VAS

VAS’ Agronomic Consulting division talks research

kate — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 19:10:15 +0000

VAS’ Agronomic Consulting division talks research

Chuck Bolte, Manager, Agronomic Consulting, talks with WPVGA (Wisconsin Vegetable Growers Association) about VAS Laboratories’ work on water flow and phosphorus monitoring research in the Antigo Flats, a potato and vegetable production area in Wisconsin.

For several years, the team has been awarded grants for their project, which Bolte hopes can equip growers with the power to make the best management decisions for the future. The project began in 2016 when WPVGA awarded the group with a grant to build a spatial database of the PI (Phosphorus Index) for all the potato growers in the area. Today, the project focuses on looking at soil health as a driver to reduce nutrient runoff and leaching.

Check out WPVGA’s interview with Chuck Bolte to learn more about the project, and how the team is using it to help growers make sustainable farming decisions for the future. https://bit.ly/3BQJ1Xd

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ECM – Leveraging Energy Corrected Milk in DairyComp

kate — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:14:09 +0000

ECM – Leveraging Energy Corrected Milk in DairyComp

Energy Corrected Milk (ECM) is a powerful calculation that allows producers to evaluate their herd’s productivity and efficiency on a level playing field. ECM factors in pounds of milk, fat and protein to provide a value that accounts for those variables together, using a formula that adjusts to a 3.5% fat and 3.2% protein basis.

Why is ECM important?

Precision, precision, precision! When we consider milk weights and components separately, we are not getting the complete picture when it comes to performance. ECM allows you to more accurately assess efficiency and productivity, on a whole herd or group basis, for profitability-driven decisions that will impact milk and component production.

How can DairyComp help you start tracking Energy Corrected Milk?

DairyComp does the work of calculating ECM for you using your test day information loaded into the program through the RECEIVE command. To display and view it, simply follow these quick steps, or view our on-demand webinar where Craig Walter, VAS Education Specialist, will help guide you through the process.

Creating an ECM ITEM in DairyComp:

Go into ALTER and select ‘Items’, displayed as option 2.

In Items, click the ‘Add’ button.

Then enter ‘ECM’ in ‘Item Name’. Click Next.

Enter 85 in the ‘Item Type’ field. Click Next.

Enter which test day you want to evaluate in the ‘Value’ field. Click Next.

Positive numbers represent the first test day after freshening to the present, and negative numbers represent test days going back in time from the present. Your last test day would be -1, while your first would be 1.

Enter 2 for ECM in the ‘Value’ field. Click Next.

Enter a description of the Item – something to reflect which test date.

Click ‘OK’ to save the item and repeat for any other test day item needed.

So, whether you’re looking at ration strategy, cow environment, cow comfort, genetics and transition cow health on a whole herd or group basis, leverage ECM values to help guide your decision-making.

Looking to add 305 Day Values? Check out the webinar!

Need help? Contact our Support Team Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 7 PM CT.

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A day in the life of a VAS education specialist

kate — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 18:28:06 +0000

A day in the life of a VAS education specialist

Taliah Danzinger, VAS education specialist, plays a unique role within VAS. She leverages her on-farm experience and passion for teaching to deliver internal and external trainings on VAS’ dairy products and services with her coworker, Craig Walter.

Well-versed in DHI, data interpretation and on-farm applications, Taliah brings immense value to producers, consultants, students and her coworkers.

Follow along to see what a typical day looks like for, Taliah, as a VAS education specialist in this Progressive Dairyman article: A day in the life of a dairy data education specialist – Progressive Dairy

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AgSource merges with sister organization to become VAS

Foremost — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 14:43:45 +0000

We’re excited to announce AgSource and VAS have merged, and are moving forward under the name, VAS.

VAS stands for Valley Ag Source – it’s a nod to both organization’s pasts and a reflection of where they are today, together. When you see the VAS name and logo, you can feel confident that you’re working with a partner whose mission is deeply rooted in agriculture and technology and values data as a source of truth.

VAS is comprised of three different divisions – agronomy, dairy and software – and serves a diverse range of clients from dairy producers to golf course superintendents to municipalities. We believe this diversity helps fuel new, relevant insights and ways to deliver information to our clients.

