Basic HTML Version
P U L L - O U T G U I D E
Focus on
HEATS
to improve fertility
and save around £4/cow/day
H
Health Status
Monitor diseases such as BVD, IBR, Johnes, Leptospirosis, Neospora and
Campylobacter and vaccinate where possible to improve the health and fertility
of your herd.
Become a closed herd if possible, but if purchasing bulls or heifer replacements
then screen for health status first with your vet.
E
Environment
Can cows express signs of heat easily in buildings
?
Low roof height and
slippery floors make it hard to detect cows.
l
Mobility score the herd, lameness is a major cause of infertility
l
Foot bath regularly to control digital dermatitis
l
How comfortable are cow cubicles
?
l
Have regular visits from the foot trimmer or enrol on a FarmSkills Hoofcare
course to do this yourself (see below)
l
Identify and record cases to assess which problems are a priority for your
herd, focus on prevention and prompt, effective treatment
When a cow approaches calving, her soft tissues loosen. Too much time
standing on concrete and/or not lying down at this time predisposes to sole
ulcers in later lactation - lame cows take longer to get in calf. Straw bedded
yards for cows 2-3 weeks before and after calving are ideal.
A
Attention to detail
Activity meters
Regular routine veterinary fertility visits for:
l
Post-calving checks
l
Cows not seen in oestrus by end of VWP
l
Early pregnancy diagnosis with an ultrasound scanner
Reduce the reliance on observation of behaviours by additionally using either
automated devices such as HeatTime which monitor cow activity or milk
progesterone testing
S
Service
-Synchronisation
-Submission rates
-Semen quality
Aim to reduce the voluntary waiting period to 40 days. Focus on accurate
timing of service, when is ovulation occurring
?
l
Aged semen or eggs at insemination increase risk of embryo mortality
Consider synchronisation if submission rates are unsatisfactory. Quality counts:
take extra care with thawing and transport of semen. Upskill or refresh your
knowledge by joining a FarmSkills DIY AI course.
T
Transition
A carefully balanced, low potassium diet with a high inclusion of structural
fibre, e.g. based on whole crop wheat or maize silage will help prevent
post-calving problems.
Avoid over-conditioned cows (> BCS 3.0) at calving, excessive fat mobilisation
is then inevitable with depressed dry matter intake and risk of fatty liver.
Preparing the rumen for the coming lactation and preventing milk fever (clinical
and sub-clinical) are priorities. Cows with borderline milk fever experience
delayed involution of the uterus and clear post-calving infections more slowly.
Consider whether your cows would benefit from the addition of biotin in the
diet to reduce clawhorn disease.
Nutritionally challenged cows suffer extended negative energy balance
post-calving. This results in poor oestrus expression, or 'suboestrus'
l
Use nutritional monitoring of milk parameters such as protein fat and
lactose levels as well as profiling of blood samples (NEFA & BHB)
l
Monitor body condition score at drying-off, calving and service
l
Boost dry matter intakes by providing extra feed space for transition
and fresh cows (>0.7-1.0m/cow)
l
Offer palatable balanced feed based on high quality forages ad lib
Work with your vet on herd health planning and enrol on FarmSkills courses to yield
better results in herd fertility. Relevant topics include:
l
Nutrition for better fertility
l
Foot trimming and lameness management
l
DIY AI and understanding fertility (available as refresher courses or for first time users)
XLVet UK Ltd
Carlisle House, Townhead Road,
Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7JF
T:
(01228) 711788
E:
farmskills@xlvets.co.uk
www.farm-skills.co.uk