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Published – Autumn 2010

Management of the rumen to ensure breeders give a better financial return

On many beef farms, management and nutrition of the beef breeder cow receives considerably less attention than the management of growing and finishing cattle. This in part may explain why the statistics on breeder cow performance across herds in different countries, including aspects such as number of live calves born per 100 cows bred and annual calving interval, show considerable variation between farms, with average values considerably inferior to what is being achieved by the best farmers.

Crucial indicators of beef herd performance include overall fertility, viability of the new born calf, trouble-free calvings, colostrum quality and milk production by the dam, management of body condition throughout the annual cycle of production, calf growth rate whilst suckling and targeted weaning in relation to achieving the required calf growth rate. Age at first calving and breeder cow longevity can also impact negatively on overall margins.

This represents a huge opportunity lost for beef breeding units, especially if the knowledge of the management of body condition and the minimisation of calving difficulties are applied to beef breeder cows. Bringing about such change can have considerable impact on animal performance and the financial profitability of breeder cow/calf operations.

Dry period feeding
 Breeder cows may be dry for as long as 6 months of the year, given that prolonging the lactation period of the dam may not be cost-effective with respect to feed use. This does not mean that the cow should be forgotten until calving time. Effective planning for next seasons income stream (a live calf in the spring) starts with the effective weaning of your breeder cows. This applies particularly to spring calving cows that will need to be fed conserved supplementary forages during their third trimester of pregnancy (winter). When the breeder cow is non-lactating, energy and protein requirements are relatively modest until the last few weeks before calving and modest quality pasture with some silage, coarse hay or straw can be provided depending upon whether they are spring or autumn calving.

A non-lactating breeder cow is estimated to require only 65- 75 MJ ME/day (depending on land topography) for maintenance and growth of the foetal calf immediately following drying off, until possibly the last 4 to 6 weeks before expected calving. For the initial couple of months after weaning (2nd trimester of pregnancy) these breeder cows can be managed to tidy up parts of the farm that would not give a productive response to growing or finishing stock. However monitoring of body condition during this period is important as there is a strong influence on subsequent calf size/ birth weight as well as the management of the cow in the weeks leading up to calving. Incorrectly management in the 2nd trimester so that a significant change to body condition (positively or negatively) is required pre calving will have a strong negative influences on cow and calf management post calving as mentioned earlier.

During the lead up to calving (third trimester), grazed pasture or silage are often the only feeds fed at this time. Due to the relatively low nutrient requirements coming up to calving (75 – 85MJ/ME/day) , it is easy for sucklers at this stage of pregnancy to deposit significant amounts of body fat and become seriously over-conditioned prior to calving. This can predispose unnecessary health issues around the calving period, affecting the performance of the cow after calving in terms of milk production and her subsequent fertility, as well as calf viability.

To avoid such possibilities, the adoption of a controlled energy, hi-fiber (CEHF) strategy for dry cows is recommended. For most spring-calvers this would be appropriate over the last 6 to 8 weeks prior to calving but earlier adoption of CEHF feeding could be considered where over-conditioned cows could be a potential problem. The benefits of CEHF feeding, at a time when pasture supplies may sometimes be adequate, are often more pronounced.

Typically a Keenan CEHF ration for a breeder cow should contain 9MJ ME and 110g (minimum) crude protein per kgDM. This can be achieved with approximately 50% (DM basis) inclusion of cereal straw along with pasture silage, some energy, protein and a mineral supplement as required. This is fed at between 5 -6kgsDM/cow/day with cows on pasture (3 – 4kgs DM).
Providing adequate levels of mechanical fibre, presented correctly will provide sufficient rumen fill to promote good rumen function and satisfactory pasture intakes after calving. Controlling pasture or grass silage intakes will maintain a more favourable calcium status through control of potassium and sodium intakes, thus leading to a fitter cow at calving, fitter calves born with both better prepared for the challenges ahead.

Control of body condition.
Controlling body condition is crucial and should be a priority aim for successfully managing in-calf breeder cows to achieve satisfactory and consistent levels of performance from both the cow and the calf. Starting with the calving event, the aim should be to achieve a body condition score (BCS) between 4.5 and 5.0 across all cows. Visually this needs cows carrying a modest amount of flesh with no indication of any over-conditioning, which can impact negatively on calving ease as well as getting the cow in calf within the normal breeding window.

By the time of breeding the cow should be on a rising plane of nutrition and a modest gain in BCS to 4.0 would be acceptable. For spring-calvers this is unlikely to be an issue as pasture supplies should be good in respect of amount and quality.

By the second trimester of pregnancy, the cows nutrient demands for foetal growth are still quite minimal whilst demands for lactation will be declining in line with the natural decline in milk production. It is at this stage that poorly managed sucklers can rapidly become over-conditioned and management strategies to control or in some instances achieve a modest loss of body condition may be appropriate. In most circumstances this can be achieved through modest pasture reductions. It is also important to recognise that uncontrolled (ie over or under nutrition) at this time may affect placenta growth.

