Prevention is More Profitable than Treatments or Cures
It began with the idea that pasteurizing the milk that calves drank would drastically improve their overall health.
In the fall of 1999, like so many autumn seasons, calf morbidity and mortality were spiking as the weather turned for the worse in Colorado. Disease is the culmination of a taxed immune system that has been confronted by a heavy pathogen burden. In discussion with a progressive dairy client, Dr Richard Dumm wanted to explore the notion of pasteurizing the waste milk being fed to his calves as a way to improve the “groceries” while also decreasing the “bug” load in the food source. Nothing was really available at the time other than $25,000-$50,000 machines.
For this 600 cow dairy, the high price was not an option.
Using a bit of innovative shop work and a quick study of electronic control systems the first prototype was constructed and placed in the parlor. Employees were instructed to open valves based on when certain lights popped on and the equipment had an eerie resemblance to a moonshine still; nonetheless, the results were almost immediate.
• Calf scours dropped 90%
• Weight gains were noticeable within days
• Mortality Rate Plummeted
• Employees Rejoiced!!!!! Only a few calves to treat compared to a mortality rate that was topping 12%
Dr Rick accomplished more health improvement in 1 month with this machine than had been managed with years of vaccinations, antibiotics and supplementation.
This year marks our 25th anniversary and this is our story.