A new monitoring service aims to boost herd health, fertility and production by helping farmers make better use of milk recording data.
Wynnstay’s Cow Watch monitoring service analyses monthly farm data to provide a simple summary of transition management, reproductive performance, rumen health, udder health and milk production.
Available to farmers across the country, the summaries can be used by farmers and nutritionists to better-understand herd requirements, improve their herd management, and ultimately improve bottom lines.
“Up until now, milk recording data has been hugely underutilised,” says Huw McConochie, Wynnstay’s senior dairy specialist. “But there is a wealth of information in there which can help farmers and nutritionists evaluate performance and identify problems in the herd.
“Cow Watch interprets and presents monthly herd data in a clear and easy to interpret format. It looks at short periods of time so that the effects of management changes can be assessed early on.”
Adapted from technology used in the United States, Dr McConochie says the main benefit of the system is improving herd fertility and transition cow management.
“Increased fertility inevitably leads to increased profitability, so making use of the data can be hugely beneficial to a farm business,” he says.
“Fertility improves as cows move from a state of negative to positive energy balance.
“The report looks at the effectiveness of transition cow management and adequacy of the fresh cow diet. For fresh cows it estimates the average number of days it takes for the cows to get into a state of positive energy. Cows in positive energy have a greater chance of becoming pregnant.”
Monitoring energy levels more closely can also help farmers make simple changes to their systems which could drive up milk production significantly, he adds.
“Daily protein production is a key indicator of the energy status of the cow. The target for cows less than 60 days into their lactation is 1.1kg of protein.
“Anything less than that suggests energy levels are inadequate, so it could be worth looking at feeding space and assessing the quality of the diet.”
Similarly poor dry-matter intake and feed efficiency pre and post-calving can effect both butter fat and average days in milk, which ultimately impact on herd fertility.
“Cows with poor fertility have extended lactations, become over-conditioned, have reduced dry matter intake and succumb to transition diseases which affect fertility in the subsequent lactation.
“By providing a summary of production performance, insemination and pregnancy rates, the report is able to indicate where changes need to be made, and calculate the potential savings achieved by addressing the measures.”
