Identify empty cows now. These cows are unlikely to fit into an autumn calving programme with current milk price. Plan on fattening these cows by either dry off now and fatten with supplemental concentrates at grass. This will depend on the size, frame size and BCS of the cow. Some of these cows could be […]
Read MoreThe month of July has been one of the wettest on record for farmers on the west coast while further inland the rain in late July was a welcome relief on light soils. Breeding programmes for spring calvers should now be at an end. However, stock bulls still run with most dairy herds visited. Cows […]
Read MoreWait four weeks either after the bull has been removed or the last cow AI’d to get your herd scanned. Ensure cows are no longer than three and a half months pregnant to optimise return from this exercise. Ensure scanning gives you accurate information on empty cows, ageing of pregnancies, featal gender determination and identification […]
Read MoreBreeding programmes for spring calving should now be nearing an end as cows served now will calve in the last week of April 2016. However, at farm level many farmers are considering leaving stock bulls far longer with the herd and to sell May 2016 calvers. There has been a market for these cows in […]
Read MoreHoose or Lungworm has become prevalent in dairy herds. You will notice cows coughing and associate it with IBR. Addressing this issue is straight forward in terms of an oral drench. Cows bred now will calve in the month of April 2016. These potential late calvers are still a valuable asset on the farm so […]
Read MoreThe month of May will be remembered as one of the harshest on record. Temperatures reduced grass growth rates and cows had to be rehoused by night in many wetland areas. Farmers had to resort to increasing concentrate supplementation to maintain milk yields and avoid body condition score loss. Unfortunately, in many cases the required […]
Read MoreEmbryo Mortality has become an issue on your calving rate over the spring season next year. It is important to address this as embryo mortality prevents cows from coming back into heat up to a period of 9 weeks. It’s very evident from farm visits that passage rates among cows are too high. This is […]
Read MoreWe are now between 3 and 6 weeks into our spring calving breeding programmes. The challenges of heat detection and AI are indeed immense. As herd size increases, the cost of accurate heat detection is a job in itself. Note, the descriptor ‘accurate’. Many farmers in their pursuit of high admission rates and the €250 […]
Read MoreThe emphasis on compact calving for cost efficient milk production from grazed grass in Ireland has placed an onus on dairy farmers to prepare for a breeding programme starting anywhere between the 10th of April and the 10th of May. Many farmers find the transition from the current calving season to an intensive breeding programme […]
Read MoreHeat detection has to be your priority for grass-based spring milk production. Are your cows fit for breeding? ScanMan Vet technology will identify underlying herd health problems. You can consult with your vet regarding management of same. Stressors from the dry and fresh cow transition periods will impact on the ability of your cows to […]
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