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Novus International treated some of the top dairy nutrition consultants from the upper Midwest to lunch and a seminar today at the Sheraton next to the World Dairy Expo. One of the presenters was Dr. Tom Overton of Cornell University who talked about the biology behind a couple different ration software programs for dairy nutrition modeling.
“The dairy nutrition modeling effort has been going now at Cornell for more than 30 years and that has led to the development of these programs,” Tom says. “Cornell Penn Miner (CPM Dairy) is a partnership of Cornell with the University of Pennsylvania, Miner Institute, and then a sister program, the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS).”
Tom says both programs are the result of an on-going effort to “better define the biology of cows and how we might be able to put diets together in order to make them more productive and efficient and help our producers be more profitable.”
Posted: September 30, 2009 at 9:27 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
A RedPepper from New York is one hot Aryshire this week at World Dairy Expo.
Blind Buck Vall Tri Redpepper was named Grand Champion of the Junior and Open International Ayrshire Shows, a repeat win for her, as she was also named Grand Champion of the Junior Show in 2008.
Owned by Roger Greeno of Fort Edward, New York, and leased and exhibited by Sara Pulver, the senior three-year-old completed a record at 2-04 3X 305d 19,242 801F 651P. She is sired by Androssan Ev-Kates Trident. Pulver was presented with the Udder Comfort $1000 Grand Champion Cash Award for the open show and the Udder Comfort $500 Grand Champion Cash Award for her Junior Show win.
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Just like humans, high producing dairy cows are prone to oxidative stress, a condition where an imbalance occurs between the production of free radicals and the body’s antioxidant mechanisms.
Dr. Dennis Nuzback, Technical Services Manager for Novus International, says any time an animal has to use high amounts of energy, exidative stress increases because she’s putting more pressure on her system to try and stay in balance. “There are several factors that lead to oxidative stress. Some of it could be excessive body weight, some of it can be transition changes,” Nuzback said. “Calving, environmental temperatures, they can add more stress.”
Novus has several products that can help cure the situation in a nutritional package of minerals, amino acids and antioxidants to help achieve consistent oxidative balance. The company now has a new website for producers to find out more about striking that balance in dairy animals – DairyBalance.com. The site includes “signs, proof, solutions and expert opinion pertinent to balancing oxidative stress in dairy cows,” according to Novus. Producers can also sign up Novus Dairy Nutrition Notes, an electronic newsletter that is distributed bi-monthly that discusses the most up-to-date issues facing the dairy industry.
Listen to or download an interview with Dr. Nuzback here from World Dairy Expo:
Posted: September 30, 2009 at 7:38 pm
By News Editor
Do you use sand as bedding material on your dairy farm? If you are reusing the sand, then Pro-Act Biotech has a product just for you! SandSmart™ is a biological product that allows dairy farmers to reuse their sand bedding after a quick, convenient and effective cleaning. The quality and quantity of recycled sand are important factors to consider.
SandSmart™ is a biological product designed specifically for sand-bedded dairy farms and is best used in a flush or flush flume manure system. The application is simple: The product is applied periodically to the last lagoon from which dairy draws their flush water.
The key to cleaner sand is cleaner flush water. SandSmart™ provides the dairy with superb flush water which cleans the sand with ease. Cleaner sand provides a healthier environment for the cows.
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Dairy farmers often struggle with feeding young calves and getting enough high quality colostrum into their bloodstream in the first 24 hours, but a product called Proteiva from APC can help.
I talked with Dr. Jim Quigley, APC vice president and director of Calf Operations, about Proteiva and what it offers dairy producers who are visiting World Dairy Expo this week. “Our colostrum replacer technology is based on a couple of ideas,” Jim said. “First, the calf requires a certain amount of globulin protein in the first 24 hours after birth to make sure its immune system is functioning on all cylinders. The second idea is that the calf needs the right kind of nutrition in the first 24 hours to make sure that its going to be able to grow fast and effectively.”
Find out more in this interview with Dr. Quigley from World Dairy Expo:
Posted: September 30, 2009 at 4:11 pm
By Carly Zimmerman
The International Junior Holstein Show was held on Tuesday at World Dairy Expo. Judge Brian Garrison of Tiffin, Ohio placed a total of 177 entries.
Hillmont Durham Lyndi, winner of the aged cow class and exhibited by Luther Hillegass of Berlin, Pa. was named Grand Champion and received the Udder Comfort $500 Grand Champion Cash Award. Sired by Reagancrest Elton Durham, at seven years of age in 365 days she produced 32,321M 1,295F and 1,053P. The winning five-year-old, Stonefront Advent Laverne, shown by Shane Nodolf of Belmont, Wis., received reserve Grand Champion honors.
