For spring calving herds, the end of the lactation is approaching so some important decisions need to be made to hopefully ensure a stress-free start to 2025.

Milk recording

Four milk recordings a year should be carried out to make better informed decisions all year round. A final milk recording should be organised close to the onset of drying off (ideally within 30 days), to help assist in decisions around selective dry cow therapy.

BCS

Best practise is to dry off cows at, or close to, the same condition she should calve down in (Target 3.0 – 3.25). Therefore, nutrition of the dry cow should centre around maintenance over 60 days. Thin cows should be prioritised for early drying off to assist in the recouperation of condition. Where large variation in a herd arises with BCS, batching accordingly and making a tailored plan is advisable.

Silage analysis

Nutrition depends on what silage quality (and quantity), is available in the yard, therefore silage analysis is crucial. High quality silage will need dilution with straw/hay to avoid over-conditioning. Additional energy sources through concentrates may also be required, where quality is poor.

Where ongoing issues occur with milk fever, retained afterbirth and/or slow calvings, a silage mineral analysis will establish Potassium (K) % in the silage being offered to dry cows. K levels > 1.8% can cause issues. Preventative plans can then be put in place.

Selecting a dry cow mineral

Feeding high quality dry cow mineral for 60 days is central to a cow calving down without issue next Spring. Most Irish silage lacks the mineral levels required by the cow and therefore requires balancing. Using a highly soluble source of Magnesium is essential to overcoming any milk fever risks; this should be coupled with the inclusion of complimentary Phosphorus, a high inclusion of chelated/protected trace elements to overcome antagonists, and a strong all-round vitamin pack (A, D3 & E).

For more information, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor here.

Prevention of metabolic issues next spring will hinge around management decisions that will be made over the next number of weeks. When costs associated with clinical cases are assessed alongside the time and labour involved in such cases, prevention is always better than cure.

BCS

It is always best practise to dry off cows at, or very close to same condition that she should calve down in (Target BCS 3.0 – 3.25). Therefore, the nutrition of the dry cow should just maintain condition over the 60-day dry period (Thin cows should be dried off early to allow for recouperation of condition).  Over-conditioned cows at calving are also problematic. Therefore, cows should be condition scored prior to dry off, which may result in grouping cows accordingly where large variation in the herd arises.

Silage quality – the decision factor

Feed plans for the dry cow will centre around what quality silage is available. High quality silage will need dilution to avoid over-conditioning or where quality is very low, some level of energy supplementation will be required. Testing dry cow silage and assessing how much silage reserve is available will paint a clear picture of what feed requirements will be. Where issues around calving occurred last spring, it is worthwhile also testing silage for mineral analysis to highlight any precursors – such as high potassium/ K%.

Dry Cow Mineral Provision

Feeding a dry cow mineral throughout the dry period is essential to build up mineral reserves and allow the cow to calve down without issue. Most Irish silages lack the required mineral levels to get the cow through the dry period, lending to the provision of a high-quality mineral supplement to avoid metabolic disease risks. High K levels in Irish silages is also a running trend, which will require a high level of soluble magnesium to help overcome the risk of milk fever. Research indicates a single case of Milk Fever is estimated to cost ~ €312; with sub-clinical cases estimated to cost a herd >€100/case.

In a high-quality dry cow mineral pack we should be looking for a high inclusion of a highly soluble source of magnesium, which should also be coupled with a complimentary inclusion of Phosphorus, a high inclusion of chelated/protected trace elements to overcome antagonists, and a strong all round vitamin pack (A, D3 & E).

For tailored dry cow mineral advice, get in touch with your local Agritech Sales Advisor here.

Another winter is approaching, and now is the time for planning, in order to make informed decisions around nutritional management.

Following a difficult growing season, there may be a large variation in quality between cuts so testing what silage is available is crucial to planning accordingly.

With dry cows, silage quality will dictate the condition of cows at calving, and dilution/corrective feeding may be required.

