2004 Southeast Dairy Herd Management Conference November 16 & 17, 2004 Georgia Farm Bureau Building Macon, Georgia - Sponsors Cooperative Extension Service Auburn University Clemson University University of Florida University of Georgia -2- Southeast Dairy Herd Management Conference PROCEEDINGS Editor Dr. James W. Smith Department of Animal and Dairy Science Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2771 Editorial Assistant Joyce L. Oliver Department of Animal and Dairy Science Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2771 Permission to reprint material is granted, provided the meaning is not changed. Credit given to the author and publication as source material will be appreciated. Product names in this publication are used for the sake of clarity and in no way imply endorsement of that product over a similar product which may be just as effective. The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Gale A. Buchanan, Dean and Director -2- TABLE OF CONTENTS Program - Southeast Dairy Herd Management Conference 2 Program Participants............................................................................................................. 4 Contributors and Sponsors.................................................................................................... 5 Trends in Reproductive Performance of Southeast DHIA Herds ..................................... 6 D. W. Webb and A. de Vries Factors to Improve Reproductive Management and Getting Cows Pregnant............... 10 Jeffrey S. Stevenson Potential Applications and Pitfalls of Ultrasound for Managing Reproduction in Dairy Cattle ............................................................................................ 39 Paul M. Fricke Embryo Transfer as a Tool for Increasing Fertility During Heat Stress ....................... 53 Peter J. Hansen, Frank D. Jousan, and Jeremy Block Sorghum Silage: A Review of 25 Years of Research at Kansas State University ........ 61 Keith K. Bolsen Building and Maintaining Good Relationships with Neighbors ..................................... 70 Dennis R. Frame Vaccination and Reproduction Efficiency ....................................................................... 76 Jon B. Rosenberg Heat Stress Affects How Dairy Cows Produce and Reproduce ..................................... 83 Joe W. West Getting Cows Pregnant: Are Problem Cows Really the Problem? ............................... 93 Paul M. Fricke The Silage Triangle and Important Practices in Managing Bunker, Trench, And Drive-Over Pile Silos ............................................................................................... 104 Keith K. Bolsen and Ruth E. Bolsen -3- Southeast Dairy Herd Management Conference PROGRAM Tuesday, November 16, 2004 PCDART Workshop 9:00-Noon (Georgia Farm Bureau Building) Technical Session 11:30 Conference Registration Afternoon 1:00 Welcome – Dr. Steve Nickerson 1:15 Recent Trends in Reproductive Performance of Southeast DHIA Herds - Dr. Dan Webb 1:45 Improving Reproductive Management - Dr. Jeff Stevenson 2:30 Practical Applications of Ultrasound - Dr. Paul Fricke 3:00 Refreshment Break (Sponsored by Zinpro Corporation) 3:30 Embryo Transfer as a Tool for Increasing Fertility During Heat Stress - Dr. Peter Hansen 4:00 Sorghum Silage Management - Dr. Keith Bolsen 4:30 On the Horizon - Odor - Dr. Dennis Frame 5:00 Interaction of Vaccination Schedules and Reproduction - Dr. Jon Rosenberg 6:00 Dinner (Sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health) -4- Southeast Dairy Herd Management Conference PROGRAM Wednesday, November 17, 2004 Producer Session Morning 8:00 Conference Registration 9:00 Welcome – Dr. Steve Nickerson 9:15 Dairying in Hot Weather: Managing Nutrition & Reproduction - Dr. Joe West 9:45 How to Best Get Cows Pregnant - Dr. Jeff Stevenson 10:15 Refreshment Break (Sponsored by Prince Agri Products Inc.) 10:45 Are Problem Cows Really the Problem? - Dr. Paul Fricke 11:30 Using Teat Sealant to Improve Udder Health – Dr. Ann Wilkinson 12:15 Lunch (Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health) Afternoon 1:15 How to be a Good Neighbor - Dr. Dennis Frame 2:00 Important Management Practices for Silage Production - Dr. Keith Bolsen 2:45 Questions 3:00 Adjourn -5- Program Participants Dr. Keith K. Bolsen Professor Emeritas Kansas State University Dr. Dennis R. Frame Director University of Wisconsin – Discovery Farms Dr. Paul Fricke Associate Professor University of Wisconsin - Madison Dr. Peter Hansen Professor University of Florida Dr. Steve Nickerson Head, Department of Animal & Dairy Science University of Georgia Dr. Jon Rosenberg Field Veterinary Consultant Fort Dodge Animal Health Dr. Jeffrey S. Stevenson Professor Kansas State University Dr. Joe W. West Professor University of Georgia - Tifton Dr. Ann Wilkinson Senior Veterinarian Pfizer Animal Health -6- Contributors and Sponsors ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. Commodity Specialists Company Diamond V Mills Elanco Animal Health Fort Dodge Animal Health Genex Cooperative, Inc. Intervet, Inc. Mike Rorick CBL Company Affiliated with Brookside Labs Monsanto Dairy Business Norvartis Animal Health Pfizer Animal Health Prince Agri Products, Inc. Purina Mills L.L.C. Southeast Milk, Inc. SRS Crisafulli, Inc. Walnut Grove Auction W. B. Fleming Company West Central Zinpro Corporation The above organizations provided support for the conference through financial contribution or by sponsoring a specific event. Express your appreciation to the representatives of these organizations. USDA CSREES Grant No. 2001-52101-11318 through the Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Sciences Program provided partial speakers support. -7-