Measuring and managing via the cow

The cows will tell you every day exactly how good their feed, health and well-being are. So check their production every day: whether they are all eating enough, whether they are all eating the best possible ration every day, and whether you need to make any adjustments. In addition to the cow signals, also check your measured data such as your milk production curve, contents, growth, health and feed efficiency. Methane emissions and nitrogen utilisation could be included as well.

Average and spread

When assessing groups of animals, estimate the average and check whether there are any big differences between the animals. Rations are always calculated for an average cow. Big differences between cows may be the cause of deteriorating results, but they may also be caused by problems with feed intake.

Abnormal cows, special attention cows

Determine how many cows are very different from the average, such as those with a very empty rumen or a too low or too high condition score. These are special attention cows. Always try to identify the cause and tackle it. Record the cases and check whether they could be linked. Are they all heifers or slightly lame animals, for example?

If the heifers in the herd are noticeably small, you know that they need to grow a lot more and are easily pushed away during feeding. Allow them to lactate for longer by only inseminating them after 90 days in milk (DIM). And consider setting up a heifer group. If they are too thin at dry-off, their production in the second lactation will usually be disappointing. Small heifers also indicate that you need to improve your young stock rearing.

Anyone checking cows must have a thermometer to hand, and a notebook or some other way of recording and passing on information.

For effective animal management you need to go and stand among the cows and take a look at all the animals from close by, taking their lactation stage into account, and assess any highrisk animals specifically.

Knowing and managing the risks

High-risk animals = control animalsHigh-risk times

The high-risk animals are the first animals to be affected by certain risks. If you know your high-risk animals, you can use them as control animals. If these animals are doing well, then a risk taken intentionally won’t cause problems. For example, fresh cows and highproducing cows are at high risk of rumen acidosis, and heifers, weak and lame cows are at high risk of gaining inadequate access to the feed.

Production is lower than expected. What do you do?

The cows know exactly and are always right. So start by checking the cows and work your way back to the feed, the ration composition and the feedstuffs. Is every animal eating enough throughout the day? Is every animal eating the correct, healthy ration?

High-risk times for feeding are periods when water or feed intake are under pressure. It may be that the animals are taking in too little all day or even for part of the day. High-risk times can affect one single cow, such as calving or heat. But they can also affect a whole group, such as periods of hot weather or changes in rations. At high-risk times, assess feed intake behaviour and rumen fill, or rumen fill and manure immediately afterwards.

High-risk places

Every place that can have a negative impact on feed intake is a high-risk place. Examples are uncomfortable feed fences, dead-end routes and narrow alleys.