The national project involves three phases:
- Research. A comprehensive study of more than 200 Australian dairy farms and 40,000 cows was conducted to identify what management practices are needed to achieve good herd fertility.
- Information awareness. The results of the study were communicated to farmers who identified the need for extensive on-farm support to improve the reproductive performance of their herds.
- Delivery. A range of tools, resources and training programs have been developed and offered to farmers to give them the on-farm help and support they need for better herd fertility.
InCalf is currently in its third phase – delivery.
How does InCalf benefit the industry?
InCalf has helped many dairy farmers implement changes to their breeding practices and is delivering the following benefits:
- Financial gains. Improving herd fertility leads to more cows in calf, resulting in increased milk production and additional profit.
- Efficient breeding management systems. Improving breeding systems ensures practices are completed quicker and with less stress.
- Less reliance on calving induction. Improving the management of all key aspects of herd reproduction will help farmers become less reliant on calving induction, which is important as the industry continues to meet community concerns about animal welfare.
InCalf is expected to benefit Australia's dairy industry by $20 million a year by the time it finishes. It will also give farmers the capacity to continually review and improve the reproductive performance of their herds.
What resources does InCalf offer?
These tools and resources have been developed to help dairy farmers improve the reproductive performance of their herd:
InCalf Testimonials
'InCalf improves our business'
Lisa Brazier
WA
“I’m excited about InCalf because it can improve our business at very little cost, which is important when times are tough like now.”
InCalf product: Fertility Focus Report.
What she learnt: Needs to improve 80-day submission rate and return intervals. Heat detection may also need improving.
Next steps: Work with an InCalf-trained adviser, using Herd Assessment Tools to take a closer look at their herd’s reproductive performance and develop a plan for action.
Putting it all together
Colin & Shelley Daley
Year round calving herd, Atherton Tablelands, Qld
“We were already doing 80% of the work but missing out on the benefits. It was only when we ‘put it all together’ that we gained the full benefits.”
InCalf product: Research study.
Changes made: Shortening voluntary withholding period, improving heat detection, more aggressive mating program and regular use of prostaglandin to induce heat.
Improvement: Lifted herd reproductive performance from well below the regional average for year round calving herds, to the best recorded by InCalf.
Dollar benefits
Neville & Gaye Joppich
Split calving herd, Mt Gambier, SA
InCalf’s Bull Management Tool identified a potential gain of $5500 a year ($1200/100 cows) through simple, easy to make changes.
InCalf product: Fertility Focus Report and Herd Assessment Pack.
Challenge: Get more cows in calf in the critical first six weeks of mating.
Strategies: Hold over selected late calving cows to be mated for calving in the next batch, allowing an extended lactation and more time to recover and therefore conceive.
Clean up bulls: rotate two teams and allow a spell in between.
Farm 
What is the InCalf project?