Cowmanagement July/August 2020

J U LY/AU GU ST 2020

People management is

core to building business resilience Backing gates:

best practice to ensure smooth cow flow Tips on keeping calves cool as temperatures soar

GET THE LATEST NEWS AT WWW.C OWMA NAGEMENT.CO.UK

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A winning formula since 1997

Removing gutworm with Eprinex® lets you get the best performance from your cows. It’s been shown to help improve fertility and increase milk yield by killing these damaging parasites.1,2 And with zero milk withhold, you can use it at any stage of production without the worry of lost milk sales.

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A formula for success

1. McPherson et al. Proceedings of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists. 44th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, Abstr. 28, 1999.

2.Verschave et al. BMC Veterinary Research (2014) 10:264.

EPRINEX® Pour-on for Beef and Dairy Cattle contains eprinomectin. Legal category: POM-VPS. For information about side effects, precautions, warnings and contraindications please refer to the product packaging and package leaflet. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd., RG12 8YS, UK. UK Tel: 01344 746960 (sales) or 01344 746957 (technical). Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. EPRINEX and the steerhead logo are registered trademarks of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group. ©2019 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved Date of preparation: March 2019. AHD12190. Use Medicines Responsibly.

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01-07-20 13:44

CONTENT FEATURE S

5 6 11 14 17 27 31 37 42

From the editor Cow talk Value added: doorstep delivery Roger Evans ForFarmers Nutritional News/ Thompsons Nutritional News CRV Avoncroft Breeding Information Boehringer Ingelheim Health News NMR Dairy Management News Events and contacts

main article keeping calves cool

MAIN A RT IC L E

8 Keeping calves cool REPORT

12 One Hampshire-based producer has scooped a prestigious award HEA LTH

18 Getting a grip on Johne’s 38 Be prepared for late-season lungworm SPECIAL M IL K IN G E Q U IPM E N T

8 special milking

21 New parlour and backing gates

series dairy resilience

FEEDIN G

28 Control calving pattern for future success/ Trialling calf protocols for growth DA IRY MA N AG E M E N T

34 Power to the people BREEDI N G

40 Breed for longevity and high lifetime yield

JULY /AUG UST

2020

21

34

ment is People manage

core to building nce business resilie Backing gates:

ensure best practice to smooth cow flow g Tips on keepin l calves coo

s soar as temperature

.COW MAN ST NEWS AT WWW GET THE LATE

AGE MEN T.CO

Tracey Bunney:

Neil Chesterton:

“Winning competitions is just the cherry on top for us”

‘Cows are not grains of sand, so use backing gates with care’

.UK

ON TH E C OV E R

Are you looking at me? A cow takes a well-earned break during grazing Picture: Mark Pasveer

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24 cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

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03-07-20 11:54

Healthy cows = productive cows Take positive action on Johne’s

You don’t have to see clinical signs of Johne’s disease for it to be present in your cows, adversely affecting their health.

NMR offers a range of surveillance options to suit your herd’s Johne’s status.

HerdWise • Quarterly testing of all cows using NMR milk recording samples • Each cow classified by risk (Red, Amber, Green) • FREE risk assessment

Whole herd adhoc testing • Gives you an initial snapshot of your herd situation

30 cow screen • Herd level assessment • HerdTracker: Quarterly service for low risk herds

@NMRGroup NationalMilkRecords

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Always discuss Johne’s surveillance requirements with your vet

03330 043 043

customerservices@nmrp.com www.nmr.co.uk

01-07-20 13:53

FROM THE EDITOR

Keep cool and calm under ongoing pressure Cool calves – and a cool head – are both integral to the future success of dairy businesses. Cows get all the attention when it comes to mitigating heat stress, but it’s important to also remember the next generation of milkers. Issues can begin in utero if temperatures rise above a certain level. See our article on page eight to find out why keeping livestock cool is so important and what you can do to take the heat off dry cows, calves and heifers.

People are key to the resilience and success of dairy businesses, particularly larger herds run by a team of staff. Good leadership skills can make all the difference when it comes to keeping staff motivated, committed and productive. So, as the pressure on producers and bottom lines continues, do you have the management skills and temperament to stay cool and professional?

We explore the important, but often underestimated, role of people management in the second article on our series on improving dairy business resilience.

Take a look at page 34 to find out more.

This issue’s special focuses on milking equipment and we profile a herd with a new high-tech parlour on page 22. We also spoke to a cow flow expert about how to use backing gates effectively.

It seems that slow and steady is best, and establishing a routine is also vital, for a smoother milking operation and faster milking times. See page 24.

Our Value Added column features a Scottish dairy business that’s almost doubled customer numbers for it’s milk delivery round since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, back in March. The owner shares details of plans to retain volumes sold through this route, as the UK slowly comes out of lockdown.

And Roger Evans shares his lockdown rumenations, on page 14, about grass covers on his unit in previous dry summers, how he’s coping with this summer’s conditions, and how he used to measure sward height in pre-plate meter days. Who knew that corgis could be so useful?

RACHAEL PORTER

cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

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COWTALK

Detect sub-clinical mastitis quickly and easily A four-cup electronic sub-clinical mastitis detector is now available from DairySpares.

The Draminski mastitis detector’s four-cup design allows a milk sample to be collected from each teat more quickly and easily, compared to a one-cup system, and the analysis results, from all four samples, are then shown simultaneously and allow easy identification of suspect quarters.

Draminski mastitis detectors measure

bovens bovens regel o

changes in the electrical resistance of milk.

When a reading from one of the quarters is different from the others, this indicates the presence of sub-clinical mastitis. So this tool offers producers a reliable early warning of a potential clinical mastitis case, and allows targeted monitoring of specific quarters, or cows.

The four-cup mastitis detector retails at £350 plus VAT.

Early grass silage analysis indicates good quality

With more than 600 first-cut grass silage samples now analysed at its laboratory in Ashbourne, Trouw Nutrition GB says that early indicators are that quality is good.

“But, as ever, the key to making the most of grass silage will be regular analysis throughout the season combined with careful balancing of the diet,” says the company’s Liz Homer.

As expected, there is a range in quality

reflecting the disruptive winter and spring weather which impacted on cutting dates and grass growth during the winter.

“Most grass continued to grow during the winter, meaning that some crops contain a high proportion of older grass. This will impact on quality but, overall, producers have made some good feed to act as the foundation for winter diets,” she adds.

“At 35.5% dry matter, crops are at the higher end of the target range. This reflects the warm, dry weather in April and May. “ME content is high at 11.4MJ/kg DM, reflecting good levels of NDF at 44% DM. And we saw an increased use of pre-cut testing this year, suggesting that more producers are looking to time cutting more precisely.”

While energy content is good, Dr Homer adds that the silages have a low fibre index and high acid load. “This means that rumen health could be an issue and this needs to be managed when diets are formulated.”

She says that crude protein reflects the disruptive season and the difficulties in applying fertiliser, followed by a prolonged dry period and reduced nitrogen uptake.

“Overall crude protein is lower than usual at 14.6%. But silages submitted are, generally, well fermented with a pH of 4.2, moderate sugars, ammonia and VFAs. “As expected with a drier crop, lactic acid is slightly lower.”

Take steps to control thistles in grassland Now is the time to tackle thistles in grass leys.

Fields filled with 10% thistles produce 10% less grass to feed to livestock, according to Corteva Agriscience’s Nicola Perry.

“As early grass growth has been poor in many parts, forage supply might not meet the demands of grazing cattle,” she says. “So spraying thistles with an effective translocated herbicide, specifically designed to kill the roots of the plants, will help to optimise grass growth for the rest of the season.”

The two most common and damaging thistles in the UK are creeping thistle and spear thistle.

Both compete with grass for space, light, nutrients, and water.

“They reduce the amount of grazing available

6

and are unpalatable to stock,” adds Dr Perry.

She adds that spraying them with Thistlex, at a rate of one litre per hectare in between 200 litres and 400 litres of water, will give good control of creeping and spear thistles, as well as other weeds such as common nettle, fat hen and mayweed.

“The herbicide gets right down into their large vertical and horizontal root systems.

“In mid-summer it may pay to top well-grown thistle plants and spray the active re-growth two to three weeks later.

“Animals must be taken out of the field when it is sprayed, but they can return seven days after treatment if there is no foliage of poisonous weeds, such as ragwort, present.”

cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

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03-07-20 11:45

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02-07-20 10:28

MAIN ARTICLE CALF-REARING

Baby, it’s warm o

As heat and humidity levels increase during summer and the UK sees the typical high-temperature spikes, what are the effects on the next generation of milkers and what steps can producers take to mitigate them?

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

H

eifers are a blind spot when it comes to heat stress on UK dairy units. So says Cargill’s calf specialist Bianca Theeruth, adding that producers are becoming more aware of the impact of heat stress on the health, fertility and productivity of milking cows.

“But there’s some catching up to do with calves and young stock.”

The critical temperature humidity index THI – the industry benchmark for accessing heat stress in livestock systems – has been well defined for cows. The threshold at which heat stress affects performance is often quoted to be a THI of 68. In the UK the humidity is almost always more than 60%, so this THI would be triggered at 22ºC. “But this trigger point is less well defined for calves – producers need to consider the needs of young stock as ambient temperatures and relative humidity rise,” says Miss Theeruth.

Recently published research shows that heat stress

8

begins when the THI is between 78 and 82, based on several indices of heat stress such as respiration rate, rectal temperature, air temperature, heart rate, and salivary cortisol. In typical UK humidity this would be a temperature of 28ºC. “Researchers at University of Florida have found that dry matter intakes and, therefore, daily liveweight gains reduced when temperatures increased above the threshold. This then has a knock-on effect on heifer development and age at first calving, and how heifers perform in the milking herd. So it’s not something to be ignored,” she stresses.

