Roundworms in cattle can reduce growth rates by up to 30% (1) so it is important not to delay the mid-season pour-on dose as this potentially leads to a loss of production as the worm burden could start to impact on growth rates. It can be hard to notice the economic impact of worms unless regular weighing is taking place as reduction in growth rates will take place before any more obvious clinical signs are seen.
For the last few years, the industry has been advising grass silage producers to cut little and often to maximise the energy and protein yield form their silage ground.
A dry cow is a cow that is pregnant and is not lactating. They are typically fed a diet that is lower in energy and protein than a lactating cow, but higher in fiber. The goal of feeding a dry cow is to ensure a smooth, stress free calving, maximise feed intake, condition the rumen bugs to what they will experience in lactation and to prepare her for future milk production.
Milk fever, also known as hypocalcemia, is a metabolic disorder in dairy cows that occurs when the blood calcium level drops too low. It is a serious condition that can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Forage4Profit is a 4-point plan to help livestock farmers maximise the quality of homegrown forage and improve milk or meat from forage.
In this blog we look at the 4 factors to help improve milk from forage this season.
The amount of milk produced from forage averages just 2,900 litres nationally, figures from Kingshay’s cost report from December 2022 show. There is huge scope to improve this and reduce purchased feed costs, with the best farms achieving 5,300 litres of milk from forage.
Every 1,000 litres of milk from forage equates to approximately 460kg of concentrate feed, and so by increasing homegrown forage quality, it's essential to maximise homegrown to make the most efficient use of purchased feed.
Early detection is key for dairy farmers to stay on top of lameness cases and prevent the impact being seen in the bulk tank, particularly those milking on a robotic system.
Despite being a top priority to reduce cases in UK herds, including industry initiatives such as ‘Lameness Month’ this July, Wynnstay dairy specialist, Beth May, says lameness is still one of the highest costs to a dairy business.
Rearing dairy heifers from birth to first calving can be costly, but they are the future of the herd and it is important to get right. The aim is to inseminate heifers at 14- 15 months old to be calving down at 24 months.
In cattle, puberty is dependent on weight not age - with puberty beginning when a heifer reaches 40% of its mature body weight. Heifers which have shown heat at least twice before insemination for the first time at 15 months have the best fertility and the best chance of getting pregnant.
Although minerals only account for about 5% of total ruminant nutrition they have a disproportionate role in supporting energy and protein yielding nutrients required to maintain animal health, fertility and production.
A hot topic among many farmers and vets is the issue of Mycoplasma. With New Zealand enforcing an aggressive culling policy on infected cows it raises the questions; do we know enough about it? Are we being proactive? So it goes without saying that prevention is better than a cure, especially when discussing calf health and performance.
Grassland management is often overlooked for new leys, but by prioritising weed control early during establishment, you will achieve cost-effective, long-lasting control, resulting in higher yields of grass.