We will continue serving clients from our laboratories and offices in Madison, Wisconsin; Bonduel, Wisconsin; Marshfield, Wisconsin; Menomonie, Wisconsin; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Ellsworth, Iowa.

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Keeping Pace to Best Serve our Members

kate — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:13:37 +0000

Keeping Pace to Best Serve our Members

Milk testing looks a little different today than it did 20 years ago, and for good reason. As the dairy industry evolves and farmers adopt new technologies like robots, rotaries and RFID tag-driven systems, VAS has been keeping pace to best serve you, our members. Rodney Davis, Director of VAS Field Operations, shares his perspective on how implementing new technology has improved milk testing services for VAS members.

Efficiencies result in data assurance

Producers might notice it takes significantly less time to receive their results than it used to – typically within 24 hours – thanks to investments in technology to boost efficiencies.

“Field technicians perform data entry in the field using VAS software rather than by hand in the office like we used to,” says Davis. This means that data is instantly sent via the iLoop, a network connection with the DRPC in Madison, where it will be incorporated into test day results. “What used to take three to four days to make it from farm to lab and back to farm again, now might take less than 24 hours. It’s a huge advantage for producers when making management decisions,” notes Davis on delivering information back to members.

And as herd size increases, so does the importance of sample collection efficiency. “We have to make sure that the dairy can remain efficient as possible, even on a test day,” says Davis. The VAS team uses data handlers which allow a technician to enter cow IDs and milk weights on a small handheld device, RFID wands that aid in recording animal IDs and electronic milk meters (EMMs) which allow for faster sampling and less waste.

“When we use these tools we minimize the amount of time it takes to sample. A farm with 1,000 cows might take the same amount of time as a dairy with 100 cows when we utilize all the tools available to us,” says Davis. However, things move fast in a rotary and the testing team needs to keep up, “we don’t have much of a choice – we have to match the pace of these parlor systems and that means using cutting-edge technology.”

Not only does technology increase efficiency on your test day, it adds an extra level of assurance when it comes to data accuracy. “We’ve started using RFID chips in the milk sample bottles. We can scan them in the parlor and then they’re scanned again in the lab. This adds an extra layer of assurance when producers think of connecting a cow and her sample,” says Davis. While VAS has always taken data integrity and accuracy very seriously, incorporating technology adds extra peace of mind and confidence when making management decisions.

Adapting to changing parlor systems

Producers help drive the development of new testing technology and procedures, and the adoption of robotic milkers are no exception. VAS has expanded services to include sampling on robotic milkers as they become increasingly more popular among VAS members.

“When we sample a farm with robots we drop off a sampler, or shuttle, to connect to the robotic milker where it will stay on the machine for 12-24 hours. During that time the robot keeps track of which cows have been sampled,” says Davis. Some producers, like Peter Winch of Fennimore, Wis. are comfortable setting it up themselves. Check out the video of Peter hooking up a sampler to his robotic milker .
VAS field technicians also come on farm to set up samplers. The team utilizes TeamViewer software allowing them to remotely check in to make sure things are running smoothly during the testing period.

Insights for the future

Improving test day efficiencies is only one component when it comes to keeping pace with the bigger dairy tech trajectory. The data generated, collected and analyzed on your farm is also subject to innovation. A single milk sample goes beyond fat, protein and somatic cell. Now a test day milk sample can be used to diagnose pregnancy, screen for disease, detect subclinical ketosis and give feedback on rumen health through fatty acids, too.

Managing and leveraging test day information is important for dairies of all sizes – which is why VAS is excited to roll out a new DairyComp product geared towards smaller dairies later this year. DairyComp Pro, DairyComp’s cloud-based sister, collects and record the most important herd information on a farm.

And soon, all members will be able to view their test-day information on VAS’ cloud-based data delivery platform, VAS PULSE.

There is nothing old school about the valuable data collected from milk testing. As the dairy industry evolves and changes, VAS is laying the groundwork for that data to play a role into the future.

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Five tips to curb dairy cow feed costs

kate — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 19:47:50 +0000

Five tips to curb dairy cow feed costs

As farmers across the country navigate drought conditions and rising dairy cow feed costs, many are looking at ways to stretch feed inventories. Small changes in your dairy farm’s feed management program can result in big savings.

