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A contract heifer rearer may have better facilities and more space available
nutritional specifications for the rearing process particularly the milk phase as it is crucial that calves/heifers reach growth targets at key points in the rearing phase as they need to double the birth weight by eight weeks, and need to calve in at 90% of their mature body weight. When you miss the eight week target it is well proven to have an effect on age at first calving and subsequent performance. In some cases it maybe that the farmer pays for feed or milk powder to ensure the correct products are being used, and fed at the correct rates. It may also be that the farmer/staff help out when vaccinations need to be made to ensure that these are done correctly and on time.
Struggling with Heifer Growth and Performance?
When you are struggling to produce enough heifers to calve at two years (at the correct weight), then your costs of rearing will be substantially higher than those that can, so contract heifer rearing could be a realistic option.
It may be that part of the reason for the poorer performance is the housing and environment you have available. Often we see heifers reared in an old cow building, small straw yard or the far end of a dark cubicle building.
A contract heifer rearer may have better facilities and more space available, this could be more cost effective than re- developing an existing facility.
Benefits for Large Herds There can be added benefits for large herds, the contract heifer rearing option can help focus the team on milk production, health and fertility, equally they are more likely to have a dedicated heifer rearer (with just their stock on the farm), that can substantially improve performance and lowers biosecurity risks. In terms of the milking herd, the benefit of this is similar to a flying herd, but having the added benefit of having your own stock back for replacement, rather than the risk of buying in.
One of the added benefits can be where heifers are contract reared on ex-dairy units with cubicles. If animals can be returned cubicle trained it is an added bonus.
But Not for Everyone
But, if land, forage and labour are readily available, it can still be economic to put up a shed for heifer rearing and do a better job of rearing heifers on the home farm. It is worth costing a full contract rearing over a five year period to really see which stacks up best.
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When you do chose to rear your own heifers always make sure that any shed is put up with the correct width to perhaps house milking cows in the future.
Dedicated Facilities
In the UK, the best case scenario is to have a dedicated contract rearer that only has your stock on the farm, but for many this is not possible, so a strict health plan needs to be set up to ensure vaccination, and health status are known, coupled with good biosecurity procedures (and perhaps testing), for when animals return home from the contract rearer.
Contract (Custom) Heifer Rearing USA Style As soon as people mention the USA, often we think it must be bigger, and in some cases it is, but just remember in some of the key dairying states of the USA, the average herd size is similar to that in the UK, in Wisconsin for example it is still under 100 cows, and in Minnesota it is 142 cows.
That said, USA contract heifer rearing facilities are often specialist and well set up. The contracts are well thought through and cover key performance targets in terms of growth, health and age at first calving.
Most contracts in the USA are based on a daily headage payment plus growth rate and fertility targets. The contract rearer would compensate the farmer for mortality above an agreed level (say 1-2%), and most other costs (except vaccinations) would be covered by the contractor.
Putting together a Suitable Agreement
The basis of an equitable agreement is built on the ability for the farmer to have heifers reared to the correct specification in a cost effective manner and the contract rearer to make a living in doing so. When the contract rearer cannot make a living, the heifers quite simply will not be up to specification as corners will be cut. Agreements will include a price/payment schedule, performance targets, and details such as who pays for or provides key cost areas such as transport, vet and med, feeds, livestock sundry items, costs do vary and are dependent on the detail of the agreement.
Key Points: • A Proper Agreement - with targets/specifications, signed by both parties. • Performance Monitored – Service data, growth rates, health and age at first service (AFS), if the AFS is not achieved they will not calve in at 24 months. • Records Available - Farmers should have access to and monitor the service and conception data (preferably electronically). • Payment Terms Agreed – Generally monthly, this may include a bonus or deduction for performance / mortality. • Health Checks – Vaccination protocols, worming etc. It is crucial to record and monitor and ensure animals are effectively vaccinated, and the timings are correct, and also agree biosecurity procedures – these are still required under Dairy Farm Assurance, even if your heifers are reared on contract. • Legislative Responsibility – Agree who is responsible for animal ID, passports, TB testing etc.
THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2015 51
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