Heat-stress signs Older calves will show symptoms of heat stress by seeking shelter and ‘bunching’ to seek shade from other animals, changing posture (standing versus lying), turning away from the sun and moving less during hot times of the day. “When it gets colder, producers can

cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

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m outside feed more milk, provide more bedding and even use calf jackets to help mitigate the effects of cold stress in young calves,” says Miss Theeruth.

But heat is trickier to manage. Calf and heifer performance is impacted by heat stress and Miss Theeruth says that it’s also important to understand that this can actually begin before the calf is born – in utero.

“The dry period is crucial in many ways for determining future lifetime milk production and the insults received to the unborn calf, during the six to eight week period before calving, may only be realised two years later when that calf/heifer joins the milking herd,” she explains.

“If the unborn foetus is impacted by heat stress on the dam, this has far reaching and long term ‘epigenetic’ effects that will stay with the heifer throughout its life.”

Birth weight may be reduced by up to 4kg LW, and the calf will not grow and develop during the first 12 months in the same way as a calf born from a dam that wasn’t heat stressed in the close-up period.

“Heat stress during this period can alter the way that the calf absorbs colostrum, and, for a heifer calf, can also impact on her subsequent fertility. Data shows that it requires more inseminations to get these heifers in calf and this, by default, will push up age at first calving.”

Miss Theeruth says that there’s also work to show that in-utero heat stress can ‘alter’ heifer development – particularly that of the udder – which will then impact on her future productivity.

So managing and mitigating heat stress in calves and heifers begins with keeping close-up dry cows. Productive cows come from productive calves that were carefully reared from birth to calving.

Air movement Once producers have that covered, they must look to managing heat stress in these young stock. Ventilation in calf housing really is the key here. It’s all about air quality and air movement. Miss Theeruth likes to see ventilation systems, ideally with fans, in calf housing – particularly during the summer.

Straw bedding is excellent in winter, but it’s the warmest bedding type in summer and also supports fly populations. Other alternatives include shavings, wood chips and sand, but these are not always practical and easy to keep clean. Ensure adequate drainage and calf comfort, whatever material is used.”

Rescheduling the time of day when calves are fed can also help in warm weather. “Calves are excitable at feeding time, which generates heat, and the milk is also warm. So feed earlier in the morning, when it’s cooler, if possible.

And if it’s very warm and calves are drinking less milk as a result, producers could look to increasing the concentration of calf milk replacer – much as they would in colder weather – to compensate for any nutrient shortfall until starter feed increases.”

Pointers for keeping calves cool • Water – clean, ad libitum and changed daily • Feed – little, often, fresh and palatable • Indoor – use of fans or mechanical ventilation, where possible • Hutches – block UV rays • Structures – fans, trees, shelter or shade cloths for grazing calves/heifers • Adjust feeding times to feed cooler times of day • Reposition hutches – opening side away from weather on well drained ground • Limit activities such as disbudding, vaccination, changing pens to cooler times of the day

For the same reason, producers should look to carry out routine management tasks in cooler conditions – or during cooler times of the day – such as de-horning and vaccinating. “Early in the day, rather than midday is preferable.”

Where calf hutches are used, she urges producers to check that they’re positioned with the open side ‘away from the weather’ and certainly never in full sun.

“The hutch provides shelter and shade, but it still has to have good air movement. Ensure that rear hatches are open and that fresh air can pass through. And elevating the rear of the hutch will also reduce indoor temperature and improve air quality, resulting in greater turnover of air in the hutch.”

Growth rates As for older heifers, particularly those out grazing, make sure they also have access to shade.

“Something as simple as a shade cloth can make all the difference here. Heifers will make use of shady areas on hot, sunny days.

“And never forget water. It must be fresh and clean and all young stock must have access to sufficient water at all times,” stresses Miss Theeruth.

“Taking simple steps to ensure that young stock, at all stage of development, are kept cool and stress free when temperatures rise should will help to contribute to good health, efficient growth rates that meet daily liveweight gain targets, and see heifers calve for the first time at 24 months old.” l

Bianca Theeruth: “Heat stress effects heifer development and age at first calving” cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

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02-07-20 10:24

TO PREVENT IS BETTER THAN TO REACT Act on early health alerts from Alta COW WATCH to prevent paying the high cost of disease.

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£140

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Costs account for veterinary and treatment cost, farm labor, lost milk production, discarded milk, culling cost, extended days open, and death.

D. Liang, D., Arnold, L.M., Stowe, C.J., Harmon, R. J., Bewley, J. M. (2017). Estimating US dairy clinical disease costs with a stochastic simulation model. Journal of Dairy Science, 100 (2), 1472-1486.

“Since joining Alta I immediately switched to the Alta COW WATCH collars and DairyComp. I have seen preg rates in the adult herd increase from 18% to 28%, and at the same time I have significantly reduced the use of sync programs, to be in line with my milk contract. The overall financial benefit that Alta has brought to the farm has been immense.”

Arthur Crutchley Crutchley Farms Dorset - 700 Cows

INTERESTED IN MORE DETAILS? Contact Tracey 02920 617770 | tracey.gretton@altagenetics.com or call your trusted Alta advisor today! uk.altagenetics.com

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01-07-20 14:15

VALUE ADDED MILK DELIVERY ROUND

Name Roan’s Dairy Herd size 140 cows Adding value doorstep delivery Dalbeattie

Lockdown drives demand The milk round operated by one Dumfriesshire-based dairy business has seen deliveries almost double since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in March. Aylett Longland-Roan runs Roan’s Dairy, in partnership with her husband Stuart, brother-inlaw Steven and his wife Tracey. The business sells milk direct to customers, through a milk delivery round, from the family’s 140cow Dalbeattie-based herd.

They began selling direct back in 2015, but even with five years of experience behind them, Aylett says that nothing could have prepared them for the upsurge in demand when the Government announced restrictions due to coronavirus. “At first I didn’t realise what was going on. My phone was ringing constantly, our Facebook page was flooded with messages, and our email went into melt down on the Sunday evening when lockdown measures were announced.

“My first reaction was ‘we have a problem’ but then I saw that the messages were from people wanting to become customers. So we swung into action. It was literally an overnight explosion.”

Prior to March 23, 2020, Roan’s Dairy had around 1,500 regular customers within a 25-mile radius of the unit. After that date the figure climbed – fast and steadily – until the end of May where it peaked at 3,700, spread across a 55-mile radius.

“We took on six more employees, to help with delivery, storage and office admin, taking staffing to 13 full-timers and three part-

timers. And we’ve also added three more delivery vans to our fleet of seven. We’ve had to invest to meet the challenge of selling milk direct to local customers. But we felt that this was not only an opportunity to showcase what we can do – and the top quality milk that we produce – but to also highlight importance of supporting local, sustainable businesses.”

Aylett says that they’ve never wanted to run a huge round. “We pride ourselves on selling a local product to local people. We process our own milk every other day. So a third is still sold for processing. And we’re happy with that.”

Milk is sold direct to people’s doors in 500ml, one-litre and twolitre polybottles, retailing at 75p, £1.40 and £1.90 respectively.

Some customers, disappointingly, reverted back to buying supermarket milk as lockdown restrictions began to ease in June. “But we hope to retain most of our new customers. We have ramped up our on-line presence and social media activity.

And we’re working on being more ‘accessible’ by setting up an automated online ordering service.”

Aylett says that some customers have also expressed a preference for milk in glass bottles, so they’re about to begin offering those as well as polybottles. “We’re excited about what’s next in 2020.

We’re not striving for a bigger, wider round. We just want a ‘healthy’ sized local customer base. If we can retain what we have and continue to grow organically then we’ll be happy.”

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HERD REPORT TRACEY BUNNEY

Cream of crop

rises to the top One Hampshire-based producer has scooped a prestigious production award and also has a close eye on cow comfort, health and sustainability. We spoke to her to find out more.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name Tracey Bunney Location Winchester, Hampshire

Herd size 271 cows plus 70 followers

Unit size 122 hectares (dairy)

Average yield 7,986 litres Winchester

I

t was her father’s ambition to breed the top Jersey, based on production, in the country and this was the year that Tracey Bunney realised his dream. Her Hampshire-based pedigree Jersey herd was crowned winner of the 2019 Lilyhill Cup, which is awarded to the highest ranked Jersey herd in the NMR/ RABDF Gold Cup competition.

“He always bred big cows that produced plenty of milk.

And that’s what I strive for too,” says Tracey, who farms at Avington Manor Farm near Winchester. “Dad passed away seven years ago, but he’d have been thrilled – just as we are – with our win.”

That said, she says she doesn’t set out to win competitions: “That’s just the cherry on top for us. First and foremost, we want to milk healthy and happy cows. High milk yields are a side effect or good breeding and management.

So we make health, fertility and cow comfort a priority, as well as choosing the best Jersey sires to use on our herd.”

Today Tracey, who is the third generation to manage the herd, runs the dairy business in partnership with her mother Sue. Her father, John, founded the herd – a mixture of Guernseys and Jerseys – in 1954 when they moved to Hampshire, from Devon. And since then the Lakedale herd has become pure Jersey. Tracey’s two young sons, Billy and Barney, are enthusiastic dairymen.

“They’re both keen on spending time with the cows and helping out of the unit,” says Tracey.

Sue still plays a key role in managing the dairy business, but is predominantly office based. She looks after the accounts and the paperwork. So it really is a family run business, with help from three full-time employees who also work on the arable enterprise.

Summer grazing The Bunneys run a 271-cow herd, plus 60 followers, on an all-year-round calving system. Cows are fed a TMR all year round. This comprises grass and maize silage, homegrown lucerne, molasses, golden flake and the rumen buffer Equaliser, to maximise diet efficiency. Individual cows are topped up to yield in the parlour with a 16% protein concentrate, to a maximum of 4kg a day, dropping to 0.5kg per day for low yielders.

Cows are grazed through summer on either a paddock or strip-grazing system, depending on grass growth.

