• Tail paint all cows (including late calvers) now. This helps to identify all normal cycling cows and reduces the need for pre-breeding checks.

  • Use records to identify all cows with increased risk of uterine infection, e.g., cows with difficult calving, retained placenta, or observed mucus discharge.

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  • Examine this group using MetriCheck/scanning in early to mid April.

  • Treat problem cows (e.g., PG and/or antibiotic therapy). This increases recovery time before mating. Antibiotic treatment should be complete 30 days pre breeding.

  • Record the body condition score (BCS) of every cow in the milking herd. Mark cows in poor condition: a BCS of 2.5 or less increases the risk of non-cycling. These and other ‘at-risk’ cows can be placed on once-a-day (OAD) milking. Mark with leg with band/tape and leave with the main herd.

  • Where a high proportion of the herd is in poor condition, assess the plane of nutrition. Is daily grass intake adequate? Are supplements fed correctly where deficits arise? Total feed allowance may have to increase at a herd level.

  • Where concentrate supplements are needed, offer a high energy (UFL)/low protein ration based on digestible fibre/pulp-based ingredients.

  • Ensure that mineral requirements are met through adequate supplementation via water/feed.

  • At 10 days before AI starts, all cows calved over 30 days and not seen in heat should be examined to assess cyclicity. Non-cycling cows can be treated with a CIDR protocol to induce heat. Delaying this intervention until three to four weeks into breeding will reduce submission rate.