DAIRY GOAT MEETING

Mark your calendars to attend the next Dairy Goat meeting on Thursday February 7th from noon to 2 pm at the clinic.  We know that many of you are busy with kidding in January, so we thought moving the meeting to early February would help.  Everyone milks at different times, so it seems the noon meeting time works.  We will be serving lunch starting at noon, but please come whenever you can. 

Sally will be presenting information about on the Do's and Don't of Dehorning and options for on farm antibiotic testing.  Please bring any questions you might have about your operation.  This goat group has been a great place for people to share problems and solutions.

Everyone is welcome.  Please invite your friends and neighbors who have goats.  People who have pet goats and meat goats can also benefit from the information and sharing.

WHAT IS A BQA NUMBER?

If you have taken any cattle to the sale barn since January 1st, you should have been asked for your Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification number.  This number is the one that you got after finishing the BQA program either on line or at a meeting.  If you are a dairy producer, you can use your FARM certification.

If you do not yet have a BQA number, you can still go on line and get the certification.  The website is http://www.bqa.org/.  After you go through the information, you have to take a test and  pass the test in order to get certified.  You can take the test more than once if you need to.

Part of the BQA is having a signed VCPR form from your veterinarian.  Sally has blank copies of the form or you can print and sign the one in the BQA website information.  She can sign the form and give it back to you to keep on file.  You do not have to send the form back in to BQA.

The BQA system is complaint driven.  If you send an animal that tests positive for antibiotics, you will get a follow up from the state.  They will want to see your BQA information, VCPR form and treatment records for that animal.

Make sure you follow withdrawal times, keep track of which animals you treat and when and keep your forms, such as the VFD, VCPR, BQA number, on file.  That way, you will not have to worry about any visits from the state vet for antibiotic residues.

DAIRY REVENUE PROTECTION PROGRAM INFORMATIONAL MEETING

UW-Extension will offer a number of meetings across the state for farmers interested in learning about the new Dairy Revenue Protection program, a new federal insurance tool, with a quarterly payout to dairy farms when milk revenue falls below their insured revenue level. 

Mark Stephenson, Director of the UW-Center for Dairy Profitability, will provide a comprehensive overview of the Dairy Revenue Protection program and updates to the FSA Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP), as another tool for dairy farmers when milk prices are low.  Important changes to the MPP have been introduced in the Farm Bill that may make this program worth a second look.

The meeting in Grant County will be held February 5th at 10 am at the Grant County Fairgrounds.  The meeting is free. Please register for meeting materials.  For registration, more information and questions, contact the UW-Extension office at 723-2125.

    
PLAN NOW FOR BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAMS

Spring calving and summer breeding may seem like a long time away, but now is the time to be thinking about your bull inventory.  All bulls should have a breeding soundness exam (BSE) every year.  This exam includes a check of eyes, feet, legs, body condition, scrotal circumference, penis and internal organs as well as sperm motility and morphology.  The BSE doesn't just look for swimmers!  A lot more is needed from your bulls than just sperm that can swim under the scope.

Depending on the number of bulls done at one visit, the cost of a BSE ranges from $30 to $45 per bull.  The results of the BSE are recorded after the test.  We have forms for individual bulls or groups depending on whether you are selling animals or keeping them for your own use.

Bulls are classified as a potential breeder or needing a retest or as a non-breeder.  Sometimes bulls can recover from an injury and test OK on a retest.  Yearling bulls may not test OK the first time, but be OK later. The BSE is designed to find the non-breeders before you turn a bull out and find all the cows open this fall.  Rarely, a bull will test OK and not be a breeder.  A BSE does not test libido or mating ability. 

FEBRUARY IS DENTAL MONTH

If your dog or cat needs its teeth cleaned, bring it in during February and get a 10% discount along with a free goodie bag of items to help keep your furry friend's teeth healthy.  Dental health is important for a long, healthy life for your pet as well as fresh breath, preventing heart problems and infections.

We now can take dental x-rays of your pet's teeth to check the health of the tooth roots and bone surrounding the teeth.  These x-rays are just like the ones that you have done when you go to the dentist.  Our goal is to save teeth and keep your pet's teeth healthy.  Sometimes, we have to remove diseased, painful teeth, but the x-rays help us know which ones can be saved.

The most important thing you can do to keep your pet's teeth healthy is to bring it in for an exam during dental month to see if the teeth need any cleaning or other dental work!
 

ZOETIS PRICES INCREASE FEB 1

Prices for most Zoetis products will increase by 2-4% starting February 1st.  You can save on Zoetis products by becoming a Leader's Edge buyer.  In order to qualify, you have to purchase a minimum amount of Zoetis products, including feed additives.  Then you get special lower prices on all the Zoetis products you buy.  Please call and talk to Jill if you wonder if you qualify or would like to sign up.  We have quite a few clients who have qualified.

MANY THANKS TO CRAIG HUMPHREYS 

    We are happy to be having Craig Humphreys working while Sally was on her mission trip to Kenya.  We appreciate Craig's help and hope you do, too.