Low yielders are turned out to graze from April and the higher yielders are turned out after first-cut silage.

Depending on grass growth, grassland is managed on either a paddock or strip-grazing system.

The herd is milked through a 20:20 herringbone parlour, twice a day, and average yield is 7,986kg of milk with a combined fat and protein of 689kg. The herd’s highest yielding cow, Lakedale Clipper Ripple, produced 13,900kg of milk. This is testament to the influence of breeding on the herd – as well as tip-top management. Somatic cell

count stands at 193,000 cells/ml and milk is sold to Arla.

The farm comprises 565 hectares, with 122 hectares allocated to the dairy enterprise and used for grazing and growing grass and maize silage, as well as lucerne. The remainder is in an arable rotation. This provides plenty of straw for the three sheds where the cows are loose housed. These are mucked out every six to eight weeks.

“The sheds are relatively new and designed for cow comfort. I like to see cows in deep, clean straw beds.”

NMR’s Bryan Radford presents Tracey Bunney, and her son Barney, with the Lilyhill Cup

‘Special’ group In the winter the herd is split into three groups: highs, lows and what Tracey calls a ‘special’ group. “These are cows and heifers that have calved within the past two months. They’re housed next to the dry cow and calving area, so I can keep a closer eye on them.”

Dry cows are housed three weeks prior to calving and fed a straw-based DCAB ration.

With more than 60 years of pedigree breeding behind the herd, continuing the legacy of her father, and her grandfather Jack, are important to Tracey. “Dad always preferred Jerseys and it’s the same for me. They have personality and produce plenty of high-component milk.”

When selecting sires, Tracey chooses bulls from the US, Canada and Denmark. “The North American sires offer stature and size and the Danish offer milk and good components. So we’ll use Canadian or US semen and then cross back with a Danish sire to add back some butterfat.”

Larger, taller Jerseys have always been on the agenda, particularly back when her father was in charge. “We have land that can be prone to poaching, so back then it was about keeping the cows’ udders up and out of the mud. We’ve preferred breeding taller Jerseys ever since and high milk yield is also high on our list of ‘must haves’.”

Only sires that are positive for milk and components are used, with good feet and legs. “We have around five different Jersey sires in the flask at any one time.

Sires currently in the AI flask include: Daybreak, Colton, Janko, Principal, Rodney, Quintana and Visionary.

The Bunneys have also had success at breeding their own bulls, which have had a significant influence on the herd during the past 10 years. Their most recent home-bred sire is Lakedale Brahms Ben. All Jersey semen used on the herd’s top cows and all heifers is sexed. Belgian Blue semen is used on lower genetic merit cows and calves are reared and sold as stores at 12 months old. The unneys also recently began using Wagyu semen: “To try something a little different,” says Tracey. “We’re confident that, coupled with the marbling in Jersey beef, the Wagyu cross will produce a highly marketable beef.” The family has built a strong commercial herd that offers the next generation – Barney and Billy – a future in farming should their interest in the herd continue to develop. l

cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

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A FEW WORDS FROM ROGER EVANS

Shropshire-based producer and award-winning columnist Roger Evans shares his own unique grass measuring techniques.

‘Milky’ grass

and corgis’ shoulders As usual there is good news and there is bad news. I’m referring to grass growth, or the lack of it, so the good news is not that good.

Modern grassland managers use a plate meter to monitor and quantify grass growth. Those of us a certain age had to rely on more everyday indicators. During the past few years I have become the family lawn mower. Although I have a decent-ish ride-on mower, it still takes me two hours to cut all the grass. And what grass there is on a lawn is usually a good guide to what is going on in the fields.

I never collect the grass cuttings and I usually cut the lawns twice a week in May and June to avoid what I think is an unsightly swath.

I haven’t had to cut them for more than three weeks. The lawns are mostly brown – even the daisies and moles have given up. I have saved quite a lot of petrol. That’s the end of the good news.

I was looking forward to mowing the lawns as a ‘lockdown’ distraction.

Although plate meters became popular after my days as an electric fence mover, I always thought I had a good eye for how much to give a herd. If you gave them too much they would waste some, but if you didn’t give them enough the milk would be down next day and they would graze the sward too hard and recovery would take longer. Of course there were indicators that you could use to help. I always found that grass was at its most nutritious, leafy and most ‘milky’ if it was up to a corgi’s shoulders. But if you couldn’t see a cock pheasant in it then it was time to get the mower out and make a few bales of silage.

When the dry spell started I must confess that I had fears that we were about to see a repeat of 1976. It’s a long time ago now, but those of us who had to milk cows through that summer find it indelibly etched in our memories. This has always been a dry farm, but I think that we went for three months without any rain. I remember letting the cows out after morning milking and them going off down their track in a cloud of dust, optimistically and with a spring in their step. Then just an hour later they would be back on the yard, bawling for silage.

Zero grazing is now part of our system, so we bring fresh grass home when it’s needed. Grass growth can alter quickly at this time of year and the fields we are zero grazing have now gone to head. But there is a lot of clover in it and the cows are milking well. They always seem full and if they are full they are content. Keeping your cows content is what good cow management is all about.

“If you couldn’t see a cock pheasant in it then it was time to make a few bales of silage”

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FORFARMERS FOCUS

Keeping transition management simple and effective There are huge benefits in milk yield, feed efficiency, fertility and health from an effective transition programme, but this doesn’t mean running a complicated system.

“Research and experience have demonstrated that more than 80% of health and performance problems in dairy cows result from the transition period,” says ForFarmers’ James Hague.

“When we investigate where the issues lie, a shortfall in supplying consistent and balanced nutrition is usually at the heart of the problem.

For this reason, we developed a range of feeds that provide a balanced supply of protein, energy, minerals and dietary cationanion balance (DCAB) within an easy to feed programme. These feeds, and the principles behind them, have been used successfully on farms for many years because they are simple and effective.”

Transition management also affects calf growth and performance. “The transition period has a profound effect on the developing calf. During the last few weeks before birth, the digestive system and udder are at a critical development phase. Nutrition has an effect on how well they develop, and shortfalls will negatively impact on the calf in its life ahead,” adds Mr Hague.

“Colostrum quality is also influenced, so if we are looking to get the calf off to the best start possible then we need to ensure that we have supplied all the key elements that will

contribute to the production of good quality colostrum.”

The DCAB system is one method of transition management, but a full DCAB system can be complex and difficult to manage. “So we recommend that producers adopt a partial DCAB system, which is simpler to run, and then supplement that with specialised products, such as our TransLac range,” says Mr Hague.

ForFarmers’ TransLac feed range includes three options for dry cows, all formulated to meet the unique needs of transition cows.

TransLac Rolls are a 24% protein, low-calcium feed that is perfect for far-off and close-up dry cows in a typical dairy herd. High protein levels promote high quality colostrum production and tissue repair, and anionic salts lower DCAB and prevent milk fever.

TransLac Extra has slighter higher protein at 26% to support higher performing herds and is good for close-up dry cows. Vitamins, minerals and anionic salts improve energy availability in early lactation and boost health, immunity and colostrum quality.

TransLac Advance nuts are aimed at supporting the highest yielding dairy herds and include all of the benefits of TransLac Extra, plus added calcium capture to prevent milk fever.

For more information about successful transition cow management, visit: www. forfarmer.co.uk, talk to your ForFarmers account manager, or call 0330 678 0982.

bovens bovens regel o

Measure to manage Grazed grass is an excellent low-cost feed, but are producers making the most of it?

The dry matter yield achieved per hectare is maximised by grazing the sward at the right height and leaving the correct residual. Grass grows at its fastest between 1,600kg DM and 2,500kg DM per hectare, so maximising the amount of time the crop spends between these two points will grow more grass across the season.

To help with this, ForFarmers is giving away sward sticks to help producers assess grass covers. Expensive equipment is not necessarily required to assess grass growth. The simple sward stick is a useful way to help producers to ‘get their eye in’ and determine when fields need to be grazed.

Using it frequently will help to build the grazing wedge for the current grazing round, and help to identify shortfalls in grazing that require more buffer feeding, or where excesses require silage to be taken.

Longer term use can build up a picture of which fields are under performing and need reseeding. Typically the top swards grow twice as much dry matter as the poorest performing, so targeted reseeding can help you grow more grass and reduce reliance on boughtin feeds.

To register for a free sward stick please visit: https://bit.ly/SwardStick

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HEALTH JOHNE’S

Getting a grip on Johne’s

An up-to-date declaration, signed by the vet, that confirms a Johne’s control plan is in place is required for all Red Tractor inspections. But, as one Yorkshire-based producer and his vet point out, it shouldn’t take this ‘stick’ approach when it comes to controlling Johne’s.

TEXT KAREN WRIGHT

A

scouring cow raises alarm bells for producer Stephen Britton and he’s back to his paperwork to check her out. Johne’s disease raised its ugly head at Whitcliffe Hall 10 years ago. Now, with a strict control programme in place, risks are minimised and they’re keeping the adverse effects on herd health at bay.

Stephen, his brother John, son Charlie and John’s son Chris, run the 250-cow pedigree Hellwath Holstein herd, near Ripon.

Herd health and welfare are key to the success of this herd, which averages 10,300kg, at 4% butterfat and 3.3% protein on twice-a-day milking.

Suspicion that Johne’s infections were on the rise, from a relatively low level, started when they bought in stock to expand from 100 head. “We got cows and heifers from good pedigree herds, that were allegedly Johne’s free,”

says Stephen. “But people don’t always tell you the truth or if they’re not testing they may not be aware of a problem. So we ended up with some infected cows.”

While only seeing a few clinical cases, some cows showed typical Johne’s symptoms such as mastitis, recurring high cell counts and poor fertility.

Working closely with their vet, Jonathan Statham from nearby Bishopton Vets, the Brittons started on their Johne’s control plan. A decade down the line, and following a series of key management steps, they are confident that the disease is now well under control, and incidence of new cases has been falling.

