"We feel that nutrition plays one of the biggest roles in sound reproduction success," said Jesse Ayers, pictured second from right in the photo.
"We work closely with our nutritionist, Ben Mercer, who walks the groups every two weeks to monitor manure consistency, BCS (body condition score) and overall health of the herd. We feed prefresh cows (three weeks prior to calving) Animate, which virtually eliminates milk fever, along with Bovikalc boluses at freshening. Treating metritis and retained placentas are very important to getting uteruses back into shape to breed well," Ayers went on to say.
Ayers is just one of six Platinum winners of the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council's awards competition, and they would all agree that the foundation for reproductive health begins long before it's time to breed cows. These herds, which will all be honored at this week's annual meeting in Buffalo, N.Y., shared their insight on how nutrition impacts reproduction. Click for more on the annual meeting.
How do you manage postfresh cows to optimize breeding success?
Ayers Farms, Perryville, Ohio: After calving, all fresh cows and first-calf heifers go into our fresh cow pen. Cows receive two Bovikalc pills (calcium supplement) in the first 24 hours.
Cows with twins get a third in 36 hours. Every morning we check temps along with evaluating appetites, rumen fill, manure consistency, retained placentas (RPs) and risk for metritis. We treat metritis and RPs as needed.
Cows stay in the fresh cow pen seven to 10 days and heifers normally leave by Day 7. Rarely do we have a displaced abomasum (DA) or treat a cow for ketosis. A smooth transition period and feeding added bypass fat (Megalac) also helps to keep body condition scores (BCS) where we want them.
Burns Dairy, Hornell, N.Y.: We place great effort on our postfresh nutritional program to ensure productive and reproductive success. We balance the diet to a lower intake in hopes of meeting our postfresh cow's requirements for milk production, micronutrients, and energy to the best of our ability.
This is an area that we are extremely mindful of supplementing with the right combination of fatty acids. Healthy cows make more milk and healthy cows breed back faster. If we don't get the energy and metabolizable protein right, our cows will strip too much body condition and that situation will have a negative impact on her ability to conceive and hold a pregnancy. We do this by providing both the right fatty acid combination along with as much fermentable carbohydrates as the rumen can utilize.
We also utilize the BHBA (postpartum beta-hydroxy butyrate) testing on fresh cows to minimize ketosis. We minimize high-risk cows going into a dry period by culling in late lactation.
Collins Dairy, Greenleaf, Wis.: We feed consistent pre- and postfresh diets. In addition, our team checks temperatures one to seven days postfresh and sleeves cows with any suspicion of metritis. That being the case, we try to be aggressive on treating metritis and ketosis. Overall, cows are kept in the postfresh pen for 17 to 20 days (or longer if there is a problem). It's also important to maintain low stocking density in the fresh pen.
Holmes Dairy, Argyle, Wis.: We drench all fresh cows as soon as possible after calving. At that same time all fresh cows and heifers get oxytocin, vitamin B12 and vitamin B complex. After milk is tested negative for antibiotics, they go in the postfresh pen for about 30 days. We never fill the postfresh pen to more than a 100 percent stocking density.
Kloppe Dairy Farm, New Haven, Mo.: Our veterinarian conducts a postcalving check on cows and first-calving heifers 30 days postpartum. We check reproductive conditions (ovarian cysts, signs of uterus infections) within 30 to 55 days postpartum. After calving, the older cows are put in a small group for one to two days to monitor for milk fever. All fresh cows and heifers get blood taken once a week for four weeks to check for early ketosis.
Schilling Dairy, Darlington, Wis: Fresh cows are monitored for the first 20 days after calving in the lockups each morning. Temperature, attitude and appetite are closely watched for signs of illness. Early detection and treatment is key in preventing serious fresh cow diseases and uterine infections which may influence our conception rates.
All fresh cows are pumped with a fresh cow drench mix that includes calcium propionate, alfalfa meal and probiotics. In addition, all cows are checked at five and 11 days in milk (DIM) for BHBA with an Abbott Precision Xtra meter and cows are treated for ketosis, if needed, based on test results.
