Northern New York. Dairy farmers may have an opportunity to add income through enhancing their breeding bull selection. Research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) provides information to help dairy farmers decide if adding a crossbreeding enterprise for beef production would be a good addition for their dairy business.

Cornell University Beef Extension Specialist Dr. Michael Baker notes that according to the USDA Market News, in New York, Holstein-beef crossbred bull calves can bring up to a $100 per head premium compared to purebred Holstein bull calves, however, the majority of these calves born in New York are raised outside of New York.

“Given the abundant supply of high-quality forage in Northern New York, producers have the potential to raise calves to feeder weights of 300 to 800 lbs. or to finish them using feed refusals from their dairy enterprise,” Baker says. “This can provide an additional income stream for dairies as well as a supply of calves for the burgeoning beef stocker industry.”

Baker notes that market competition will increase when the type of calves arriving at auction are segregated. The result?

“Calves with a vetted sire selection and raised with birth, health, and nutrition protocols are bringing the highest premiums according to one semen supplier and livestock auction owner. Those with no sire selection are bringing smaller premiums,” Baker explains.

The NNYADP research describes how using Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) data points can help dairy farmers make a good-fit beef breed bull selection for their milk cows.

“Holstein cows should be bred to beef sires whose traits complement the cows’ genetic makeup, are economically-competitive to feed, and meet consumer demands for beef quality,” Baker summarizes.

He adds that other considerations for bull selection, based on studying EPD data points, are traits that indicate the opportunity for good average daily weight gain and ribeye quality.

Four farms in Northern NY assisted this NNYADP project; data was collected on 125 calves born to Holstein cows bred to an Angus beef breed bull. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets provided additional funding to support USDA grading of 100 calves to develop economic value data.

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, Baker will be among the speakers at the “How to Get a Better Price for Your Beef or Dairy Animal in the Ring at the Auction Barn” 11 am open house-luncheon at the N.N.Y. Farmers Marketing Co-op, 8204 NY Route 26, Lowville, N.Y. The event is co-sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County. For more information, call the Co-op at 315-376-7441.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. For more information, see www.nnyagdev.org.

Click here to read the NNYADP 2019 Final Report for Where’s the Beef in Value-Added Dairy-Beef Crosses Research Project

Chazy, N.Y.: March 3, 2020.  Winters in Northern New York can be harsh. One farm has already adjusted its winter calf nutrition program based on participating in research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) and conducted by a Miner Institute research team. The complete project report is posted on the NNYADP website at www.nnyagdev.org under About/Projects.

This regionally-focused project collected and analyzed data related to calf feeding and environmental conditions in different housing systems on Northern NY dairy farms in winter. The data has enhanced understanding of their impact on calf energy needs, growth, health, and farm economics.

Project leader Sarah Morrison, Ph.D., seen in photo at left, a research scientist with Miner Institute, Chazy, N.Y., noted, “Young dairy calves have limited body fat reserves and only modest insulation from their hair coat. For this Northern New York Agricultural Development Program project, we evaluated how winter calf feeding programs under different housing systems impact the substantial energy needs, growth, and health of dairy calves under Northern New York climatic conditions.”

The results of this NNYADP project have already influenced one farm that directly participated in the project to enhance its calf management practices and interest in the project is widespread.

“This project shows important considerations from a milk feeding standpoint for calves during the Northern New York winter season, and it has prompted great interest from the agricultural community in learning how they can manage winter season challenges related to achieving optimal calf health on their farms,” said Morrison.

Morrison is now sharing the NNYADP winter calf feeding project results with farmers across Northern New York.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Read the full NNYADP winter dairy calf feeding project report:
Winter Calf Feeding Project Results: The Effect of Increasing Total Amount of Nutrients Supplied through Milk or Milk Replacer on Calf Growth & Health in Multiple Housing Systems during Winter Months in NNY

FROM NEW YORK TO TEXAS is a subheading in an article in Progressive Farmer about how trials of biocontrol nematodes for managing corn rootworm in Texas got their start as a way to manage alfalfa snout beetle in northern New York.

In the story titled “Invasion of the Rootworm Snatchers. . . Can they save Bt corn?,” DTN Staff Reporter Emily Unglesbee interviews Cornell entomologist Elson Shields who, with a year-to-year, long-term funding commitment by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP), pioneered the science that has become a protocol for the use of entomopathogenic nematodes for pest management in field crops (and some berry crops as NNYADP research projects have proven).

Click here to read the Progressive Farmer article

Click here for NNYADP alfalfa and biocontrol nematodes research reports

Note: Johne’s is pronounced yo-knees

Plattsburgh, Canton, and Watertown, N.Y.; January 15, 2020.   The results of a project funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program to survey and test regional sheep flocks and provide information on how to reduce the risk of Johne’s disease will soon be presented at meetings in Plattsburgh, Canton, and Watertown. The regional data is also being shared in support of a Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab project evaluating different testing methods and protocols for identifying Johne’s disease.

Dr. Jessica Scillieri Smith, DVM, with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Livestock Educator Betsy Hodge will present the project results at meetings as follow:

Tuesday, January 28, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 6064 State Route 22, Plattsburgh, N.Y.; register at 518-561-7450 or lsw89@cornell.edu

Wednesday, February 5, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm Classroom, 2043 State Highway 68, Canton, N.Y.; register at 315-379-9192 x227 or bmf9@cornell.edu;

Tuesday, February 11, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 203 N. Hamilton Street, Watertown, N.Y.; register with 315-379-9192 x227 or bmf9@cornell.edu.

Those interested in participating at any of the three sites can also register online at http://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/. Registration will assure notification of any date change due to winter weather.

Johne’s disease is a wasting disease of sheep and other ruminant animals. It is contagious, chronic, and usually fatal. The program at each site will include a discussion of the Northern New York survey results, clinical signs, testing and diagnosis, and how to reduce the risk of infection of Johne’s disease. Symptoms of the infection can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases and frequently exist in animals that appear healthy.

“Many producers are unaware of Johne’s disease, but we know it exists in flocks and herds in New York state. Local veterinarians cooperated with this survey by helping with sampling and participating in the New York State Sheep and Goat Health Assurance Program with producers,” said Hodge.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Learn more at www.nnyagdev.org.

Click here to read the Surveillance of Johne’s Disease in High Risk Sheep Flocks in NNY, 2019 report.