The herd is grazed during summer, with the high yielders in this all-year-round calving herd having access to a TMR overnight and the lower yielding group having access for two hours after milking.

Cows are fed to yield in the parlour in this NMR-recorded herd, and on the back of recording, milk samples are screened quarterly for Johne’s using HerdWise. These results track infections and identify ‘red’ or ‘amber’ cows depending on their level of risk so that they can be managed appropriately within the herd. The information also influences breeding and culling decisions.

The management protocols that Stephen and Jonathan have implemented have progressively reduced the risk of Johne’s spread and reduced infections.

Whole herd test

Cousins Chris (left) and Charlie Britton were keen to develop a new calving area to improve transition management and support Johne’s control

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“Our first step was to test the whole herd and identify cow families with infection,” says Stephen. “We also bought a pasteuriser for all colostrum from non Johne’s cows and for milk to be fed to our heifer calves.”

Stephen culls cows classified as ‘red’ for Johne’s risk at a suitable time. “I don’t necessarily cull her immediately if she’s a good milker and without other problems, but we’ll always breed her to beef. If she’s giving 70 litres a day and she’s showing no symptoms, we’ll keep her but continue to monitor and manage her as a risk.”

With sexed semen used on his best cows, Johne’s control is even more vital. “If you don’t know which cows are harbouring Johne’s then you could be breeding

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replacements from infected cows and risk accelerating the disease’s progress through the generations.

“It would be quicker to reduce Johne’s risks by culling all cows with positive tests straight away. But some of these cows are efficient milkers and they’re paying their way,” he adds.

While Jonathan Statham is cautious about keeping ‘red’ cows in the herd, he says that other steps are in place that provide extra protection at Whitcliffe, which means that they can strike a balance. Any stock joining the Hellwath herd must be from a low risk herd with up-todate test results.

“Culling isn’t the only control – you have to take it on a case by case basis,” says Jonathan. “What’s right for one farm won’t suit another. But these red cows are a risk to the herd if they remain, particularly around calving.

“We also focussed on implementing the National Johne’s Management Plan through improved farm management and strategic testing. This is one of the National Johne’s Technical Group’s six recommended control strategies and the one that was most relevant to this unit at the time.”

Testing to establish the herd’s Johne’s status and implementing HerdWise quarterly screening for all cows was the first step. “You can’t implement an effective control plan without measuring infection,” he adds.

Testing, pasteurisation and breeding infected cows to beef bulls have reduced the Johne’s challenge in this herd and stabilised numbers of infected cows while good performance and impressive cow longevity have been maintained.

New calving area The recent development of a new calving area with an integrated but separate calving pen has marked the next stage in the Johne’s control programme at Whitcliffe Hall. An external gate so the calf can leave the pen without having to pass through the transition cow yard is also included.

Four key stages to Johne’s control There are four key stages to Johne’s control at Whitcliffe Hall: 1. Measure Johne’s infection on all cows quarterly using HerdWise 2. Selective breeding to reduce the risk of future replacements carrying Johne’s disease 3. Use pasteurisation to reduce challenge of infection from contaminated colostrum or milk 4. Calving and transition management with a dedicated calving area and handling facilities

“This new set up improves calving management and hygiene; the calving pen can be scrupulously cleaned after each calving,” says Jonathan. “It’s something the younger generation have helped push for to promote transition cow health in general, but it also minimises Johne’s transmission and makes control more watertight.

“It’s these extra steps that make all the difference and as ‘red’ or ‘amber’ cows leave the herd at the end of their productive life, we will continue to see progress on the control of infection rates. The management systems are in place for this to continue to happen going forward.”

Red Tractor amended its standards to specify that an up-to-date signed declaration by an accredited vet confirming that a Johne’s Management Strategy is in place must be available for all inspections from October 31, 2019. So far, just over 50% of British producers have completed this.

“While a lot of producers are doing a great job in managing Johne’s, many still need to get off the starting blocks and start testing and controlling the disease in their herds,” says Jonathan.

“You don’t have to see clinical Johne’s symptoms to have Johne’s infection in the herd, and for it to be spreading.

It’s clear – if you don’t test then you don’t know.” l

Picture left: Pasteuriser for colostrum and whole milk is an integral part of the Johne’s control programme at Whitcliffe Hall Picture below: new transition cow yard with separate but integral calving pen promotes hygiene and reduces risk of infection

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Target 24 Hitting 24 months age at first calving is worth over 1.0 pence per litre for the average farm.

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MILKING EQUIPMENT 22 Top tech New parlour speeds up milking and aids herd management.

24 Backing gates Careful and routine use is key to smoother, stress-free cow flow.

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MILKING EQUIPMENT SPECIAL NEW PARLOUR

Parlour saves time and boosts efficiency One Devon-based unit has increased yields and reduced milking times with the installation of a modern milking parlour.

And cow comfort and health has also improved.

TEXT TOM HUNT

S

pending eight hours a day in the milking parlour was taking its toll on the Reed family – and their then 140-cow herd. They also had plans, back in 2015, to expand milking cow numbers at their Devon-based unit. So investing in a new milking set up was a no brainer.

“It was taking four hours to milk and wash down twice a day, which meant that we were spending eight hours in the parlour each day,” explains David Reed, who farms in partnership with his wife Sue and son Dan. “It wasn’t good for the cows to be standing around for so long and we knew that to expand the herd we would need a new parlour.”

He adds that it had been on the cards when they first took on the tenancy at Barton Farm in 2015. So, in 2016 they took the plunge and invested in a DeLaval rapid-exit parlour to replace the 40-year-old 9:18 herringbone parlour.

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The decision making and planning to replace the parlour was thorough. The Reeds visited several units and saw a wide variety of different parlours and milking set ups.

“We liked the idea of using robots but they didn’t fit our system,” explains David. “We are part of the community and Sue runs a growing farm shop, so the ethos of keeping cows inside all year round didn’t sit right with us. Our cows are out from April through to October and we wanted to keep it that way,” he says.

Space saving They also considered a rotary parlour, but the problem here was space. “A 25-point rotary parlour was the smallest available and we would have needed a much larger building than we had space for. And, because a rotary is a circle that sits in a square area, there is also a lot of wasted space.”

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The family settled on a DeLaval rapid-exit, swing-over parlour with feeders. “We wanted to feed cake in the parlour, but we also needed a way of moving the cows more quickly after milking,” says David. “Our cows are so docile that it was hard to move them out of the old parlour, but this rapid exit design works really well.”

He adds that the parlour installers, BH White & Son, recommended adding a small step along both sides of the parlour. “The step looks insignificant, but it’s key to making the cows move. Because the cows have to step down it makes them exit more quickly.

“We also made the exit area wider than others we had seen because the extra space helps the cows to exit more quickly and safely.”

The previous parlour had an ATL electronically controlled feed distributor and David wrote out the cake charts by hand. “We had a good system that worked, but it was time consuming. Installing the new parlour highlighted how much time could be saved.”

Cow data By uploading information about each cow, the DeLaval Delpro 5.5 management system automatically works out how much concentrate each cow needs.

Dan also uses the DeLaval Companion app on his mobile phone, which allows him to log changes in cow behaviour and look at statistics of how each cow is performing.

“We put the cows’ details into the system so we can control the ration and manage the amount that each animal is fed through the parlour. The technology also acts as another pair of eyes, so we can concentrate on other aspects of cow management,” explains Dan. “I can update everything using my mobile phone. If, for example, I notice a cow bulling in the field then I can add it to her record and it updates the parlour management system when I have an Internet connection,” explains Dan. The Reeds are milking 80 more cows – taking herd size up to 220 head, plus 90 followers. “One of us can milk more than 200 cows in just two hours now we have the new parlour. We often work as a pair – either me and Dan, or one of us will work with our relief milker Mike Stoneman. We also have an apprentice, Bill Cornish, who we are trying to get more involved in milking,” adds David.

The parlour and it’s automated technology has also improved herd health. “Cow flow is better, they are sorted at the gate, and waiting times have been reduced. This makes it easier for us to spot any problems and it has shortened the vet visits because we are able to sort the cows using the software,” says Dan. The parlour system also flags up issues that could be missed by the eye, such as a drop in yield. “If, for example, a cow that usually enters the parlour during the middle of milking comes in at the end then the system flags this up and we can look at the cow to see if there is an issue,” says Dan. Feeding calves is easier too. David feeds young stock whole milk and with the old parlour he would do this by siphoning it into 20-litres buckets, which he then

carried across to the calves. “I used to take the milk out of the glass jars that were over a metre in the air.

Now we have two milk lines – a dump line and a main line. The two work off the same vacuum and there is no need to move milk by hand anymore,” he says.

Cow comfort The new building that houses the parlour is also much better lit and has improved airflow. “The old parlour would get too hot and we sometimes had an issue with flies, which upset the cows. The new parlour is more spacious and comfortable for the cows – and the operators,” says David.

They’ve also seen an increase in milk yield since installing the new parlour. Herd average yield has increased by 1,500 litres – from 6,500 to 8,000 litres at 4.3% butterfat and 3.4% protein, with a somatic cell count of 170,000 cells/ml.

“A shorter milking time means that the cows have more time to eat, drink, lie down and rest, and ruminate. They are more relaxed, and we have more time to focus on rationing and other management tasks,” says David.

“We are focussing on improving grass leys and growing better forage to produce better quality milk from healthier cows. We don’t intend to push for higher yields – we are happy with the increase that we have and the time we are saving,” he concludes. l

Milking time: David (left) and Dan now spend considerably less time in the pit

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MILKING EQUIPMENT SPECIAL BACKING GATE USE

Slow and steady Using backing gates with care eases the squeeze through the collecting yard and improves cow flow through the parlour. We spoke to a cow flow expert to find out more.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

B

acking gates can sometimes do more harm than good when it comes to improving cow flow through the parlour. “And it’s not the gate itself – but it’s how it’s used,” according to New Zealand-based vet and cow flow expert Neil Chesterton.