NEFAs (nonesterified fatty acids) are periodically monitored in the prefresh group to assess body condition loss before calving. If NEFAs are high, rations are checked and adjusted. Dry matter intakes (DMI) are monitored with the Feed Watch feed tracking system daily in order to make sure that we are maximizing our feed intakes in the prefresh and postfresh groups.
Prostaglandin (Lutalyse) is given at 10 and 21 DIM to help with uterine involution. Cows are vaccinated with Bovishield Gold 5 L5 HB on Day 21 to maximize immunity to reproductive diseases prior to breeding.
What role does nutrition play in your program?
Ayers Farms, Perryville, Ohio: We feel that nutrition plays one of the biggest roles in sound reproduction success. We work closely with our nutritionist, Ben Mercer, who walks the groups every two weeks to monitor manure consistency, BCS and overall health of the herd. We feed prefresh cows (three weeks prior to calving) Animate, which virtually eliminates milk fever, along with Bovikalc boluses at freshening. Treating metritis and retained placentas are very important to getting uteruses back into shape to breed well.
Burns Dairy, Hornell, N.Y.: Nutrition, along with cow comfort, is a key component to our reproductive success. Similar to a lot of dairies, we struggle with keeping pen populations as low as we would like. As a result, we have to support our cows, as much as possible, in every other way. We start in the dry period where we keep intakes as high as possible. We control the energy so cows don't gain too much weight or drop in feed intake. We feed a diet fortified in organic trace minerals as well as delivering adequate amounts of metabolizable protein and amino acids.
As she moves into the prefresh pen, we also feed a DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) balanced diet to ensure we don't have problems with milk fever, RPs or subclinical hypocalcemia. You can't really focus on "one" disease. Anytime one fresh cow disease rears its head, it is simply an indication that something is out of balance.
Collins Dairy, Greenleaf, Wis.: We utilize the Feed Watch program tied into our Dairy Comp herd software. Feed is custom harvested and put in within 24 hours of cutting alfalfa, and corn silage is put in bunkers over three to four days. This ensures a consistent feed source with a stable moisture content. We use Agri-King inoculants, shredlage and kernel processing, and drive-over piles with double plastic, both clear and white. Reassure is given to pre- and postfresh cows. Overall, we're not using many bells and whistles, just mastering the basics.
Holmes Dairy, Argyle, Wis.: We feel the nutrition program is a key factor in our reproductive success. We work closely with our local Vita Plus dealer, Spensley Feed, and their nutritionists, John Wienkes and Mike VanSchyndle. We feed a low-energy, prefresh diet and keep the ration consistent. The postfresh ration is balanced to challenge the cows as hard as we can without pushing them over the edge.
Our nutritionists body condition score cows at dry-off, before calving and throughout their lactation. Cows must stay on a positive energy balance as soon as possible after calving to maintain our reproduction goals. We feed organic trace minerals, organic selenium and B-vitamins to both the pre- and postfresh groups along with a 60 percent propylene glycol to the postfresh group. We also amino-acid balance the pre- and postfresh rations.
Kloppe Dairy Farm, New Haven, Mo.: We have a nutritionist who creates and monitors the rations for all our dairy cattle. We have a close-up group that consists of cows and first-calf heifers. The prefresh ration has the same ingredients as the early lactating herd with ionic salts added to reduce milk fever. They enter this group three weeks prior to calving. Postfresh cows are put into the early lactating group or heifer group as soon as they calve. Some older cows are put in a small group for one to two days to monitor and manage milk fever.
Schilling Dairy, Darlington, Wis: We believe in a team approach for our reproduction success. We work closely with our local Vita Plus Dealer, Spensley Feeds, and their nutritionists, Mike Van Schyndle and John Wienkes. We feed a low-energy, prefresh ration and implement the best feedbunk management possible to achieve the highest dry matter intake we can through the pre- and postfresh periods. We track body condition scores through the pre- and postfresh period to keep cows on a positive energy balance . . . if cows lose too much body weight, reproduction drops.