Here are our top five tips to tighten up protocols, revisit the basics and get creative to ensure your feed inventories don’t sneak away this summer:

1. Evaluate heifer inventory

Evaluating heifer inventory is just as important as feed inventory management.

Ensure heifer inventory matches your farm’s future replacement needs to help manage tight feed inventories. If you’re feeding more heifers than you’ll need in the future, it likely doesn’t pencil out to keep them all when costs are high.

Review cow cull rate, heifer survival rate and the number of heifers born monthly. If your cull rate decreases, you might not need as many heifers to replace older cows. Recalculate your heifer inventory if you experience a change in heifer survival rate from birth to first calving.

Reviewing your semen use and ratio of sexed, conventional and beef semen can also help curb costs. Consider the number of heifer calves you anticipate over the next six months and if you should keep them all.

Managing heifer inventory from wet calf to springer can save money on feed and help market females at the right time.

2. Check for total mixed ration errors

While we expect our feed to make it into the mixer at the set ingredient amounts, mistakes can happen. Carefully review data from your feed management software, like FeedWatch, for mixing errors.

Review timing between total mixed ration ingredients, volume of ingredients used and ingredient order. Overfeeding an ingredient instead of returning it to the commodity bay is a nearly invisible way feed gets lost.

Most feed management software can flag when an ingredient is added too quickly after another, indicating extra was left in the loader bucket before grabbing the next ingredient.

Keeping a close eye on actual weights of each ingredient added can add up too — especially if weighbacks or refusal volume isn’t where you’d like to see it.

Mixing order matters. Add total mixed ration ingredients in the appropriate order and ensure proper mixing to avoid feed waste at the bunk from sorting.

3. Recalculate feed inventory and regularly walk it

Did sloppy spring weather rob you of feed inventory? Did you have unexpected spoilage, a big rain washout or a bad spot in the bunker?

Take frequent feed inventories and recalculate needs to determine when it’s time to make a ration change to help stretch a forage until the next crop is available.

By staying ahead of forage inventory you can make proactive changes to save on dairy cow feed costs.

4. Dig in to shrink and weighbacks

Does your fresh cow pen have the same refusal goal as your low group? Should they? Consider your goals and make sure your weights add up. If they don’t, it’s time to do some investigating.

Keep your feeder aware of cow pen moves and number changes before making a new batch of feed.

If you’re using FeedWatch as your feed management software, pen numbers will automatically update from DairyComp herd management software.

Consider target weighbacks. Keep in mind shrink isn’t just the feed that blows away. Are fresh cows’ needs being met when they’re fed to an empty bunk?

Unprocessed corn kernels in manure, excess nutrient volume beyond a cows’ needs in an unbalanced ration, and spoiled feed are all sneaky ways shrink can cost you money.

5. Explore alternative feed byproducts

Cows are some of nature’s best recyclers. Feeding dairy cows byproducts is another way to manage feed costs and contribute to a sustainable future.

Having a grasp on forage inventories to optimize inclusion rate is the best way to leverage byproducts. If forage inventories are tight, consider dialing back inclusion rates early to use fewer byproducts over a longer period rather than adjusting them quickly.

Whole cottonseed, wheat midds, soy hulls, and other byproducts can help bring stability to a ration when forages are tight.

It’s always best to plan for flexibility in product choices and secure sources.

Work with a VAS expert to evaluate more ways you can reduce dairy cow feed costs on your farm.

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The Digital Dairy – Future of Agriculture Podcast

kate — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 19:43:39 +0000

The Digital Dairy – Future of Agriculture Podcast

Marrying technology with the human eye can bring efficiencies, better calf care and improved productivity to your farm. Pagel’s has centered in on the data and technology that offers a strong management system, and still finds value in seeing and walking the rows of calves daily.

View the apps and technology that Shawn Miller of Pagel’s Ponderosa can’t live without by visiting the full article: Marry Tech with Calf Management

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Calf Management Improved with Technology

kate — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 17:54:23 +0000

Calf Management Improved with Technology

Calves (and heifers) are the future of your dairy – which is why fine-tuning management early on is critical for their long-term success and productivity.

