奶业低迷 谨记17个要点

17 things to keep in mind when the dairy economy is down

When milk prices are low we are all temped to cut costs wherever we can. When margins per pound or kilogram of milk turn negative, we tend to forget the simple things and we move to “survival mode.” Despite the market roller coaster, it’s important to keep our minds sharp, work smart, and keep these 17 pointers in mind.牛奶价格低迷时，我们都尽可能得削减成本。当每磅或每公斤奶的边际利润变为负值时，我们往往会忘记简单的东西而转为“生存模式”。尽管市场艰难，但重要的是保持我们的头脑敏锐，聪明地工作，时刻谨记以下17个基本要点：

1.Think positive积极乐观的心态Always try to keep a positive mindset, even in a down market. The milk price will go up again and the best thing to do is prepare for that moment.即使市场低迷，也要保持积极的心态。牛奶价格还会升高，我们要做的是为这一时刻做准备。
2. Think long-term    长期考虑Especially in a volatile market, it's important to remember to manage your dairy not only for today, or for this year, but over a longer period of time.特别是在动荡的市场环境中，重要的是要记住，不仅为今天或今年，而是在较长的一段时间怎样管理牛场。
3. Educate yourself    自我教育When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Tough times are when it’s most important to invest in yourself and your education to continue managing your dairy in the best possible way. Continued education will help you improve your knowledge and skills today. Your dairy needs it!举步艰辛，迎难而上！困难时期最重要的是要投资于自己的教育，继续以最佳方式管理你的牛场。继续教育将有助于提高你的知识和技能。你的牛场需要它！

4. Choose margins over cost    选择利润率而不是成本When making decisions choose options that provide the highest margin, rather than simply the lowest cost. Also keep this in mind when calculating IOFC (income over feed cost) on a monthly basis.做决策时，要选择提供最高利润率的选项，而不是简单的最低成本。当每月计算一次饲料成本收益时也要记住这一点。
5. Aim for more milk per cow    目标是提高单产Maximize feed intake, and milk production per cow will follow. The last kg of milk has a value of at least 2.5 times the cost of the extra feed needed to produce this kg. This will lower your feed cost per kg milk. If you must cut costs, avoid cuts in areas that will lower your milk production.饲料摄入最大化单产就会提高。最后1公斤奶具有的价值至少是生产这1公斤奶所需额外饲料成本的2.5倍，这就降低了每公斤奶的饲料成本。如果必须消减成本，那么避免消减会降低产奶量的部分。

6. Feed one ration    饲喂一种日料Feed your high cow ration not only to your high producers, but to your low production group as well, to further build on the goal of more production per cow.高产牛的日粮也要喂低产牛，以进一步实现单产更高的目标。
7. Maintain high forage quality    保证高质量粗饲料的供应Quality matters, and that applies to forage as much as any single thing on a dairy. Ensure high quality forage to maximize production, maintain cow health, lower feed cost and increase feed efficiency.粗饲料的质量是奶牛场最重要的问题。确保高质量的粗饲料以使产奶量最大化，保持牛体健康，降低饲料成本并提高饲料效率。
8. Keep calm    保证牛群的安定Avoid stress around the cows. Calm, happy cows more easily yield the production levels you desire.保持安静避免奶牛环境的应激。平静愉悦的奶牛更容易产出你预期的产量。
9. Minimize fresh cow problems    尽量减少新产牛的问题Only those cows that get off to a healthy start during the first 60 days after calving will be most profitable. Cows with problems early in lactation will likely yield less milk and have reproductive troubles later in the lactation, so ensure fresh cows are treated with the utmost TLC.只有那些产后60天内恢复健康的牛盈利最多。泌乳早期有病的牛可能产奶量低，以后还会产生繁殖障碍，所以确保新产母牛得到精心照料。

10. Create more pregnancies      使更多母牛怀孕Ensure your reproductive program is tweaked with the goal of creating the most pregnancies. More pregnant cows in a timely manner minimizes average days open, which also improves feed efficiency.确保把你的繁殖方案调整到更多母牛怀孕的目标。更多母牛及时怀孕会减少平均空怀天数，也会提高饲料效率。
11. Make each pregnancy count      确保每次怀孕的质量Keep using the best quality semen to meet your farm’s goals. Your genetic investment today will pay big dividends three to four years from now when milk prices could be much different.总是使用符合你牛场育种目标的最佳质量冻精。你今天的遗传投资将在三、四年后收回巨大红利，那时的奶价可能会有很大的差别。

12. Cull strategically       淘汰策略Never milk cows that don’t earn their keep.不养不盈利的牛。
13. Don’t skimp on cow health      不吝惜健康开支Use appropriate treatment for all cows that need it and cull as needed to avoid dead cow or low cull prices.对所有的牛按需要适当治疗或淘汰，以避免死牛或降低淘汰价格。
14. Remember the young stock      关注后备牛Assure the best calf and heifer rearing. Aim for the lowest cost per pound or kg of growth, instead of just the lowest cost per rearing day.确保犊牛和青年母牛的最佳管理。目标是每磅或每公斤增重的最低成本，而不是每日饲养的最低成本。

15. Focus on your heifer repro      关注青年母牛的繁殖Your heifers should calve by 305 days after your set VWP. Ninety percent should be bred in the first 21 days after entering the breeding pen, and a 40% pregnancy rate on heifers is achievable. These benchmarks will ensure your heifers calve in on time, limiting their days on feed while not producing.青年母牛应该在你设置的自愿等候期（或主动停配期）后305天产犊。进入配种圈头21天内应有90%配种，可以取得青年母牛40%的怀孕率。这些标准将确保青年母牛及时、准时产犊，限制其产前白吃的天数。
16. Go for operational excellence       追求卓越经营Only the best will survive, so don’t let average be your goal for feed quality, nutrition, labor, transition, heifer rearing, repro, milking and housing. Average results are not good enough!适者生存，所以不要让平均数成为你的目标，例如饲料质量、营养、劳动力、围产期、青年母牛饲养、繁殖、挤奶和牛舍方面，平均结果不够好。
17. Don’t forget…      别忘了……A dairy as a way of life is a poor business, a dairy as a business is a great way of life.把奶牛场作为一种生活方式是糟糕的生意，把奶牛场作为生意是一种伟大的生活方式。