Check out the New York State Fair Dairy Cow Birthing Center on YouTube Live

I encourage everyone to go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv0JmUHsS7E now through Sept. 2 to see calves being born right in front of your eyes.

This is the youtube live broadcast from the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the New York State Fair. Watch a calf come into the world and learn about the process of putting those wonderful glasses of milk on your table each morning.

The Dairy Cow Birthing Center is run by the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, a farmer founded and funded organization whose mission is to enhance the public’s understanding of and appreciation for animal agriculture by fostering a dialogue with consumers, engagement with farmers and cooperation among members of the industry.

Program Aug. 15 Details Use of Refractometers in Evaluation Colostrum Quality

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County will have a program demonstrating on farm use of refractometers in evaluating colostrum quality and calf immunity on organic dairy farms.
 
Detailed colostrum and calf feeding management can improve calf well being, reduce the frequency of illness and can eliminate the use of medications and therapy costs. Every calf on organic dairies should be fed a sufficient quantity of high-quality colostrum and whole milk.
 
A calf comes into the world defenseless, without an immune system sufficient to protect it from disease. Activation of the immune system from vaccines that produces the antibodies necessary to fight disease takes several weeks. 

To bridge the immunization gap starting at birth, the calf must take in antibodies from colostrum.  

The value of calves acquiring passive immunity through colostrum management comes from improved calf health, especially respiratory health. Studies done since the late 1960s have also shown the value of colostrum and blood IgG levels in young calves will impact the long term health and future milk production of the dairy herd.
 
Jefferson County Cornell Cooperative Extension will demonstrate the use of refractometer as an easy, on farm method of evaluating colostrum quality and total solids in milk fed to calves.
 
The workshop will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 15 at Meeks Farm Organic Dairy, 25793 Waddingham Road, Evans Mills, Jefferson County. There is no fee for this workshop. RSVP not required but registration allows us to communicate any cancellations or changes in arrangements.
 
Kim Morrill of Cooperative Extension will be the guest speaker for the workshop. Morrill has published a paper in the Journal of Dairy Science showing that the Brix scale measurement from refractometer could be used to estimate failure of passive transfer in calves. One refractometer can be used to evaluate colostrum quality, total solids in milk as well as passive transfer in calves. 
 
Participants will be able to take back to the farm information about the quality of colostrum and how it varies greatly, how total solids of waste milk fed to calves fluctuates day to day and measuring immunoglobulin concentrations in the calf’s blood is the only method for evaluating passive transfer of immunity.
 
For more info please contact Ron Kuck, Dairy/Livestock Educator, CCE of Jefferson County; (315) 788-8450 (office), (315) 704-8810 (cell) or rak76@cornell.edu

Red Meat, Corn, Soybeans Production Up in New York; Potatoes Down

Commercial red meat production for New York totaled 3.8 million pounds in October, up 12 percent from the 3.4 million pounds produced in October 2015.

Cattle slaughter totaled 3,300 head, up 10 percent from October 2015. The average live weight was up 6 pounds from the previous year, at 1,164.
 
Calf slaughter totaled 6,500 head, up 132 percent from October 2015. The average live weight was down 60 pounds from last year, at 115 pounds.
 
Hog slaughter totaled 5,500 head, up 15 percent from October 2015. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from the previous year, at 258 pounds.
 
Sheep slaughter totaled 4,100 head, 15 percent below last year. The average live weight was 103 pounds, down 3 pounds from October a year ago.

Corn production in New York is forecast at 83.8 million bushels, up 2 percent from the October forecast but down 1 percent from last year.
 
Based on conditions as of Nov. 1, yields are expected to average 133 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from the October forecast but down 10 bushels from 2015. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 630,000 acres, unchanged from the October forecast but up 7 percent from 2015.
 
Soybean production in New York is forecast at 13.7 million bushels, up 2 percent from October and up 6 percent from last year. Based on Nov. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 42 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from last month but down 1 bushel from last year. Area for harvest is forecast at 326,000 acres, unchanged from last month.
 