We use organic trace minerals, and organic selenium and B-vitamins for both the pre- and postfresh groups along with a 60 percent propylene glycol to the postfresh group, along with amino-acid balancing.
Using Feed Watch, we are able to monitor dry matter intakes closer and stay ahead of pre- and postfresh issues that lead to lower reproduction. Pen moves are critical to keep intakes up and keep overstocking down.
Additional insight from these herds can be found in the November issue of Hoard's Dairyman on pages 731 to 733.
To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.
(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2015
November 9, 2015
Ayers Farms, Perryville, Ohio: After calving, all fresh cows and first-calf heifers go into our fresh cow pen. Cows receive two Bovikalc pills (calcium supplement) in the first 24 hours.
Cows with twins get a third in 36 hours. Every morning we check temps along with evaluating appetites, rumen fill, manure consistency, retained placentas (RPs) and risk for metritis. We treat metritis and RPs as needed.
Cows stay in the fresh cow pen seven to 10 days and heifers normally leave by Day 7. Rarely do we have a displaced abomasum (DA) or treat a cow for ketosis. A smooth transition period and feeding added bypass fat (Megalac) also helps to keep body condition scores (BCS) where we want them.
Burns Dairy, Hornell, N.Y.: We place great effort on our postfresh nutritional program to ensure productive and reproductive success. We balance the diet to a lower intake in hopes of meeting our postfresh cow's requirements for milk production, micronutrients, and energy to the best of our ability.
This is an area that we are extremely mindful of supplementing with the right combination of fatty acids. Healthy cows make more milk and healthy cows breed back faster. If we don't get the energy and metabolizable protein right, our cows will strip too much body condition and that situation will have a negative impact on her ability to conceive and hold a pregnancy. We do this by providing both the right fatty acid combination along with as much fermentable carbohydrates as the rumen can utilize.
We also utilize the BHBA (postpartum beta-hydroxy butyrate) testing on fresh cows to minimize ketosis. We minimize high-risk cows going into a dry period by culling in late lactation.
Collins Dairy, Greenleaf, Wis.: We feed consistent pre- and postfresh diets. In addition, our team checks temperatures one to seven days postfresh and sleeves cows with any suspicion of metritis. That being the case, we try to be aggressive on treating metritis and ketosis. Overall, cows are kept in the postfresh pen for 17 to 20 days (or longer if there is a problem). It's also important to maintain low stocking density in the fresh pen.
Holmes Dairy, Argyle, Wis.: We drench all fresh cows as soon as possible after calving. At that same time all fresh cows and heifers get oxytocin, vitamin B12 and vitamin B complex. After milk is tested negative for antibiotics, they go in the postfresh pen for about 30 days. We never fill the postfresh pen to more than a 100 percent stocking density.
Kloppe Dairy Farm, New Haven, Mo.: Our veterinarian conducts a postcalving check on cows and first-calving heifers 30 days postpartum. We check reproductive conditions (ovarian cysts, signs of uterus infections) within 30 to 55 days postpartum. After calving, the older cows are put in a small group for one to two days to monitor for milk fever. All fresh cows and heifers get blood taken once a week for four weeks to check for early ketosis.
Schilling Dairy, Darlington, Wis: Fresh cows are monitored for the first 20 days after calving in the lockups each morning. Temperature, attitude and appetite are closely watched for signs of illness. Early detection and treatment is key in preventing serious fresh cow diseases and uterine infections which may influence our conception rates.
All fresh cows are pumped with a fresh cow drench mix that includes calcium propionate, alfalfa meal and probiotics. In addition, all cows are checked at five and 11 days in milk (DIM) for BHBA with an Abbott Precision Xtra meter and cows are treated for ketosis, if needed, based on test results.
NEFAs (nonesterified fatty acids) are periodically monitored in the prefresh group to assess body condition loss before calving. If NEFAs are high, rations are checked and adjusted. Dry matter intakes (DMI) are monitored with the Feed Watch feed tracking system daily in order to make sure that we are maximizing our feed intakes in the prefresh and postfresh groups.
