Demonstration Site Project - Tyreglwys
Adapting on farm buildings for effective calf rearing - Positive Pressure Air Tube Ventilation for Calf Housing
Project aim:
- The objective of this study is to assess the claims of the PPAT design to improve original sheds on farm. Areas being looked at are the aspects of performance, distribution of fresh air and the compatibility with all year round natural ventilation that PPAT state. Additionally the impact this has on calf health, lung damage, performance and antimicrobial usage.
Strategic objectives:
- Calves can be reared in buildings with poor ventilation that are not fit for purpose. This poses many challenges for the calf during the most integral stage of life such as pneumonia, scours and breeding grounds for other diseases. However, in the light of recent milk prices and rising production costs, many farms do not possess the funds to plan, design and build a fit for purpose calf rearing unit. Therefore, it is essential to invest in ways to improve existing sheds on farm to aid calf rearing
- The most common issue with existing sheds on farm is temperature, moisture content, lack of fresh air and poor air speed caused by poor ventilation. This creates serious health and wellbeing issues for calves. Pneumonia is one of the most common calf health challenge and has a significant impact on lung health and future performance of the animal as well as being a leading cause for antibiotic use within calf rearing.
- Positive pressure air tube (PPAT) ventilation systems have become popular for improving the ventilation in calf barns. These systems provide the fresh air and distribute it evenly throughout the shed. The PPAT system consists of a wall mounted fan blowing fresh outside air into the calf shed. Attached to the fan is a distribution tube with equally spaced holes in it that runs the length of the shed. The fan draws fresh air in from the outside, pressurizing the tube and blowing the air out of each of the holes to distribute it evenly throughout.The shed is pressurized by the fan, and air finds its way out of the shed through the natural ventilation system.
Project in practice:
- Calf weight, health and antibiotic usage before the addition of PPAT tube will be assessed. Additionally temperature, ammonia levels and airspeed within the shed at 1m and 15cm will be taken.
- Once the PPTV system is in place, calf weight, health and antibiotic usage will be recorded. Also, temperature and ammonia levels will be recorded. Air speed at 15cm, 1m, 3m and 5m will be taken with the PPAT tube, directly under the PPAT tube and 1m from below the PPAT tube.
- Within both groups, lung scanning will take place to grade the lung damage from poor ventilation and pneumonia.
- This will show any benefits of the PPAT tube with air flow and ventilation within the shed as well as the beneficial effect on calf health and performance.
04/05/2018 - Project Update:
Farmers are well aware of the impact calf heath and production has upon the future performance of the herd. At Tyreglwys, two calf projects have just started, these are being managed by Katherine Heart, a young stock specialist vet within the United Kingdom. One project focuses upon improving colostrum cleanliness while the other focuses upon improving on farm sheds via an innovative ventilation system.
Many Dairy farms of all systems within Wales rear calves in buildings that are not fit for purpose. This poses many challenges for the calf during the most integral stage of life such as pneumonia, scours and breeding grounds for other diseases. However, in light of recent milk prices and rising production costs, many farms do not possess the funds to plan, design and build a fit for purpose calf rearing unit. Therefore, it is essential to invest in ways to improve existing sheds on farm to aid calf rearing. The most common issue with existing sheds on farm is temperature, moisture content, lack of fresh air and poor air speed caused by poor ventilation. This creates serious health and wellbeing issues for calves. Pneumonia is one of the most common calf health challenges and has a significant impact on lung health and future performance of the animal as well as being a leading cause for antibiotic use within calf rearing. Therefore it is essential for existing sheds to have adequate ventilation to improve calf health and performance.
Positive pressure air tube (PPAT) ventilation systems have become popular for improving the ventilation in calf barns. These systems provide the fresh air and distribute it evenly throughout the room. The PPAT system consists of a wall mounted fan blowing fresh outside air into the calf shed. Attached to the fan is a distribution tube with equally spaced holes in it that runs the length of the shed. The fan draws fresh air in from the outside, pressurizing the tube and blowing the air out of each of the holes to distribute it evenly. The shed is pressurized by the fan, and air finds its way out of the shed through the natural ventilation system.
The objective of this study is to assess the claims of the PPAT design to improve original sheds on farm. Areas being looked at are the aspects of performance, distribution of fresh air and compatibility with all year round natural ventilation that PPAT state. Additionally the impact this has on calf health, lung score, performance and antimicrobial usage.