At a nutritional level, poor intakes of protein by the cow during the second trimester of pregnancy may be another causative factor of large calf syndrome, seen on a significant number of farms in Australia and possibly associated with a higher natural variation in feed quality.

Figure 1. Schematic representations of desirable body condition change and suitable management strategies in spring calving suckler cows.

By the final trimester of pregnancy it is important that the cow should move into a period of body condition stability, where neither BCS gain or loss is acceptable. Consequently the aim should be to get the cow to a pre calving BCS  of 4.5 to 5.0 by week 30 of pregnancy at the latest and then by controlled nutrition aim to maintain this position though to calving.

Considering the substantial investment made in improved breeding and genetics in beef production worldwide there is a lot of potential to be released when this investment is balanced with sound feeding strategies, realising more profitability and sustainability from the breeding herds in New Zealand.

The target, not unlike other livestock enterprises, is to produce high value end products for the consumer. Planning for this is essential at all stages of the production line, and the breeder cow management is the critical first step to a sustainable and high quality Angus steak on the plate.

Keenan Mech-fiberTM programmes for beef producers have a wealth of experience and knowledge worldwide implementing successful breeding cow feed management programmes that release another level of performance improvement for beef businesses. These programmes are about better utilisation of home grown feed focused on better presentation and less wastage of resources, feed and livestock. The Keenan feeding system combines Mech-fiber™ PACE mixer wagon technology with unique on-farm nutrition support to increase long-term profitability, reduce methane emissions, improving animal health and fertility.

Article June 2009

New Keenan PACE technology set to revolutionise feeding

Mystery Creek will see the public launch of Keenan Mech-fiber™ PACE (Performance Acceleration and Control Enhancement), the company’s latest breakthrough in livestock feeding. The result is even greater consistency and accuracy from every ration processed by a Keenan mixer wagon, further increasing the extra margin available through better utilisation of all feeds, including grazed grass.

This next step in the ongoing development of Keenan Mech-fiber rations adds a revolutionary control system to the mixer wagon itself. The PACE control unit ensures the correct feed ingredient quantities are added into every mix, eliminating wastage of expensive ingredients. PACE also controls loading sequence and the processing time required for each and every feed ingredient.

“The result is that fully optimised Mech-fiber rations can now be produced every single time, and without the typical day-to-day or load-to-load variation common with all other mixer wagons,” states Keenan NZ general manager Gary Griffith. “These inconsistencies are normally unavoidable due to differences between machine operators, time pressures during busy times of the year or the changing needs of different rations.

“But the unique combination of PACE technology and Keenan Mech-fiber rations provides the additional accuracy in ration processing required in today’s economic climate to produces substantial improvements in feed efficiency, animal performance and net margin,” he continues. “The Keenan feeding system has been shown to increase feed use efficiency by up to 15% - that’s 15% more milk from the same feed – whilst also cutting methane emissions.”

The Keenan PACE control unit also provides ongoing monitoring of feed efficiency, feed costs and margins, whilst automatically logging and recording details of all feed ingredients used and rations mixed for subsequent analysis and reporting.

Available as an option on all Keenan mixer wagons six-paddle machines, PACE is offered as part of a new Keenan nutritional support package. PACE-Plus is the premium package offering additional support and access to world-wide expertise to fully optimise the benefits of Keenan Mech-fiber PACE technology.

For more information on Keenan Mech-fiber PACE availability and pricing call 0800 4 KEENAN (0800 4 533626).

Article April 2009

Happy dry cow is the first step to success

Take care of dry cows now by getting the feeding right and the payback post-calving will more than cover any extra effort or cost. That’s the message from Keenan nutritionist Donal Blackwell, who’s urging all dairy farms to double-check dry cows are getting the balanced nutrition they need during this critical time.

“In times like now with low grass covers and slowing grass growth, it is a challenge to get sufficient feed into dry cows” he explains. “But it is important to acknowledge this and accommodate for what is lacking in the paddock .A lack of feed on already thin cows will have a huge impact on the new seasons production,  ahead. Pulling back might look cost-effective on paper, but will cause loss of body condition, increase negative energy balance in early lactation and compromise both milk yield and fertility.”

With energy levels of a dry cow in late gestation being low (circ. 100mjME per day) it is important to balance any feed energy with sufficient protein and effective fiber to utilise the feed cost effectively. Where grass availability is low using a high fiber low energy ration, will help the cow maintain gut fill and still have enough energy for maintaince and calf growth.

Mechanical fiber is required to keep rumen capacity stretched in the dry cow so that the milking appetite will return quicker post calving. This will subsequently help to minimize negative energy balance, enhancing both production and fertility.

The energy in the ration is balanced to support maintenance, feotal growth and body condition if needed, but never in excess whereby it would potentially be lost too quickly post calving leading to metabolic issues such as ketosis (sweet breath).

“For those cows that need condition, care should be taken that this is done slowly and consistently, as putting on condition too quickly over a short period will only cause fat pockets to be deposited in the udder, and condition which is only a short term layer, that quickly vanishes post calving, causing metabolic problems and mastitis problems especially in heifers. 