“Cows are not grains of sand, so a backing gate won’t push them through the parlour more quickly if it’s used aggressively,” he says. “There’s an art to using a backing gate to improve cow flow and it’s actually about creating more space for the cows to move around freely, rather than limiting it.”

He adds that many producers install a backing gate, thinking it will solve their cow flow problems. “But it will never improve cow flow if it’s used incorrectly.”

He explains that the gate is there to take up space – not to directly push the cows. “By taking up space, gradually and quietly, the gate will do it’s job. But many producers misinterpret this and use the gate too early to try and ‘push’ the cows through. This takes up too much space too soon, often just as milking starts. And that just

24

creates stress for the cows and can actually slow down cow flow.”

Backing-gate rules Mr Chesterton has developed a set of rules for producers and the first is not to use or move the backing gate until they’re at least 20 minutes into milking. “This gives the cows time to re-order and find their place in the collecting yard. There’s a lot of rearranging that goes on in the collecting yard – producers don’t see it because they’re down in the pit. Cows are creatures of routine and habit.

They come into the collecting yard in a particular order and it’s the same when entering the milking parlour.

They need time to ‘get in order’.

“We operate seasonal calving in New Zealand and studies have shown that within two weeks of the last calving the herd has set their order for the rest of the season.

“On UK units there will be some additional disruption as cows and heifers calve and join the milking herd. But the basic order is there and animals will find their place.

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“There’s a hierarchy, with more dominant cows pushing their way to the front. So it’s important to give the cows time to ‘settle down’ and find their place. They can’t do that if the available space is under pressure.” Once the first two rows, if operating a herringbone parlour, or the first two rotations if a rotary shed, are through then it’s OK to start using the gate.

“But the next rule is just as important as the first – only move the gate forward a metre. Again it’s important not to put too much pressure on the cows.”

Push button The best system is a push button that’s set to move the gate one metre at a time. “Often there’s a switch that operates the gate and there’s a tendency to hold it down for too long. It’s easy to accidentally move the gate two, three or even four metres forward. And that’s too much.

It’ll cause more problems than it solves.

“So I always recommend a button that’s set to move the gate, automatically, just one metre at a time. I plead with some of my producers to install one and when they do they really see the benefit in terms of cow flow.”

He says that on units where cows are afraid of the backing gate and it’s causing stress, putting in a push-button control quickly calms the herd.

For the cows, it’s all about routine. “They’ll soon learn that the gate will only move a metre so they won’t become skittish or panic. They’ll just take a step or two forward. Nothing rushed, but they’re moving in the right direction.”

For producers with rope pull systems, he says that using them should be part of the milking routine – just like dry wiping or pre-dipping. Once that first 20 minutes or two rows have passed, add it into the process and pull gently and stop to watch the cows, to ensure you’re not creating pressure. “It should be part of the routine and not just when you need to move cows forward.

Remember, cows love routine and continuity.

“And what you do with the backing gate should be barely noticeable by eye. If you wait to see movement at the bail entry it’s too late and you’re creating pressure. It’s all about creating a smooth flow of cows.

Gate speed is also important and third on Mr Chesterton’s list of backing gate rules. “Keep the speed at which the gate moves forward to six metres per minute for a rectangular yard, or 12 metres per minute for a round yard. This looks incredible slow, when you watch the gate. But when you watch the cows and how they react to the moving gate it’s easy to see that it’s the optimum.”

He adds that many backing gates are set to move at

Neil Chesterton: “The cows will soon tell you if the backing gate is moving too quickly” double that speed: “And they ‘scoop up’ too many cows and create stress and pressure. Slow it down.”

One sign to look for, to check to see if cows are too bunched up or stressed in the collecting yard are raised heads. “They’re hard to spot if you’re down in the parlour pit, so get up and look. Check for cows with their heads in the air.

“When I’m teaching producers about cow signals it’s one of the things I get them to do – actually look at the cows. They’ll soon tell you if they don’t have enough space or if the backing gate is moving too quickly. Heads up are a sign of pressure on the cows – you want to see heads down.”

Dominant cows Another sign of pressure to watch for is heifers or less dominant cows that face the backing gate, with their backs to the rest of the herd. “Again, this is a sign that the gate is being used too hard. If there’s not enough space in the yard they’re forced to go in and among the more dominant and aggressive cows in the herd and they get a whack on the head.

“They’re smart so, if there’s not enough space to avoid these cows, they put their backsides in harm’s way instead.”

A sign that you’ve mastered the use of the backing gate, aside from a smooth and steady flow of cows through the parlour, is being able to not use it. “Some herds that have really mastered the art of a quiet and calm milking routine – and use of the backing gate – will only use it for the final two rows each milking. Some of this will be that the cows have really mastered the routine.

“I have one client who milks 380 cows and he moves his gate twice for the final two rows. That’s all that’s required and he’s proud of that. It is possible, if you get everything else right. And I tell producers that yes, they could do it too.

“But to get there they need to master the basics of backing gate use and milking routine to ensure smooth and steady cow flow. The cows will do the rest, if you give them enough space.” l

Success with backing gates – key pointers • Only use after the first two rows are through the parlour or 20 minutes into the milking routine.

• Move just one metre at a time – preferably with a push button that’s set to move the gate by only one metre.

• Gate speed should be six metres per minute for rectangular yards and no more than 12 metres per minute in round yards.

• Watch for signs of pressure on cows from excessive use. One sign is seeing cows’ heads up or cows facing the backing gate.

• Remember cows like a routine, so be consistent in using the backing gate. And in many cases, cows will adapt to the backing gate routine in a couple of weeks. So if you have several people milking, make sure they’re all following the same routine.

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(Midlands Farm FCG Accounting Ltd. Registered in England & Wales no. 11344354 FCG Accounting Ltd. Registered in England & Wales no. 11344354 (Midlands (Midlands Farm Farm Secretary) Secretary) 26 cowmanagement JULY/AUGUST 2020

FCGFCG Accounting Accounting Ltd.Ltd. Registered Registered in England in England & Wales & Wales no. 11344354 no. 11344354

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FarmplusJun2019.indd 47 02-07-20 12:52

BREEDING INFORMATION

Focusing on hoof health reduces disease incidence by 22% Breeding for hoof health has been a success.

Data shows that during the past few years, the genetic predisposition of Dutch sires has increased by about five points for the hoof health breeding value.

In 2007 CRV started DigiKlauw, a tool that monitors individual cows’ hoof problems. Foot trimmers register the disorders they see in the cows that they treat. They also score the severity of the disorder.

Six main hoof problems are noted: sole haemorrhage, digital dermatitis, interdigital dermatitis, sole ulcer, interdigital hyperplasia, and white line disease.

So far the DigiKlauw database has collected data from more than 1.4 million heifers and cows in the Netherlands and Flanders. This is linked with pedigree information and used to estimate the breeding values for hoof and claw disorders.

“Since DigiKlauw was introduced, the percentage of hoof problems on the farms taking part in the programme has fallen yearon-year,” says CRV’s Pieter van Goor. “In 2019, for example, 22.4% fewer hoof issues were recorded compared to 2007.”

He adds that there has also been a change in the number of the various disorders. “The incidence of interdigital dermatitis and sole haemorrhage has shown a strong downward trend.

“The most persistent problem is digital dermatitis, which has been the most common hoof disorder since 2016.”

Figure 1 shows the average number of registered disorders per 100 cows per year.

Hoof health really can be improved through breeding, says Mr van Goor. “For example, a breeding value of 104 means cows will have 3% fewer claw disorders.”

Figure 1: Trend in share of hoof problems per disorder since 2007 in number of disorders per 100 cows per year (source: DigiKlauw, CRV) sole haemorrhage sole ulcer

digital dermatitis tyloma

interdigital dermatitis white line defect

number of disorders per 100 cows

30 25 20 15 10 5 ’08

’09

’10

’11

’12

’13

’14

’15

’16

’17

sires

hoof health

black and white Delta Podcast Velder Starmaker Delta Lunar red and white Delta Rosebud Delta Maiko

107 106 104 108 106

SiryX for Starmaker

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’07

If you would like to improve the hoof health of your herd, CRV Avoncroft has several sires with high hoof health scores.

Semen for all sires is available both conventional and sexed.

To find your local breeding advisor, go to: www.crvavoncroft.com/contact-us

Table 1: High scoring bulls for hoof health

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0

Hoof health pros

’18

’19

year

CRV Avoncroft also has sexed SiryX semen available for Velder Starmaker.

This former top 10 gPLI bull guarantees a high milk cheque, thanks to a good milk inheritance and high components (0.15% butterfat and 0.12% protein). His daughters will produce persistently and have excellent fertility (109) and great longevity (590 days).

Starmaker also has impressive figures for Better LIfe Health (10%) and Better Life Efficiency (9%).

Velder Starmaker

First milking Rosebud daughters The first daughters of red-and-white sire Delta Rosebud in the Netherlands have calved. The Filou son was the most popular red-and-white bull in the Netherlands during the past two years, with more than 20,000 first inseminations each year.

Rosebud daughters will excel in protein components (+0.08) and will have excellent udders (112) with strong fore udder attachment and narrow front teat placement.

Rosebud also scores well on Better Life Health (8%), as well as on fertility (105) and hoof health (108).

Semen from Rosebud is still available as both conventional and sexed.

For more information on products and services of CRV Avoncroft: phone: 01562 861582 www.crvavoncroft.com www.facebook.com/CRVAvoncroft/

Rosebud daughter Dompe Annie 31

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FEEDING CALF-REARING

Trialling calf protocols for growth

In a bid to improve calf growth rates one high performing dairy unit tested a new feeding protocol, which combines whole cows’ milk and milk powder, with some impressive results.

