Dr.Temple Grandin's "Tough Message" VIDEO

[legendrockranch]

HOT OFF THE PRESS The convention where she spoke was this week.

Video: Dr.Temple Grandin's "Tough Message" at the American Farm Bureau Convention. It is over 20 minutes long but worth the watch.

www.farms.com/expertscommentary/video-dr-temple-grandin-s-tough-message-at-the-american-farm-bureau-convention-86583.aspx#.VLrSrhHkA3E.facebook


On a side note, wonder how long it will be before this is taken from this forum and posted on another?
Doesn't really matter, it's good for all to read.

Barb

[zephyrhillsusan]

This was really interesting. I appreciated her points about genetics being important to how animals' feet and legs hold up. Of course, it's sad that she cited an improvement in dairy cows' useful lives going up to four lactations instead of 2 1/2. Those poor cows get used up and thrown away. As she said, now that the slaughter houses are straightened out so that animals can have a humane death, it's time to work on the farm to improve their quality of life. Sorry, though, nothing she can say can convince me that GMO's are okay! I'm thrilled to have finally found a feed store here that sells non-GMO chicken feed and 14% protein pellets for cattle.

[Olga]

Same here, Susan, 100%.

[carragheendexters]

I am looking forward to a few spare minutes to watch this.
Susan, I cannot believe that the US dairy cows only have 2 1/2 lactations and have improved to 4

Here in Australia our cows last until they have a major problem or die. It is not unusual to have a dairy cow 8 to 10 yr old and still in the dairy. At the shows they have classes for cows over 5, and they are still being shown. They don't reach their peak as a dairy cow till then.
Here they will continue to milk 3 teated cows and tolerate that less production.
They rarely have deaths, just the odd one from snake bite or whatever. They do get lameness, it can get very wet here on the coast and very muddy, we are on swamps, and the cows get infections from the mud. However in a herd of 500, you only see a couple that may be lame when walking out to the paddock from milking. The cows also get vet treatment when needed, we have good cattle vets here in this district, lots of experience with the dairy cows.
Our cows are kept on pasture all year, and are rotationally grazed. I will try and get some photos of the cows on the farm up the road, if the cows are close enough to the road. The calves are also reared outside on pasture, I will photos of them if I can , they are so sweet. This farmer has 2 farms, one that milks 1500, broken up into 3 herds, and on his other farm further up the road he milks 600.

WOW, I am still shocked at that. How much money lost if they are having to replace their cows so frequently.

[RedRidge]

She said 2.5-4 lactations, not years. I know many dairy folks who only breed every other year, and some who only breed every 3 years. You have to watch your SCC closely that third year, but healthy cows who lactate heavily have no problem with 3 year lactations. That said, the better dairies who don't push do still have sound, healthy lactating cows who are 8-10 yrs old.