: "Overcome profit obstacles" by Shannon Linderoth. Dairy Herd Management's website: www.dairyherd.com. Retrieved December 28, 2011. 

Beran's Dairy Expands Herd...Shortens Chore Time!

Vicky & Al Beran of Beran's Dairy
Birnamwood, WI

Family-owned for 50 years and counting, Beran's Dairy in Birnamwood, WI is home to 100 milking cows and 100 youngstock. Second generation-owner Al Beran and his wife Vicky purchased the dairy in 1994 and have been running it ever since.

In 2010, they installed a manure pit and built a new freestall barn to accommodate their growing herd. To maintain the beautiful new barn, the Berans identified the need for an effective, efficient manure-handling system. They knew just where to go for the solution: their local
Patz Dealer, Rew Motors, Inc. of Birnamwood, WI.

The Berans invested in two Patz Model 4444 Vertical Pit Pumps to keep their herd clean and comfortable. Al is pleased to report that his new pumps are saving him time and labor. He is now able to agitate and pump the manure while he loads the mixer from the silos, allowing him to do two chores at once!

After scraping with a skid steer for a few weeks in the new facility, Al & Vicky decided to invest in a Patz Model 320 Alley Scraper ASAP! Since then, Al has never looked back.

Cows stay clean and comfortable with
Patz Alley Scrapers & Pumps.

He said, "The chore of manure handling is automatic. The scrapers keep the cows cleaner and should allow the barn to last longer. The alley scrapers are cheap hired help -- they are reliable and are never late for work!" This automation has enabled Al and Vicky to milk more cows without hiring labor outside of the family.

 Milk production and quality clearly play a large role in an operation's profitability. Today, Beran's Dairy's herd averages 75 lbs/cow on twice-a-day milking. According to Al, "Herd health is better because of better cow comfort in the new barn. Our cows are cleaner because of the alley scraper system which affects milk quality."

The Berans were planning on a 10-year payback period but report that they are currently ahead of schedule.

Read the rest of this Success Story here!

Our full line of manure handling equipment includes Manure Pumps, Alley Scrapers,
Shuttle Box Scrapers, Barn Cleaners, Manure Stackers, & Agitators!

Visit www.patzcorp.com to discover the manure handling solution for your operation!

Feeding for minimized sorting

Patz Vertical Mixers deliver a thorough, consistent TMR
that cows can't get enough of! Patz Mixer owners
report reduced sorting and increased intakes!

Every cow in a pen should receive the same, high-quality TMR whenever she approaches the feedbunk. However, this is not always the reality. Without careful bunk management, the last cows to eat are left with a sorted ration consisting of hay stems, corn silage stalks and cobs. Consuming these "leftovers" can result in reduced DMI, intake variation, and slug feeding. When a cow's core nutritional requirements are not met, milk production suffers. 

To minimize sorting, the TMR delivered must be consistently mixed, have the proper chop length of forages and the proper amount of ration moisture. Once a high-quality TMR is achieved, the next step is to make sure that every cow has the opportunity to eat it. 

Pushing out the feedbunk on a consistent basis helps keep the TMR fresh throughout the day. Nutritionist Jess Argyle recommends that the fresh and close-up cow pens are pushed out every day before new feed is delivered. Cows are constantly moving in and out of these pens, making them more difficult to read. For the lactating cow pens, he recommends feeding to a tight bunk with 2-5% pushouts as-fed. This requires that feed be pushed out every 3-4 hours. In doing this, daily DMI intakes will be more consistent and reading the bunks will be easier. Plus, the pushouts can be fed to other groups such as far-off dry cows or pregnant heifers. 

If feedbunks are not pushed out frequently, there can be a buildup of sorted and foreign materials. When fresh feed is placed on top, there will likely be a decrease in DMI and an increase in sorting of the fresh TMR. Another issue is that feed buildup will heat up, spoil, and sometimes mold. Pushouts are usually too poor in quality to feed to other groups so they must be discarded. 

Put simply, the key to minimized sorting is to feed your herd a fresh, well-mixed, high-quality TMR. Your cows will thank you with better milk production and a better bottom line.

Source: "Manage feedbunk for consistency" article by Jess Argyle. Progressive Dairyman website: www.progressivedairy.com. Retrieved on December 14, 2011.

Intakes up 10-15% and components up 10 points!

(L to R) Ken Wullms of Embro Farm Systems, Inc.
with Marilyn, Harry, & Ryan Dykxhoorn.

Harry and Marilyn Dykxhoorn, along with their son Ryan, operate their 160-cow dairy, known as Dykholm Farms Ltd., near Brownsville, Ontario.

In February of 2011, the Dykxhoorns consulted their local Patz Dealer, Embro Farm Systems, Inc. of Embro, ON, about investing in a new Patz Vertical Mixer. To fulfill their feed-handling needs, they purchased a 615 cu. ft. Patz 1200 Series Stationary Single Screw Vertical Mixer along with a Patz Model 3605 Belt Conveyor to move the TMR discharged by the mixer into a feed cart.

Since the installation, the Dykxhoorns are impressed with how quickly their new mixer blends a quality TMR using a variety of ingredients, including large 4'x6' hay bales. The ration delivered is a better quality, more palatable mix that cows love. In fact, intakes are up by 10-15%!

This Patz 1200 Series Vertical Mixer & Model 3605

Belt Conveyor keep the Dykholm herd fed on time!

Harry and Ryan currently mix two batches a day, divided into four daily feedings for high and low groups. They report time, labor, and energy savings with the ability to mix larger batches in less time. It only takes 10 minutes of run time with a diesel engine to mix a whole day's feedings.

Based on Canada's quota system, milk components have an even greater impact on a dairy's bottom line. Since they purchased their new mixer, Harry reports an impressive 10-point increase in component values!

As they experienced with their previous Patz equipment, the 1200 Series Vertical Mixer and Model 3605 Belt Conveyor are engineered for long life, low maintenance, and trouble-free operation. Harry said, "We like the durability of our Patz equipment. Life is good, and it makes the day seem brighter when nothing breaks."

*The Dykxhoorns were also featured in the November 2011 issue of the Patz LINK Newsletter!

     Visit www.patzcorp.com to read more 
Success Stories from satisfied Patz customers!