Fall potatoes production for 2016 is forecast at 3.31 million hundredweight, down 20 percent from last year. Area harvested, at 13,800 acres, is down 7 percent from the previous year. The average yield forecast, at 240 hundredweight per acre, is down 40 hundredweight from last year’s yield.

Red Meat Production Up in New York in August

Commercial red meat production for New York totaled 3.8 million pounds in August, up 21 percent from the 3.1 million pounds produced in August 2015, said Blair Smith, state statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office.
 
Cattle slaughter totaled 3,200 head, up 10 percent from August 2015. The average live weight was up 28 pounds from the previous year, at 1,190.
 
Calf slaughter totaled 4,300 head, up 65 percent from August 2015. The average live weight was down 57 pounds from last year, at 136 pounds.
 
Hog slaughter totaled 6,000 head, up 33 percent from August 2015. The average live weight was up 12 pounds from the previous year, at 243 pounds.
 
Sheep slaughter totaled 5,000 head, 6 percent above last year. The average live weight was 102 pounds, down 3 pounds from August a year ago.

Cow Birthing Center An Educational Experience

Nice story about the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the New York State Fair.

Check it out at http://www.twcnews.com/nys/central-ny/new-york-state-fair/2015/09/5/cow-birthing-center-an-education-experience.html

New York's Red Meat Production Up 3 Percent from Last Year

From the USDA:

Total red meat production for New York totaled 3.1 million pounds in June 2015, up 3 percent from the 3 million pounds produced in June 2014 and up 11 percent from May 2015, said Blair Smith, state statistician of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office.

Commercial cattle slaughter totaled 3,100 head, up 7 percent from June 2014. The average live weight was down 21 pounds from the previous year at 1,141 pounds.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 2,000 head, 62 percent below June 2014. The average live weight was up 76 pounds from last year at 198 pounds.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 3,700 head, up 12 percent from June 2014. The average live weight was up 5 pounds from the previous year, at 229 pounds.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter totaled 5,200 head, 41 percent above June last year. The average live weight was 105 pounds, up 7 pounds from a year ago.

Cow Gives Birth to Quadruplets

Here's one you don't see often -- quadruplet calves.

Check out the story here http://www.kltv.com/story/28556261/rare-quadruplet-calves-born-in-dekalb

Calves Stolen from Dairy Farms

Someone out there is stealing calves from dairy farms.

Calves have been stolen in Genesee County and Washington County.

Check out http://www.news10.com/story/26202755/dairy-farm-owner-seeks-publics-help-after-baby-calves-were-stolen#.U-IimtnF5-U.facebook this story about one of the thefts.

Caring for Calves in Cold Weather

Check out this http://dairyline.com/wpbackend/?p=6990 podcast about caring for calves in the colder weather.

Farm Burns, Cows Killed in the Albany Area

Sad story http://m.timesunion.com/tu/pm_20954/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=BQe2V3Rv

A Day in the Life of a Farmer's Wife

A great read.

See it here http://adayinthelifeofthefarmerswife.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-want-consumers-to-feel-farming.html at this link.

11 Boys, 8 Girls So Far at the New York State Fair Dairy Cow Birthing Centr

The count is at 11 bulls and eight heifers as of 12:05 today (Thursday) at the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the New York State Fair.

Another bull was born today at 12:05 p.m.

Be sure to stop into the center over by the FFA and 4-H buildings.

Video Interview on Why the Dairy Cow Birthing Center is So Popular

Nice video explanation of why the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the State Fair http://www.onenewspage.us/video/20130826/1387847/Dairy-Day-at-the-Fair-26-13.htm is so popular.

Check it out.

When it Comes to Calf Nutrition, Do You Know Your Numbers?

Check out this http://dairybusiness.com/seo/article.php?title=when-it-comes-to-calf-nutrition-do-you-know-y&date=2013-08-05 story from DairyBusiness.