Transition management articles
Plan ahead for fertility
Cow condition at calving
Herd health targets
Lead feeding and leaky teats
Is your herd rumen ready?
Springers: repro ready rolls out
Plan ahead for fertility
Forward planning is essential when it comes to getting cows in calf and maintaining a well managed calving pattern.
Dairy Australia’s InCalf project leader, Dr Barry Zimmermann, has some tips to help dairy farmers get organised for joining.
“Preparation in the lead up to calving and joining has a major impact on herd fertility,” Dr Zimmermann said.
Herd fertility centres on having a short interval between calving and joining. A well-managed nutrition program is central to achieving this, to ensure the cows are in good condition in the lead up to, and after, calving.
The first step is to review body condition and adjust herd nutrition if needed.
“You’ll need to develop a feed budget and a transition feeding program in the lead up to calving.”
As well as nutrition, planning should involve preparing for heat detection and artificial insemination (AI).
“Think about the tasks involved, who will be responsible for them and the timing. And don’t forget to give everyone a brush up on signs of heat and AI practices,” said Dr Zimmermann.
For more information, refer to the following InCalf resources:
Or contact InCalf email: enquiries@incalf.com.au or ph (03) 9620-7283.
Cow condition at calving
Now is a good time for herd managers to review the body condition of dairy cows with the view to improving herd fertility, cow health and milk production.
Dairy Australia’s InCalf project leader, Dr Barry Zimmermann, outlines why body condition at calving is so critical and how to manage it through nutrition.
“Cows in ideal body condition at calving have better fertility than cows in lower body condition. They are more likely to be cycling, submitted for insemination and conceive at the next mating, Dr Zimmermann said.
‘Ideal’ body condition at calving is between condition score of 4.5 and 5.5. The body condition of Australian dairy cows is scored on a 1-8 system, as outlined in the Condition Magician booklet, available on the web.
“We all know that cows lose some body condition in early lactation. But those that lose more than one body condition score between mating and calving have reduced fertility,” Dr Zimmermann said.
“Most herds have some cows that are too thin at calving, and others that lose too much body condition in early lactation, usually after being too fat at calving,” said Dr Zimmermann.
Excessive losses are common when cows calve in body condition score above 5.5. Extended lactation cows are especially prone to be over conditioned if not managed well.
“Managing body condition is all about managing your herd’s nutrition program. Improving nutrition from late lactation to early calving pays off in the coming season through improved fertility and milk production,” he said.
Nutrition
Some options for improving body condition include:
- Improving nutrition for the whole herd during late lactation.
- Early drying off for cows below condition score 4.5 at late lactation.
- Preferentially feeding cows below condition score 4.5.
- ‘Lead feeding’ in the last few weeks of the dry period.
- To minimise body condition loss in early lactation, consider:
- Feeding the highest possible quality pasture to cows in early lactation.
- Feeding supplements to balance nutrient intake.
- Preferentially feeding cows in early lactation if the option is available with your bail feeding system.
For more information, contact InCalf email: enquiries@incalf.com.au or ph (03) 9620-7283.
Herd health targets
Health problems in dairy herds can make the start of the milking season busier and more stressful than it needs to be. Keeping track of herd health problems in early lactation will enable you to determine if nutrition in the three weeks leading up to calving has been adequate.
Dr Barry Zimmermann, Dairy Australia’s InCalf program leader, said cows and heifers need a special diet to prepare them for the dramatic changes that occur around calving and at the start of lactation.
The three weeks before calving is the time to get springers ready for lactation with a transition feeding program.
“Even if you think your herd is doing OK, it’s worth comparing its performance with the InCalf targets in the table below. If your herd scores higher than the target for any herd health problem, it’s worth reviewing your transition feeding program,” Dr Zimmermann said.
A successful transition feeding program helps prevent milk fever, reduces RFMs, assisted calvings, acidosis, ketosis and lameness. And it also boosts milk production and herd fertility.
Other warning signs of nutritional problems include:
- uneaten concentrate feed left in the bail after each milking
- manure consistency that is liquid to pasty with some bubbling
- less than 30% of cows chewing cud in the paddock two hours after milking
- a drop in butter fat percentage, or if butter fat less than 3.2%, or if butter fat percentage is less than protein percentage
“Getting the diet right in the lead up to calving saves enormous stress, time and money on treating sick and downer cows in early lactation,” said Dr Zimmermann.