For youngstock, offering a silage-only diet, a weight gain of just 0.3kg/day can be expected from the same silage as offered to dry cows (68-70% DMD silage); 1.5 to 2 kg of concentrate would be required to achieve target growth rates.

Silage reserves are depleted in many yards: therefore, conducting a quick fodder budget to highlight sufficient reserves – or identifying a deficit – is crucial.   

Youngstock

It’s also a good time to check that heifers are still on track to achieve their target weight for age (% of mature weight). Weighing now compared to weighing at the point of housing allows the opportunity to identify behind-target heifers and group accordingly.

The threshold figure for 2024 spring-born weanling heifers is approximately 200 kg in mid-September (~33% of an assumed mature weight of 600kg).

Heifers lighter than this need to be given priority access to high quality grass and reintroduce or increase supplementary concentrates; feeding rates will depend on where they are in relation to their respective targets.

Higher weight gains can be achieved from grass rather than from winter/silage diets and a good response to autumn supplementation can be achieved.

Research shows that in autumn where 1 kg  of concentrate plus good grass is offered, average daily gains of 1 kg/hd/day can be achieved.

For more information contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor.

Although it seems almost too early to admit, and it doesn’t appear to have been that long since ‘winter mode’ ended, but Winter 2024 is approaching, and a little bit of preparation over the next few weeks will help to set ourselves up and make informed decisions around management.

Year-on-Year grass silages can be extremely variable in nutritional qualities, and after a difficult growing season, large variation in quality between cuts may also be seen. Testing what silage is available in the yard is crucial to plan accordingly.

For dry cows, silage quality will dictate the condition of cows at calving, and dilution/corrective feeding may be required. Stretching silage with dry cows may also be required where deficits occur in feed budgets, and knowing silage nutritional analysis is a must in these cases.

Target BS at dry off is typically 2.75 – 3.0 and at calving is 3.0 – 3.25 – therefore we are aiming for a maintenance type diet over the 60-day dry period; 68-70% DMD silage will suffice here.

For thin cows, drying off early is the preferred option. If dried off early (e.g. 10-12-week dry period), cows fed average quality silage (68-70% DMD) should have an increase in BCS of approx. 0.5 units before calving.

For youngstock, feeding rates will also be dependent on silage quality results. If we take the same silage used for dry cows above with our youngstock, offering a

silage-only diet, a weight gain of only 0.3kg/day can be expected over the winter from a 70% DMD silage. Some

1.5 -2 kg of concentrate would be needed here to achieve target winter growth rates. Is their higher quality forage available for youngstock7

Fodder Budgeting

After the delayed spring, silage reserves have been depleted in many yards. Coupled with poor growth over the summer, refilling that reserve has proven a constant challenge for some. Conducting a quick fodder budget to highlight sufficient reserves or a deficit is crucial, and the sooner this is completed the more options that are available to help bridge the gap.

For more information contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor.

As we approach calving 2021 the focus should be on final preparations that will result in a spring free from any upsets, nutritional issues or metabolic diseases during an already busy time on farm.

Several key factors will correlate directly to the success of calving 2021, including:

• A planned and well executed dry cow mineral programme
• Calving down the cow in the correct body condition score
• Excellent husbandry in the weeks pre- and post-calving
• Careful transition diet planning

It is always worth remembering at this time in the year, that key decisions made over the next number of weeks will have a direct e­ffect on the performance of the herd, especially herd fertility – submission and conception rates, ultimately a­ffecting the longevity of the cow within the herd.

Negative Energy Balance

In the weeks post-calving, cows will produce more milk than their feed intake can provide for, resulting in Body Condition Score (BCS) loss due to Negative Energy Balance. Research has shown NEB will firstly, reduce milk protein and if prolonged, have detrimental consequences on the breeding season.

