Autumn breeding is in full flow on most of the autumn-calving Dairylink farms. This article highlights the key management information that you need to consider now if you are three to four weeks into the breeding season.

Not all of the management tips will be applicable to your farm, but take the best and adapt for your farm to make your business more profitable and easier managed.

1. Breed to standing heat:

If you want compact autumn-calving, then you need to breed to standing heat now that the flag has been raised and breeding is in full flow. Waiting until the cow is 50 days post-calving before breeding her is fine, but in a compact autumn-calving herd, it could mean she slips outside the breeding season. Yes, of course conception rates will be lower with those cows that are not calved that long, but every cow that conceives gives a cow a better chance of staying in the herd.

2. Heat detection will get harder now:

Now that the first flush of heats have passed, it will become more difficult to pick up cows in heat because a good proportion will be in-calf and cows are another month on concrete, which makes it that bit slower to show signs of heat. Do what you can to create a softer standing area to allow cows express heat in comfort – can you allow them a small area on woodchip? Can you allow them a small section of a paddock? Some farmers will introduce a teaser bull in the next two to three weeks to help with picking up cows in heat. Try to mind him as it is hard going on stock bulls indoors.

3. Non-cycling cows:

While some will argue that it is already too late for handling these cows, it is better late than never to get the vet out to check out those cows that have not yet been seen cycling.

4. Problem cows:

Cows that have had twins, retained cleanings, etc, need to be looked after. Ideally, keep them in a group of their own so that you can manage them easier and they are not in with as much competition as the bigger herd. If they need to be handled by a vet or someone that handles a lot of cows, get it done sooner rather than later. The fact they had some calving problem puts them under a bit more pressure compared with their comrades.

5. Maiden heifers:

Make sure you have bred them. Don’t be waiting for another three weeks just because they are 10kg to 20kg behind where you want them to be. You could give those not bred a shot of prostaglandin and AI them if you want AI-bred replacements from them. If letting in a stock bull with them, it might be more appropriate to let them come naturally so that the bull can serve them as they come in heat.

6. Stock bull NCT:

For those farmers breeding AI for the next number of weeks, maybe now is the time to make sure the bull is ready when you need him for the middle to the end of January. It is worth getting him fertility tested, as fertility can change from year to year. Otherwise, have a bull substitute ready or run two stock bulls to take the risk away of one not working. It is worth getting his feet trimmed up if the hoof man is in the yard or if you can pare him yourself.

7. Minerals and vitamins:

If feeding dairy nuts, most milking cows will have enough minerals unless forage feed is well down in a particular mineral or vitamin (for example, selenium). A forage test will give you this information. If you are feeding most concentrate as a blend with no added vitamins and minerals, you might need to be careful. The other group that needs to be watched is the dry cow group – keep them on minerals.

8. Milk fever:

If you are getting a lot of milk fever in milking cows and it is affecting fertility or on cows showing heats, then you need to take action. The two main causes are not enough magnesium pre-calving (45g/day is needed and if your silage is only delivering 10g, then your cow needs 30g/day supplemented), and high potassium silages pre- and post-calving. The best solution here is not to feed it to freshly calved cows. Keep it for other stock or at least reduce the amount you are feeding (that means dilute the problem feed).

9. Sexed semen:

If using sexed semen, then you must realise that you will have reduced conception rates, hence you will have more returns. Ideally, only use sexed in your high-fertile cows and maiden heifers that are in good condition.

10. Once-a-day problem cows:

If over the next few weeks you have a proportion of cows not coming into heat, then you could consider once-a-day milking some of these problem cows (thin, lame, old or skinny) at least until they are bred. I know the argument is you are taking milk down, but you will get it back if you can keep the cow calving every year rather than let calving interval go to 400 days and more.