Cow condition answer to mating failure to conceive

Philip and Donna Cram of Auroa Rd, Kaponga, believe their attention to cow condition has halved the number failing to conceive at mating.

Last year their empty cows totalled 16 per cent of the herd; this year it's down to 8.5 per cent and could go lower after further pregnancy testing.

"We aim to get the cows to a condition score of 5 and the heifers to 5.5 at the planned start of calving," Donna told a DairyNZ discussion group on the 77ha farm this week. "Animal health was also much better, meaning costs were lower, and our peak production is, quite frankly, phenomenal. We're looking at 5000kg more milk solids this season and we believe all these benefits come from cow condition. We haven't lost a cow yet this season."

Seventy per cent of the herd conceived in the first six weeks of AB mating and many fewer CIDRS were used than previously.

Consulting officer Alicia Newport says the conception rate was one of the highest the Crams' vet had ever seen.

"Another benefit is that in a herd of 184, the low empty rate means 15 cows don't need to be removed because they're empty, allowing culling for other factors," she said.

Commented Philip: "It gives us more options for a herd cleanout of cows with high somatic cell counts, three- titters and so on."

Ms Newport says farmers tend to score their cows too generously. "You're only cheating yourself if you score her at 5 when she's really 4.5. You will not get the benefit from the higher score. You've got to be ruthless.

"Try giving your staff member the CS booklet and ask them to walk through and score. They will use kit and it will be a good second opinion."

She recounted an experience [which has become embedded as a DairyNZ legend] at Ruakura research station some years ago when a group of scientists were practising condition scoring, including Kevin Macdonald who wrote the "Condition scoring made easy" booklet with John Roche.

They asked two farm workers with very little experience of CS to try using the book and one achieved 97 per cent accuracy, an almost unheard of result and much higher than Mr Macdonald's personal score.

"Here's a tip: If you can see the notches on her backbone, that's an early indication she will not score higher than 4.5. If she has a flat backbone, she will be 4.5 or over. Then you can look at the rest of her and compare it with the photos in the book.

"Remember that cows do not gain condition during their final month of pregnancy; it all goes into the calf."

According to the book: Cows thin at calving are less fertile and produce less milk. Overfat cows do not perform well either.

Ms Newport gave this example of the extra feed requirements above maintenance level to achieve a 1.0 CS gain: 165 kg DM of PKE, to gain 0.5 CS in one month, requires 2.7 kg DM/cow/ day. That's 24.5kg DM, which @ $221 per tonne, costs about $40. That's the cost to gain $145 in extra milk production from this cow."

The discussion group members were all wanting rain. All were looking at ways of extending lactation in current dry conditions, such as drying off the low milkers.

Most had empty rates of 6-8 per cent, although one chap had 2 per cent and didn't believe it.

Leigh Buchanan, Staples Rodway accountant, Stratford, talked about managing balance dates to manage impact on taxable income.

"The herd scheme values are set by the IRD May 23-24 each year. So buying and selling stock to minimise taxation effects is a matter of careful timing," she said.

"What may seem to be a tax loss on stock sales in fact may cost you if your timing is wrong. Payout ups and downs will not go away. That's why it's important to have a financial plan. Traditionally, Fonterra has always exceeded the predicted payout. You cannot rely on that any more."

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