TIPS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013

Spring calving cows

1. Ensure you have a silage analysis completed with supplemental concentrates to avoid body condition loss during the dry cow period.

2. Group cows if needed according to body condition score.

3. The most reliable method of dry cow management is a small amount of supplemental feed that is given to the cows on a daily basis.

4 . Train your in calf heifers to walk through the milking parlour and avoid additional stress post calving.

Autumn calving cows.

1. Avoid putting these cows out to graze out paddocks at this time of year as it is detrimental to fertility, if overall nutritional requirements are not met.

2. Consider the use of moo monitor as an aid. Which research has shown an 85% heat detection rate of cows calved greater than 65 days.

3. Consider the use of sex semen in maiden heifers. A pre-breed scan will identify first and second lactation cows suitable for the use of sex semen. This has been shown to have a comparable rate to conventional sex semen. We can identify cows between 14 and 28 days calved which will result in the highest pregnancy rates achieved using sex semen or A.I.

4. Reduce the risk of Johens disease. By feeding colostrum from older cows which are negative to this disease on multiple sample basis using blood or milk.  Ideally a dung sample is more definitive to identify this disease.

5. Vaccination for Leptosporisis should occur when calves are 12 months, as it will prevent them from acquiring this disease as maiden heifers.

6. An enclosed housing facility will be detrimental to animals as diseases can spread especially pneumonia. Having an aerated house is key to good management.

Testimonials