By Jack Falinski
Research from Michigan State University Professor J. Richard Pursley is trailblazing an area within dairy cattle management that Wendell Van Gunst says is essential to keep farms profitable.
“I think almost every dairy farmer would agree that nothing is as critical to the success of a dairy farm than the reproductive success of cows on a farm,” said Van Gunst, owner of Country Dairy, a fourth-generation, 1,200-cow dairy farm in West Michigan.
Reproduction is the key driver of lactation for dairy cows. After a cow gives birth, a new lactation begins. Timely calvings are essential for sustaining high milk production on Michigan dairy farms.
While Michigan dairy farmers rank first in the country for milk production per cow, leading Michigan agriculture by generating roughly $15.7 billion for the state’s economy each year, many operate on tight margins, and the cost of replacing cows not producing milk can become financially burdensome.
"I'm certain for most farms that most cows are culled out of a herd because of reproductive failures, and then farmers end up having to replace them,” Van Gunst said. “Today, a replacement animal is about $4,000, so every time you cull a cow, that's the impact. This means that if you're culling 40% of your herd every year, anything you can do to reduce that down to 34%-35% is just money in your pocket."
As a former dairyman himself, Pursley knows firsthand what farmers are up against daily. That’s why he’s made it a mission with his responsibilities through MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension to uncover and share ways dairy farms can grow in their efficiency, profitability and sustainability.
Source : msu.edu