more about BST
Alan Furchtenicht (FURCHT@macc.wisc.edu)
Wed, 21 Jul 93 06:42 CDT
From: IN%"DAIRY-L@UMDD.BITNET" "Dairy Discussion List."
To: Multiple recipients of list DAIRY-L <DAIRY-L@UMDD.BITNET>
Subject: Re: BST stuff
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1993 13:41:35 PDT
From: Dave Grusenmeyer <GRUSENMD@WSUVM1.BITNET>
Reply-To: "Dairy Discussion List." <DAIRY-L@UMDD.BITNET>
Sender: "Dairy Discussion List." <DAIRY-L@UMDD.BITNET>
Subject: Re: BST stuff
To: Multiple recipients of list DAIRY-L <DAIRY-L@UMDD.BITNET>
Organization: WSU CAHE Whatcom County
As I read some of the anti-BST comments I can't help but believe these folks
have no idea what it means to live in a capitalist, competitive, free
market economy. You might try a little background reading like "Wealth of
Nations" (1776) by Adam Smith. Its a classic and extensively quoted today
in many economics texts.
A comment regarding Monsanto, Lilly, Cyanamid or any company "forcing
technology (or any product) down farmers throats". This is not even as
possibility. Successful dairy producers are very sharp people. If a product
works to their economic benefit they will buy and use it, if not, they won't.
It really is as simple as that. I believe Adam Smith's concept of the
invisible hand applies here.
Remember a few years ago, the new technology of Isoacids. For some reason it
didn't generate all the emotion that BST has generated, but Kodak failed in
an attempt launch that product (in BSH terms "force down the throats of
farmers"). For whatever set of reasons it wasn't right for the industry and
dairy producers didn't buy it in adequate quantities for Kodak to continue
marketing it. Exactly the same thing will happen to BST in the market place
if for whatever reason farmers don't accept and purchase this technology.
Dairy producers will make the decision, they will vote with their dollars.
BST must stand on its own merits and how much money a company has backing the
product will not matter in the long run. Do you think Kodak has any less
experience or marketing resources backing it than any of these other companies?
Yet they failed with isoacids.
While I'm at it, a comment about the statement, "all dairy producers will be
forced to use BST to be competitive". Lets think about that. On a whole
herd basis most people predict about a 15% or so increase in milk production
using BST. This will of course take some additional labor, additional feed,
and possibly more intense management. Milking 3x also returns about 15% or
so more milk, with some additional feed, labor, and possibly more intense
management. A couple questions need to be asked:
1. Why doesn't the extra milk production from milking 3x generate the
same emotion and negative reaction that BST draws?
2. Why are all dairy producers not forced to milk 3x in order to be
competitive?
BST will not be appropriate for all producers. If fact for some using it may
be more detrimental than beneficial. BST will require more intense levels of
management. If dairy producers across the U.S. began now implementing all theg
feeding and management practices necessary to maximize BST response, there
would be far more milk on the market from these practice changes than there
ever will be from actual supplementation with BST.
***************************************
David Grusenmeyer
WSU Cooperative Extension
1000 North Forest
Bellingham WA 98225-5594
Telephone: 206.676.6736
FAX: 206.738.2458
INTERNET: GRUSENMD@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU
BITNET: GRUSENMD@WSUVM1
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