Winter conditions are never ideal, which is something we can’t control but how your cows are fed through this period and how well prepared they are for calving is something you can control.
Managing your dry cows now is the biggest investment you will have for the season as the dry training period is the start of the new lactation, not the end of the old.

The Keenan feeding system combines Mech-fiber™ PACE mixer wagon technology with unique on-farm nutrition support to increase long-term profitability, reduce methane emissions and improve animal health and fertility.

Article May 2008

Getting on the road to drought recovery
By Donal Blackwell, Keenan Rumans nutritionist

On-farm experience with Australian drought in recent years suggests that unless cows are fully fed in late lactation before drying off and additional care is put into helping them recover before calving, it can take two years to fully regain lost cow performance and health.

For New Zealand dairy producers still dealing with the knock-on effects of this summer’s drought, it’s a sobering thought. At current payout levels, the potential loss in future productivity and revenue is substantial.

In the short term, there are clearly immediate steps which can be taken. Many of these will already have been part of the drought-feeding strategies implemented to date, but it’s still very worthwhile re-evaluating these plans based on the longer-term goal of cow recovery and preparation for the dry ‘training’ period and new lactation.

Maximising feed efficiency whilst minimising feed waste has to be the priority. The increase in feed prices and general feed shortages during the drought means that feed conversion efficiency (FCE) becomes even more important in achieving a profitable outcome, since bought-in supplement is a higher proportion in the daily diet. Combined with highly focused prioritising of feed supplies and productive livestock numbers, it’s the basis for a constructive business strategy for recovery.

The largest expense on a dairy farm is feed inputs (up to 60% of total costs), so all feeds (whether grazed grass, home-grown silages or bought-in supplements) must produce the best possible returns and animal performance. And the key measure of a system’s success is not the feed cost per tonne, but what it costs you to produce a unit of output.

Better FCE will reduce the amount of feed required to produce a particular output (kg of milksolids), or increase the output possible from a specific volume of feed (i.e. more milk from the same feed). In a drought recovery situation, the emphasis is in making sure the limited supplies of feed are targeted correctly at productive long- and short-term returns for the business.

From a long-term production perspective, the impact of the low feed supplies this summer/autumn will be a significant reduction in cow (and youngstock) body condition score (BCS) going into the winter, particularly in those herds relying predominantly on grazed grass. In addition, supplementary feeds for the winter will be in short supply and expensive (even if home-grown, the market value of those supplements if sold instead of fed on-farm is significant).

It means that cows that have been perhaps marginally fed during the summer are unlikely to have had sufficient feed to regain condition before drying off, and may even be further restricted during the dry training period. The impact on milk output, fertility and general herd health in the following lactation cannot be underestimated. There’s a real danger that cows will lose further condition post-calving, and be even less able than normal to support the demands of peak lactation and reproduction due to reduced body reserves.

Peak yields will inevitably suffer regardless of the feed available in the spring, as cows struggle to hold on to condition. Empty rates, digestive disorders and lameness are likely to be increased, with the downward trend in performance not stopped until cows can begin to recover post-peak lactation next summer (see table1). And that’s assuming a good growing season with plenty of grass, since feed prices look set to remain strong for the next few years at least.

Impact of poor feeding on following lactation performance

• Lower body condition at calving
• Less energy reserves for early lactation
• Reduced milksolids production per cow
  (maintenance costs proportionally higher)
• Reduced yield per cow and per hectare
• Increased herd health issues due to greater stress at calving
  and during early lactation
• Reduced fertility, including poorer conception rates
• Higher culling rates in 2009, especially high value first and second calvers

Given this potentially bleak outlook, it’s clear why there’s little value in simply ‘struggling through’ the current period in the hope that all will be well once cow calve. What’s needed is an aggressive strategy to ensure any livestock which is kept can be fed well enough to produce an economic return throughout the next lactation and beyond, with the best quality feed prioritised to those animals likely to give the best return.

The primary step that should have been taken at this stage is to cull hard within the milking herd. Culling should target cows that are empty, have with health issues (e.g. high cell counts, sore feet) or are more susceptible to stress, as all will consume more feed for a lower milk output than the rest of the herd. The simple rule when feeds are limited or expensive (or in this case, both) is to only feed and maintain animals that will earn a profitable return well into next season (table 2).

Strategies for drought recovery

• Prioritise feed to most profitable animals
• Minimise wastage of supplements though appropriate feeding
• Increase culling rate if required to match feed availability
• Reduce stocking rate to spread to allow more feed per animal
• Eliminate ‘carrying’ of excess, unhealthy or unproductive stock
• Heavily feed to recover BCS before drying off (at BCS 5) if possible
• Invest feed reserves in replacements due to enter herd
• Lower peak yield expectations post calving to reduce pressure on cows
• Manage feed to extend next lactation, allowing cows to recover but still be productive

It is far better to invest resources into ensuring the next generation of replacements can enter the herd well grown, in good condition and be unaffected by the drought. They not only represent the best genetics in the herd, capable of the highest production potential and greatest feed use efficiency, but will also determine overall business profitability for the next 3-8 years. Invest in the future, not in maintaining less efficient animals from the past.