Colostrum management – Bacterial counts effect on IGG and IGA uptake for calves
Project Aim:
- Within this study, colostrum management within collecting, handling and storage will be tested along with IgG and IgA absorption in the blood of calves. This will show best practice of colostrum management to provide adequate absorption of antibodies to the calf, ensuring the best start to life. Additionally, this project will aid lifetime productivity of the calf by improved health and reduced antibiotic usage.
Strategic objectives:
- Dairy producers know the importance of feeding enough high-quality colostrum to new-born dairy calves. However, getting the right amount of clean colostrum into the calf as early as possible is not well known and can be a challenge. The long-term implications of poor colostrum management effect performance of the adult cow. It is of upmost importance to ensure passive transfer of immunoglobulins and colostrum management is correct.
- High bacterial counts in colostrum enhance gut closure to absorption of Ig and increase the risk for failure of passive transfer and diarrhoea. Colostrum at feeding time should contain less than 100,000 cfu of bacteria using the standard plate count. Some calf care specialists suggest that low bacteria count in the colostrum is as important, possibly even more important, than the Ig concentration in providing for adequate passive transfer of immunity.
- This project aims to build upon the farms colostrum handling and storage protocols to ensure that bacterial counts are as low possible. The positive benefits from the changing protocols will be documented and displayed during a range of open days.
Project in practice:
- 60 cows and their calves will be used within this trial broken up into two 30 cow blocks.
- The colostrum will be harvested and stored as normal for the 1st 30 cows.
- Colostrum will be tested for bacterial count, total blood protein and IgG will be taken from the calves, health issues and treatments will be taken for each batch.
- New protocols will be put in place for preparing the cow, colostrum harvest and storage for the second 30 cows.
- The same samples will be taken from the second group and compared to the control group information.
04/05/2018 - Project Update:
Farmers are well aware of the impact calf heath and production has upon the future performance of the herd. At Tyreglwys, two calf projects have just started, these are being managed by Katherine Heart, a young stock specialist vet within the United Kingdom. One project focuses upon improving colostrum cleanliness while the other focuses upon improving on farm sheds via an innovative ventilation system.
Dairy producers know the importance of feeding enough high-quality colostrum to new-born dairy calves. The long-term implications of poor colostrum management are profound. Calves that receive adequate passive immunity are healthier, have less scours, grow faster and make more milk when they enter the herd compared to calves that do not receive this. It is essential that the calf receives the correct quantity of clean, quality colostrum in a quick time frame.
Recent research points out the concerns around bacterial contamination in maternal colostrum. Several studies have shown that much of the colostrum fed to new-born calves contains large numbers of bacteria and many potential pathogens. Much of the problem of bacterial contamination is associated with collecting, handling and storage of colostrum. High bacterial counts in colostrum increase gut closure to absorption of immunoglobulins (Ig) and increase the risk of poor passive immunity and diarrhoea. Some calf care specialists suggest that low bacteria count in the colostrum is as important, possibly even more important, than the Ig concentration in providing for adequate passive transfer of immunity. Recent studies found bacteria levels play an important role in determining the rate of IgG absorption in the calf. Findings show that calves fed with extremely high levels of bacteria had impaired immunity and an increased disease rate when compared to calves fed clean colostrum.
Within this study, two colostrum management protocols are being compared. During the second part of the trial new protocols will be put in place focusing on the collection, handling and storage to reduce bacterial counts. Colostrum bacterial count will be tested along with blood protein levels and IgG absorption in the blood of calves. This will show best practice of colostrum management to provide adequate absorption of antibodies to the calf, ensuring the best start to life.
Genomics in the dairy herd
Project Aim:
- Demonstrate how genomic testing and information can be used on a commercial dairy farm to improve herd health, welfare and productivity.
Strategic objectives:
- Genomics has been adopted to indicate breeding potential of bulls with good reliability for the last few years. Use of genomics in replacement heifers offers an opportunity to extend these benefits more widely across dairy herds.
- The farm held a fertility open day recently which was very well attended and this project aims to build on the success of this event and capitalise on the audience interest in the local area in breeding and mating management, whilst at the same time progressing the audience to more progressive subject matter and drive changes on farm.
