Farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program small grants projects support research and technical assistance to help NNY dairy farmers be more efficient, sustainable and profitable. Click on the links below for project results.
Most Recent Projects:
The Effectiveness of Fans for Heat Stress Abatement in Lactating Dairy Cows in NNY: A comparison of animal well-being and economic impact before and after fan installation on a dairy farm in NNY, 2023
2022: Economic Feasibility Case Study of Co-Digestion of Manure and Food Waste on NNY Dairy Farms
DAIRY BUSINESS:
BENCHMARKING, LABOR/WORKFORCE and MILKER E-TRAINING
Benchmarking: A Power Tool in Your Dairy Business Management Toolbox
Pilot Project: Developing E-Learning Training Systems for Dairy Workers
2022 Article: Dairy farm worker milking equipment training with an e-learning system by Alanis, V; Recker, W; Ospina, P; Heuwieser, W; Virkler, P
2021: Dairy Workforce: E-Learning Training Systems as an Educational Approach for Dairy Farm Workers and The Effect on Milk Quality: Phase III
2020: E-learning Training Systems as an Educational Approach for Dairy Farm Workers on Milk Quality and Parlor Performance – Effect of Milking Equipment on Teat End Health: Phase II
2019: Assessing the Effect of E-Learning Training Systems on Milk Quality and Parlor Performance
DAIRY CALF RESEARCH
2022: Investigating Kefir as a Probiotic Supplement: Growth, Diarrhea Incidence, Antibiotic Use in Holstein Dairy Calves
2021: Evaluation of Calf Barn Ventilation and Its Impact on Calf Health, Growth and Performance
2019: NNYADP calf health project results showed calfhood illnesses occurring most frequently at 8 to 31 days of age, with neonatal diarrhea, or scours, as the primary concern, and at 61-120 days of age with pneumonia as the primary distress. Participating farms developed or enhanced their protocols for preventing and treatment calfhood illness.
2020: Follow-up study identified the pathogenic causes of neonatal diarrhea and the benefit of supportive recovery care with electrolytes and plentiful water access.
Project Reports:
. February 2019: Calf Health Treatment Protocols, Compliance and Economic Impact on NNY Dairy Farms
. Determining the Enteropathogens Causing Neonatal Diarrhea and the Association with Antibiotic Use on NNY Dairy Farms
2017 and 2018:
Cornell Cooperative Extension and Quality Milk Production Services created the “Calf Health Risk Assessment Tool for Northern New York Dairy Farms” to support development of farm-specific, best management practices planning to address key areas of calf health management, particularly during periods of cold winter temperatures. Every farm participating in that project made management adjustments as a result of the research.
Project Reports:
. 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
. A Calf Health Risk Assessment Tool for NNY Dairy Farms
2015: an observational baseline study evaluating 437 pre-weaned calves on 29 dairy farms in the region in 2015 indicated a slightly higher rate of respiratory illness than the national average. Research has shown ventilation to be one of the critical factors influencing calf respiratory health.
2016-2017: NNYADP-funded follow-up study with 2,408 pre-weaned calves highlighted how management practice changes and environmental factors impact calf health on a seasonal basis.
Project Reports:
. Evaluating calf housing and its impact on calf respiratory parameters on NNY dairy farms, Appendix A: Table 10
. Impact of Environmental Conditions, Housing & Ventilation on Seasonality of Respiratory Disease: Developing Strategies to Reduce the Risk in Pre-Weaned Calves in NNY
Other Dairy Calf Research:
Feeding Strategies & Behavior of Heat-Stressed Calves in NNY, 2016: Report, Appendix
DAIRY COW HEALTH
Evaluating Transition Cow Health on NNY Dairy Farms and Associations with Feeding Management Practices
DAIRY DIET and FEEDING STRATEGIES
2021: Evaluating Transition Cow Health on NNY Dairy Farms and Associations with Feeding Management Practices
Can We Feed for Higher Levels of Milk Protein?
Economical Substitutes in NNY for Corn Grain in Dairy Cow Diets, 2013
Factors Affecting Milk Component Production in NNY Dairy Herds, 2007
DAIRY DISEASE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
Determining the Prevalence and Potential Economic Impact of Salmonella Dublin on NNY Dairy Farms, 2019
The effect of silage fermentation on Johne’s Disease organisms
HEAT STRESS ABATEMENT ON NNY DAIRY FARMS
The Effectiveness of Fans for Heat Stress Abatement in Lactating Dairy Cows in NNY: A comparison of animal well-being and economic impact before & after fan installation on a dairy farm in NNY, 2023
The Effectiveness of Heat Stress Abatement Systems on Performance, Behavior and Health of Lactating Dairy Cows in NNY – Year 3; Year 2
Effect of Heat Stress Abatement Systems on Behavior & Performance of Lactating Dairy Cows, 2016, 2015 Report
The Impact of Episodic Heat Stress on Lying Behavior and Lameness of Lactacting Dairy Cows in NNY, 2017
Feeding Strategies & Behavior of Heat-Stressed Calves in NNY, 2016: Report, Appendix
MANURE MANAGEMENT: Co-Digestion
2022: Economic Feasibility Case Study of Co-Digestion of Manure and Food Waste on NNY Dairy Farms
MASTITIS
. Assessing the Risk of Subclinical Infections in Cows With Clinical Mastitis, APPENDIX
. Mastitis-Causing Pathogens Previously Identified as “Other Streptococcal Species,” 2015 Report, 2014 Report
. Speciation and Quantification of Streptococcus-like Bacteria from Bulk Tank Milk, Bedding and Teat Swabs Pre- and Post-Milking from NNY Dairy Herds
. Klebsiella Mastitis Research in NNY Dairy Herds, 2010
. Klebsiella: Cow adapted vs. environmental strains, 2009
. Treatment success & associated factors: Klebsiella and E. coli mastitis in dairy cows in NNY, 2008
. Prevention and Control Tips from QMPS, 2007
. Sources, Transmission and Control Points, 2007
. Powdered Teat Dip Post-Milking Under Cold Weather in NNY
MILKING EFFICIENCY
Assessing Automatic Cluster Remover Settings on Milking Unit-On Time, Total Milk Yield, and Teat Condition in NNY Dairy Herds
DAIRY WATER QUALITY
Do High Mineral Concentrations Affect Feed Digestibility, 2015
Water Quality and Its Impact on Production Parameters on NNY Dairy Farms, 2014, Report and Table 1, Table 2, Table 3
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR NNY DAIRY FARMS
Clinton County: B&R Dairy: Custom Heifer Operation
Hidden View Farm: A Future for 3 Brothers & Parents
Essex County: Conservation Easement to the Rescue
Franklin County: Ooms Dairy: Made the Move to Farming on Their Own
Recore Dairy: Making Farming More Manageable
Jefferson County: Homestead Fields: Ownership & Style Change
Reed Haven Farms: Sound, Slow Growth
Lewis County: Herrdale Farm: Dairy and Beef A Perfect Fit
Sullivan Dairy: 46 of 52 Weeks a Seasonal, Grazing Dairy
St. Lawrence County: Ortman Dairy: Weathering a Dairy Start-Up
Thompson Dairy: Farming to Fit Assets and Interests