Individual dry cow management has banished common fertility problems

摘要

Keeping dry cows in small groups and paying careful attention to their diet and condition has payed off for one Welsh dairy herd. Individual cow assessment is one reason why the high genetic merit cows at Bishton Farm, Chepstow, join the milking herdat full steam, according to Robert Adams who farms the 100ha dairy, arable and sheep unit with his wife Sarah. Their 90-strong Bishtonhall herd of pedigree Holstein Friesians enjoy a standard of nutritional management that not only ensures profitable milk production, but also overcomes many of the often-accepted problems associated with high yielding cows in early lactation. The current herd average is 8,300 litres at 4.20% butterfat and 3.45% protein, with a margin over concentrates of 1,683 pound.