25
Heifer and bull calves are reared on separate machines and different milk powder.
bullocks finished each week. All calves are hand reared on their dam’s milk for one week and then powdered milk until they have had all their vaccinations, have been disbudded and bulls castrated. Protocols for vaccination are strict to try to give calves the best start. Calves are reared on machines once vaccinated and then once weaned they move to another straw courted shed and are fed a TMR. Heifers are then fed the same ration until they are in calf, the aim being to optimise growth rates as well as consistency.
Heifers are served on size and weight to calve between 22 and 25 months, but since the change to rearing on TMR heifers have been growing better. Moo Monitors are used for heat detection on heifers and the housing also has self locking yokes to help with AI. “We have been using Moo Monitors for 15 months are happy with the results. The vet still PD checks heifers, but we have had fantastic results. The problem with heifers on TMR is if you miss the first heat they get over conditioned quickly,” explains Lynsey.
In line with the target of self
sufficiency the family grow as much forage as possible
Calves are hand reared until they have received all their vaccinations.
at Broadmeadows, growing grass silage, whole-crop, straw and fodder beet, with Francis overseeing tractor work and all harvesting carried out on the farm. “We use an independent consultant for both the dairy and nutrition. Although we buy in straights, we do use as much home grown forage as possible. The rations don’t change much throughout the year, the main change is due to crop quality.” In order to drive further
efficiencies in the business the family have focussed hard on fertility recently, with transponders helping monitor activity. “We are achieving
about 70% of the herd in-calf all the time and this figure keeps rising. Our herdsman is thorough at checking fresh cows and we have started doing as much ourselves as possible to reduce vet costs and that is another reason for being so conscious on herd health. “Our drive to become more hands on has improved cow management. Cows are all treated individually and all cows are body condition scored, fluked and vaccinated for rotavirus at drying off, fat cows are given a Kexxtone bolus and cows with high cell counts are treated with Cepravin and Tylan. Cows with a cell count under 250 are given Orbanin. Everything calving under three years old is given two buckets of Maxi Care Revive and anything over three years is given a calcium bolus as well .” The strict protocols at
Broadmeadows have meant vet bills have been reduced and vet visits are now only once a month for PD checks or call outs for any problems. The Awde family continue to drive for efficiency without sacrificing quality, they believe everything needs continuity and consistency as they farm for the future.
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