Farmer Focus: Good cow condition yields excellent fertility

Flat-out serving in this weather has, so far, gone very smoothly with the new collars.

We did get the vet in just to check, and 25 cows needed some sort of intervention.

As for the bulling heifers, all bar six were served in the first 16 days by use of scratch cards to help identify heats, which did show up well.

Let’s hope they all hold to first service or the bulls will be getting some action.

See also: Why heat detection collars save time in an autumn-block herd

All animals have received their first fly repellent spray, and heifer calves are out on grass having 2kg of concentrates.

The last bunch of 72-day-old Belgian Blue calves averaged £520, but not being able to sell them under 42 days, they did manage to consume £120 each of extra milk powder.

About the author

Eurig Jenkins

The Jenkins family are spring block-calvers near Lampeter, west Wales. Eurig oversees the management of 430 New Zealand Friesians, supplying First Milk. Stocking rates are up to 4.4 cows a ha in the summer. Calving lasts nine weeks and youngstock are wintered on deferred grazing.

Contact:

Email: Eurigj@hotmail.com

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With roughly 113ha (280 acres) of silage on a three-cut system – and first cut already done in fine weather – we will have around 40ha (100 acres) on a two (bulky) cut system for dry cow feed to do later.

Although fertiliser delivery seems to be a big issue here, I managed to get ours in time for applying after first cut and it was nicely washed in a couple of hours later.

Slurry tankering was the next job, but a wiring issue on the ageing 10,000-hour John Deere 6930 made me think about upgrading her at the end of the summer.

I am currently looking at having a few tractors on demo.

Grass growth is good and cow output peaked at over 27 litres; we have reduced concentrates to 3.5kg a cow pre-serving and they have eased off slightly.

So far, cow condition is good, and with very few feet issues – I am convinced the astroturf on the cow tracks was a great improvement.

I managed a few days over in county Tipperary with the missus who is great friends with the owners of Solsborough House in Nenagh, which we used as a base.

Obviously the tight bugger I am, it started with a cooked breakfast in Clare Mart.

While having breakfast, and the weather not looking too bright, I managed to get a factory tour organised with McHale.

We were both impressed with their level of investment and their attitude in producing a product that was exported worldwide.