Basic HTML Version
SPRING 2013 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
6
GRASSROOTS
The system makes use of periodic milk
recording data, to provide a summary of
current and historic herd sub-clinical mastitis
performance. In addition, it conducts
individual cow analysis to help identify
members of the herd that require individual
attention. Seasonal trends can be identified
allowing producers to take proactive steps to
minimise the impact of troublesome periods of
the year. Problems with the milking equipment,
or with dry period and calving management
can be highlighted and corrected.
The Cell Check report gives information on
individual cows, and bands the results into
a traffic light system of colouring, with the
aim being to have all cows in the green.
Each month a shortlist of problem cows is
also included with suggestions on what to
do next.
The aim of the regular reports is to stop
cows getting on to the escalator to high cell
counts, and catching them early when their
individual milk cell count is starting to edge
up from the 200,000 mark. It’s important to
stop cows becoming cell count ‘millionaires’,
as once a cow has had clinical mastitis, the
damage can be irreversible. Her cell count is
likely to always be higher and her full yield
potential may never be reached. She is also
more likely to get mastitis again.
Distribution of days in milk
New and repeated infections
‘Best’
0% 0% 0%
0%
1.39
‘Worst’
28% 17% 88% 68%
0.59
Mean
7% 3% 38% 30%
0.99
Your Farm
0% 0% 29% 18%
1.03
Target
0% 0% 15% 15%
1.00
Intervention
25% 10% 50% 50%
0.95
High BF
Low BF Low protein yield Lowproteinpercent
Cows recorded this
month
Mean kilos of
protein
Proportion of group
Fresh cow performance (<61 days in milk)
Farm comparisons are made possible by
using a series of benchmark and league
tables. This allows farmers to evaluate farm
strengths and weaknesses against other dairy
farmers in the same area. Some like to work
towards getting all cows into the green, whilst
other farmers are keener to improve their
position on the table.