The end result of poorly-grown young stock impacts well into their first lactation. As yearlings, well-managed heifers get in calf quickly and calve early.
An excellent tool for identifying heifer-rearing problems in the herd is DairyNZ's InCalf Fertility Focus Report. The calving pattern and three-week submission rate of the first calvers indicate how well the heifers have been reared. Damage done to one and two-year old animals may be hard to undo.
It's not too late to carefully manage the next generation of heifers through careful monitoring. Make more frequent visits to where the heifers are grazing. Your "eyeometer" will not recognise failing growth rates as early as regular weighing of heifers. Scales provide the most accurate liveweight information. Weigh bands are better than nothing.
First to come under scrutiny if targets are not achieved is the feeding level and feed quality. Young animals must have high protein and carbohydrate feeds of high digestibility available at all times. Parasites may be implicated, followed by a multitude of other diseases causing ill-thrift.
Monitoring liveweight gain, in conjunction with suitably-timed faecal egg counts and an awareness of the grazing plan all contribute to best practice parasite management. All farmers should consider a Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test to assess the level of resistance present. For example, if a white drench-resistant Ostertagia is present, a white/clear drench combination is not a good choice.
Drench recommendations are very much dependent on the level of resistance on the grazing property; the level and quality of feed available; and whether they're grazing perennial pasture or crop, new grass, or hay or silage aftermath. While a triple combination is best practice, a double combination may be more economic.
Totally Vets offers Growing Great Heifers, which includes all or any of the following: six group weighing sessions, a parasite management plan, plus a drench check, plus facial eczema awareness including spore counting and veterinary advice on replacement issues.
