Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 29, 1998
Teamwork enhances efficiency of dairy farmsWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A team of experts may find a better solution to a dairy herd problem than any single person could come up with, according to a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian and other experts in the field.And that could improve the efficiency and economic stability of dairy operations. The team approach works because managing a dairy farm involves complex herd health and nutrition issues, according to Purdue Extension dairy specialist Mike Schutz. Genetics and the way the cattle are fed, milked and raised can affect productivity. When one or more of these components of herd management interact with another, it can be difficult to diagnose the cause of a problem. "It helps to bring in experts in each area," he said. Traditionally, dairy farmers have enlisted the help of individual veterinarians, nutritionists, Extension educators and specialists, and others to keep their herds healthy and productive. Nowadays, many are recognizing the benefits of bringing those individuals together as a team to solve some of the complex problems they sometimes face. "The idea is to get them all together on the farm at the same time," said Dr. Simon Kenyon, Purdue Extension veterinarian. "Each adviser gives a different type of advice, based on their area of focus. Together they try to create an atmosphere for discussion that the farmer can listen to and participate in. They come up with a list of problems and recommendations, then decide which things will have impact right away or longer term." Fred Beer, a dairyman with a 280-head milking herd near Milford, Ind., found the team approach beneficial when he tried it. Beer gathered his regular veterinarian, a Monsanto veterinarian, one of his employees and himself to work out a mastitis problem in his herd. "The Monsanto vet got our DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association) data and graphed and summarized it," he said. "We looked at what cows were affected and at what stage the mastitis showed up. We went over what we could do and eventually got it turned around." That's the way it should work, according to Kenyon. Herd records and history give the team background information, he said. Observation of the cows' body condition and behavior, their feed bunks, freestall use, manure consistency and other conditions provides further insight. Forage, fiber and Total Mixed Ration (TMR) analysis add nutrition information. A report summarizing laboratory data and the observations of team members sets the agenda for a team meeting, Kenyon said, and should be presented to the group by a team leader. He added that graphs can be helpful in making a point, and itemized lists may facilitate discussion. At this point, the dynamic should change, he explained, and the farmer should take control and start asking, "What would happen if I try this?" The process can be time-consuming, according to nutritionist Don Beyeler of Bey-Agri Services in Goshen, Ind. , but it's often helpful to get another focus. Beyeler and one of his employees participated in a team with Kenyon, two veterinarians and a county Extension educator. "The team effort works best when the situation is complicated, when troubleshooting is difficult," Beyeler said. "You can't always take the time on a regular basis, especially if management is good." Dr. Larry Smith, owner of New Prairie Veterinary Clinic in Rolling Prairie, Ind. , also has worked on teams with Kenyon. "The team effort works well to solve problems on a practical basis," he said. "Everyone is involved and can give input." Smith agreed that the team approach is generally used when a difficult problem arises. "Sometimes more than one thing contributes," he said. "If a vet comes in and is working on the back end of cow, he isn't aware of other things going on. It's better to get ideas and input from other people with different viewpoints." For example, Smith said, if a dairy farmer has a high percentage of first-calf heifers with metabolic problems, the vet may look for an infection. But, he said, there may not be enough space at the feed bunk, and the heifers can't compete. Or there may not be adequate freestall space, and they're not getting enough rest. Treating just one of those situations won't solve the problem, but working on them together will take care of it. "You have to push your biases back and contribute," he said, "and you have to let the farmer set priorities after you make recommendations." Kenyon presented information on the dairy team experience at the 1998 Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference in April. The conference, in its seventh year, is held in northeast Indiana and is presented by Purdue, Michigan State and The Ohio State universities. According to Schutz, there are 13,000 dairy farms in the tri-state area covered by the conference. That's 14 percent of U.S. dairy farms.
Sources: Dr. Simon Kenyon, (765) 494-0333; e-mail, kenyons@vet.purdue.edu
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