Weaner Management and Fertility Flashcards
To be profitable what does the weaning percentage need to be?
at least 75% of breeders tested pregnant
What factors influence weaner management strategies?
Time for cows to conceive/reconceive
What are benefits of well managed weaner programs?
Dams in better BCS
Lighter socking rates improving CP and ME which also improves conception rates the following year
Stops milk productive decreasing the cows energy requirement
Weaners in a good program can be educated easier
How long after calving does a cow have to get pregnant and what BCS should she be at to achieve this?
Have 75 days after calving and to provide the best chance at conception she needs to have a BCS of 3 or more
When is traditional weaning done?
4-8 months
When is radical weaning done?
Under 100kg or under 3 months (need special care)
What is early weaning done?
100-150kg or 3-4 months of age
With regards to the pasture when should you wean?
Wean before the pasture enters late phase 3 to phase 4
What advantages are there to weaning in April?
Can save the cow 10-15kg liveweight/month –> equivalent to 1 BCS over 3 months
What can phase 1 and 2 pastures provide?
Adequate ME and CP to assist cows in producing milk and calves to transition to a forage based diet
What will phase 3 pastures not support?
Milk production and good rates of LWG and BCS unless pasture mass is high
What will phase 4 pastures not support?
Not support liveweight gain unless supplements containing NPN and true protein as RDP are fed
What is good weaner paddock management?
Rested over the year to accumulate a good mass of leafy pasture
Not to be sued as holding paddocks/working horses
Infrastructure considerations?
Weaners need at least 3 square metres/head Trough space - without bullying Shade Secure years Free from predators Free of toxic plants No hollow or boggy areas Stress increases the time for weaners to come onto feed, reduces rumen and GIT efficiency and reduced immune function
How should weaners be educated?
Worked calmly through yards
Electric fences help cattle respect fences
Smaller paddocks so it is easier to find water
In large paddocks introduce weaners to water/feed sources
Nutritional requirement straight after weaning?
Good quality hay (and supplements) directly after to maintain an actively fermenting rumen (2-3kg each)
What happens if you delay feeding up 24hrs after weaning?
Reduces rumen microbial activity and the ability to ferment plant fibre
How long can it take for normal rumen function to return after weaning?
3 weeks
Why do we segregate weaners into size classes?
To prevent bullying and not getting enough feed
What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners under 60kg?
Milk replacer and high-quality baby calf meals/pellets
What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners 60-100kg?
Highly palatable calf meals or pellets
What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners 100-150kg?
Supplements needed if pasture quality is too poor for required growth
What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners >150kg?
Supplements needed only if pasture quality is too poor for required growth
What growth rate do we want in weaners?
100g LWG/day
How much CP and ME should the hay have at weaning?
> 9 MJ ME/kg DM and >9% CP
What should you supplement with if the hay is poor quality?
Oilseed meals, processed cereal grains and complete mineral premix