Posted: September 30, 2009 at 3:29 pm
By News Editor
The National Dairy Council (NDC) is excited to announce the launch of its new blog, “The Dairy Report: News, analysis and opinion on nutrition and health research.” This new blog offers expertise, opinions and dialogue related to current trends and events in dairy foods, nutrition and science.
A new post on The Dairy Report highlights a study that provides further evidence that milk consumption, including flavored milk, is not associated with body fatness in children and adolescents. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that only sweetened beverage intake (such as sweetened fruit flavored drinks or sodas) at five years of age, but not milk, flavored milk or 100 percent fruit juice, was a significant predictor of girls’ body fatness from 5 years to 15 years.
Readers are encouraged to add The Dairy Report to their RSS feeds, join the e-mail distribution list, share feedback, express opinions regarding posts, and call attention to upcoming research or topics of interest.
Posted: September 30, 2009 at 12:36 pm
By Carly Zimmerman
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
The Badger Dairy Club, a student organization on the UW-Madison campus, has become famous for their legendary grilled cheeses they bring to the World Dairy Expo. Every year members of the Badger Dairy Club come to the expo and prepare thousands of grilled cheeses to sell to hungry expo goers. This is one of the club’s biggest fundraisers. Members also put countless of hours before, during and after the expo making the sandwiches as well as setting up show ring displays, picking up milk, and cleaning up the barns.
I took a moment to try one of their famous grilled cheeses. After just one bite you can tell they have grilled cheese sandwich making down to an art. Take a look at a video below of my experience.
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The theme of this year’s World Dairy Expo is “Legendary” and with nearly 125 years of service to the dairy industry, it’s hard to beat Hoard’s Dairyman for legendary.
The legend began in 1885 with W.D. Hoard who published a weekly newspaper, according to managing editor Steve Larson. “He was from New York and he had seen dairy farming and home butter and cheese making there and he saw this as a potential source of income for Wisconsin farmers,” Steve says. “Wisconsin at that time was the leading wheat producing state with very little animal agriculture, so he began to advocate keeping dairy cattle as a way to make use of this land.”
Mr. Hoard began to talk about that in his weekly newspaper which over time became the Hoard’s Dairyman magazine, which has been a pioneer in the dairy industry. They own and operate a dairy farm that was purchased by Mr. Hoard in 1899 to serve as a model for the industry.
Hoard’s continues to be a pioneer in communicating to dairy producers as well, featuring a well-populated blog from World Dairy Expo this year, according to Gary Vorpahl, director of marketing. “We have an hourly blog that’s being updated as different events happen and different activities such as the cow judging and the student competitions become finalized, we’re reporting those on an instantaneous basis.”
Listen to or download an interview with Steve and Gary here:
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Holstein dairy cattle continue to be the leading breed in the dairy industry and the Holstein industry has also been breeding leaders in the agribusiness industry as well through the Holstein Foundation’s Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI).
Jodi Hoynoski with Holstein Foundation and Holstein Association USA says they are planning for the seventh YDLI class. “It is a two year, intense leadership training program,” Jodi told me. “There’s three phases for the program. The first phase is dedicated to developing individual skills, learning more about who you are, a bit media training to help them speak up more for agriculture.”
Phase two is a year of “homework projects” promoting the dairy industry and agriculture. Phase three, everyone gets back together for more advanced teamwork skills, board member training, more media training and affecting public policy. She says that graduates of the program have gone on to become influential movers and shakers in the agribusiness industry – like Mike Opperman with Charleston Orwig who was in the very first graduating class!
Jodi says applications are due next summer for the next class that begins in February of 2011. Sign up to receive an application from a link on the front page of the Holstein Foundation website.
Listen to or download an interview with Jodi from World Dairy Expo here:
Posted: September 29, 2009 at 9:17 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Virginia Tech received top honors for the second year in a row at the 89th Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo. Paula Craun and Hannah Smith led the team placing second and third, respectively. Virginia Tech also won High Team in Reasons. Sandra Kirchner took home High Individual Overall leading the UW-River Falls team to second place team overall.
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Charleston Orwig must have more dairy industry related clients than any other communications agency in the country, which makes sense since they are located literally in the heartland of the state synonymous with dairy production – Hartland, Wisconsin. That keeps them pretty darn busy during World Dairy Expo every year.
I met with Mike Opperman with Charleston Orwig in the agency’s suite overlooking the expo arena and we talked about what they are doing at the event and their philosophy when it comes to serving dairy industry clients and producers. “We always like to think that it’s a great time to be in agriculture, no matter what the season or the climate,” Mike said. “Certainly being in the dairy industry over the last 6-8 months has been a very difficult time for producers and for some of our clients as well, but we always like to see the silver lining and we see the sun coming up on the dairy industry again.”