The milking cow should receive an adequate diet to optimise milk solids production and keep body weight loss to less than 0.5 BCS between calving and breeding. Cows that lose < 0.5 BCS over this time (approx. 25 kg) typically ovulate 15 days earlier than those cows that lose 1 BCS during this period.

Dry matter intake typically increases by 0.75 – 1.0 kg/week for the first 8 weeks of lactation, therefore being 8 weeks post-calving before maximum intake is reached – highlighting the need for an energy-dense transition diet.

Every farm scenario is different, and tailored advice should be given where issues arise. However, early preparation and planning is vital to avoid added stresses on farm

On farm support during COVID-19

In order to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible, our sales team and distributors we will be minimising the number of on farm consultations. We are however, as always, available for FREE delivery direct to farm and over the phone consultations. Contact your local Agritech sales rep/distributor to place your order or click here.  

The Irish dairy cow is working harder now than ever before, with longer lactations and shorter dry periods. In contrast to much of the global dairy herd, the predominant typical Irish dairy cow consumes her dietary requirements primarily from grazed and conserved grass, meaning that less concentrate is fed during the lactation.

As grazed grass is generally low in minerals and trace elements, and with concentrate mixtures generally supplemented with some level of minerals, spring calving grass based dairy cows can become quite depleted of minerals by the end of their lactation. It is therefore vital that the dry cow is supplemented with a high quality mineral throughout the entire dry period. 

Following a dry cow management plan has proven very successful for Co. Westmeath farmer, Hugh Gaffney. Alongside his father, Mattie, Hugh is milking a herd of 120 British Friesian cows just outside Killucan, Co. Westmeath. The farm is run on a grass based, spring calving system, with bull and heifer calves later sold as stores.  

According to Hugh, giving close consideration to good nutrition, careful management, and the addition of a high quality dry cow mineral has played a vital role in improving health and immunity in both his cows and new born calves.       

VIDEO: TAKE A LOOK AT HUGH GAFFNEY’S DRY COW PROGRAMME:

Dry Cow Management Plan

How you feed and manage your herd during the dry cow period will influence subsequent yields and fertility, along with conditions which manifest post calving, such as milk fever, metritis, ketosis, and displaced abomasums. 

A key part of Hugh’s dry cow management plan is monitoring body condition score (BCS), and correcting where necessary before calving. Hugh’s dry cows are batched according to BCS and cubicles are maintained in a clean hygienic manner throughout the dry period. It is best practice to dry off cows at, or close to, the best BCS for calving (3.00 – 3.25). It is also critical to maintain this condition score throughout the dry period. 

Agritech recommend a silage quality target of at least 72DMD. In addition to receiving good quality forage and supplemental concentrate where necessary, Hugh’s cows are fed a minimum of 6kgs of Agritech’s Welmin™ Dry Cow Elite mineral before calving. This is viewed as critical in order to improve health and immunity and reduce the risk of metabolic disorders in his herd.  

Dry Cow Elite

Key macro minerals required by the dry cow include high availability magnesium and trace elements such as organic selenium, chelated and hydroxy copper and zinc. Welmin™ Dry Cow Elite goes further than other dry cow supplements in terms of bolstering the cow’s immune system ahead of the rigours of calving through the inclusion of supplemental B vitamins, ImmunoWall yeast, and high levels of key vitamins A, D3 and E. This complete package is crucial in order to increase health and immunity, minimise retained placenta levels, and aid the uterine involution (cleansing) process post calving.

Addressing the bioavailability challenge

Agritech’s Welmin™ Mineral Range has also been at the forefront in addressing the bioavailability challenge; a challenge which has led to secondary mineral deficiencies becoming more prominent in modern livestock operations. These deficiencies are a result of antagonists binding with key minerals in the rumen, ultimately causing them to pass through the animal unabsorbed.

It is now widely accepted that the inclusion of elements from multiple sources significantly enhances the absorption of each element. Agritech have embraced this superior approach as their mineral range includes copper, selenium, iodine and zinc from multiple sources to ensure optimum bioavailability of these key elements. 

