TMS enables better decision making
TRANSITION management is a topic often discussed, but is the industry able to accurately track the effectiveness of transition from the dry pen to the milking herd in those crucial weeks pre and post calving?
With 80% of cows lactation performance determined by the success of the dry period, monitoring those crucial weeks immediately after calving is crucial.
The team at Davidsons Dairy Tech has a tailored solution – Transition Management System – to help track and inform transition performance which has been in use for 10 years. During this time, in conjunction with Premier Nutrition, data from more 361,000 cows has been collected.
TMS ENABLES farmers to make better decisions for the future health of their
TMS monthly assessments are now managed in house, with the latest member of the team, Fraser Glasgow, supported by consultants, collating monthly assessments on farm.
These assessments track and monitor the health and performance of any cow or heifer up to 30 days after calving with such data providing imformation on lameness, rumen fill, metabolic issues and changes in body condition. TMS also keeps a close eye on environmental and nutritional factors that play a crucial role in transition success, for example, stocking density, feed presentation, water trough cleanliness and bedding quality.
This data discussed between
individual farmers and Dairy Tech consultants enables discussion on transition performance for that month, with comparisons made from previous periods opening up conversations around areas for improvements. From there, immediate alterations can be made, or planned for the future.
The true financial cost of any metabolic issues seen on farm is also tracked, to ensure that the TMS supports herd health and performance improvements but ultimately aids the financial success of transition. By tracking such information on a monthly basis, farms using TMS are making informed decisions on a regular basis and striving for transition perfection.