Most spring-calving dairy herds have started, or are about to start, breeding cows and heifers.
It’s no harm to refresh the memory on what is best practice at this time of year.
1. Heat detection is critical. Whatever method you use, make sure you use the aids properly. Heat detection aids are not a replacement for good stockmanship, they just assist in decision making.
2. Spend time observing cows. A small proportion of cows will have quiet or silent heats, where mounting activity will not be picked up by tail paint or scratch cards. Sometimes, these cows will show other signs of heat though, so regular observation is critical at this time of year.
3. Take responsibility. On farms with multiple employees, one person should take responsibility for heat detection. This job should be assigned to the most capable person on the farm, usually the farm owner with support from the rest of the team.
4. Take notes. Everyone responsible for picking out cows should carry a pocket diary at all times and write down the tag number of cows that are bulling, or acting suspiciously. If you are unsure if a cow is in heat or not, a quick look at the diary will tell you when she was last bulling and if she was acting suspiciously in the last day or so.
5. Use the best bulls available. There’s no point in going to the effort of using AI, only to use bulls which don’t maximise genetic gain. Dairy farmers should continue to breed efficient cows and, in many cases, this involves using some Jersey bulls. However, sexed Jersey semen should be considered to reduce the number of lower-value male calves.
6. Use the right technique. If doing DIY AI, make sure that you know what you’re doing. Most of the common mistakes revolve around incorrect handling of straws leading to high levels of sperm mortality. Similarly, if using an AI technician, make sure that person is competent and trained by the AI company.