u BOOST CALF SURVIVAL

BOOST CALF SURVIVAL

PROTECT YOUR GENETIC INVESTMENT

Lyle Kruse, vice president of U.S. market development King Smith, vice president of North America’s Select Dairy Solutions Select Sires Inc.

CHECK YES OR NO:

Has your Select Sires representative performed a ProfitMAX® genetic audit on your herd?

Do you adhere to a strategic breeding program?

Are you mating your lower genetic merit females to beef sires or implanting beef embryos? o YES NO o o YES NO o o YES NO o

HEIFER NON-COMPLETION RATES

13% Non-Completion Rate Average

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you likely have less replacement heifers.

Right-sizing replacement needs allows dairies to increase investment in sire selection and reveals opportunities in the beef supply chain. While this strategy adds dollars to the bottom line and accelerates genetic success, the dairy creates less heifers, therefore reducing the surplus of replacements.

Increased genetic investment coupled with less replacement heifers makes calves even more valuable. It is paramount that herds have a plan to boost survival rates and keep calves healthy to maximize the number of heifers that return to the milking operation as herd replacements.

Industry benchmarks

The metric used to measure heifer performance is heifer non-completion rate. This is a percentage of heifers that are born on the operation but don’t calve and ultimately do not enter the milking herd. Heifers that die or are sold for health or reproductive issues are included in the non-completion rate percentage. In the last decade, heifer non-completion rates have improved, but there is still tremendous opportunity in both the genetic and management space to better these rates.

Based on data provided by the Select Sires consultant team, the average non-completion rate from 326 progressive dairy operations in 20 states is 13 percent. This can be interpreted as 87 percent of all live heifer calves born are returned to the milking barn as herd replacements. The range was 4-5 percent on the low end and over 25 percent on the upper end of the data set.

There is ample data to support the fact that healthy heifers that do not experience respiratory ailments develop into efficient and productive lactating cows. There is both a genetic and management approach to lowering calf mortality and morbidity to ensure that heifers reach their genetic potential as cows and return the most profit to the dairy. u

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Average N/C Rate 13%

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>28% 26% 24% 22% 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% <4%

1,000-COW DAIRY LOST REVENUE BASED ON NON-COMPLETION (N/C) RATES

N/C Total Replacements Total Calves Lost Total Heifers Calving Value Lost Heifer Revenue

16% 860 138 722 $600 $82,560 15% 850 128 723 $600 $76,500 14% 840 118 722 $600 $70,560

13% 830 108 722 $600 $64,740

12% 820 98 722 $600 $59,040 11% 810 89 721 $600 $53,460 10% 800 80 720 $600 $48,000 9% 790 71 719 $600 $42,660 8% 780 62 718 $600 $37,440

ASSUMPTIONS:

u 2.4 units/live heifer calf; $30/unit for semen and $5/service for insemination u Majority of replacement heifers generated from sexed semen u $3 per day for rearing, treatment and miscellaneous up to six months of age u Average mortality age is three months u Opportunity cost for lost heifers is $250 each u 1,000-cow dairy with 13 percent non-completion rate needs 830 replacement heifers in total inventory u 9

GENETIC TRAITS TOOLS TO BOOST CALF SURVIVAL

Chuck Sattler, vice president of genetic programs, Select Sires Inc.

The availability of genetic evaluations for calf health and fitness traits has expanded in recent years. Adding these traits to your selection index can help make sure these economically important traits are improved over time. Faster genetic improvement is achieved when using traits with higher reliability and using evaluations that effectively identify the extreme animals within the population.

CDCB Traits

Daughter Stillbirth (DSB): DSB measures the ability of a sire’s daughter to deliver a live calf. This is expressed as a percent of stillborn calves, meaning the lower the value, the better. Heifer Livability (HLIV): HLIV measures the genetic ability, or probability, of a heifer to stay alive until 18 months. HLIV PTAs express mortality differences as percentage points, with a positive number being favorable.

Heifer Conception Rate (HCR): HCR is a measure of a daughter’s ability to become pregnant when bred prior to first calving. These evaluations are expressed as percentage points of conception rate and high values are preferred.

Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®): DWP$ is a multi-trait selection index which includes production, fertility, Type, longevity and the wellness traits, including Polled test results. The higher the number, the higher the expected profitability. Calf Wellness Index™ (CW$™): CW$ combines evaluations for calf respiratory disease and scours to directly estimate the additional dollars these traits contribute to overall profitability. A higher number is preferred. Table 1: Number of records, incidence and heritability for calf wellness traits.

Table 2: Genomic standardized transmitting abilities (STA) for Calf Wellness traits based on a reference population of approximately 449,391 head with Calf Wellness trait predictions, cow wellness trait predictions and CDCB primary trait predictions.

Zoetis Traits

Trait

Zoetis Calf Livability Phenotype time period Incidence (%) Number of records h2

2 - 365 days of age 4.7 1,935,405 0.060 CDCB Heifer Livability 2-547 days of age 4.0 3,400,000 0.007 Zoetis Calf Respiratory Disease 0 - 365 days of age 17.3 1,314,944 0.042

Zoetis Calf Scours

2 - 50 days of age 20.8 733,136 0.045

Trait Average STA

Standard Deviation Minimum Maximum

Zoetis Calf Livability 100 5 66 116 Zoetis Calf Respitory Disease 100 5 83 116 Zoetis Calf Scours 100 5 85 117

Table 3: CDCB Traits - PTA Distribution of Active Holstein A.I. Sires

Trait

Daughter Stillbirth Heifer Livability Heifer Conception Rate Average PTA

Standard Deviation Minimum Maximum

5.5 1.2 2.9 12.1 0.8 0.5 -1.2 2.3 0.4 1.5 -4.6 5.5

TOOLS TO BOOST CALF SURVIVAL

MANAGEMENT

Jill Strangstalien, director of herd management solutions,Select Sires Inc.

Newborn calves, especially heifer calves, are an investment in the operation’s future. The first and most important step to maximizing the lifetime production and reproductive performance of these heifers is a colostrum management program that assures successful passive transfer. To meet your operation’s goals, implement a high-quality, nutritionally dense liquid diet. Viable direct-fed microbial supplementation, stringent management and sanitation practices are essential to optimize rumen development and prepare your calves for a strong, healthy start. The Build a Better Heifer® portfolio of products offers this and more.

FIRST DAY FORMULA®

There is never a second chance for their first feeding. FIRST DAY FORMULA is made with 100 percent dried bovine colostrum providing the protective benefits newborn calves need to optimize immune development and health. FIRST DAY FORMULA offers consistency for every calf with the research-based recommended amount of IgGs and biosecurity from transmittable diseases, as well as feeding convenience whenever timing is a factor. FIRST DAY FORMULA is a proven choice as a replacement for, or supplement to, maternal colostrum.

TRI-START JR+

To support your calf’s developing immune system, look to TRI-START JR+ (paste form). Developed using the latest calf research, the unique formulation of TRI-START JR+ is designed to boost your calf’s immune system at birth. The ingredient combination below helps improve rumen function and health by establishing microbial populations, which crowd out pathogens. • 20 billion viable colony forming units (CFU) of naturally occuring microorganisms selected specifically for young calves • Short-chain fatty acid included to optimize absorption • Egg protein antibodies protect the calf from specific pathogens • Vitamins B, C and E and selenium yeast to support immune system development

ACCEL RS

Calf Recovery Solution

• Re-energize • Restore • Recolonize • Rehydrate Help them recover with ACCEL RS so they can get back to happy and healthy! This calf recovery solution is designed to aid in hydration and digestive health for pre-weaned calves.