TEXT KENDRA HALL

C

alving down at 24 months has been welldocumented to make heifers significantly more productive, resulting in higher lactation yields and more lactations. Providing calves with adequate nutrition from birth onward will help them to meet growth targets early in life in order to reach sufficient weight and size to conceive by 15 months and retain good fertility in subsequent cycles.

Producer Tom Gethin milks a large Holstein Friesian herd on 465 hectares at The Gaer, near Welshpool, with an average yield of 11,400 litres at 4.00% butterfat and

Calves are weighed every two weeks with a weigh band until weaning

3.20% protein. Tom began looking at how he could improve calf management and nutrition on his unit in 2018, following a dairy tour in the US. Milkers comprise 45% home-reared heifers because the herd has been expanded in recent years. And this meant that Tom needed to take young-stock management seriously.

Quality heifers Within six hours of birth, calves are given four litres of their own dam’s colostrum, which is first tested for quality, and are then placed in a disinfected individual pen for between 12 and 24 hours. They are then fed eight litres of whole cows’ milk per day and placed in single hutches until the week before weaning, when they are moved into group pens of seven calves. Calves are given a heifer rearing nut from one week of age to nine months old.

“At six months old we send our heifers to a second farm where they are fed a heifer nut and put out to grass, once they are in calf,” says Tom. “Our aim is for heifers to calve down at 80% of their mature weight, so we look for them to reach the right withers height before going to the breeding shed. Two months before calving, they return to the dairy unit and move in with the dry cows.”

In recent years, Tom has worked on expanding the herd, but now he’s at capacity the focus has switched to improving cow quality. “Our breeding focus is on health and fertility, so we genomically test all our heifers, serve 90% of them with sexed semen, and put the rest to an Angus beef sire,” Tom explains.

Testament to the success of this programme are somatic cell counts at 160,000 cells/ml, a heifer fertility rate of 66%, and heifers calving down at an average age of 23.4 months.

“When we returned from the US trip, we took calves off whey-based powder almost immediately and replaced it with eight litres a day of cows’ milk. This reduced rates of scours prior to weaning, but I still wasn’t happy with their growth rate of 0.75kg per day,” he says. “This was when I asked ForFarmers’ Bethan Till to take a look at what we were doing to see what she thought we could do to improve performance.”

Calf growth rate In December 2019, Bethan visited the unit with youngstock specialist Peter Whittal-Williams.

“We looked at Tom’s calf rearing protocols and realised that they weren’t getting enough milk solids from the cows’ milk. So instead of increasing the volume of milk fed to the calves, we thought we could add VitaMilk

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premium 40% skim-based milk replacer to increase fats and protein levels,” she explains.

“We set up a trial to test its effect on calf growth rate, with the goal of doubling birth weights by weaning and maintaining daily live-weight gains of between 0.7 and 0.8kg.”

Calves in both the control and treatment group were given similar quality and volume of colostrum at birth (measured with colostrum balls), then fed cows’ milk and the same calf grower nut.

The treatment group was also given 50g VitaMilk Premium and fed milk volumes following ForFarmers’ protocols. Both groups had similar average birth weights of 41.5kg and were subsequently weighed every two weeks with a weigh band until weaning.

Calves supplemented with the VitaMilk Premium outperformed the control group. By week two, they weighed nearly 3kg LW more than the control group and 7kg LW more by week eight, at which point

they had doubled their birth weight with an average weight of 87kg.

Staff motivation By contrast, the control group did not double their birth weight, weighing only 79.8kg by weaning. Calves in the treatment group also achieved their DLWG target with an average growth rate of 0.8kg per day, reaching up to 0.96kg per day in weeks six, seven and eight. “I am really happy with the results of feeding the VitaMilk Premium,” says Tom. “The calves are healthy and strong, so the powder will remain in our calf management programme.

“Bethan did a great job of setting up the protocols, training staff and monitoring the calves’ progress, and doing the trial itself has really motivated the staff that care for the calves.

“Our calf rearer has really bought into adding the powder into their milk because he can see the results of using it and it helps him to do his job well.” l

Tom Gethin: “I’m really happy with the results.

The calves are healthy and strong – and staff are motivated”

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Stress Free All In One Calf Colostrum Bag/Tube Feeding NEW

Tel: 01948 667676 www.dairyspares.com

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SCAN ME

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HEALTH NEWS

Free parasite alerts Producers are being urged to sign up for free, seasonal parasite alert emails from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s Beat The Parasites campaign. These parasite alerts cover the major parasite species affecting cattle, including gutworms Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia, lungworm, and liver fluke. The alerts will include information on the likely impact and severity of disease, and a list of action points that producers can follow.

The alerts are informed by data from NADIS, and will soon be joined by regional data from representative farms around the UK. “The level of challenge from the main cattle parasite species varies from season to season, according to certain climatic conditions,” says

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s Victoria Hudson. “It is also influenced by farm-level management decisions. These new seasonal parasite alerts are part of our commitment to help producers keep their cattle healthy and productive. The alerts are available free to all producers, as well as vets and animal health advisors.”

The seasonal alerts will also include links to articles on the Beat The Parasites website, where producers can find out more information on cattle parasites and Boehringer’s range of anthelmintic products.

Producers can sign up to receive the alerts via the Beat The Parasites website at www.beattheparasites.com

New ways to communicate Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health undertook the FarmComm Study, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, throughout May to support producers and their vets to maintain the level of communication required to sustain high levels of animal health, welfare and productivity.

The study was prompted by changes in the way producers work with their vets as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and it sought to understand how vet-to-farm communications were adapting in the short, and possibly, long term.

Around 400 producers completed the survey, which examined how they communicate with their vet in ‘normal’ times and how this was adapted during the period of lockdown and social distancing.

Responses indicated that more than half have the vet on the farm ‘as and when needed’ and not for routine herd health planning. At the same time, there was a huge appetite for practice meetings, with 93% of producers attending them.

‘With fewer on-farm visits possible at the moment, coupled with a complete absence of practice meetings, there is a danger of an

information void forming over time,” says study co-ordinator Matt Yarnall. “We know that the vet is the most trusted source of animal health advice for most, so without the usual level of interaction, what are producers doing?”

Study results indicate that new and different forms of communication will be welcomed by a large proportion of producers. “Online meetings or webinars were well rated as a way of discussing animal health matters with vets and, of all the social media platforms, Facebook was favoured,” adds Mr Yarnall.

“Interactive online meetings were also well regarded, with the preference being Zoom calls,” he adds. “Twelve months ago many of these different methods were not being considered by vets, but now maybe it is time?

It seems that most producers welcome innovation and are keen to continue regular and informative communication with their vets.”

bovens bovens regel o

Prevention focus for mastitis control “Farming is all about continuous improvement – learning from previous experience and dry cow therapy is a prime example,” says Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health vet Kath Aplin.

“When antibiotic dry cow therapy was introduced it made a big difference to infection rates. Cows that would have developed chronic infection in the next lactation were cured and rates declined.”

The next big step change was the introduction of internal teat sealants (ITS). “Teat sealants provided a new way of reducing the risk of picking up infections during the dry period. The way in which dry cow therapy and ITS are used has also evolved,” she adds.

Infection patterns have changed as mastitis control has improved. Fewer cows are now chronically infected at drying off, so fewer are likely to benefit from dry cow therapy. This means that the focus has moved towards the prevention of new infections. And using ITS to prevent new infections has helped towards the targets for reduced antibiotic use. “At the same time, infusion techniques have improved through training programmes and wider experience,” adds Ms Aplin. “This reduces the risk of introducing infection through the teat end at drying off and helps to ensure that the ITS stays in the teat and is fully removed at calving.

“Experts now agree every cow should receive ITS at drying off, to reduce the risk of picking up new infections during the dry period. Those that are likely to be infected should also receive dry cow therapy. Progress doesn’t stop here though. Refinements in the way that cows are dried off continue as we learn, adapt and improve.”

For more information about Boehringer Ingelheim’s products: www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk www.calfmatters.com Telephone: 01344 74 69 60 Email address: ukcustomersupport @boehringer-ingelheim.com

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CRV genetics

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An easy to man and efficient he

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UDDER HE

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UDDER HEALTH PRODUCTION

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FEED EFFICIENCY

CRV uses a unique measurement of hoof health based on the assessment FEED EFFICIENCY PRODUCTION UDDER HEALTH ofFERTILITY over 1 million cows CRV has a fully traceable record of UDDER HEALTH PRODUCTION LONGEVITY conception rates CRV is leading in improving udder health, LONGEVITY using the data from over 3 million cows HOOF HEALTH

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CRV is the only AI company in the world PRODUCTION LONGEVITY using real individual cow feed intake data Holland has the highest average lifetime UDDER HEALTH production in the world CRV is a proven leader for breeding cows LONGEVITY with the highest components

CRV offers the perfect solution for your herd.

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LONGEVI

SERIES BUILDING RESILIENCE

In what are best described as exceptional circumstances so far in 2020, which have and will continue to impact on the sector, many UK dairy producers and businesses should be looking, short and long term, at becoming more resilient.

Part 1 Part 2

Reviewing capacity and resources Staff and labour planning

Power to the people In the second article in our series that looks at the benefits of taking the time to investigate ‘resetting’ your business to increase resilience, we look at the key role of the people you employ.

TEXT PHIL EADES & RACHAEL PORTER

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esilience depends on understanding the system that makes best use of the resources available to the business. So says Promar consultant Andrew Suddes, who adds that one area that’s increasingly deserving of more attention is the people in the business.

“Many producers openly admit that they did not go into farming to manage people, but they are increasingly appreciating that this is becoming the most important management skill on the farm.

“With larger herds, farms are employing more staff who will tend to be more skilled in their roles and so require a higher degree of management to ensure that they are highly effective – both individually and as part of a team.”

