Dairy Digest, August 2007

In this Issue: Marginal Value of Improved Pregnancy Rate; Taking Chances in Manure Pits; Update on Crossbreeding; Comparison of Sex-sorted Semen with Conventional Semen in the Reproductive Performance of Dairy Heifers; Calf research update from the 2007 ADSA meeting; Penn State Dairy Science Students Shine at ADSA Meetings; Identify Bottlenecks to Higher Dairy Profitability; Nutrition Workshop for Feed Industry Professionals; Apply Now for Fuel Tax Refund; Early Dairy Digests Now Available Online

Marginal Value of Improved Pregnancy Rate

The key performance indicator for reproductive performance is 21-day Pregnancy Rate (PR).

Taking Chances in Manure Pits

An incident in Virginia this month in which five people died after being overcome by gases in a manure pit serves as a grim reminder of the need for extreme care when working around manure storage and transfer facilities.

Update on Crossbreeding

Shifts in herd management and housing systems, coupled with intense genetic selection for yield, have led to greater challenges for dairy producers when it comes to getting cows pregnant in a timely manner and keeping cows alive and healthy.

Comparison of Sex-sorted Semen with Conventional Semen in the Reproductive Performance of Dairy Heifers

Based on a large data set of first services (16,587), J.M. DeJarnette and coworkers at Select Sires, Inc. compared the reproductive performance of Holstein heifers inseminated with sex-sorted semen (SS) vs. conventional non-sorted semen (CS).

Calf Research Update from the 2007 ADSA Meeting

At the recent annual meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, scientists from around the world presented the latest results from current research. We've summarized some of the new and interesting findings that affect calf health, feeding, and management.

Penn State Dairy Science Students Shine at ADSA Meetings

Members of Penn State's Dairy Science Club were victorious in the quiz bowl competition at the 2007 American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science annual meetings in San Antonio, TX, in early July. It marks the sixth time in seven years that the Penn Staters won first place in the quiz bowl.

Identify Bottlenecks to Higher Dairy Profitability

When dairy producers try to assess the profitability of their business, it can be difficult to pinpoint which specific elements are negatively impacting the bottom line. To help consultants and their clients better understand and overcome these bottlenecks to profitability, Penn State's Dairy Extension and Dairy Alliance have created the Profitability Assessment Dairy Tool (PA Dairy Tool), giving a whole-farm view to better identify key weaknesses.

Apply Now for Fuel Tax Refund

Any person who used liquid fuels in the production of agricultural products is eligible for a tax refund.

Nutrition Workshop for Feed Industry Professionals

The 2007 edition of the Penn State Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop will be held November 13-14 at the Holiday Inn in Grantville, Pennsylvania.

Early Dairy Digests Now Available Online

If you're interested in the dairy industry, you'll enjoy knowing that a collection of the first Dairy Digests, the monthly newsletter from Penn State's Department of Dairy and Animal Science, is now archived at www.das.edu/dairydigest.