Dairy Business Up date Egypt (November 2010) Dr. Alex Santos. DVM, Ph.D. Ruminant Specialist Van Beek Nutrition alexsantos@vanbeeknutrition.com

Professional Background Born and raised in a small dairy farm in Brazil: 1998: Veterinary Degree (Dairy and Beef consultant in Brazil) 2003: Master Degree in Animal Nutrition UC-Davis - CA 2006: Doctorate Degree in Animal Physiology – Mississippi State University 2006: Dairy/Beef Consultant with Van Beek Nutrition (Idaho, Utah and Colorado) Dairies serve: Idaho: 1) Johnson Dairy (350 Milking cows) Utah: 1) Parker Dairy (150 Milking cows) 2) Perez Dairy (150 Milking cows) 2) Olson Dairy (150Milking cows) 3) Frontier Dairy (850 Milking Cows) 3) Zilles Dairy (250 Milking cows) 4) Bryant Dairy (300 Milking cows) 4) Hall Dairy (260 Milking cows) 5) Ballard Dairy (100 Milking cows) 5) Task Master (550 Milking cows) 6) Hatifield Dairy (500 Milking cows) 6) Bliss Dairy (6000 Milking cows) 7) Bookma dairy (3000 Milking cows) 7) Andrade Dairy (3000 Milking cows) Colorado: 1) Monte vista dairy (3500 Milking cows) 2) Strayker Dairy (2800 Milking cows) Total: Feeding about 22,000 to 25,000 Milking cows

Conception Rate x Pregnancy Rate Findings Lack of Concepts Conception Rate x Pregnancy Rate # of Eligible Cows cycling # of Heats Serviced Breeding Submission rate # of Pregnancies Conception Rate (CR) Pregnancy Rate (PR) 100 56 56% 20 36% 20% 80 63 79% 22 35% 28%

Findings Lack of data and Nutritional information www.Dairyone.com 1) Protein 2) ADF / NDF 3) Crude Fat 4) NFC 5) Starch 6) Sugar 7) Digestible Fiber 8) Ph (Corn Silage) www.Dairyone.com

Suggested requirements NUTRIENT LEVELS Nutrient Required Dry matter 23 Kg NE, lactation Mc/Kg 1.75 TDN % 75.00 NFC% 40.00 Crude protein % 17.00 NSC% 32.00 Soluble protein % CP 33.00 Starch% 28.00 ADF % 20.00 Sugar% 4.00 NDF % 30.00 Crude Fat% 5.00 RDP % CP 67.00 IVTD-24% 75.00 RUP % CP 33.00 IVTD-48% 80.00 NDFD-24% 42.00 NDFD-48% 58.00

Misconception on Feed Ingredients Findings Misconception on Feed Ingredients Analysis Wheat Bran Cotton Seed Sun Flower Soybean Better Cost/kg Protein 17 25 34 44 Fat 4.4 20 5 1.5 NFC 35 7 42 Cost 1500 2500 2000 2850

Findings Unbalanced Rations 1) Are not Costly effect 2) Underperformance Production 3) Can compromise animal health such as: Laminitis / lower conception rates (MUN) Reteam Placenta / DA’s / Ketosis / Acidosis

Cows have to be fed like a ruminant, not like a Pig RDP (rumen degradable protein) 67 % RUP (rumen undegradable Protein) 33% Advantages to feed more RDP: Better Animal Health Better Production Performance Better Reproduction Performance More Longevity Cost/Effective

Findings Lack of cow comfort and Management

A Daily routine of a Cow

Findings Calf Management: Clean Water Clean environment Umbilical care Free Choice Hay

Take care of your future Milk, grain and hay (calves at 4 weeks) Milk and hay (calves at 4 weeks)

Suggestions Get to know more about your business Check some Parameters such as: 1) Feed Efficiency 2) Calve Interval 3) Feed Cost

Business Check up Feed Cost Analysis Ration Cost = (43LE) Milk Gross Income (28 kg x 2.6 LE = 72.80 LE) Ration Cost / Gross Income = 59 % 40% 60% (more profitable) (less profitable)

Business Check up Reproduction Parameters Conception rate Pregnancy Rate Calf Interval (the shortest the better) Voluntary Period

Calving Interval

Business Check up Feed Efficiency 1.0 1.5 Total Milk production (28kg) / Total DM intake (25kg) 28/25 = 1.12 1.0 1.5 (less efficient) (more efficient)

Business Check up Feed Sampling (every time a new forage is introduced) TMR Sampling (every 2 months) Remember: There is always 3 rations being fed to the cows 1) Ration Soft wear (prepared by the Nutritionist) 2) Ration Mixed (prepared by the feeder) 3) Ration Delivered to the cows (in the bunk) MUN (Milk Urea Nitrogen) (10 -14 mg/dl) (impacts production and reproduction)

Business Check up Culling Rate

Look the whole Puzzle not only one piece

Shukran !! Dr. Alex Santos. DVM, Ph.D. Ruminant Specialist Van Beek Nutrition alexsantos@vanbeeknutrition.com Questions?