- Tyreglwys is a dairy herd consisting of pedigree Ayrshire and Holstein cows on the outskirts of Llanelli, South West Wales. The cattle for the project are the pedigree Holsteins.
Project in practice:
- 25 Holstein heifers are due to be bred from 20th October 2017 using ABS Genus RMS AI services. These will be the focus of the project, and the following will be done in advance of mating.
- Assess the commercial Holstein herd’s current genetic status.
- Formulate a veterinary herd health, production & welfare genetic plan.
- Genomic test this year’s breeding heifers before service.
- Use the information to inform breeding choices on these heifers.
Project update:
Technical Publication (Issue 14, page 4): Independent linear assessment and genomic evaluations
Grassland Improvement
Project aims:
- Explore how livestock performance from grass can be improved without compromising yields in high-yielding dairy herd.
- Improve grassland management and grass budgeting
Strategic objectives:
- Achieve more efficient grass growth, better utilisation and using a measure to manage approach for feed budgeting.
- Determine cost benefit of improved grass utilisation.
Project in practice:
- Pastures will be reseeded using varieties selected for high digestibility, and their suitability to the wet soil conditions found at Tyreglwys.
- Fortnightly grass growth will be recorded from February through to October to provide information on which to base grazing decisions and improve confidence in possible grass performance.
- Record grass quality and grazing season length, and compare grass utilisation and concentrate use to previous years
- Monthly milk yields will be recorded to evaluate cow performance.
Project update:
- Autumn reseeds have been sown in 2016, with performance monitoring to commence in spring 2017.
Selective Dry Cow Therapy
Project aims:
- To reduce the routine use of antibiotics in the form of dry cow therapy tubes, by identifying cows that do not require antibiotic treatment at drying off and treating with teat sealant only.
- To reduce costs and adopt a more sustainable approach to dairying.
Strategic objectives:
- Improve animal health and welfare
- Reduce risk of antimicrobial resistance
- Reduce medicine spend (particularly antibiotics)
- Increase profitability by decreasing cost of production
- Reduced waste milk post calving
Project in practice:
- NMR records for all cows will be examined and cows selected for use of teat sealant only will be identified according to their somatic cell count and cases of clinical mastitis during the last lactation. The threshold for using teat sealant only will be agreed between the host farmer and vet.
- Strict hygiene protocols will be drawn up and followed when performing selective dry cow therapy to ensure no bacteria is trapped in the udder by the teat sealant.
- Teats are wiped clean, pre-dipped, wiped again, then cleaned individually with swabs of cotton wool soaked in surgical spirit before the teat sealant is applied. Cows are post-dipped and left to stand on a clean concrete surface for 30 minutes after drying off.
- In the following lactation cell counts and milk quality will be monitored carefully to look for impacts of a change of practice.
Project update:
- The project identified that 80% of the herd were eligible for drying off without antibiotic use, generating a cost saving for the farmer of £7.40 on each of those cows. Milk quality monitoring and udder health of those cows is ongoing in their subsequent lactation.
Project Updates:
Technical Article: Selective dry cow therapy – what is it and should I use it on my farm?
Report: New dry cow management system helps makes savings and cut antibiotic use
Calving Cameras
Project aims:
- Install remote cameras in calving areas to monitor cows before, during and post-calving more closely and regularly without disturbing their natural behaviour.
- Reduce calf mortalities and number of assisted calvings, but ensure quicker intervention when necessary through remote checking of cows.
- Increased animal welfare and improved early calf management
Strategic objectives:
- Reduce herd calving interval
- Improve overall herd fertility
- Decreased labour requirement on farm
- Improved long term herd health through better colostrum management
- Greater system flexibility
Project in practice:
- Cameras will be installed in calving areas to remotely monitor calving progress and the early hours of calf life through remote observation.
- The suitability of the technology and any challenges, such as installation, signal issues, picture clarity will be recorded.
- The cost-effectiveness of the investment will be evaluated and changes to on-farm routines in terms of time management and how regularly cows are monitored will be recorded.
Project update:
- Cameras were installed in October 2016 and were immediately immediately considered an important management tool for the calving areas. Remote monitoring has primarily created time savings for the whole family, allowing more regular checking of cows at calving, with fewer visits to the pen, and disturbing the cows less frequently.
- The project will monitor intervention frequency, mortality, and cow and calf health parameters over the next year, building into the calving index targets for the Tyreglwys herd.