News

University of Minnesota studies dairies, finds top 25% have common practices

A University of Minnesota researcher found the top producing dairy herds had some things in common.  Dr. Marcia Endres tells Brownfield their study measured the results of common practices on 82 dairies, and the top 25% stood out from the rest.  “Things related to, for example, cow comfort, (and) looking at how they manage their pre-fresh cows and their fresh cows, providing comfortable stalls with deep beds, having long stalls for the dry cows so they can rest.”

She also says the cows in higher producing herds were not away from their resting areas as long, and top producers also handled first-lactation heifers separately from the rest of the herd.  “Maybe that has to do with the social hierarchy.  Heifers tend to be more submissive, more shy, and if they are in their own group, they probably are more likely to have access to the feed bunk, stalls to rest, etc., so that’s a factor in terms of grouping that we found was significantly different.”

The Minnesota study also found two-row barns had more success than three-row barns, and herds using anionic salts had fewer hypocalcemia problems. Endres has a theory that might explain that.  “Anionic salts, what they do is improve calcium status, so basically what they might be doing is reducing subclinical hypocalcemia on the cows, and therefore they’re more productive because they can have a better transition period after they calf and peak higher to have more milk at the peak.”

She says the study found larger herds showed more productivity but says that could be because of staff size, training, or other factors.

Endres says the data collected from the study was extensive, and she expects they will dig deeper into the management, reproduction information, and disease incidents to learn more.

Brownfield talked to Endres at the recent Four State Dairy & Nutrition Conference in Dubuque, Iowa.