He adds that with many businesses reacting to milk price and production pressure by reducing cow numbers, or simplifying the system to reduce output per cow, it makes sense to look at the team. “Check that you have the people and skills for the production levels that complement the other resources of the business.

“It might be that with the current system staff are overstretched. If milking is taking longer, there are more problem cows to deal with, or a greater number of group movements, then it is likely that the attention to detail slips. Staff then become demotivated and overall performance declines.

“With slightly fewer cows, or a simpler system, the team could be more effective and would this then mean that the overall management and the system becomes more efficient.”

Mr Suddes says that there are many KPIs that can be used to determine team effectiveness and then

Stuart Goodinson: “Leadership skills are key to good staff management and retention” to measure improvements, but he stresses that improvement starts at the top and cascades down.

“It is impossible to understate the importance of leadership and of developing an effective team.

“For many producers, managing staff is not their ‘specialist area’, and they may not find it enjoyable, yet it is a crucial skill.

“But in the same way that they might bring in expertise for other tasks they don’t enjoy, perhaps foot trimming or AI, it is possible to bring in expertise to help get the most from the farm team. It could be a way to improve performance and resilience while making life more enjoyable.”

Leadership skills De Lacy Executive’s managing director Stuart Goodinson agrees that leadership skills are key to good staff management and retention – and increasing the net worth of employees.

“Producers run dairy business because they like cows – not because they aspire to being a people manager. But when you’re the owner of a sizeable herd and business

Resilience check: key areas to ensure dairying success Buildings

Land and forage

• feed space per cow • cubices per cow • etc

• proportion of owned/secure land • tonnes of dry matter per hectare • reliance on purchased feeds

Your farm business Staff and people • number of employees • skills gaps and requirements • leadership skills

Capital • balance sheet strength • debt per cow • track record of profitability

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SERIES BUILDING RESILIENCE then you’ve also signed up for people management.

“Developing leadership skills is invaluable and courses don’t have to be tailored to the agricultural sector. People management training is relevant across all sectors.”

He adds that business owners need to be clear about what they are trying to achieve with their business.

For example it could be more milk from fewer cows.

“They then need to identify what skill sets they need to achieve this. Then they need to look the labour that they have and balance the skills set of the team – either through training or by bringing in new people.”

It’s also key to look at your own skill set and make more of what you have. “Don’t hire someone to scrape and bed up, at £10 per hour, and then do those tasks yourself. Yes, they’re important jobs.

But your management skills are better employed elsewhere on the unit.”

When it comes to staff training, he urges producers to find out what employees’ interests and passions are. “If they’re particularly interested in dairy genetics, for example, encourage training in that specific area. It’s about keeping them motivated and invested in your business – and improving their net worth to the business.

“It’s about ‘shaping’ staff and encouraging them, then they will deliver for your business – and you’ll retain staff. That’s really important because good people are hard to find.”

De Lacy regularly surveys the 20,000 or so agricultural candidates on its books who are looking for work.

“Typically around 45% say that they’re looking for a career change or move. But the survey we carried out just a few weeks ago, from those who responded, saw this figure at 75% – there are considerably more dissatisfied and restless employees out there at the moment. So it’s important to be aware of that and, if required, take steps to help retain your staff.”

Decision making Mr Goodinson adds that the main reason people call De Lacy with a view to finding a new position is that they don’t feel appreciated.

“It’s very rarely about pay. They want to be part of decision making processes and to feel that their skills and passions are being fully utilised. And they want to feel that they’re part of a team.”

Motivation really is vital, agrees LKL Services’ Ian Lindsay. “It’s important that staff feel invested in the business – that they ‘buy in’ and feel part of the team. Only then will they take a proactive role in spotting any issues and take steps to remedy them.”

And he says that that starts from the bottom up.

“Everyone – and I mean everyone – is vital to the success of the herd. The person who scrapes the passageways and cleans the beds may not be the most skilled member of the team, but their role is fundamental in safeguarding herd health and fertility.

“Controlling lameness and mastitis are cornerstones of ensuring that a herd is efficient and productive.

So make sure they know the valuable role that they play.”

Staff also have to trust you, as their employer. “Just

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Andrew Suddes: “Every business has its ‘sweet spots’ and the skill is finding out what they are” one cross word, in the heat of the moment, and that trust can be lost.”

Mr Lindsay says that, unlike many large businesses, the financial stakeholder in most dairy businesses is working closely, on a daily basis, with staff.

“So there is a greater opportunity for a ‘blow up’ due to the pressure on dairy businesses. But it’s really important, as an owner and manager, to keep your cool.

“If you know that’s not easy for you, being aware of it is the first step to managing it. Get training, if you think it will help. People management really is key to getting the best out of people – not ‘blasting’ them every time you see them doing something wrong.”

Financial resources Staffing aside, Andrew Suddes says that it’s also vital to look at the financial resources when determining overall business resilience.

“Becoming bigger and more complex, with greater investment, is not always the route to financial resilience.

“The only growth that really matters is growth in net worth. If net worth is not greater at the end of the year than it was at the start, is your business really resilient?

“Remember that growth also needs to be achieved at a variety of milk prices and not be dependent on milk price.”

He says that producers should take the time to review how best to utilise their balance-sheet assets.

“Taking steps to reduce debt per cow and having fewer cows performing better may be a better route to a financially more resilient business than investment in a larger unit. But this won’t be true in all cases.

“For every business there are a series of sweet spots,” he adds. “The skill is finding what that is in terms of cow numbers, yield, and staff. It is not necessarily about constantly pushing for more and trying to make money at the margins. Once you find these, you will increase the prospects of achieving business resilience.” l

Ian Lindsay: “Staff must feel invested in the business – and a valued part of the team”

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT NEWS

Robot boosts Johne’s testing NMR has invested £350,000 in a state-of-theart robotic machine that will be integrated into the Elisa testing procedure for its Johne’s disease services. This is the first robotic testing equipment in place in the UK for Johne’s screening, offering benefits to milk producers and the milk supply industry.

Based at its NML West Midlands laboratory, it provides an automated platform that links key stages of the Elisa test together. An Elisa antibody test is the most used means of detecting Johne’s in individual cow milk samples.

“The new robot enables us to automate the whole Elisa test,” says NMR managing director Andy Warne. “The robotic arm carries the testing plates with milk samples between the testing stages, and through the incubating and plate reading parts. The process is consistent and carried out within the precise timings required in an Elisa test.”

NMR is seeing a significant increase in demand for Johne’s testing and it anticipates that this

will continue as more producers work with their vets on Johne’s control, as part of the National Johne’s Management Plan (NJMP).

Compliance with the NJMP became a requirement for all herds supplying milk under the Red Tractor assurance scheme in October 2019. Currently an estimated 50% of producers have a NJMP Johne’s declaration that must be signed by their vet and confirms that they have an active Johne’s control plan in place.

“This latest investment is part of our on-going programme to provide the industry with high quality, easy-to-use testing services,” adds Mr Warne.

“As with many of our services, samples already collected for milk quality testing at the time of recording can be used in our disease testing services.”

NMR offers a range of Johne’s testing services, including the quarterly HerdWise screening service favoured by many producers and vets, for its routine review of all cows in the herd.

NMR’s state-of-the-art robot for its Elisa testing service for Johne’s disease

Records remain a priority Despite an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, NMR is remaining firmly focussed on its service provision and ensuring that the strictest health and safety precautions are adhered to, from farm to lab operations.

“We will continue to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to protect customer and staff health, while there is still risk of COVID-19 infection, albeit much reduced from the peak infection rates,” says NMR’s operations director Kevin Ridley.

“We took the decision that, as a company, we will not attend any farm open days or events that might take place, for at least the next few months, and that our priority is to provide the testing and management data required by our customers and by the dairy industry.”

bovens bovens regel o

Gold Cup open for entries Entries are now open for the 2020 NMR RABDF Gold Cup competition, which this year celebrates its 100th year. Herds are eligible for entry via four routes: two routes give automatic qualification based on official milk recording data and meeting either criteria for all year-round calving herds or for spring- or autumn-block calving herds. Herds can also be nominated by their discussion or grazing group or through a designated nominating company, where a set of benchmarks should be achieved.

All herds entering the Gold Cup 2020 should meet the following criteria in the 12 months to September 30, 2019: • More than 100 cows/heifers with qualifying lactations in the milking herd • Annual somatic cell count average of 200,000cells/ml or less, or 250,000cells/ml for organic herds • Minimum £PLI value specific to the breed, or minimum £SCI or £ACI Entrants must complete a comprehensive online application, which must be submitted by July 31, 2020. Judges will select finalists for a farm inspection later in 2020, with the winner announced at Dairy-Tech on Wednesday February 3, 2021.

Four further awards based on Gold Cup performance will be made: the Chris May award, the NMR Silver Salver, the Lilyhill Cup, and the Chairman’s Cup.

GeneTracker dates The next genomic sample submission and results publication dates on Herd Companion (or on Search Point) are: • July 23, published Sept 1, (Sept 2) • August 20, published Oct 6 (Oct 7) • Sept 17, published Nov 3 (Nov 4)

For more information about NMR products and services contact customer services: 03330 043 043, email: customerservices@nmrp.com www.nmr.co.uk

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HEALTH LUNGWORM

Be prepared for

late-season lungworm A dry start to the year has prevented cattle from receiving a natural boost to their immunity to lungworm, prompting concerns that any wet weather in late summer may result in severe outbreaks of disease.

TEXT REBECCA DAWSON

T

he season for lungworm disease is changing, with outbreaks occurring earlier and later in the year than usual. Turnout timing, immune status of cattle, and climatic conditions during the grazing season all need to be taken into account when putting in place a strategy to prevent disease outbreaks.

