Rex and Judy Bell
Statesville, North Carolina

It is important to keep cows on POSILAC^® throughout the year, including the hottest part of the summer, according to Rex and Judy Bell of Joli-Bell Farm. "If a cow is a good candidate for POSILAC, she is a good candidate year-round," says Rex.

This 200 cow Holstein herd has a rolling herd average of 22,250 pounds of milk. The average summer production is 60 to 68 pounds of milk per cow per day. The estimated response to POSlLAC during the summer months is seven to eight additional pounds per day. Cows are milked in a double six parlor.

Free stall housing is cooled with two large fans. The holding area has four soaker nozzles to add comfort while the cows await milking. The Bells make sure that cows are never in the holding pen for longer than one hour at a time.

In the feeding area, there is a soaker every 12 feet and 36 inch direct drive fans placed 28 feet apart. They feed a TMR three times a day during the summer months verses two times a day other times of the year. During hot weather, they also substitute part of the corn silage with wheatlage. Another special feeding consideration used during periods of heat stress to maintain dry matter intake is increasing the density of the ration by adding fat. Keeping feed fresh also helps maintain DMI during the summer.