The current economic times have raised the necessity and significance of re-evaluating operation costs, management practices and long-term business perspectives.

The key concept today is operation efficiency and the ability of dairymen and herdsmen to manage economic adversity while persistently looking for opportunities to improve dairy profit margins.

Feeding management is efficiency
Nutrition represents a substantial portion of the input costs. Proper feed management and focus on feed efficiency can have a positive impact on health and productivity of your herd.

• Evaluate feed efficiency and balance income over feed costs (IOFC).

• Maximize the use of local and homegrown feeds.

• Insist on good silage management practices (packing, harvest maturity, use of proven inoculants).

• Reduce shrinkage, promote forage quality and feed digestibility.

• Monitor commodity quality and presentation.

• Follow the nutritionist’s suggested order of loading feeds in the mixer, and practice precision feeding.

• Control and limit feed refusal to 2 to 3 percent.

• Increase the number of push-ups to encourage feed intake.

Reproduction is production
The maintenance of an efficient reproductive program can represent considerable profits realized by an increase in milk production, better herd health, lower replacement costs and lower breeding expenses.

• Target calving interval at 13 months.

• Reduce days in milk to keep most of the herd in high to mid-lactation.

• Maintain accurate and sensible record keeping, supporting the evaluation pregnancy values of individual cows.

• Insist on improving hygiene in the hospital pen to reduce the incidence of peri-partum disease and future reproductive inefficiency.

• Revisit breeding techniques and establish achievable goals to improve reproductive performance.

Focus on a transition health program
Fresh cows are highly susceptible to develop metabolic and infectious diseases. A sensible transition program can reduce treatment costs and improve reproductive and production performance.

• Work with your nutritionist and veterinarian to better understand the potential problem areas.

• Design a comprehensive health plan based on a team approach and defined action protocols.

• Focus on early identification of problem cows.

• Keep regular communication and effective record-keeping. Share observations among team members.

• Insist on preventative management practices to reduce the incidence of metabolic problems post-calving.

Terms to know
Calving interval – the time period from one calving to another
Peri-partum – the time right around calving EL

• Pedro Caramona

• Alltech, Inc.
• Email Pedro Caramona

This article topic also appears in Progressive Dairyman. This article has been written specifically for dairy employees. The article in Progressive Dairyman is written for dairy owners and herdsmen.

El Lechero recommends dairy teams read the articles and then discuss how to apply these principles on their own dairies.