Less concentrates required this year

Silage quality is better this year, and this should save farmers €30-60 in concentrate feeding per animal. This, of course, does not mean that animals do not need concentrates; but they can be fed at lower levels, and targeted to animals that need them.

To achieve this, animals must be grouped properly. Traditionally, one of the biggest problems on dairy farms is poor grouping of animals, often grouping animals of very varying condition and weights. Cows that are too fat or too thin calving down are susceptible to many diseases and production problems.

The problem of having replacements at very different weights and condition is very serious. ICBF data indicates that almost half our dairy replacements do not calve within the target age of 22 to 26 months. Over one-third of our replacements calve down at almost three years old, resulting in a massive waste of money, generally caused by not giving proper individual attention to replacements from calves to calving.

All animals should get the proper level of feeding, and their feed should be properly balanced.

Farmers should be aware of the quality of their feed, and also of the animal condition scores required for best performance.

Silage quality should be assessed and tested, cows should be condition scored, and replacement stock should be closely examined and, preferably, weighed.

Some weanlings and in-calf heifers may be behind target weights; this situation should be corrected as soon as possible. Proper balancing of feed with correct levels of energy and minerals is often neglected.

Replacement Targets

Holstein/Friesian (HF) heifers should be at least 330kg in April for breeding. Moorepark data suggests that even with very good quality silage, weight gains will be about 0.4kg per day.

Getting them to grass early will help, but cannot be relied on. Good silage plus 2kg of 18% protein concentrate with suitable minerals should give weight gains of about 0.6kg per day or 72 kg in 120 days.

Based on those figures, heifers would need to be at around 290kg now to reach the April breeding target, on good silage alone.

Heifers weighing around 250kg, getting silage plus 2kg of concentrates, will be slightly short of target, but an extra few weeks on good grass, or a slight delay in breeding, should have them OK. Lighter heifers should get good silage and 2.5kg of concentrates; aim to get them to grass as early as possible and perhaps breed them in May.

Heifers should be grouped and fed according to weight. Make sure they are free from parasites. If at all possible, avoid late heifer calvings.

The minimum calving target for NZ/FR in April is 320kg, and 300kg for Jersey x HF.

HF in-calf heifers should calve down at 550kg at least, NZ/FR at 525kg, and Jersey x HF at 490kg. Their weights and condition scores should be carefully assessed now, and remedial action taken where required.

Cow Condition Scoring

Dairy cows can put on or lose condition readily.

The correct body condition at important stages of the lactation cycle such as calving, peak yield, service and drying off is very important for the profitability of the herd.

Ideally cows should be dried off at condition score 3.0 approximately, and maintained at this condition until calving.

Mature cows will benefit from an eight-week dry period, while young cows and cows in poor condition will benefit from 10 weeks or longer.

All farmers should familiarise themselves with condition scoring methods.

There are lots of opportunities to learn at Teagasc discussion group meetings and farm walks.