If we can step up health, nutrition, housing, and transition management, we increase the longevity and lifetime milk production for cows.
New tools – developed by animal nutrition company Zinpro – help dairy consultants, nutritionists and farmers to pinpoint weak spots and stop ‘bad things from happening to good cows’.
For decades, dairy producers have bred cows to give high volumes of milk, increased weight of milk solids and have improved functional type.
But while we have managed to increase production, we have been less successful in extending the longevity of the cows although the genetic potential to do so is there.
If we can unlock this potential, we can increase the lifespan of the cow and hence total milk production per cow.
Transition management is key
Extending the longevity of the dairy cow can not only improve farm economic performance, it also concurrently reduces environmental impact.
It all starts by optimising the conditions around the animal. In other words, stop bad things from happening to good cows. And this is particularly important in the transition period.
When the transition period is not managed well, it can negatively impact overall performance during lactation (including milk production).
The transition cow index (or TCI) is an objective measure of the effectiveness of transition period management in the dairy herd.
It compares actual milk performance to that predicted milk volume – the difference is TCI.
The actual milk production can turn out lower when the cows experience disease during this time. When the cow has more than one disease, the effect on TCI is multiplied.
Milk fever (insufficient calcium, usually around calving) and ketosis (insufficient energy and increased ketones in blood at the start of lactation) have an impact on the TCI.
But this is mainly seen when the cow spirals down into other related conditions such as retained placentas, metritis, or a displaced abomasum.
Transition diseases also negatively impact reproductive performance. Figure 2 below shows some of the common transition diseases and their effect on TCI.
Fresh cow monitoring protocol
The risk of ketosis and sub-clinical milk fever leading to bigger problems when not identified or treated, highlights the importance to have a fresh cow monitoring protocol in place.
Daily screening of fresh cows during the first three weeks of lactation, when possible, is key to identify cows presenting early signs of sickness.
Highlighting high risk cows with a simple identification system like a chalk mark on the head or flank will ensure that these cows receive more attention.
Lame, fat, thin, twin birthing cows, parity >=3, cows that have difficult calving, and cows with retained placentas are all regarded as high-risk cows.
If we can identify these cows sooner, we can prevent production losses and the risk of these cows leaving the herd early because of disease or reproduction failure.
This is an example of how a fresh cow check protocol could be run:
- Fresh cows move from the pen to the milking area;
- Deliver fresh feed to the bunk and top-dress hay;
- Cows return to the pen and start eating with lock-up set;
- Observe cows’ front for appetite;
- Screening starts as the last cow returns to the pen;
- Unlock healthy cows promptly while they finish eating;
- Complete screening and treat identified high-risk cows;
- Unlock all cows within one hour of the first cow’s return from the milking parlour.
A robust fresh cow monitoring protocol should include manual observations of cow behaviour, cow side diagnostic tests and the use of technology to identify cows that are sick.
The table below shows a list of observations and metrics which can be used to monitor fresh cows.
Metric Description Appetite Observe the cow eating when she returns from the milking parlour Rumen and gut fill Has she eaten today (left flank) did she eat yesterday (right flank) Rumination rate Cows should spend a minimum of 500 minutes per day ruminating Milk production Check that daily milk production is increasing after calving Activity / lying times Longer than 15hr/day may indicate a problem Blood calcium levels Between 2 and 5 days, the blood Ca level should be above 8.2mg DL. There are cow-side tests available for measuring ionized Ca in whole blood Blood ketones High levels, greater than 1.4 are only a problem if the there are other negative indicators such as reduced appetite or poor rumination. These levels should be checked between 7-15 days after calving Vaginal discharge Putrid bloody discharges are negative and will have a negative effect on cow welfare if left untreated. Less severe degrees of metritis should be evaluated in the context of other indicators such as appetite and rumination.
Monitoring fresh cows is key, but housing conditions, choice of bedding material, nutrition, and stocking density should be monitored at all times, and for all production groups.
Stalls with enough space, straw or compost packs are critical for the health of the cow.
It allows the animals to rest comfortably, which is a critical component of well-being and encourages rumination, which is key for milk production.
In addition, cows that are challenged for lying time will have a greater incidence of hoof lesions.
Pinpointing weak spots in facility design
There are different starting points to stop bad things from happening to good cows, ranging from improving transition, reducing the risk hoof disorders and changing feed formulation.
Animal nutrition company Zinpro developed the Zinpro FirstStep Dairy Hoof Health and Management Programme, a unique tool that gives a comprehensive overview of the entire operation and quickly identifies the key bottlenecks.
The programme provides 19 assessors that help to evaluate and focus on the key components of performance.
Improving hoof health is the main purpose of the programme, but it is about so much more than just lameness.
The recommendations that come from each assessor will have a cascading effect that will improve many other areas of dairy production, e.g., the ventilation assessor can help mitigate the impact of heat stress in the herd.
The free stall assessor can improve cow comfort in ways that not only strengthen hoof integrity, but also increase lying time and rumination which can have a positive effect on rumen health, milk production and milk solids.
Nutrition for healthy and robust cows
The impact and severity of many of the conditions which constitute bad things that happen to good cows can be minimised if the cow is fed a diet that meets all the nutritional requirements.
This is different for the lactation stage she is in.
- In the early dry period, it is key to prevent cows getting too fat, as this will have a negative effect on immunity and increases the formation of a fatty liver (which will reduce the liver’s ability to produce glucose);
- During the close-up period, DMI needs to be maintained but control energy intake. Controlling potassium intake and ensuring adequate magnesium is essential for preventing hypocalcemia;
- Nutrient demand grows quicker than DMI post-fresh-period so nutrient density may need to be higher than the high production diet to compensate;
- During the high production phase, all aspects of nutrition and feed management should be focused on optimising DMI;
- In the late lactation, it is key to monitor body condition to prevent cows getting too fat.
Supplementation of trace minerals
The supplementation of trace minerals for high-producing dairy cows is very important and can prevent a lot of bad things from happening.
Zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium are essential trace minerals that are vital for animal growth and development, healthy reproduction, and improved ability to defend and recover more quickly from disease.
This is because most trace minerals have a central role in the immune system.
Unlike inorganic and organic trace mineral sources, Zinpro Performance Minerals use a different absorption pathway.
The unique mode of action of these trace minerals allows that more essential nutrients are being absorbed and used by the cow helping to support a robust and effective immune system.
The combination of zinc, and manganese and copper included in Zinpro’s proprietary Zinpro Availa Dairy formulation are optimised for the modern-day dairy cow.
When fed at the recommended feed rate, no other trace mineral source on the market can match the improvements in health, performance and ultimately profitability.
At every stage of life, profitable dairy producers seek to get the most out of their animals by ensuring the best performance from their investments.
We have managed to increase milk production per cow over the last decades, but this means we have to step up our efforts regarding health, nutrition, and overall management.
A healthy cow can produce milk during more lactations, stepping up lifetime production of cows and sustainability of dairy production.
Zinpro has developed a range of tools, products and expertise around management and nutrition to make this transition easier and more successful for the cow and the dairy farmer alike.
Zinpro
For more than 50 years, Zinpro has improved the health and well-being of both animals and people as a pioneer in the research and development of performance trace minerals and innovative solutions.
As a family-owned, privately held company, its steady growth has come as a result of quality products, expert staff and a commitment to helping customers achieve more through science-based trace mineral nutrition.
With regional sales offices in 11 countries and products marketed in more than 70 countries worldwide, Zinpro is the global leader in advancing greater nutrition and smarter practices for a better, more sustainable world.
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