By marrying calf management and evolving technology you have the opportunity to increase efficiency while improving your current heifer programs and your herd’s overall lifetime performance as referenced in an article by DairyHerd Management.

“Technology makes you think differently and teaches you to approach situations differently,” notes Shawn Miller, Calf Manager at Pagel’s Ponderosa in Kewaunee, Wis. “A once difficult task now is simple as just a few keystrokes.”

Calf Management Improved with Technology

Pagel’s Ponderosa shares how DairyComp has been a ‘game-changer’ for them within their calf management program. It provides both efficiency and better decision-making thanks to real-time health records available at their fingertips.

Using a handheld RFID wand, Pagel’s simultaneously and efficiently collects and inputs data directly into DairyComp. From there, the team can generate lists to efficiently vaccinate young stock.

Combining Technologies

When combined, technologies have the opportunity to uncover another layer in the management process. Pagel’s use a scale to individually weighs calves at birth, weaning and again at four and five months of age.

The scale uses an RFID reader which helps automatically uploaded weights into DairyComp, where the team can view average daily gain to better understand how calves are performing. This helps them dial in on increasing volume of milk fed and supports more informed culling decisions before a calf reaches six months.

Best of Both Worlds

View the apps and technology that Shawn Miller of Pagel’s Ponderosa can’t live without by visiting the full article: Marry Tech with Calf Management

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PCC LICENSING and PIN CODES PCC Android and DairyComp Unlimited – VAS Tip of the Month May 2021

kate — Tue, 25 May 2021 20:39:21 +0000

PCC LICENSING and PIN CODES PCC Android and DairyComp Unlimited - VAS Tip of the Month May 2021

The May Pocket CowCard Tip of the month covers General PCC Licensing Review and new feature of PIN CODES for use with PCC Android and DairyComp Unlimited.

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Feeding dairy cows: Lower costs with these do’s and dont’s

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:29:40 +0000

Feeding dairy cows: Lower costs with these do’s and dont's

Feed prices are on the verge of being at their highest level in years. In turn, this has caused some major concern for dairy producers who are already facing tight margins.

However, when considering your options to lower your feed bill, there are some do’s and don’ts. Jordan Kraft-Lambert, vice president of business development at VAS, along with Mark Schlaefer, feed manager at Kinnard Farm in Green Bay, Wis., offer these tips:

What To Do

Get Visibility

“Most producers are feeding their cows by using spreadsheets, but some are just scribbling the rations down on a sheet of paper so there’s no real-time feedback about how accurately they’re feeding their animals a consistent ration,” Kraft-Lambert says.

To gain a better understanding of what’s actually happening at the feed bunk, she suggests using a feed management system to help monitor feed inventory, record trends and assist with management decisions.

“In order to help control feed costs, one of the best things a producer can do is invest in a feed management system because that gives you the ability to really see what’s going on,” Kraft-Lambert adds.

Track Progress

If you want to know where you’re going, it’s important to know where you’ve been. According to Kraft-Lambert, keeping track of your progress is a crucial step in a feed management program.

“I don’t know about you, but I have a terrible memory,” she jokes. “One of the great things about feed management software is you can set it up to send you email notifications to see how you’ve performed. It’s more of a coaching tool and a companion to help you understand how to be the best feeder possible.”

If you don’t have the means to invest in a feed management system, there are other ways to track your progress.

“Getting in the habit of making a little appointment with yourself to calculate your feed costs per pound of dry matter is a good practice,” Kraft-Lambert says. “Just looking at that every week can help you make better decisions as you’re deciding what feed to buy.”

Make Your Own

In just a matter of weeks producers will hit the fields to get their crops in the ground. It’s likely we’ll see farmers planting more of their own forages this year to help keep feed prices lower.

“When possible, the best thing you can do is make your own feed and control those costs,” Kraft-Lambert adds. “It’s important to have some in-depth conversations with your agronomist, particularly about how much nitrogen you need to be putting on your field. Getting the right amount of nitrogen into that corn crop means you’re going to have a lot of really great protein in your silage, which translates to the protein that ends up in the milk check.”

What shouldn’t you do when trying to lower feed costs? Get the dont’s here.

Republished with permission from Dairy Herd Management.

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