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CASE STUDY
SPRING 2011 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
6
F E RT I L I TY
Mark visits on a fortnightly basis to PD
cows and inspect those not seen bulling
after 65 days. He has also shown Tim
how and when to check for retained
placentas, so that any problems can be
resolved sooner.
Tim would like to improve herd fertility,
and reduce the calving index down from
the current 400 days.
Mark explains: ‘This is certainly an
aspiration, but Tim has to accept that with
such a high yielding herd, we have to be
realistic as to how achievable this is.
‘The presentation and tracking of problem
fertility cows used to be a bit ad hoc. But
now, with the new software that comes
with the robots, we will be able to be
more disciplined as to which cows are
presented and when. This should help
“tighten up the system” considerably.’
Tim adds: ‘I can rely on Mark to keep up
with the latest information on new animal
health products and initiatives in the
industry. He understands the set-up here,
and the challenges we face, and I'm
happy to follow his advice.
‘He's able to stand back and put some
outside perspective on how we do things.
For instance, now we no longer have a
herdsman, and there's just myself and
Simon, Mark's identified the need for some
training on hoof care. So it's not just herd
health we get advice on it's all the
management aspects that ultimately will
benefit animal welfare and performance.’
The herd is vaccinated against BVD, and
although there is no leptospirosis infection
present currently, the situation is monitored with
bulk milk samples taken every three months.
‘Tim's farm is downstream of several dairy
herds which could potentially be infected
and so this is a worthwhile precaution.’
A screening test for Johnes disease will also
be carried out, as requested by the milk
buyer. Mark adds: ‘Although milk powder,
rather than cows' milk, is fed to calves, the
infection could potentially spread in the
calving yard. However, there has been no
evidence of the disease in suspect clinical
cases tested so far.’
Mark Burnell and Tim Cox