Current situation
The cows are currently producing 23.5 litres per day, with 4.80% fat and 3.65% protein, based on a diet of 14 kgDM of grazed grass and 4.5 kg of concentrates. The delayed turnout this year led to higher concentrate levels, but this is now steadily decreasing.
Following the late turnout, the average farm cover sits at 2,435 kgDM. Daily demand is 52.4 kgDM, while growth is 46.7 kgDM. With growth now ramping up, we expect average cover to remain stable despite grazing pressure.
The 6-week in-calf rate has risen to 84.5%, a 1% increase from last year. At the 8-week mark, 88.4% of the herd were in-calf. Post-TB testing revealed 6 reactors—5 of which were in-calf—and an additional 4 cows (1.6% of the herd) had aborted.
The final pregnancy test shows 90% of cows are in-calf, with 100% of first calvers successfully bred. Heifers performed well too, with a 95% in-calf rate. In total, 6 animals (cows and heifers) had aborted pregnancies after previously testing positive.
Over the next month, we’ll carry out body condition scoring across the herd to guide drying-off plans and manage cow health into the next phase of the season.
We’ve already turned out the calves. Heifers will follow once the final pregnancy test is complete. Although we initially planned to keep heifers off the milking platform, current high farm cover means they’ll be used to help control the grazing wedge.
Recommendations
- Use heifers on the milking platform in the short term to increase demand. Combine this with a mix of long- and short-term silage to bring average cover back to target and maintain the grazing wedge.
- Delay the next nitrogen application on grazing paddocks until mid-way through the next rotation. Continue with nitrogen as planned on silage land.
- Avoid chasing marginal gains in the 6-week in-calf rate. Focus instead on improving the genetic merit of replacements through better cow selection and targeted matings.
Read more on Walford College Farm here or contact Sean Chubb with any questions