Intellibond C is also included in many of Agritech’s mineral mixtures, which is a highly available source of copper. Intellibond C is not soluble at neutral rumen pH which results in a rumen by-pass trace element that gives increased trace mineral stability in the intestine. Copper from Intellibond C is released slowly over the full length of the small intestine, resulting in more efficient copper absorption and thereby improving overall intestinal health.

On farm support during COVID-19

In order to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible, our sales team and distributors we will be minimising the number of on farm consultations. We are however, as always, available for FREE delivery direct to farm and over the phone consultations. Contact your local Agritech sales rep/distributor to place your order or click here. 

For further advice or information on our Welmin Mineral Supplements range, click here

With most Irish dairy herds calving in the months of February and March, now is a very important time to apply some key practices that will influence the 2020 lactation.

The key influencers of a productive and profitable 2020 lactation are:

• Body condition score
• Udder health
• Stress free drying off

BODY CONDITION SCORE

Body condition score (BCS) is the foundation for a successful start to the cow’s lactation. The ideal BCS score range is 3.0 to 3.25 in most herds. Cows calving down in this range experience less metabolic issues in early lactation e.g. milk fever, metritis, displaced abomasums.

A simple system to manage BCS for the dry period is to divide cows into three groups:

Group 1: Cows in the 3.0 to 3.25 range. This group should be stocked at one cow per cubicle and fed silage to maintain body condition, e.g. 12 kg of silage to provide 6 UFL/ day.
Group 2: Cows in this group are under 3.0 BCS. This group should be stocked at 90% of a shed’s capacity. This reduces competition for feed space and promotes a more relaxed environment that will encourage live-weight gain in the cow. This group should receive high quality silage or meal to provide 8+ UFL/day.
Group 3: Cows in this group are over 3.25 BCS. This group need to either maintain BCS or lose some body weight. This group should be stocked at a slightly higher shed stocking rate e.g. 110% of a shed’s capacity, which will create a little more competition within the group for feed and space. This group should be on a restricted silage diet to provide less than 5.5 UFL/day. However, additional roughage should be provided to ensure the cow achieves optimum rumen fill.

Note:
• It is important that all groups are monitored regularly to ensure they reach the optimum BCS of 3.0 to 3.25. Cows should be moved from their groups if they are moving outside this range.
• It is critical that a dry cow mineral is provided to each of the above groups. A dry cow should receive a minimum of 6 kg of dry cow minerals in advance of calving in order to ensure that she is adequately replenished and prepared for calving and next year’s lactation. Click here to view our Welmin Mineral Range.
• It is essential to provide fresh clean water adlib.
• All cows should be moved from their groups 14 days pre-calving to a transition group where they are introduced to an increased energy and protein diet.

UDDER HEALTH

With an increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic use in the dry period, shed hygiene is becoming ever more important during the dry period. Factors which promote a hygienic environment include:

1) Adequate lying space (1 cubicle per cow).
2) Adequate feed space.
3) Adequate ventilation.
4) Adlib fresh clean water.

In addition to this, most Irish dairy farms use a bedding conditioner on cubicles. A good bedding conditioner should meet the following criteria:

• Highly absorbent to control bacteria growth.
• Be kind on both the farmer and animal’s skin.
• Absorbs ammonia odours to help air quality and reduce stress on the animal’s lungs.
• Easy to apply in a low volume per square meter.
• Contains effective antibacterial properties.

A good example is Sanitise Bedding Conditioner, which is designed to promote a dry hygienic environment in the bedding of all livestock. This product goes above and beyond traditional methods due to its low application rate as well as the inclusion of high quality essential oils, antibacterial properties, and a unique hoof conditioner. Click here to view our Sanitise Bedding Conditioner.

For further advice on any of the above areas discussed, contact your local Agritech distributor or sales representative.