LOCOMOTION
One of the most prolifi c traits correlated to longevity and lifetime production is locomotion, as Holstein UK classifi er Iwan Thomas explains
I
n the current milk market climate it has never been more true that cows need to be trouble free, easily managed and long lived. The statement ‘she’s no good if she can’t walk’ is one that is regularly used, but, why is it so true for the modern dairyman? Locomotion is the cow’s ability to walk and move freely and it is vital in any dairy system that cows can walk from the parlour to grass or a feed trough so
they can eat. Cows that are on grazing systems are asked to walk long distances for food and the easier a cow can do this, the less strain her body is under. Also, the fi rst child in the sweet shop gets the best pick of the sweets and this is the same for the fi rst cow in the fi eld or at the trough. Within the defi nition for locomotion the fl ex of the leg is also taken into account meaning that even though locomotion is about the animal’s movement, it also has a lot to do with it’s ability to get up comfortably too. This can be benefi cial to cows that are either housed or outdoors.
The graph to the right shows the effect of superior locomotion in classifi ed heifers on the average age they reach and their lifetime yield. This data shows animals with superior locomotion last more than one year longer than those with poor locomotion.
However, the benefi ts to improved locomotion don’t stop there, the graph also demonstrates the huge improvement in lifetime yield. When comparing the same two groups there is a difference of 16,900 litres of milk in the animal’s lifetime, which equates to about four litres a cow lifetime daily yield. If this is equated into profi tability terms, at 1p a litre profi t it means £169 a cow. In a 200 cow herd that grosses close to £34,000 a year.
Is improving locomotion in the herd as easy as using the best leg and foot composite bulls, or the highest locomotion
44 THE JOURNAL JUNE 2015
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