Focus for 100

This is the period during which we have the most influence over the health, productivity, and fertility of the animal for the season ahead. However, it is also the time when we face the greatest challenges in these areas. The block nature of the spring-calving cycle means that any issue that develops can quickly ‘snowball’ into a significant problem, potentially derailing the season.

Having worked with farmers in Ireland for over 40 years, we have identified a list of common issues and their solutions, which form the focus of this campaign. One such issue is low milk protein levels around mid-March. When cows calve, they mobilise body fat or condition to compensate for their low intake – this is known as negative energy balance (NEB). Initially, cows will produce exceptionally high milk protein and butterfat levels – much higher than typically expected for the herd.

Unfortunately, this can create a false impression that an inadequate diet is working well. The real impact is not exposed until around mid-March, or approximately six weeks post-calving, when cows approach a positive energy balance and begin to lose significantly less body condition – or may have no more to lose. At this stage, milk protein percentages reflect the actual diet and body condition of the cows. While a return to more normalised milk protein levels is expected, they can sometimes be too low, with herd averages around 3.10 per cent – indicating that some cows may be producing <3 per cent, which is concerning.

Steps to counteract or prevent this:

• Post-calving, a cow’s diet should be based on peak milk yield rather than current or average yields.
• Maximise intake, whether from grazed grass, silage, or concentrate. Cows should never be left hungry or without feed for extended periods. While quality is important, quantity is usually the limiting factor in early lactation.
• Base concentrate levels on milk yield and silage quality, which should be tested. As a general rule, for average-quality silage, every kilogramma of milk should receive 0.33kg of concentrate. This can be adjusted upwards for poor silage and downwards for high-quality silage, alternative feeds like maize, or if cows are grazing.
• Maximise the proportion of grazed grass in early lactation and meet grazing targets to support subsequent rotations.
• Adjust feeding levels appropriately in response to weather changes. When cows' diets shift due to adverse weather, revert to indoor feeding levels for concentrates. Grass intake can drop by 4-5kg of DM, so simply adding 1-2kg in the parlour is insufficient – silage may be required.
• Support rumen health by balancing effective and digestible fibre in the diet – such as straw, silage, and pulp/hulls. Adding a live yeast supplement to the concentrate can also help mitigate fluctuations in rumen function.
• Monitor body condition changes by taking pictures of cows from behind with your phone for reference. You may be surprised by the differences over time.