ANIMAL MANAGEMENT
Optimising cow nutrition to improve fertility Reproductive failure and low calving rates are the most significant wastage factors in many New Zealand herds, with significant negative financial and genetic down-stream affects. Lost animals must be replaced, either by being purchased or from rearing surplus replacements. In this situation, often cows that should be culled are retained which inevitably changes the age structure of the herd, bringing with it an increased risk of metabolic disease, mastitis and other complicating factors. In most cases poor reproductive performance is influenced by: • Poor or lack of transition (springer cow) management • Post calving diet —quality and quantity • Body condition score at calving • The rate and scale of body condition loss from calving to mating. There is no doubt that good transition management can help reduce the risk of metabolic disease and the associated risk of metritis. Cows with milk fever are 1.7 times more likely to contract metritis which can negatively impact reproductive performance. Milk fever (both clinical and sub-clinical) can also affect the cow’s ability to quickly reach their peak dry matter intake, causing an increase in the time they spend in negative energy balance. Therefore, minimising issues at calving can go a long way to improving cow fertility. In addition, a good post calving diet directly impacts the amount of energy
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| Good transition and post calving management can assist in minimising the risk of metabolic disease and metritis.
available to the cow. Where feed and
energy balance in the lead up to, and
or feed quality is limited, consider
just after mating, with Golden Flake®
complementing high protein pastures
being a popular choice for many New
with high energy feeds such as grains,
Zealand farmers. Feeding rates for fats
maize or whole crop silage, tapioca
should be at least 200g per head a day
and/or fodder beet. Often when using
for them to have any appreciable effect
high energy supplements, rumen
on energy supply, milk production and
modifiers such as Levucell®SC and
fertility. When considering a bypass fat,
Rumensin® have been shown to yield
there are many different types and they
a significant return on investment
don’t all have the same affect.
through improved rumen health
Lastly it is important to ensure
and feed conversion efficiencies.
optimal antioxidant and trace element
Rumensin® also has other benefits
status in dairy cows at mating. This
including aiding in the control and
helps to ensure the developing egg
reduction of ketosis, acidosis and bloat.
and follicle are protected to reduce
Feeding strategies in early lactation
the risk of early embryonic loss.
can help improve fertility, so seeking
Nutritech has a Mating Boost Pack
assistance from your local Nutritech
that provides cobalt, organic copper,
Area Manager can help you find the
elevated iodine and selenium, organic
best strategy for your farm system.
zinc and Melofeed®, a unique and
One useful tool used for managing
powerful primary antioxidant.
feed and nutrient supply to dairy cows in early lactation is rumen protected fats. Trials with protected fats during early lactation have demonstrated improvements in milk yield, milk
Contact your local Farmlands store to arrange an on-farm consultation with your local Nutritech Area Manager.
composition and fertility. The benefit to
Rumensin® is a Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No A011062.
fertility comes from improvements in
Butler W,R. & Smith, R.D (1989), Fergusen et al., (1989)
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THE FARMLANDER | 33
