The SWNY is looking for dairy farmers to participate on a FREE research project
Camila Lage, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Dear Dairy Farmer,
In June, the SWNY team released a survey to understand better the on-farm use of tools to evaluate colostrum management. We had 22 responses, and as shown in Figure 1, just 22.7% of respondents assessed colostrum quality using a colostrometer or refractometer. In addition, just 9.1% consider their transfer of passive immunity as a way to check the colostrum program.
Figure 1. Responses of the survey released by the SWNY in June of 2023
Routinely evaluations of calf immune status are the gold standard to ensure we know we are succeeding in our colostrum program. However, performing it continuously can be time-consuming and expensive for some farms, especially considering labor challenges. Alternatively, colostrum audits once or twice a year can help farmers identify and troubleshoot problems or provide essential data to step up our colostrum management practices.
The SWNY team is doing a pilot experiment to understand how colostrum audits can help improve calf health, and we are looking for farms willing to participate. This would include:
- A farm visit to understand colostrum management and sampling for colostrum quality and blood samples to assess herd immune status;
- After visit summary, which will include a report and recommendations (if necessary) to improve herd immunity status;
- A follow-up visit to re-evaluate herd immune status six months after the first one.
Your cooperation will contribute significantly to a better understanding of calf audits to improve calf health and will be appreciated. If you are willing to participate, please add your information to the form below or contact Camila Lage at 607-422-6788 or cd546@cornell.edu
https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBKIKkKxY5rRWey
If you want to learn more about the importance of evaluating the transfer of passive immunity in your herd and colostrum audits, please read our latest article on it: Transfer of passive immunity in calves: Ensuring calf health and profitability
I am looking forward to hearing from you
Warm regards,
Camila
Upcoming Events
WEBINAR - Automated Milking Systems Efficiency: Balancing Focus on Individual Cows and System Optimization
May 8, 2024
Please join Cornell the SWNY team and MSU Extension for our talk with Dr. Pablo Silva BoloƱa on improving efficiency of Automated milking systems by focusing on milking settings for individual and group success.
Broiler Field Day at Sunny Cove Farm
June 6, 2024
Alfred Station, NY
Join us for a field day to explore broiler production, processing, and finances. Meghan Snyder of Sunny Cove Farm will be our host. She raises small batches of organic broilers, processing them on-farm under the 1,000 bird exemption.
Cornell Seed Growers Field Day
July 2, 2024
Ithaca, NY
Please Save the Date for the Cornell Seed Growers Field Day to be held the morning of July 2nd. The event will be held at the NYSIP Foundation Seed Barn, 791 Dryden Rd., Rt. 366, Ithaca, NY.
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