Herd Management [DA.HM]
Are Your Calves Prepared for Winter?
Now is the time to consider the thermal comfort of your dairy calves as the winter months approach. The effect of cold on calf health, growth rates and future production should not be underestimated.
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Feed Space and Milk Output
The natural behaviour of cows is to synchronise certain habits so that the majority of animals in the herd feed, rest and ruminate at the same time. This natural behaviour can be restricted in housed systems, especially if there is competition for feed and lying space. Some animals may adapt their feeding times if space is limited, so as to avoid aggressive interactions at the feed fence.
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Top tips for calving
With most of the suckler cows in Scotland calving in the spring, now is a timely opportunity to highlight some top tips for calving which will pay dividends in the…
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Optimising Fertility in Dairy Heifers
The target age at first calving for dairy heifers of 24 months is proven to be the economic optimum, with these younger calving heifers being more productive and profitable than…
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Keeping Calves Productive and Healthy in Cold Conditions
With winter approaching now is the time to consider the thermal needs of your calves. A calf less than three weeks old has a lower critical temperature between 10 to…
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Technical Note (TN730): Construction of a Cow Track for Access to Grazing
Summary Cow tracks can lengthen the grazing season from reduced damage to pasture and improved field access in poor weather Correctly constructed cow tracks can prevent lameness within the herd…
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Are your Calves Getting too Much of a Good Thing?
The importance of providing calves with a good quality milk replacer in early life is well documented. However, not only is the nutritional value of the milk replacer important, the…
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Calf scour practical guide
Read our calf scour practical guide here
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Lighting for Cows
As the shortest day approaches it seems appropriate to think about the day length that your cows are experiencing. Research has shown that both quantity and quality of light in the cow shed can affect milk yield and fertility.
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