SELECTIONS - Summer 2005
Maximize Production and Reproduction
Give Transition Cows The Right Start
By Rob Hamker, Agrarian Marketing Corporation
Production and reproduction go hand-in-hand. Many times
events that occurred months ago can have a positive or
negative effect on the cow's performance today. The
biggest challenge dairy producers face is maintaining
healthy, pregnant and productive cows while minimizing
cull rate.
This goal may be easily attained if you could do one
at a time, but when added together, therein lies
the challenge.
If cows get off to a fantastic start after freshening,
everything works the way it is supposed to. Her milk
production is great, she breeds back on time, spends
adequate time in dry off and it starts over again. On
the other hand, if she doesn't get off to a great start,
challenges may occur.
The process of freshening has many nutritional facets
leading up to it. Getting that cow off to a good start
is critical. The stress of freshening and changing routines
can cause many things to go wrong (i.e. off-feed, displaced
abomasums, milk fever, ketosis, mastitis, metritis, etc.).
The additional stress of these events can lead to depressed
immune systems and other challenges down the road; more
specifically, poor reproduction. Providing adequate nutrition,
along with improving the cow’s immune system, will go a long
way during this transitional period.
BIOFRESH™ Bolus & Plus Soluble
BIOFRESH products include two separate forms with some
distinct similarities and subtle differences. Depending
on your individual goals and needs, BIOFRESH products are
formulated to boost the cow’s immune system at the
highest-stress period in a typical lactation – freshening.
BIOFRESH Bolus and BIOFRESH Plus Soluble both supply critical
vitamins and minerals to supplement a cow's variable intake,
and aids in immune function by providing L-form Lactobacillus,
microbial sugars and specialized proteins. BIOFRESH triggers
a digestive response from its yeast and enzymes.
The subtle differences in these two products are form and
delivery. The BIOFRESH Bolus is supplied in capsule form
while the BIOFRESH Plus Soluble is a water dispersible powder.
BIOFRESH Plus Soluble readily goes into solution and can be
used as a supplement to an existing drenching program or mixed
in a concentrate solution (12 ounces water) and given orally.
The biggest difference between the two products is BIOFRESH
Plus Soluble also contains 54 grams calcium propionate and 12
grams niacin. Both ingredients are proven to reduce incidences
of hypocalcaemia (milk fever) and ketosis, respectively. For
those of you using oral calcium gels, BIOFRESH Plus Soluble
may be attractive in both effectiveness and economics.
Usage
BIOFRESH Bolus is recommended at a rate of one bolus per
day for up to three days immediately following calving.
BIOFRESH Plus Soluble is recommended at a rate of 3 ounces
per head also for up to three days post calving. These
products do not contain antibiotics and are proven to be
safe and effective.
Evidence
Producers using the BIOFRESH products report cows that stay
on feed and face less metabolic problems than they did in
the past.
Millions of doses of these two products have been used throughout
the United States over the past four years. Customer satisfaction
is extremely high for these products when used during this
stressful post-fresh period.
Aaron Gasper, Lew-Max Holsteins, Belding, Mich., has been using
the product for more than two years.
"We drench all fresh cows with BIOFRESH Plus Soluble and there
is no question that it makes a big difference in milk production
and the way cows look," Gasper comments.
"Our fresh heifers look ten times better the next day and within
10 to 12 days they are milking 80 pounds. Within seven days,
sometimes as soon as three days, older cows are up over 100 pounds
a day. Along with a good nutrition program, drenching with BIOFRESH
Plus Soluble helps cows recover faster from calving and it gets
them to higher production sooner. We definitely recommend drenching
with BIOFRESH Plus Soluble."
Research has also been conducted at Southern Illinois University
proving the positive results BIOFRESH has on reducing SCC in cows
over 300,000 SCC. It is this improvement in immune function we are
all looking for at calving time.
Cost
The BIOFRESH Boluses sell for about $1.50 each, while the BIOFRESH
Plus Soluble sells for $2.50 per dose. The three-day program would
range from $4.50 to $7.50 per head. This is a small investment for
a cow's smooth transition to the milking herd.
™BIOFRESH is a trademark of Agrarian Marketing® Corporation, Middlebury, Ind.
®Agrarian Marketing is a registered trademark of Agrarian Marketing Corporation,
Middlebury, Ind.
Return to SELECTIONS Table of Contents |
