levyinaction 2015015 management of dairy cows from calving ... · body condition score bcs and...
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Management of Dairy Cows from Calving until Mating Start date
Moorepark2015
Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation CentreTeagasc,
Moorepark,Fermoy,Co Cork.
Phone: 025 42 222web: http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/
Email: [email protected]
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LevyinAction 2015015
Motivation =
80 cow herd
Increase 6 week calving rate from 58% to 90%
+€21,120 per year
Why is 6 week calving rate important?
Shalloo et al. (2014)
Seasonal, pasture-based milk production
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
kg
DM
/H
ap
er
day
Daily pasture growth rate
Daily herd feed requirement
0102030405060708090
100
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
%o
fco
ws
inth
eh
erd CALVE CONCEIVE DRIED-OFF
Average lactation = 285+ days
Earliest calving cows most fertile
76 84 83
60
65
70
75
80
85
903
-wk
SR(%
)
<2.75 2.75 to 3.00 >3.00
Body Condition Score
BCS and fertility
Buckley et al. (2003)
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
<2.75 2.75 to 3.00 >3.00
50 57 63
6-w
kIC
R(%
)
Body Condition Score at Mating Start Date
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
<0.5 0.5 >0.5
61 61 53
6-w
kIC
R(%
)
Body Condition Score Loss after Calving
What’s important?1. BCS at MSD2. BCS loss after calving
BCS 3.00 or 3.25
Mean BCS 3.00Range 2.75 to 3.25
Mean BCS 2.9Range 2.75 to 3.25
BCS recommendations (1 to 5 scale)
BCS 6 mo before AI!
BCS options for thin cows
Extra conc. feed?• MostMilk output• Little change in BCS• Superlevy implications
Once a day?• Reduce milk output• Improve energy balance/BCS• Shorten anoestrus period
Feed low protein diet• Impractical for grazing
Duration Immediate
reduction in MS
Total lactation
reduction in MS
1st 3 weeks 15 to 20% 7%
1st 6 weeks 20 to 30% 13%
Full lactation 30%
Adapted from Correa et al. (1993)
Links between peripartum problems
StillbirthMilk fever
Displaced Abomasum
Metritis
Dystocia
Retained Placenta
Ketosis
Excessive BCS loss
Delayed resumption of cyclicity
Compromised uterine health
Poor fertility
Score 1 Score 2 Score 3
Score 4
Uterine health
Score 1 Score 3 Score 5Score 2
Metricheck device
0
20
40
60
1 2 3 4 5
Co
nc
rate
1(%
)
Score
020406080
100
1 2 3 4 5
%co
ws
Score
20% dirty
020406080
6-wks Final
%co
ws
Incalf rate (cows score ≥2)
Metricure Control
Treat cows calved >14 days with score ≥2 with intrauterine antibiotic (Metricure)
Data from McDougall et al (2007); Runciman et al. (2009)
Mar 1st Apr 1st May 1stFeb 1st
Cow Management for compact calving
Main calving period.Focus on BCS, peripartum
problems, general cow health
Pre-breedingheat detection
Apr 1 to 22
PSC MSDApr 25
Synchanoestrus
cows
Vaccinations
Metricheck
MineralStatus