Six week calving period creates workload challenge
It is widely accepted that pre and post spraying is a vital management tool to achieve a significant reduction of your herd’s cell count.
You must ensure to spray each cow with at least 15ml of a quality broad spectrum teat spray before milking. This ensures that any mastitis causing bugs are killed before the cluster is attached in order to prevent subsequent cows becoming infected.
After you apply the teat spray allow 30 seconds to elapse (while you spray the rest of the row) before wiping off with either a dry disposable paper towel or a disinfected cloth (one cloth per cow).
Always wear milking gloves to prevent any transfer of bacteria via your hands. Ensure to disinfect the gloves periodically during milking.
After removing the cluster from the cow, her teat ends will remain open for a period of time. At this point, there is a risk of infection, particularly in poor weather conditions when yards are dirty.
An effective post spray or dip that is high in emollient is essential to protect her teats at this time. Please ensure to apply at least 15ml of teat spray after milking.
Virolac range
The Virolac range includes pre & post teat sprays and dips such as Quick Spray RTU, Virolac Concentrate and Virolac Film. These products are all based on lactic salicylic acid technology (LSA®) developed by Hypred in Brittany, France.
LSA® is an active complex of hydroxyl-acids, combining AHA lactic acid and BHA salicylic acid. The combination of these natural organic acids ensures an extremely fast-acting, broad spectrum disinfectant. RESEARCH at Teagasc Moorepark has shown that there is an extra €8.22 per cow profit for each percentage point increase in the six week calving rate.
Of course, calving such a high proportion of the herd in a relatively short period creates a workload challenge.
But it is a predictable workload.
Farms with a 90% six-week calving rate expect half the herd to calve in 16 to 18 days. For a 100cow herd, this is about three calvings per day; for 300 cows it’s an average of 10 births/day.
The number of calvings can spike in any day. It won’t be spread evenly over the period, so you must be prepared for this, too.
When it comes to your on-farm facilities, make sure you have enough space:
* A 100-cow herd with 50 calving in 17 days will need 10 calving spaces.
* Allow at least 2.3m2 per calf in the shed. * Consider turnout to grass after three weeks to lower calf density in sheds.
* Arrange sheds so that they can be mechanically
LSA® is effective in 30 seconds on mastitis causing bacteria such as Staph. Aureus, Strep. Uberis, Strep. Agalactiae and E.Coli. It is also effective on yeasts, cowpox and cow herpes.
The lactic acid is effective against bacteria while the salicylic acid is effective against both bacteria and viruses.
Both of the hydroxyl-acids work to condition the teat skin as both have emollient properties.
Lactic acid is a humectant that softens the teat skin and the salicylic acid present in LSA® exfoliates the teat skin.
For more information on the Virolac Range please contact Mike Condron 087 6742416. cleaned out and bedding is easily accessible. * Ventilation and drainage must be adequate in calf sheds.
* Have adequate feed space for feeding thin cows. * Prepare all facilities and purchase all equipment in advance.
* Have fresh foot dips in place.
* All routine maintenance, fences, water, should be done in January.
It’s also important that cows are in good body condition at calving time. Issues to make sure of include:
* Calve cows in good body condition (score 3.25) to reduce calving assistance.
* Feed according to silage quality on farm. * Use an appropriate dry cow mineral. * Vaccinate for diseases diagnosed (use bulk milk screening as a guide).
* Use easy-calving bulls, especially on heifers. * Watch that late calving cows do not become over-conditioned.
* Train heifers to the parlour in advance. Allow them free access from the collecting yard into parlour. Include at least one cow who knows the route with the heifers. etc,