Prostaglandin (Lutalyse) is given at 10 and 21 DIM to help with uterine involution. Cows are vaccinated with Bovishield Gold 5 L5 HB on Day 21 to maximize immunity to reproductive diseases prior to breeding.
What role does nutrition play in your program?
Ayers Farms, Perryville, Ohio: We feel that nutrition plays one of the biggest roles in sound reproduction success. We work closely with our nutritionist, Ben Mercer, who walks the groups every two weeks to monitor manure consistency, BCS and overall health of the herd. We feed prefresh cows (three weeks prior to calving) Animate, which virtually eliminates milk fever, along with Bovikalc boluses at freshening. Treating metritis and retained placentas are very important to getting uteruses back into shape to breed well.
Burns Dairy, Hornell, N.Y.: Nutrition, along with cow comfort, is a key component to our reproductive success. Similar to a lot of dairies, we struggle with keeping pen populations as low as we would like. As a result, we have to support our cows, as much as possible, in every other way. We start in the dry period where we keep intakes as high as possible. We control the energy so cows don't gain too much weight or drop in feed intake. We feed a diet fortified in organic trace minerals as well as delivering adequate amounts of metabolizable protein and amino acids.
As she moves into the prefresh pen, we also feed a DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) balanced diet to ensure we don't have problems with milk fever, RPs or subclinical hypocalcemia. You can't really focus on "one" disease. Anytime one fresh cow disease rears its head, it is simply an indication that something is out of balance.
Collins Dairy, Greenleaf, Wis.: We utilize the Feed Watch program tied into our Dairy Comp herd software. Feed is custom harvested and put in within 24 hours of cutting alfalfa, and corn silage is put in bunkers over three to four days. This ensures a consistent feed source with a stable moisture content. We use Agri-King inoculants, shredlage and kernel processing, and drive-over piles with double plastic, both clear and white. Reassure is given to pre- and postfresh cows. Overall, we're not using many bells and whistles, just mastering the basics.
Holmes Dairy, Argyle, Wis.: We feel the nutrition program is a key factor in our reproductive success. We work closely with our local Vita Plus dealer, Spensley Feed, and their nutritionists, John Wienkes and Mike VanSchyndle. We feed a low-energy, prefresh diet and keep the ration consistent. The postfresh ration is balanced to challenge the cows as hard as we can without pushing them over the edge.
Our nutritionists body condition score cows at dry-off, before calving and throughout their lactation. Cows must stay on a positive energy balance as soon as possible after calving to maintain our reproduction goals. We feed organic trace minerals, organic selenium and B-vitamins to both the pre- and postfresh groups along with a 60 percent propylene glycol to the postfresh group. We also amino-acid balance the pre- and postfresh rations.
Kloppe Dairy Farm, New Haven, Mo.: We have a nutritionist who creates and monitors the rations for all our dairy cattle. We have a close-up group that consists of cows and first-calf heifers. The prefresh ration has the same ingredients as the early lactating herd with ionic salts added to reduce milk fever. They enter this group three weeks prior to calving. Postfresh cows are put into the early lactating group or heifer group as soon as they calve. Some older cows are put in a small group for one to two days to monitor and manage milk fever.
Schilling Dairy, Darlington, Wis: We believe in a team approach for our reproduction success. We work closely with our local Vita Plus Dealer, Spensley Feeds, and their nutritionists, Mike Van Schyndle and John Wienkes. We feed a low-energy, prefresh ration and implement the best feedbunk management possible to achieve the highest dry matter intake we can through the pre- and postfresh periods. We track body condition scores through the pre- and postfresh period to keep cows on a positive energy balance . . . if cows lose too much body weight, reproduction drops.
We use organic trace minerals, and organic selenium and B-vitamins for both the pre- and postfresh groups along with a 60 percent propylene glycol to the postfresh group, along with amino-acid balancing.
Using Feed Watch, we are able to monitor dry matter intakes closer and stay ahead of pre- and postfresh issues that lead to lower reproduction. Pen moves are critical to keep intakes up and keep overstocking down.
Additional insight from these herds can be found in the November issue of Hoard's Dairyman on pages 731 to 733.
(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2015
November 9, 2015
