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.
Last year’s relatively mild and dry autumn allowed many livestock farmers a welcome extension of the grazing season, which reduced some pressure on forage stocks following the summer drought conditions. Despite the extended grazing period, some farms have been rationing silage stocks this winter by supplementing diets with lower quality forages such as straw, whilst others have continued with their standard winter diets with one eye on spring.
The transition period for a dairy cow is generally from 3 weeks before calving to 3 weeks post-partum. This period is extremely challenging for dairy cows, so managing this time correctly is vital to achieving optimum cow health and is heavily linked to the overall success of the farm. The successful management of the transition period can determine, future lactations, milk production and quality, calving ease, and longevity in the herd.
Inclusion of maize in the dairy ration has long been favoured by many dairy farmers and with the current costs of other crops and inputs, 2022 represents an even better opportunity for maize.
Life without TB no doubt would make farming a happier, more profitable experience for many of us. Saying this some have adapted within their areas and founded their businesses due to the disease, but we still need to aim to reduce the total number herds under restriction.
Some worm species can cause significant damage when the larvae emerge in the spring (Type II Ostertagiasis). Therefore, it is crucial to treat the housing with a solution that will eradicate the worms' eggs.
This summer, there have been reports of lungworm infestations at high levels across the nation. Any sub-clinical lungworm that may be present will be eliminated with treatment at housing.
In order to give the animals' lungs a chance to recuperate, it's crucial to treat them with a proper wormer before housing if they are displaying clinical lungworm symptoms. There is a greater danger of the animals acquiring pneumonia at housing if the lungs have been harmed by lungworm.
Instead of postponing or providing no treatment at all, treating cattle for fluke at housing can aid in accelerating growth and lowering stress levels in the animals. Because a cow's liver is big and can support a heavier fluke burden, abrupt deaths are uncommon in cattle. Subclinical illness brought on by a fluke, however, is possible and can be expensive due to the influence it can have on lowered weight gain.
