The key to this year’s mating success ~ Act Early.

At this stage some of the areas that affect mating are already determined like cow condition at calving but others can still be reviewed and attention paid to those that need addressing.  When rearing this year’s calves remember you are starting them off for a successful career on your farm.  Remember the induction code changes next season so fewer cows can be induced.

Some areas to review are: 

1.  Study your fertility focus report to flag any areas of immediate concern such as the yearlings meeting your liveweight targets before mating

2.  Assess the calving pattern of your first calvers and if not meeting targets review bull management and calf rearing practices.

3. Now as you’re calving and see the results of last year’s mating review whether heat detection practices are adequate. Enhancing your ability to detect oestrus even if a little more costly can lead to compounded long term returns.  Estrotects are an example of a heat detection aid.

4. If submission rates were not satisfactory last season plan to record premate heats and decide if you need to treat any cows and have them attended to early. Contrary to popular belief hormone intervention programs do not lead to more cows in calf but they do lead to cows calving earlier and therefore more milk production and more chance of catching up on the optimum herd pattern..

5. Record all at risk cows now during calving so you can get them checked pre mating that is cows with twin, retained membranes, assisted calvings, induction,etc,..Once again to reap the most reward intervene early if you find you need to.

6. Check out the results of your bull management.  Did you have enough bull power?  This year’s calving will tell the story.

7. You  can close up your calving pattern with non-intervention methods- Try the fertility enhanced dairy beef ‘multiple bull ‘ product “ Fertabull  “.For a dairy genetics option take advantage of the new BV for Gestation Length that is a by product of the revamped calving difficulty BV and use bulls with reliable short gestation BVs.. 

Just keep these areas in mind as you progress through this year’s calving and if any warning signals come up address them now not when you call the AB technician.