Here is a YouTube video of my short interview with Mike and the audio interview follows:
Posted: September 29, 2009 at 7:28 pm
By Amanda Nolz
Dave Lefever with Lancaster Farming wrote an article titled, “Dairy Farmers, Task Force Grapple With Policy Reform,” and it highlights the efforts of dairy producers in dealing with dairy policy reform. Stay up-to-date on the issues and check out this informative article.
Dean Jackson’s dad told him that a roomful of farmers would never agree on a solution to a problem. But the Bradford County dairyman showed up at a special meeting Tuesday hoping to make a case for proving his father wrong on that particular point.
“There’s got to be unity,” Jackson said during the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence Task Force, called to solidify the state’s plan of action for addressing dairy policy reform.
Jackson’s call for solidarity was echoed by others at the meeting, including Gordon Hoover, director of eastern milk supply for Land O’ Lakes.
“If the industry ever got unified, legislators would breathe a sigh of relief,” Hoover said.
Jackson and Hoover were among about 40 attendees, including a number of dairy farmers and industry support people at the meeting, scheduled by Acting Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to coincide with the All-American Dairy Show.
Posted: September 29, 2009 at 4:10 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
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No doubt about it – 2009 has been a really, really tough year for the dairy industry, and in a state like Wisconsin where the economy relies so heavily on dairy, it has been painful. But the state’s Dairy Business Association is determined to live up to its slogan “Keeping the cows in Wisconsin.”
Director of Business Development Tim Griswold says one way they are keeping the industry viable is by reinvesting in the future. “Wisconsin has really gone through a metamorphosis in the last 15-20 years,” Griswold says. “We’ve really seen a reinvestment in new, more modern operations. Today, over half the milk in Wisconsin is produced by operations with over 200 cows. We anticipate continued growth for those operations. So, as we continue to have people retire out of the industry, we’re going to have a vibrant industry going forward because of the transformations that have been made.”
Modernization and environmental stewardship are keys to the future of the industry in Wisconsin and Griswold says they remain optimistic that most producers will survive the current economic downturn and come out stronger than before.
Posted: September 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm
By Amanda Nolz
Farmers Weekly Interactive recently posted an article titled, “Building Knowledge On Transition Cow Management,” and it offers tips and trips for dairy cow management during the early stages, transition period and once the cow has calved. This is a solid piece that could be beneficial to many dairy producers. Check it out.
The dry period is a critical time for dairy cows and getting the management wrong impacts on the whole lactation, says Gwyn Jones, Wern Vet Surgeons, Ruthin, north Wales.
“The success and productivity of the whole lactation depends on getting the freshly calved cow into production gently and smoothly,” he says.
There are three critical stages: The early period, the transition period and the freshly calved cow. The early dry period is meant to be a break for the dairy cow, a time in which she can rest important organs and tissues. However, she still needs to be actively managed, says Mr Jones.
“Producers should aim to keep dry cows at a body condition score of 2.5-3, while still maintaining high dry matter intakes to avoid displaced abomasums in the subsequent lactation, by feeding a low energy, high fibre diet,” he says.
“Dry cows at all stages – housed or grazed – should have ad-lib access to good quality, palatable straw or hay, and should be eating at least 4kg a day of it when out at grass. All forages must also be of good quality so intakes are maximised.”
Posted: September 29, 2009 at 2:40 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
“Using Popular Media to Tell Dairy Farming’s Story” was the topic of a Tuesday morning seminar at World Dairy Expo conducted by Jolene Griffin of Dairy Management Inc. (pictured on the left) and Polly Ligon O’Grady of Weber Shandwick (right).
Who would have imagined even just a few years ago that things with funny names like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube would allow individual agricultural producers to communicate with people all over the world? And, as Jolene told the group on hand, it has never been more important for them to do so. “Other people are actually out there telling our story and they’re telling the wrong story,” Jolene said. “There’s so much misinformation about the dairy industry out there that we need to mobilize dairy producers and the dairy industry to counter that misinformation and to give consumers the correct information about dairy farming and the dairy products that they enjoy.”
Jolene says they launched the MyDairy program earlier this year to help producers learn more about using the various social media platforms and providing key messages to help them communicate effectively. “Since that time we have had over 600 dairy producers sign on for the MyDairy program and they’ve really embraced social media to tell their story,” Jolene said. Producers can sign up for the program by emailing mydairy@rosedmi.com.
One producer who has embraced social media is Shannon Siefert who blogs about the commercial dairy herd she and her husband operate in Minnesota. She shared her story about developing the Orange Patch Dairy blog and how she also uses Facebook and YouTube to help people who are generations removed from the farm connect with the people who produce their food.
Listen to a brief interview with Polly and Jolene below.
