It has been so long since we have had sunshine and blue sky that the day seemed perfect from the start. We got word that the three cultures we sent in are fine. Just as it has been all year, just as we get current on a few we are already 3 behind. Those should be taken to the vet clinic on Monday.
The feed mixes here are constantly changing. Earlier Bruce added baled hay to our cow TMR because the haylage and corn silage were both chopped a bit finer than is ideal. Cattle, by natures design, are intended to eat forage. When the forage particles get too fine the animal does not chew their cud as much as needed. Cud chewing produces saliva which is a natural stomach buffer. The digestion of feed naturally causes acid which is buffered by the chewing process. When the balance is compromised for a period of time a number of issues are created. Some of these are as obvious as stomach upset to unexpected things like foot abcesses. Those issues not only create medical costs for us, they also impact milk production, not only in the volume they are able to produce but also the milk components. Lower fat, protein and solid tests along with volume directly lower our income. The quality of feed also has a major impact on our profitability. The recent change from first crop haylage in the silo to second crop haylage that is in the bag is just enough higher in quality that Bruce figures it will save us $500 per month in protein costs. Our protein mix is partially made up of soybean meal, corn gluten, and roasted soybeans....all at record prices. The latest change to how we feed animals comes with the new steers we just added to the barn. Historically we put steers on their ration at about 500 pounds. We would start them with a mix of 80 % haylage and 20% rolled corn the correct mineral mix for their needs. Over about a month's time we would gradually change them over to 87.5% rolled corn and 12.5% haylage and they would stay on this mix until they were finished (approximately 1400-1500#, choice grade) The value of corn is at record levels so, in an effort to grow steers and finish them as efficiently as possible, we are now letting them grow on a higher forage diet until they are heavier, approximately 850-900#. At about this weight we will start a finishing ration that will consist of corn silage and haylage along with rolled corn and minerals. We have plenty of corn silage on hand and using this will replace some of the rolled corn.
After our vet call and calf delivery yesterday Bruce was totally confused so he called Nate, the vet who had delivered the calf. When Bruce checked the heifer at 8 a.m. there was no dilation of the cervex. Given that information and the fact that she was suspicious both yesterday morning and the night before, a vet call made sense. As it turned out, Bruce checking her must have irritated the cervex enough to promote calving. By 10 when Nate got here the nose and feet were already presented through the cervex so he just pulled a little and the calf was delivered!!!!! Good grief, gotta love animals that don't read the manual!!
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