The Key to Tracking and Predicting
Herd Inventory By Sam Minor, Dairy Account Manager & Consultant
There is an old saying that goes, “You can never have too much of a good thing.” That saying, however, may not be true in all cases. Take this example for instance: Some dairy producers have been creating nearly double the amount of calves needed for future herd replacement animals. The reasons for this include the use of sexed semen which delivers approximately 90% female offspring, the adoption of successful reproduction protocols that have allowed annual pregnancy rates to rise above 40%, and a decrease in cull rates due to better management and genetics for healthier animals with longer productive lives.
You can never have too much of a good thing …
or can you? 20
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HORIZONS
This excess of offspring gives dairy producers many options including the ability to 1) choose and raise only the best animals; 2) sell excess females and males to cattle buyers for extra cash; 3) increase the dairy’s size rapidly; or 4) to have a cushion in case of a spike in calf mortality. Excess replacements can also be viewed as a negative. The dairy industry is struggling with prices for milk and cull cows. Some producers who have depended on calf sales are finding they have an excessive heifer inventory with fewer buyers. The feed cost and labor to manage these extra animals can be a struggle too.
Ten years ago, GENEX developed a tool to help producers “right-size” their replacement herd through strategic breeding. That tool – still used by dairies across the world – is known as the Calf Math program. SM
Whether producing adequate or excess replacements, managing that inventory and understanding how and when it will impact the operation is important. For example, producers want to know when changes to the reproductive program will result in fewer breeding age heifers or what month the parlor will reach maximum capacity. Previouslyavailable programs did not answer these questions as specifically or
