Large Herd Management in the South and Southwest

Abstract

Because of inflation, decreasing profit per unit, and specialization there has arisen a need for large herd management in the South and Southwest. The manager of the large herd is faced with a multitude of problems encompassing labor, feed, disease, climate and, above all, profit. Today in this area, the problem of labor-quality and quanti ty--is foremost in the mind of management. More and more time is being spent dealing' with the different aspects of labor management. Total pounds of milk per man and number of animals per man are some of the comnmn denonfinators used in labor management decisions. More capital is required to utilize labor effectively. Like all large agricultural businesses, the dairies in the South and Southwest have been affected by the Federal Wage and Hour Law. There appears to have been little change in labor costs, because managers of most of the large herds pay substantially more than the one dollar an hour. In the Knolle operation, the minimum wage law has made us realize more fully the costs of equipment breakdowns and employee tardiness and has made us more efficient in labor usage. Feed requirements. The second major concern to management is the herd feed requirement. In much of the South and, especially in the Southwest, drought conditions exist much of the time. The average rainfall varies in different regions between 6 and 40 inches. The old saying, When it rains, it pours, applies to the Gulf Coast, where most of the rain is unevenly distributed. Irrigation is used where underground or river water is available. This increases the cost per ton of feed, but is partially offset by the availability of a green crop much o£ the year. Cotton and milo are predominant crops in the region and provide a cheap source of protein and roughage through cottonseed meal and hulls, milo grain, and gluten feed. Roughages grown include the hybrid sorghum Sudans, corn (mainly in the South), and alfalfa (in the upper Southwest). Coastal Bermuda and Midland Bermuda comprise the pasture land because they make excellent permanent pasture when skilled management is employed. In addition to the common feeds, most large herds utilize carrots and citrus pulp when available. These products constitute an inexpensive source of roughage and increase the pounds of milk per cow. A new feed on the market is alfalfa cubes from New Mexico. Cubes decrease labor costs and lower waste by eliminating grinding. Irrigation, longer growing season, and the availability of feed byproducts give this area a great advantage in total feed costs per pound of milk. Weather effects. Changeable weather conditions in the Southwest hinder milk production. Hot, humid conditions characterize the Coastal Bend section. Dry, semi-arid conditions prevail in the upper Southwest, where irrigation is necessary to produce a crop. In both of these areas rapid weather changes occur which affect both production and labor. In Texas the morning may be beautiful, the afternoon dusty, and the evening may bring a snow storm. The temperature seldom goes above 105 F along the Coast, but rises to 110 F further inland. Because of short winters, few free stall housing installations are being built in the region and the cost of housing per cow is kept at a minimum. Shade, windbreaks, and warm and cool drinking water are aids in coping with effects of climate on cattle. Disease problems. Due to the larger herds' using dry lot dairying, diseases are a major concern to management. Cows are subjected to more confinement and receive less individual attention. In the Southern region where hot, humid conditions prevail, brucellosis, leptospirosis, internal parasites, and flies exist. As numbers of cattle increase, hazards of disease and the importance of immunization are increased. Immunization increases costs, but is essential. Diseases are not as prevalent in the semi-arid regions. Profits and management. Profit is the chief factor in any dairy enterprise. The successful manager must have a good business background and some practical experience. Breeding decisions, such as whether to raise replacements relying on proven sires or to buy them, are of most importance. The large herd manager in the South and Southwest must plan for the future and try to stay three years ahead of problems. As one authority said, I f you are doing things today like you did just five years ago, then there is a 50-50 chance that you are doing them wrong. As a good businessman