Increasing input costs on farm are topical. But it’s well-accepted that reproduction really is a key moment in the farming calendar. Time, effort and money must be invested to set future production up. We all want to reduce cost where we can, yet we also want to hit the `sweet spot’ and capture the highest returns at the lowest effort and cost.
You know the industry guidelines and expect a certain number of cows to come up each day during breeding. So then why are some days huge and others quieter than expected? In NZ we look to put 90% of the cows up in the first 3 weeks of mating; So you might then expect a …
This mating season your objective will be to get as many cows in-calf, as early as possible. Genetic gain and empties aside, missing a cycle can feel like pouring 3 weeks of milk down the drain. `Silent’ or `quiet’ heats are where cows cycle but do not appear to show visible heat behaviour. Missing these …
For the longest time, sexed semen was talked about, but not really implemented in mainstream dairy farms. This is rapidly changing. Artificial breeding allowed us to choose which males created offspring. Sexed semen with genomic testing now gives us control over which females contribute to our future herd. It’s a truly powerful combination. The ability …
Body Condition may have more impact on repro than you think.