ABOVE LEFT Distinctive Snow White Mattia EX90 is a granddaughter of Applevue Rudy Mattia.
ABOVE RIGHT A loafing area was added to the end of the cubicle shed for high yielders.
BELOW Low yielders are housed in cubicles and fed a ration up to 27 litres.
checked at 21 days, with follicle and Corpus Luteums (CL) graded on ovaries and recorded. “We work closely with our vets and Liverpool Vet School which enables students to analyse our data through Interherd to identify management changes needed to maximise herd performance. “We run a voluntary waiting period of 50 days, this was 42 days, but didn’t work for us with only 7% holding between 42 and 50 days. Anything more than 70 days calved with no heat seen is CIDR or Prostaglandin Synchronised, if they are not in-calf over 200 days they are sent cull.” Empty, unproductive cows can’t be carried in a herd of this size, adds Will. To aid the transition period a high straw, low energy diet is fed
to dry and transition cows.
They are also fed anionic salts for a few weeks pre-calving because of high potassium levels tested in the silage. “Given the large number of cows purchased into the herd, knowing the health status has been imperative, therefore, the herd is bled for Neospora, milk tested for Johnes as well vaccinating for IBR, BVD and Lepto,” states Louise. “We haven’t purchased anything for two and a half years now and the focus has turned to managing what we have. Anything we purchase now will be to invest in a new cow family. “One noticeable change since we took on the tenancy is that we’ve become more commercial. Before we were very pedigree orientated and liked to invest in good cow families. However, although we still have a passion for cows with good pedigrees we’ve had to buy to a budget and get milk in the tank.”
That said there are some strong pedigrees in the herd, Galastar Goldwyn Noelle is a herd favourite. “Built like a tank this EX93-4E cow is coming with her eighth calf having lost no time over the years. She milks well, averaging more than 11,000kg at 4.5%bf and 3.5%p. This is currently the main family in the herd with a foundation of seven members that are proving to be consistent, trouble free cows.
“There are also two Goldwyn granddaughters of Applevue Rudy Mattia EX97- 4E, these heifers are the result of embryos purchased from the EX93 scored Lee daughter Baileys Snow White Mattia. The sisters are classified VG86 and EX90,” explains Will.
“Majestic Sanchez Leona was purchased at the Holstein Centenary Sale as a first choice pregnancy. Now in her third lactation and classified EX90 she has two daughters by Gillette Jordan that are milking heifers classified VG85 and GP83, also pregnancies due by Goldsun.
THE HERD IS RUN ON A HIGH INPUT HIGH OUTPUT SYSTEM
THE JOURNAL APRIL 2015 41
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