So says Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s Sioned Timothy, adding that warm and wet conditions increase the likelihood for lungworm infection and the changeable

38

spring and summer weather is making it harder to predict when grazing cattle will be most at risk. “Since turnout, the weather conditions have kept lungworm challenge at a low level. This is because lungworm larvae do not survive for long when it is hot and dry. But the downside of this low early-season challenge is that calves and young stock have not had the opportunity to build any immunity to lungworm, and adult cattle have not received their annual immunity

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m

Sioned Timothy: “Immunity requires regular, low-dose exposure to lungworm”

boost from pasture,” she explains. “The impact of low immunity levels in cattle will be felt later in the year.

Higher challenge situations often occur from July onwards and, where they do, there is an increasing risk of widespread disease outbreaks.”

She adds that heavy rain helps lungworm larvae disperse onto pasture, particularly after dry periods where they have been locked-up in dung pats. “Summer downpours indicate that a high risk period is imminent.

Unvaccinated second-season grazing heifers will require particular attention, since any pasture-derived immunity they gained in 2019 will have waned during the housing period. Without that early low-dose challenge at turnout these animals are effectively ‘naïve’ again.”

Costly disease Lungworm causes serious respiratory bronchitis, which can result in long-term losses in cattle productivity.

Growth rates of calves can be reduced by more than 20% and poor growth can result in losses of, on average, between £50 and £100 per head.

Although it is usually younger cattle that experience clinical disease, adult animals that are lacking immunity can also be affected. In the milking herd, losses of around £3 per cow per day, through reduced milk yield, can impact overall profitability. “Lungworm infections can be controlled with anthelmintics,” says Ms Timothy.

“But, unfortunately, once the lungs have been damaged the negative impact on that animal’s performance is

long-lasting, including being more prone to respiratory infections later in life. Pneumonia-like symptoms can occur during high-stress events, such as calving.”

She adds that affected young stock will never reach their full productive potential, and lifetime performance will be poor compared to animals unaffected by lungworm.

“The financial losses will be hidden in slower heifer growth, later bulling, and lower milk yields.”

Creating long-lasting immunity in cattle requires regular, low-dose exposure to lungworm – at levels that do not result in clinical disease. “Managing this balance of exposure and challenge-derived immunity is tricky, particularly when lungworm itself is unpredictable.

“So regular ‘topping-up’ with a low-dose challenge throughout the first and second grazing season for young stock, and each year for adult cattle, is vital.”

Rapid-onset immunity provided by vaccination preturnout can be helpful, particularly in calves and secondseason grazing heifers that usually have little or no immunity. But cattle still need monitoring at the end of the season. Vaccine-derived immunity can wane over time and can be overcome by a high pasture challenge.

Clinical signs “Observation of clinical signs is the usual method of diagnosis,” says Ms Timothy. “When these are noticed it’s important to quickly discuss this with your vet and agree an appropriate treatment strategy.”

Typically, affected cattle will have a deep, harsh cough that is more noticeable when they are moving. Their breathing may also be laboured. Coughing at rest, mouth breathing, excessive salvation, and an out-stretched head and neck (‘air hunger’) position, are all signs of a severe infection. Increased resting, reduced grazing, weight loss, and sudden milk drop may also be seen – particularly in adult or lactating cattle. “Up to 10% of animals may be sub-clinical carriers of lungworm,” she explains. “These cattle won’t show signs of disease, but they will carry adult lungworms and contribute low numbers of lungworm larvae to the pasture.”

During an outbreak of clinical disease, the whole group of cattle is typically treated with an appropriate anthelmintic. “This ensures that animals that are not yet showing clinical signs are treated and don’t become carriers.

“Individual animals may require anti-inflammatory pain relief in severe cases, and where secondary bacterial infections are present, antibiotics may also be required.” l

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BREEDING SHERDON HOLSTEINS

Breed for longevity and

high lifetime yields

Bouw Rocky: his daughters are improving with age

Dutch sires factor in one Devon-based producers’ winning breeding formula. Cows that complete several lactations, with good yields, are prevalent among his pedigree herd. And surplus stock is also in demand.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

L

ong life cows – that’s the ultimate aim of Jerry Palmer’s breeding programme. He manages his 200-cow pedigree herd, plus 300 followers, at Nutson Farm near Chulmleigh in Devon, in partnership with his wife Cynthia and their sons Dale and Lance.

The all-year-round calving herd is managed on a twogroup system. High yielding cows are housed during the summer, but lower yielders that are in calf are turned out and grazed from April through to October, if grass growth and weather conditions allow. Split into two groups, 100 cows in each, is the herd’s typical summer set up and in winter it is also managed in two groups, but one comprises cows and the other heifers. Average yield is 10,900 litres, at 4.10 butterfat and 3.35 protein, and milk is sold to Crediton Dairies.

Dutch genetics have dominated the Sherdon Holstein

40

herd’s breeding programme for the past 30 years and Jerry’s used CRV sires for the past 10 years. “They offer what we’re looking for. Good, balanced cows with plenty of milk and functionality but without the extremes that can make them difficult to manage and, potentially, shorten their productive life in the herd,” says Jerry.

Dutch breeding Jerry first became interested in Dutch breeding after visiting the NRM, with Dekker Farm Tours, in the late 1980s. “Bulls including F16 and Sunny Boy caught my eye and did a great job on our then Friesian herd, resulting in a large jump in production.”

A second trip to the NRM in the mid-1990s coincided with the first showing of a group of Etazon Lord Lily daughters. “I was blown away by these awesome black silky young heifers. They had such quality of bone and good dairy frames. As soon as I got home I placed a large order for some semen and this resulted in more than 60 milking daughters in our herd.”

Jerry says that he still has a few straws in the tank and recently had a typical heifer born – long, black and dairy-like. “We went on to use Celsius on these Lord Lily daughters, which was a nice cross and improved mobility.”

Many of the sires he’s used lead back to Sunny Boy, Lord Lily and Celsius. “These were the leading sires in Europe at the time and served the herd well. So we’ve continued to use Dutch sires, off and on, since the 1980s. We were looking for extra production and dairy character. Feet

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and legs were – and still are – important. And I know that Celsius did well here. And F16 – he did well for us too and produced daughters with particularly good legs.”

So what’s Jerry looking for today when selecting sires?

“Variety is key – we sell between 40 and 50 breeding bulls each year. So our programme isn’t just about breeding the best herd replacements possible. Using several different sires at any one time also helps to avoid inbreeding and ensures that there’s a wide variety of genetics within the herd.”

Long-life cows Jerry uses the aAa system, developed in the US, to match sires to individual cows and heifers in the herd. “An assessor from the Netherlands, Marcel Verboom, comes and scores the females and then ‘plays match maker’, with input from myself, Lance and Dale.”

Jerry uses a mixture of daughter-proven and genomicallyHe says that he has upwards of 10 different sires in the AI tested sires. “We were using all genomic bulls a few years flask at any one time and these are changed every three ago, but we’re back at 50:50 now. And we’re using some months. They’re predominantly Dutch sires, as well as a of the older proven sires. Picston Shottle is another bull few US and Canadian bulls. He has a Hotline daughter we’ve recently got hold of again.” milking in the herd and also recently calved a Lord Lily Sexed and conventional semen is used on the herd. “Some heifer. “They’re both stand out performers in the herd.” of the top sires around at the moment are only available The Hotline daughter peaked at 43kg and is back in calf as sexed semen – I guess the breeding companies don’t to her first service. “We have a few more Hotlines in calf want people to produce breeding sires. It can be a closed and they’re looking good. And we’re just starting to use shop, so I get what I can.”

Delta Abundant P RF. He has an aAa score of 135 and And that’s another reason why he’s keen on CRV sires is also plus on fat and protein. He’s slightly lower on – they’re all available as sexed and conventional semen. kilogrammes of milk, but he fits all our needs for type.” “We have had 14 bulls

go into AI, but that’s more difficult Jerry is looking to breed long-life cows. He’s seen 40 cows now due to genomic testing. It certainly helps to put our achieve 100-tonne status during the past 15 years. And herd on the map and it keeps my interest going.” he’s bred a uniform herd, which is essential for ease of He also keeps two home-bred bulls per year – one for use management. “Holsteins get a lot of bad press about on the milking herd and one for the heifers. “And I sell having poor longevity. But our herd shows that if the them both after they’ve worked for a year.” cows are bred carefully and correctly that they can Sires in the flask at the moment include Esperanto, produce a lot of milk during a long and productive life.”

Entity, Hotline, Hotspot, Jacuzzi and Shottle. “And Bouw Sires for this herd are selected predominantly on Rocky has done well for us recently. We have daughters production. Jerry sets 500kg of milk as a minimum. milking in the herd and they’re improving with age – “This is balanced with type, particularly because we sell just as they should do. There’s not a big plus on milk breeding bulls. We also sell around 40 head of surplus yield, but his daughters will last for a long time. It’s freshly calved heifers each year. Again, these are mainly about balance. There’s no point chasing sky-high yields via private sales – either herds looking to expand or if heifers only stay in the herd for a couple of lactations. replace stock.”

So we’re looking for good yields and durability.” l

Jerry Palmer prides himself on breeding long-life and productive cows

Left: Good feet and legs are key to a long and productive life in the milking herd Right: The next generation of milkers at Jerry’s Devon-based unit

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CONTACTS CowManagement is published eight times per year by CRV BV, Publishing Department Editorial team Chief Editor Jaap van der Knaap Editor Rachael Porter Phone: 01394 270587 E-mail: rachael@reporterjournalism.co.uk Editing, design and production CRV Publishing Contributing writers Emily Ball, Phil Eades, Roger Evans, Kendra Hall, Allison Matthews, Inge van Drie and Karen Wright Publisher Rochus Kingmans Chief editor’s address P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands Phone: 0031 26 38 98 821 E-mail: cm.office@crv4all.com CowManagement online Facebook: www.facebook.com/CowManagementUK/ Twitter: @cowmanagement Website: www.cowmanagement.co.uk

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