Be proactive with herd health

Spring is here! The daffodils are out and calving is nearly finished for our dairy farmers in the Western Bay. In saying that, there’s no rest for the wicked and though calving is finishing, it’s not long until mating kicks off. So, what can you do from now to the start of mating to ensure that as many cows have cycled as possible?

To encourage cycling over the next two weeks there are two things that’ll make a difference. First, take a look at those young cows and evaluate the condition of the herd. Drafting out a herd of young and skinny cows reduces competition during mating and allows for preferential feeding. Consider once-a-day milking for these cows, particularly if they have gone into calving at less than 5.0 body condition score targets. These young cows are the future of your herd, and it’s worth taking a little extra time and spending a little extra money to ensure they’re getting what they need to perform and get back in calf.

Second would be focusing on animal health. Highlighting those cows that have had hard calvings is important and working with the vets around your animal health plan, should be top of the list. Metri-checking is likely already done or scheduled to be carried out soon. Lameness and mastitis are the two most common animal health issues at this time of year, and can both impact on reproductive performance. Look after your lame cows, treat them, graze close to the shed with high quality feed and talk to your vet about treatment options.

Likewise with mastitis, implement the SmartSAMM guidelines and if more than five percent of cows are diagnosed with clinical mastitis during first six weeks of mating, call the vet for advice!

If you’ve got any concerns about cows heading into mating, be proactive and trust your gut. As usual, feel free to give your local consulting officer a call with any questions.