by Jennie Macky, Anna Whitfield – Vetfocus

• Are you really as good as you think you are?
• How do you assess your past performance?
• Have you heard of a Fertility Focus Report?
  • Available from Minda, Mistro and InfoVet.
  • Targets are average of top 25% of farmers reproductive performance.
• Have you seen a Return Interval Analysis report?

Common farmer issues with the report:

• Incorrect cow numbers (carryovers included but forgotten).
• Not submitting culls for AB or running non-cyclers with the bull, heats are not captured in the records, along with carryovers.
• Using CIDRs, ovsynch etc artificially lifts submission rates and heat detection measures.
• Understanding removal of cows has impact on final figure, report makes assumptions for their reproductive outcome.
• Partial report unless early pregnancy testing done to confirm all data.
• FFR can be trusted if farm data is accurate!

Case example:

• Heat detection
• 3 week submission rate
• 3 week submission rate of first calvers
• % of herd in calf graph
• 6 week in calf rate and MT rate

• Nutrition – monitor BCS pre-calving and post-calving – act early to avoid a disaster
• Premating heats
  • Targets are 75% cycled 10 days prior to PSM, 85%cycled at PSM.
  • Useful for staff training, heat detection system review.
  • Reference for heats during AB if recorded.
  • Early detection of problems?
• Why Wait program – for cycling cows only
  • Condenses first 3 weeks of mating into first 10 days.
  • Need to be prepared for following calving season – staff, feed etc.
  • Requires detection of premating heats, a good tail paint system and good organization and record keeping.
• CIDRs – most cost effective when done early i.e. 10 days prior to PSM
• Heifer Synchrony
  • Heifers need to have reached target weight and puberty to give good results – MINDA Weights.
  • CIDR vs double PG.
  • AB Calves, faster genetic gain, more days in milk, more time to get ready for following mating.
  • Need to be able to manage heifers at calving, lots of bull power for subsequent cycles (1 bull can only mate approx. 3 animals per day), heat detection methods.

Plenty of bulls and good management can make up for early breeding mistakes.

• Numbers – heaps!!! (not a liability).
• Minimum number required in herd at any one time thus need to double this.

• Get on farm early so can sort out social order.
• Keep in same subgroups for rotation.
• BVD test and vaccinate at least 8 weeks prior.
• Rotation – daily.
• Not allowed on yard.
• Remove immediately if lame – can affect sperm production for 6 weeks thus remove completely.