On top of these results, many parts of the country have been exposed to adverse weather events. It is a timely reminder to assist cows in the preparation for mating.
The starting point is to ensure metabolic issues are under control at calving, body condition score targets are reached prior to mating, trace element blood status levels are achieved, and pre-mating preparation happens well before the first day of mating.
There is such a short period between calving and the planned start of mating that cows will need support to generate strong and long heats. Pasture tests evaluated recently highlighted how low the micro-nutrients are in the grass. These results reinforce the need for supplementation, especially for elements like iodine, selenium, colbalt and magnesium.
Herds being fed a bulb crop like turnips, brassicas, or kale are often deficient in iodine if not supplemented. This scenario must be considered when designing a pre-mating trace element programme.
Focus should be on providing iodine and other critical elements well before the start of mating, not just days out. Nutrimol 4n1 provides essential compounds like iodine, plus other ones to encourage hormone production.
Start a Nutrimol 4n1 Turn Up The Heat dosing regime from calving for best results. Provide cows and heifers with a daily dose at least 30 days before the planned start of mating.
Under a Nutrimol 4n1 programme, heats become stronger, easier to detect and drive submission rates to assist with achieving 90% of the herd being submitted by the end of the first three weeks of AB. To secure a profitable six-week in-calf rate, one of the key drivers is to submit 4.3% of the herd daily. For a 400-cow herd, the expectation is that 17-18 cows will be submitted for insemination every day during the first 21 days of mating.
Good reproductive performance is a crucial driver of on-farm profitability. For every 1% improvement in the six-week in-calf rate, a farmer can expect at least a $4/cow increase in operating profit based on the DairyNZ Gap Calculator. For every 1% decrease in the empty rate, an additional profit of $10/cow.
For more information on Nutrimol 4n1, talk to your Technical Sales Rep or visit your local Farm Source store.
Best practices to support reproduction outcomes
Drive heat strength
For best results, start dosing Nutrimol 4n1 from calving at 5 millilitres (mL) per cow per day (mL/cow/day). Increase the dose rate at least 30 days prior to the planned start of mating (PSM) to 7mL/cow/day and continue until 60 days after the end of mating.
Support late-calving cows and non-cyclers
To assist late-calving and non-cycling cows, dose a single shock dose of 50mL/cow Nutrimol 4n1 to encourage hormone production. Continue dosing 7mL/cow/day during the mating period.
Focus on mating until the end
With the average mating length around 10.5-11 weeks, stay focused on the long game. Continue dosing Nutrimol 4n1 until 60 days after the end of mating, at which time you can reduce the rate to 5mL/cow/day over the hot summer months or cease daily dosing.
Economics
Starting from $7.90+gst/cow/programme, the cost of an empty cow outweighs the investment in a Nutrimol 4n1 Turn Up the Heat mating programme.
Article supplied by Bell-Booth.