Posted: September 29, 2009 at 1:17 pm
By Amanda Nolz
Superior genetics will be rewarded at the World Dairy Expo, as Duane Conant accepts the 2009 Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award. Beth Quimby with the Kennebec Journal wrote an article featuring Duane Conant’s cow herd and his outstanding dairy cattle genetics. Her article, Genetics Puts Dairy Farmer on World Map, is one worth reading. Here is a clip of the feature…
The rows of black-and-white Holstein cows in Duane Conant’s dairy barn look unremarkable to the unpracticed eye. Standing placidly in their wood chip-lined stalls, they chew their cud, occasionally flicking a tail or lazily shifting a leg, a study in bovine contentment. These are not your run-of-the-mill milkers, however. They are the product of years of careful breeding that has made them walking lactation factories.
Some Conant cows produce 30,000 pounds of milk a year — the equivalent of 3,488 gallons a year, or just shy of 10 gallons a day per cow. To the practiced eye, they have all the requirements of Holstein excellence: strong feet and straight legs to support their bulging udders, high production and serene temperaments. One embryo from his Holsteins can fetch thousands of dollars.
The quality of his cows and his effect on the global dairy embryo export market have clinched Conant the dairy industry’s equivalent of the Oscars’ lifetime achievement award. On Monday, he and his family will fly out to North America’s premier dairy event: The World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. There, they will attend a banquet and receive the 2009 Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award, bestowed by the National Dairy Shrine.
Cheryl grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin, majored in journalism at the University of Wisconsin, and now has the privilege of representing Wisconsin’s agricultural industry as the 62nd Alice in Dairyland. “Throughout the year I will travel more than 40,000 miles across the state of Wisconsin and help promote the diversity of the food, fuel and fiber that makes up Wisconsin’s $59.16 billion agricultural industry,” Cheryl told me. “Our dairy industry is very important here in Wisconsin, contributing $800 every second to the state’s economy.”
This is a busy week for Cheryl/Alice at World Dairy Expo as she will be giving tours and talks to hundreds of visitors from school kids to international guests. Listen to my interview with Cheryl below:
Posted: September 28, 2009 at 6:36 pm
By News Editor
Jordin Sparks is the newest milk mustache celebrity – and she’s wearing the famous mustache for a cause!
According to the Body By Milk website: “If you want to help make a difference in yourself and the world, you should Drink Milk for a Change. Make your own Milk Mustache ad at BodyByMilk.com and you will be supporting Save the Music. Plus, you can post your ad for your friends – and me! – to see on Body By Milk’s Facebook page. Are you ready to spark change?”
For every ad made, $1 will go to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation to help restore music programs in our schools. What are you waiting for – get started on your very own milk mustache ad!
Jordin’s new milk mustache ad copy reads as follows:
“I’ve always had the power to wow an audience. But how do I get fired up to wow myself? I drink lowfat milk. Packed with protein and nutrients, milk gives me the energy to truly shine.”
Novus International treated some of the top dairy nutrition consultants from the upper Midwest to lunch and a seminar today at the Sheraton next to the World Dairy Expo. One of the presenters was Dr. Tom Overton of Cornell University who talked about the biology behind a couple different ration software programs for dairy nutrition modeling. 
A RedPepper from New York is one hot Aryshire this week at World Dairy Expo.
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Dr. Dennis Nuzback, Technical Services Manager for 
Do you use sand as bedding material on your dairy farm? If you are reusing the sand, then 
Dairy farmers often struggle with feeding young calves and getting enough high quality colostrum into their bloodstream in the first 24 hours, but a product called 
The National Dairy Council (NDC) is excited to announce the launch of its new blog, “
The 
The theme of this year’s 
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Jodi Hoynoski with Holstein Foundation and 
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
No doubt about it – 2009 has been a really, really tough year for the dairy industry, and in a state like Wisconsin where the economy relies so heavily on dairy, it has been painful. But the state’s 
Farmers Weekly Interactive recently posted an article titled, “
“Using Popular Media to Tell Dairy Farming’s Story” was the topic of a Tuesday morning seminar at 
Jolene says they launched the MyDairy program earlier this year to help producers learn more about using the various social media platforms and providing key messages to help them communicate effectively. “Since that time we have had over 600 dairy producers sign on for the MyDairy program and they’ve really embraced social media to tell their story,” Jolene said. Producers can sign up for the program by emailing mydairy@rosedmi.com. 
One producer who has embraced social media is Shannon Siefert who blogs about the commercial dairy herd she and her husband operate in Minnesota. She shared her story about developing the 
Superior genetics will be rewarded at the World Dairy Expo, as Duane Conant accepts the 2009 Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award. Beth Quimby with the Kennebec Journal wrote an article featuring Duane Conant’s cow herd and his outstanding dairy cattle genetics. Her article, Genetics Puts Dairy Farmer on World Map, is one worth reading. Here is a clip of the feature…
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Our first interview from 