RESEARCH PROJECTS Improving the quality of life for dairy farm families and the cows that provide their livelihood is a priority for the Dairy Foundation. Our partnership with Iowa State University Extension and status as a research farm allow us to employ research specialist Jennifer Bentley. Her projects through Iowa State University, USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) and the National Center for Animal Disease Control (NADC) have included the following: Mastitis status of purchased cows. Calf Starter and accelerated calf growth. Skin tests as a predictor of Johne’s disease in calves and heifers. Cleanliness scores of tailed verses docked tail cows. Multiple milking in early lactation. Comparison and evaluation of barrier teat dips. The effects on the immune system of a no dry period verses a 45 day dry period. Providing colostrum-deprived bull calves to the National Animal Disease Control Center for BVD research. Mortality and Manure Composting Demo Day. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Iowa State University. Suckling aggressiveness in Brown Swiss calves. Backtag Cement Evaluation Project. An on going project at the Foundation’s Dairy is the BVD vaccination project. This vaccination project is addressing whether the vaccination as a neonate will be negated by the presence of maternal antibodies. It is usually recommended that vaccination be performed after the maternal antibodies have disappeared (6-8) months. The purpose of this study is to see if vaccination of neonates results in development of protective immunity without effecting growth and development of the animal. Another question to be addressed in this project will be about the efficacy of multiple vaccinations with a modified live vaccine verses a combination of modified live and killed vaccines. Randomly selected heifer calves at the Dairy Foundation are being vaccinated according to treatment protocol. Currently, 200 heifers and calves have been assigned a modified live vaccine or a combination of modified live and killed vaccines. Blood samples are being drawn pre and post vaccination on all heifers at every vaccination in their first 2 years of life. Growth, fertility, and production values are also being recorded as each heifer enters their first lactation. As these heifers begin to freshen, on going data collection will occur with these animals for a compilation of information. This year the Foundation has also started a research project with the American Protein Corporation. Newborn calves were immediately taken from the dam and a pre-feeding blood sample was drawn. The calf was then administered one of two colostrum supplements according to protocol within a half hour of birth. A blood sample was then drawn at twelve hours of birth and then again 24 hours later. These samples were used to analyze antibody absorption of the colostrum supplement.