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AUTUMN 2013 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
8
COW COMFORT
Improved nutrition
Nutrition was another area which needed
improvement. Andy explains: ‘Cows were
losing too much condition after calving, and
we had high levels of milk fever and metritis.
Heifers were thin too.’
The problems were resolved, by moving to
complete TMR instead of using out of parlour
feeders, and a change in nutritional advice.
An extra 2,000 litres
per cow!
Andy explains: ‘As a consequence of these
changes, calving index has shortened from
420 to 391 days. And, average herd yield
has risen by 2,000 litres per cow in just 18
months. It’s now running at 9,400 litres per
cow - so I’ve beaten the target I was given,
and am on track to beat my own!’
Another area which required
investment and changes in
management was calf-rearing.
Too many calves were getting scours and
pneumonia, and calf mortality was high.
The problems arose due to old housing
with poor drainage and management.
Investment was needed. Jim adds: ‘The
key change has been the purchase of
individual calf hutches. Andy persuaded
his manager the investment was worth it
by taking him to see some hutches in use,
and suggesting they could always be sold
on if they didn’t fix the problem!’
The hutches are sited on a sheltered area
of ground next to one of the sheds. The
topsoil was taken off and used to make a
bank to shelter them from the prevailing
wind. Then crushed hard core was laid,
and a slight slope created. The hutches are
bedded with straw and calves stay there
for seven weeks until weaned, and are fed
twice daily with 2.6 litres of calf milk
replacer. They then move into a group pen
on the same site.
In-between calves, the hutch is cleaned
and disinfected and relocated - so the
ground it was on is rested for at least
seven weeks. This further helps reduce risk
of disease. Andy adds: ‘These young
calves used to be reared off-site, but now
they are here with the cows, it’s easier for
us all to keep an eye on them. At 11
weeks of age, they are moved to another
site, but now instead of being looked after
by several people - just one person takes
responsibility for their care. So they can
have the satisfaction of a job well done,
but are also wholly accountable for
their health.’
Data from the RVC students who also
monitor calf health, shows that thanks to
the improved management and housing,
calf growth rates in the first seven weeks,
have risen significantly - from 300g/day
to over 500g/day. And mortality losses
have dropped to a very low 3-4%.
Calf care
All these improvements in heifer rearing
and cow health have, however, created
a new problem.
Originally, the shortage of heifer
replacements and high involuntary culling
rate had prompted Andy to buy in some
freshly-calved Holsteins from Germany
to maintain cow numbers.
But now there are 250 heifer
replacements coming through and not
enough space in the shed! So Andy and
Jim will be making some decisions on
which animals to proactively cull, or sell.
Jim adds: ‘Andy has introduced all these
changes step by step - waiting to see the
benefits first, measuring them where
possible, and only then moving on with
the next change. In taking this controlled
approach, he has been able to persuade
his managers to make capital investments,
and sanction changes in staffing. It’s
made a massive difference to herd health
and productivity, and profitability too.
And I know Andy hasn’t finished yet…’
New problem on
the horizon!
New calf hutches
Easy to bed up
Group calf pen