CSI-Dairy continued from page 16 4) Reduce ration cost 5) Maintain cow health by increasing for- ages in the ration Vincent is the first to admit that the first year was challenging. “We needed everyone to know that individual responsibilities still existed, but we were all there to ensure the recommenda- tions worked together,” he said. Beneficial changes Over the next three seasons, the consulting team settled on several key recommendations: • Choose one or two corn hybrids to reduce silage variability, selecting the top-per- forming hybrids for starch content and overall tonnage. • Treat all corn silage and haylage with a top-quality L. buchneri inoculant to improve fiber digestibility, reduce shrink and stimulate fermentation efficiency. • Look for hybrids better suited for the growing environment, reducing comparative relative maturity (CRM) to ensure all forage is harvested before the first frost. • Increase the percentage of forage in the ration and use all home-grown forages to reduce ration costs and improve cow health. • Implement a two-step bunker cover system to reduce spoilage and add a second packing tractor to increase density. The results The consulting team still meets every fall to review the current program, walk through new issues that arose during the last season and discuss Vincent’s herd goals. Vincent is thrilled with the success his operation has had over the past four years, including surviving 2009. The operation now has 1,650 cows. Across the entire herd, milk production has jumped 13 lbs. per cow, with the high group averaging 132 lbs. of milk per day. The ration is now 55% for- age with all forages grown on the farm. Starch levels have gone up dramatically with samples averaging 36% and overall tonnage per acre has increased 30%. The team approach continues to foster streamlined farming and dairy operations. Plus, Vincent cited some unexpected results from this big-picture perspective, such as the reduction in the number of fresh-cow issues and greatly improved milk components. “I believe cows are healthier, the whole operation is more efficient and I receive the best recommendations out of my entire team,” Bilow reported. “We address the operation’s dynamics through conversation with everyone working toward the same goal. I spend less time facilitating each area of my operation and more time planning new goals for the future of Bilow Farms.” The next goal at Bilow Farms is to expand the milking facility to accommodate three- times-a-day milking. Working with his team, expansion and efficient management are an easy transition. p Each month, DairyBusiness Communications will check the case files of lead dairy ‘investigators’ to uncover another ‘CSI-Dairy’ mystery. Episodes are archived at www. dairybusiness.com. John F. Ellsworth 209.988.8960 office 209.343.3937 fax john@success-strategies.com www.success-strategies.com Our most focused and successful clients use the Success Strategies Advantage™ to increase their business satisfaction through a process that maximizes their clarity, helping them to identify greater profit opportunities, and, as a result, reach continually higher objectives. 18 April 2012 EASTERNDAIRYBUSINESS www.dairybusiness.com