INCREASING PROFIT WITH INCREASED HERD LIFE Prominent dairy genetics and economics researchers Dr. Chad Dechow and Dr. Albert DeVries recently worked together on a study to determine the value of increased dairy cow herd life and profitable levels of herd turnover. A summary of their work provides insights into creating cows that will be most profitable for dairy owners in the future. • A dairy owner that can increase the average productive life of cows in the herd from 2.5 lactations per cow to 3.33 lactations per cow should generate an average of $45 in extra profit per cow per year.1 • Dechow and DeVries determined that the optimal herd turnover rate, also referred to as herd culling levels, for production per cow and resulting profit per cow while optimizing genetic progress in the herd is between 25 percent and 30 percent. • Along with increasing production and potential profit per cow, lower culling rates will reduce replacement needs, reducing heifer rearing program costs. Herd data across the country shows, on average, that cows in their third lactation and greater contribute higher production per day than cows in their first and second lactation. However, these same cows were also well below the herd average for Pregnancy Rate, had higher somatic cell counts and experienced more health challenges. To truly achieve the best return on investment, older cows need to be reproductively fit with better udder health and fewer health issues overall or they end up costing too much in treatment and labor costs. Tools to build healthier cattle Dairy farmers often tell us their favorite cows are the ones they ‘don’t see.’ These are cows that show up for work every day and don’t cause issues because they stay out of the sick pen, breed back quickly and produce milk efficiently. A goal many progressive dairy owners have today is to create more of these ‘silent’ cows, and they have enhanced their genetic selection focus by using indexes that have an increased focus on health and fitness, such as Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®) and Select Sires’ Herd Health Profit Dollars™ (HHP$™). Both indexes have the potential to create more cows that will produce profitable milk yields with good component levels and lower somatic cells while staying healthy and reproductively fit - all leading to longer herd life. Larson Acres, located in Evansville, Wisconsin, is a model herd to illustrate the right mix of older cows that have less reproductive and health issues. With third lactation and greater cows making up 43 percent of the herd, health and wellness is a priority in Larson Acres’ breeding strategy and sire selection index and illustrates the effect of long-term focus on DWP$. Larson’s third lactation and greater
By LCTGP
8 u
Pct
Count
1 2 3
32 25 43
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Total
100
784 615 1076 ======
2475
Av MILK
Av FCM
83 103 107 =======
99
Av305ME Av PCTF Av PCTP Av SCC Av DIM 99 32086 4.7 3.4 35 167 119 33229 4.5 3.3 66 156 122 31603 4.4 3.3 111 151
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114
32160
4.6
3.3
75
157
