Replacements:
As we approach July, the heifer calves should by now be separated into the on-target and lighter bunches. To calve in February 2017, the calves should be 27% of their mature body weight now. Mature body weight is different to weight at calving in that it is the average weight of all third, fourth and fifth-lactation cows in your herd from a weighing in June or July. If a change in breeding policy took place since these cows were born, then take this into account when deciding what the target weight for calves is now. The maiden heifers should be 67% of mature liveweight at this stage.
The most important thing is to take out the lighter calves and give them some special treatment. You should either run them on ahead of the maiden heifers in a leader-follower system or give them an extra bit of meal. With good grass available on most farms, with aftergrass from silage coming back, I’d be more inclined to give them the best of grass as opposed to extra meal, especially when the weather is as good as it is.
Bulls:
Many farmers are now eight to 10 weeks into the breeding season and the bulls are out over three weeks on some farms. Keep an eye on repeat rates on cows served by the bull as this could signify a problem with his fertility. Some farmers will continue to AI for a week even after the bull goes out – experience has taught them that the AI man beats the bull when it comes to getting a conception for the first week after the bulls are let out. Ideally, bulls should be rotated with each bull getting a day or two off each week. Be extra careful with bulls at this time of year as they can get very dominant and aggressive, especially when bulling activity drops off.
I see some farmers painting lines on stock or vasectomised bulls with a luminous colour across their shoulders and back so that they can be easily recognised when they are in the collecting yard. It’s a safety issue and it means that the bulls can easily be distinguished from cows in the field or the collecting yard.
Taxation:
I was speaking with a farmer during the week who was telling me that he has a big tax bill looming next October after a very good year last year and the year before. He is on income averaging.
With the drop in milk prices this year, he says that cashflow is going to come under pressure and he is worried about what will happen if milk price drops further. After some discussion, we decided the best course of action was to:
Be clear on what is likely to be due, ie the balance of last year and the preliminary for this year, so he was going to set up a meeting with his accountant now, rather than wait for his accountant to come to him later in the year.Set aside a portion of the May and June milk cheques, which will only be used for paying tax next October.
Replacements:
As we approach July, the heifer calves should by now be separated into the on-target and lighter bunches. To calve in February 2017, the calves should be 27% of their mature body weight now. Mature body weight is different to weight at calving in that it is the average weight of all third, fourth and fifth-lactation cows in your herd from a weighing in June or July. If a change in breeding policy took place since these cows were born, then take this into account when deciding what the target weight for calves is now. The maiden heifers should be 67% of mature liveweight at this stage.
The most important thing is to take out the lighter calves and give them some special treatment. You should either run them on ahead of the maiden heifers in a leader-follower system or give them an extra bit of meal. With good grass available on most farms, with aftergrass from silage coming back, I’d be more inclined to give them the best of grass as opposed to extra meal, especially when the weather is as good as it is.
Bulls:
Many farmers are now eight to 10 weeks into the breeding season and the bulls are out over three weeks on some farms. Keep an eye on repeat rates on cows served by the bull as this could signify a problem with his fertility. Some farmers will continue to AI for a week even after the bull goes out – experience has taught them that the AI man beats the bull when it comes to getting a conception for the first week after the bulls are let out. Ideally, bulls should be rotated with each bull getting a day or two off each week. Be extra careful with bulls at this time of year as they can get very dominant and aggressive, especially when bulling activity drops off.
I see some farmers painting lines on stock or vasectomised bulls with a luminous colour across their shoulders and back so that they can be easily recognised when they are in the collecting yard. It’s a safety issue and it means that the bulls can easily be distinguished from cows in the field or the collecting yard.
Taxation:
I was speaking with a farmer during the week who was telling me that he has a big tax bill looming next October after a very good year last year and the year before. He is on income averaging.
With the drop in milk prices this year, he says that cashflow is going to come under pressure and he is worried about what will happen if milk price drops further. After some discussion, we decided the best course of action was to:
Be clear on what is likely to be due, ie the balance of last year and the preliminary for this year, so he was going to set up a meeting with his accountant now, rather than wait for his accountant to come to him later in the year.Set aside a portion of the May and June milk cheques, which will only be used for paying tax next October. 
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