More information: Natalie Davey, ph (03) 9620-7283, email: enquiries@incalf.com.au
Lead feeding and leaky teats
Many dairy farmers with cows due to calve in the autumn are already preparing for the busy weeks of early lactation. And increasing numbers of farmers are using lead feed rations to help the cows’ rumen to adjust from the maintenance diet fed in the dry paddock to the ration fed in early lactation.
Dairy Australia’s InCalf program leader, Dr Barry Zimmermann, has some tips for managing ‘leaky teats’ which can sometimes be an unexpected side effect from a lead feed ration.
“In some cows, milk will leak from the teats for up to a week before calving. This carries a mastitis risk but is it easily managed,” Dr Zimmermann said.
To help reduce the risk of mastitis for springer cows:
Use a teat sealant at dry off as part of your dry cow treatment plan (discuss with your vet);
Milk cows that start dripping milk or develop an obviously swollen udder (udder oedema);
Ensure conditions for calving are clean and dry at all times, if possible;
If the springer cows are being fed in the dairy, spray teats routinely each time they are fed.
“And don’t forget, cows leaking milk prior to calving will have lower quality colostrum by the time the calf is born. Provide these calves with colostrum from another cow, or stored colostrum”, he said.
Feeding springers a balanced transition diet for the three weeks leading up to calving has proven benefits in boosting milk production and herd fertility. But the most valued immediate benefit is reduced time, stress and cost of treating sick cows in early lactation.
“It really is worth the time, cost and effort involved in setting up a transition management program for your dairy herd,” Dr Zimmermann said.
More information: Natalie Davey, ph (03) 9620-7283, email: enquiries@incalf.com.au
Is your herd rumen ready?
Freshly calved dairy cows that are fed more than 3kg grain/day need three weeks for their rumen to adjust from the maintenance diet fed in the dry paddock to the ration fed in early lactation. The best way to achieve this is to have the rumen ready by feeding a balanced transition diet in the three weeks leading up to calving.
Dairy Australia’s InCalf program manager, Dr Barry Zimmermann said that feeding springers a balanced transition diet had proven benefits in boosting milk production and herd fertility but the most valued benefit was reduced time, stress and cost of treating sick cows in early lactation.
“About 80% of dairy cow health problems occur in the first four weeks after calving. A balanced transition diet can virtually eliminate these issues. It is good for the herd, the business and the people working on the farm,” said Dr Zimmermann.
“Farmers who have successful transition programs tell us they’d much rather spend a little extra time preparing the herd for lactation than running themselves ragged treating sick cows in early lactation.”
For best results from a transition program work with a nutritionist to ensure the combined diet of pasture, forage and supplements achieves the right balance of nutrients. This will prepare the cow for the demands of early lactation and the rumen for bale feeding.
Some keys to success include:
Feed for the three weeks leading up to calving (use pregnancy test results to get due dates).
Include heifers in the program.
Make sure there is enough trough space to allow heifers and timid cows to get their share.
Feed minimal amounts of pasture as it is high risk for milk fever.
Consider investing in a trailer to carry feed to the springer paddock. It will quickly pay for itself in reduced animal health treatments in early lactation.
More information: Natalie Davey, ph (03) 9620-7283, email: enquiries@incalf.com.au
Springers: repro ready rolls out
Help is at hand for dairy farmers preparing springer cows for the coming lactation and joining period. Dairy Australia’s InCalf program is rolling out Springers: repro ready, its latest campaign to help farmers improve herd fertility.
InCalf has produced a booklet with guidelines for dairy farmers, Springers: repro ready, and provided training for advisors to dairy farmers such as nutritionists, vets, feed company staff, farm consultants and factory field officers.
Management during the three weeks leading up to calving has a major impact on the herd’s production and fertility and on dairy business profit. Costing about $20-$60/cow, a transition feeding program can return up to $200/cow.
Dr Barry Zimmermann who manages Dairy Australia’s InCalf program said transition from a dry, heavily pregnant cow to early lactation involves major metabolic changes, and feeding a transition diet for three weeks before calving can make a big difference. The transition diet may include a commercially prepared lead feed.
“A successful transition feeding program helps prevent excessive weight loss and acidosis in early lactation and reduces milk fever and other metabolic disorders,” Dr Zimmermann said.
Springers: repro ready outlines the important management steps to ensure you make the most of the effort and money invested in a transition program.
“A transition program pays for itself in saved treatment costs, increased milk production and improved herd fertility. But many farmers tell us that the benefit they value the most is reduced stress levels by not having to treat sick and downer cows during the busy period of early lactation,” he said.
More information, contact InCalf email: enquiries@incalf.com.au or ph (03) 9620-7283.