Invest in the body bank

Invest with the body bank

The link between a cow's body condition score (BCS) and her reproductive performance is much stronger than most think.

Cows that calve with a BCS less than 5 take longer to start cycling and this reduces both their submission rate (SR) and conception rate (CR). The CR is 7-8% higher at the second heat after calving. Cows that calve too thin are far more likely to be inseminated at their first heat.

BCS targets are manipulated through the quantity and type of feed offered, the frequency of milking (once a day versus twice a day) and the length of lactation. Cost benefits of all of these need careful analysis. If you're unsure of the benefits of changing or modifying your herd's feeding, milking frequency and/or drying off programme, please seek help from a Totally Vets InCalf advisor.

Regular condition scoring will allow you to monitor nutritional trends and can provide sufficient warning to take action before poor condition reduces reproductive performance. Monthly checks are recommended. If you wish to limit condition scoring there are critical times. The next critical time is in late lactation (90-120 days before the planned start of calving date). For an August 1^st calving date this means April or May.

Earlier condition scoring will help identify those cows and first calvers that will require longer reaching target BCS at calving. Putting condition on cows in late lactation can be difficult with pasture, only because extra pasture eaten tends to increase milk production rather than BCS. You may also need to be increasing average pasture cover for winter feed at this time.

Options to aid in achieving BCS targets include:

• Increasing feed inputs for all cows in late lactation
• Consider preferentially feeding cows with lower BCS in late lactation
• Consider early drying-off for cows below BCS thresholds in late lactation

One advantage of feeding dry cows is that all surplus energy goes to increasing body condition rather than producing milk solids. However, milking cows are more efficient than dry cows at converting energy from feed into body weight gain. On many farms though, insufficient feed in late lactation denies cows the chance to put on weight while continuing to be milked.

Steps to take in late lactation include:

• Prepare a feed budget from late lactation through to two weeks prior to planned start of mating. Include the feed needed to achieve calving BCS targets of 5.0-5.5.
• Identify first calvers and cows with BCS less than 5, less than 4.5 and less than 4 and manage as per the table below.
• Dry off individual cows at the number of days before calving, depending on their age, expected calving date and BCS using the table below.

Drying-off time based on Body Condition Score