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AG News Thursday, 22 April, 2009 By Department of Primary Industries - 27th April 2009 - Back to News TIPS ON IMPROVING HERD REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE
If you are serious about getting cows in calf and would like to improve results, then here are some questions to ask of your system and your plan.
Heifer Program
- Are they grown enough 355 kg at joining (HF)?
- Are you mating your heifers early? Remember this is the only group that you can bring forward giving you a better chance of getting them in calf the next year. In some herds, this may be 20-30% of your herd the next year!
- Will you synchronise and AI the heifers?
- How many Jersey bulls will you need? Three bulls per 100 heifers or four bulls per 100 heifers if you synchronise to start with.
- Are the bulls fertility tested, vaccinated for VIBRIO and tested negative for BVDV (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus)?
- Are the bulls in good body condition? Skinny bulls have very poor sperm quality.
- How long will you leave the bulls in for?
- Do you really want late calving heifers?
Improving submission rate
- Are the cows still losing condition? Do you have enough feed in front of the cows?
- Have you treated your cows for metritis (infected uterus)? They will have a lot less chance of getting in calf with metritis. Remember, you cant easily diagnose metritis in cows. Talk to your vet about which cows should be examined.
- Have you got a plan to address non-cyclers? When will you do it?
- Who will be responsible for heat detection?
- What heat detection aids will you use? Do you have them ordered or on farm? Do people know how to get the best from them?
- When will you do your paddock checks for heat detection?
- How are heats recorded book, board, back of an envelope?
- Are the freeze brands clipped and have poorly visible ear tags been addressed? Being able to clearly identify cows is important!
- Do you think that synchronising may improve submission rates? When will this be done, by whom and which program method?
- Have you organised your AI tech for once or twice a day?
- Have you informed the AI tech of any bigger synchronisation days?
Improving conception rates
- Who is responsible for checking the Liquid Nitrogen Tank regularly
- Is the semen ordered? Have you taken time to select well proven bulls for your breeding goals? Have you checked information at www.adhis.com.au regarding bull fertility?
- When is the Mating Start Date (MSD)? How long will you AI for?
- Have you practiced AI on some cull cows before MSD?
- Do you need a refresher on handling semen straws, is your water bath accurate for 32-38 degrees Celsius? Have you got a good system for identifying the bulls quickly without lifting the goblet out of the neck of the LN2 tank?
- Do you use tweezers to get the straws out? Do you keep the goblet less than 5 cm from the top of the neck of the tank?
Bull Management
- InCalf Rules of Thumb: 3 bulls per 100 cows or 4 bulls per 100 cows if you have used synchronisation
- How many cows to mate at the start of mating?
- Are the bulls fertility tested, VIBRIO vaccinated and tested negative for BVDV (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus) and vaccinated for BVDV? So that the bulls dont get infected from a positive BVDV cow in the herd.
- Are the bulls in good body condition?
- Will you train the bulls to stay in the paddock or off the dairy yard?
- How often will you rotate them (between 4-7 days is recommended)
- Are they virgin bulls?
- If they are leased bulls are they virgin bulls that are vaccinated and tested negative for BVDV, if not, forget about it!
- Will the bulls be on farm at Mating Start Date (AI that is)? For getting used to other bulls, the farm and improving their nutrition.
- Do all farm staff know how to identify lame bulls quickly and treat them? Remember, a bull with an abscess may end up being sterile for the rest of the season.
- How long will you leave the bulls in for? Less time means higher empty rates, longer mating leads to longer calving pattern.
For more information, please contact Mark Humphris, InCalf Advisor at the Maffra Vet Centre on Tel: 5147 1177.
FARMING DIARY
Approaching Next Year at a Lower Milk Price Field Day
- 3 June at 11:00 am at Mardan Focus Farm
Contact John Mulvany 0409 935 578
Emissions Trading and On Farm Mitigation of Climate Change
Climate change is one of the future big issues facing dairy farmers. This is your chance to find out about emissions trading and its affect on dairy farming, as well as on-farm mitigation.
- 28 April Dakers Centre, Leongatha
- 29 April DPI Ellinbank
- 5 May Orbost Football grounds
- 6 May Macalister Demonstration Farm
Sessions will be held from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm with lunch included.
Contact Alexis Axam at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2222 or Bree Walshe at DPI Maffra on 5147 0800.
4 Teats - Learn to Grow Expo
29 April - learn about sharefarming, leasing, partnerships, financial planning, and lots more. At the Traralgon Convention Centre from 10:00 am 6:00 pm.
Cost is $40/head including meals - 100 places only.
Book by calling 5659 4219 or jaydeeevents@dcsi.net.au
Target 10 Feeding Pastures for Profit Foster / Yanakie
Fridays 1 May and 8 May.
Contact Frank Mickan at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2259 or
David Shambrook at DPI Leongatha on 5662 9913
Target 10 Feeding Pastures for Profit Neerim South
Thursdays 30 April and 7 May
Contact Frank Mickan at DPI Ellinbank on 624 2259
East Gippsland Field Days
1 May and 2 May
Bairnsdale Aerodrome
Contact: Liz Whitehill on 5153 1398
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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