BACKGROUND

THE NORTHWEST DHI DATA SUMMARY tracked herd records from 1993 to 1999 to determine the differences between herds with cows supplemented with POSILAC® and herds with cows that were not. Since POSILAC's introduction in 1994, the summary shows trends in milk production, milk quality, herd health and reproductive traits. Records were tracked in over 29,000 cows from 54 herds in Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Washington. The Northwest DHI Data Summary results were reviewed by Dr. Allen Young of Utah State University, Mr. Bill Wailes of Colorado State University, and Dr. Roger Cady of Monsanto Dairy Business. All reviewers are experts in the field of dairy production. Their conclusions are shown here.

Herd Selection Criteria

• Holstein Data from DHI-Provo
• Minimum herd size of 100 cows in 1993
• All herds continuously on DHI
• POSILAC herds
  • Started using POSILAC before 6/30/94
  • Continuously purchased enough POSILAC to supplement 50% of herd
• Control herds never purchased POSILAC
• Data are yearly averages as of June of each year

DR. ALLEN J. YOUNG, Ph.D.

Dr. Young is an assistant professor and Extension Dairy Management Specialist at Utah State University. Allen received his doctorate in dairy physiology from Oregon State University and is regularly published in scientific and professional joumals. Dr. Young's area of specialty is lactational and reproductive physiology.

MR. WILLIAM R. WAILES, JR.

Bill Wailes is an Extension Dairy Specialist at Colorado State University. He joined the university in 1983 as manager of the dairy research facility until 1990. In his extension role, Mr. Wailes focuses on production management and financial bench-marking to lead the dairy industry forward. Bill is also a major partner in a large Colorado dairy operation.

DR. ROGER A. CADY, Ph.D.

Dr. Cady recently joined Monsanto Dairy Business as a Technical Service Specialist. Roger holds several degrees from Cornell University including a MS and Ph.D. in Animal Breeding. Prior to joining Monsanto, Dr. Cady served as an Extension Dairy Specialist at the University of New Hampshire and Washington State University. Roger is the co-founder and former moderator of Dairy-L, the internet.based forum covering important industry issues.

NORTHWEST DHI DATA SUMMARY

• Herds using POSILAC produced significantly more milk, more pounds of fat and more pounds of protein year after year - Milk components increased proportionately with milk production.
• Herds using POSILAC were able to maintain reproductive performance similar to controls, even at sustained higher milk production levels.

CONCLUSIONS

• Cows in POSILAC supplemented herds remain healthy, as indicated by no differences in milk quality or culling rates.
• Herds using POSILAC grew in herd size at a rate 4X control herds and were able to increase milk production and maintain herd health.

MILK PRODUCTION

"We're asking our cows to run a marathon, not a 100 yard dash. the management changes we make and the tools we adopt must work over the long-term. The Northwest DHI Data Summary proves that cows in herds using POSILAC produce more milk and more pounds of fat and protein year after year. The repeatability of the results of using POSILAC over five years in larger Western herds is the big news from this summary."

- MR. BILL WAILES,
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

MORE POUNDS MILK, MORE POUNDS FAT, MORE POUNDS PROTEIN, YEAR AFTER YEAR.

• Herds using POSILAC significantly increased milk production while maintaining equivalent percentages of milk components, year after year.
• Because milk components do not change, the total pounds fat and protein produced are proportionate to the total increase in milk production.
• The higher levels of milk production, pounds of fat, and pounds of protein were sustained year after year in herds using POSILAC.

MILK QUALITY

"Milk is our product. Maintaining the highest level of milk quality should be top in everyone's mind. Effective environmental management, sound udder health and milking practices are keys to improving milk quality. Enlist the services of professionals for ideas on how your dairy can improve in these areas."

- DR. ALLEN YOUNG
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

SCC IS THE SAME AMONG POSILAC AND CONTROL HERDS.

• No statistical difference in somatic cell count between cows in herds supplemented with POSILAC and Control herds existed.
• No difference was found in the proportion of the herd with low somatic cell linear scores.
• An upward trend in the overall level of SCC was identified throughout the Northwest, indicating an opportunity for producers to take steps to improve management in this area regardless of POSILAC use.

REPRODUCTION

"Herds with large numbers of cows have used POSILAC for five years and they're still going strong. Year after year strong performance and results. What you look for in dairy herd management is repeatability."

- DR. ALLEN YOUNG
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

HERDS MAINTAIN REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE.

• Even at significantly higher levels of production, herds supplemented with POSILAC were able to maintain reproductive performance similar to Control herds over the five year period.
• Control and POSILAC supplemented herds show similar Days In Milk At First Breeding in 1999.
• No difference in Services Per Conception between POSILAC herds and Control herds was found.
• While the Average Calving Interval is trending upward, there is no difference between POSILAC herds and Control herds.

"Cows stay in the herd, producing at higher levels. With the Northwest DHI Data Summary, we have five years of continuous history that shows no difference in cull rates. Cows in herds using POSILAC have definitely not been replaced at a higher rate."

- DR. ROGER CADY
MONSANTO DAIRY BUSINESS

CULLING

CULLING RATES REMAIN THE SAME

• Culling rates range between 32% and 38% in both POSILAC herds and Control herds.
• No difference in culling rates was found between herds using POSILAC and herds that did not.

HERD GROWTH

"Operations whlch have been able to consistently invest and reinvest in themselves, year after year, are the dairies that are in better positions today. There's no doubt that the increased cash flow and profitability from POSILAC helps producers make the investments they need to be more successful over the long haul."

- MR. BILL WAILES,
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

HERDS USING POSILAC INCREASED IN SIZE AT FOUR TIMES THE RATE OF CONTROL HERDS.

• While starting at similar herd sizes, the rate of growth in herd size was 4X greater in POSILAC adopting herds than in Control herds.
• POSILAC herds increased herd size while maintaining significantly higher levels of milk production.

NORTHWEST DHI DATA SUMMARY:

• COWS STAY HEALTHY
  
  
• COWS GET BRED-BACK
  
  
• COWS MAKE MORE MILK
  
  
• YOU REACH YOUR GOALS

"You don't have to be the first to adopt a successful new technology, but you definitely don't want to be the last. The Northwest DHI Data Summary should give the producers who use POSILAC a lot of confidence that they made the right decision while showing producers who don't use POSILAC the opportunity that's on the table."

- DR. ALLEN YOUNG, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

"Year after year, the Northwest DHI Data Summary clearly shows dramatic gains among herds that use POSILAC. Helping producers continually improve while making the most out of the management and resources they have in place is the reason I joined Monsanto Dairy."

- DR. ROGER CADY, MONSANTO DAIRY BUSINESS

"The power of this summary is in the numbers. 54 matched herds representing more than 29,000 cows over a five year period all showing huge increases in milk production with no difference in key herd health, milk quality and reproductive performance measures. The Northwest DHI Data Summary should give larger Western producers like me a lot of confidence."

- MR. BILL WAILES, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

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