Observation skills vital for staff

01-10-2006 | Not Specified

For someone who, ten years ago, knew nothing about dairy farming, Jody has taken to the industry like duck to water.

She is in charge of mating and this year achieved an enviable 3.8% empty rate.

At mating Jody nominates the top line of cows to be artificially bred (AB) to an Ambreed sire proven bull, while the balance go to Ambreed bulls.

After the AB period of five and half weeks any remaining cows are run with yearling Jersey bulls, and any cows that don’t cycle three weeks before mating are also run with a bull to induce ovulation.

The Cudmores are great advocates for using yearling bulls, because they believe they have higher testosterone levels and are more aggressive towards mating, but are easier to handle than older bulls.

“Since mating with yearling bulls out empty rates have been getting lower and lower,” says Colin.

They believe one of the keys to a successful mating is observation, and one of the best tools for this is tail paint.

The Cudmores paint tails every ten days from three weeks before mating right through to March, running a colour-coding system.

Red is used for three weeks prior to mating, this changes to green over the AI period.

Colin says the big advantage of colour coding is that they only have to watch one third of the herd at any one time, making them less likely to miss cycling cows.

Observation of stock is also a key component for staff around calving time.

The Cudmores induce some cows, last year 10% of the herd, mainly bought-in late-calving cows, but they don’t like the practice and are aiming to cut it out altogether.

During calving the Jersey and Jersey-cross cows have a Body Condition Score(BCS) of 5 and because they are big producers they also have problems with milk fever and acidosis.

Because the Cudmores know to expect problems they are fast to act when any of the cows look off-colour, preventing any major problems.

While the Cudmores’ herd has to be watched for metabolic disorders they don’t have problems with mastitis or lameness.

They believe both these conditions are a result of poor animal husbandry.

Colin works on the philosophy that anyone can put the cups on a cow, but it takes a good person to take them off.

To prevent mastitis they are very careful to ensure the cows are milked out properly, making sure staff feel all four quarters to ensure the udder is soft before removing the cups.

As well as employing one full-time staff member, former fishermen Kerry McVicar, the Cudmores take two Grey High School pupils for one day each every week, as part of a Gateway programme.

Colin and Jody support the programme to try and encourage young people into the industry.

“We are trying to get people to recognise that dairy farming isn’t bad.”

With such a labour shortage in the industry they feel it is important to mentor young people and show them what the industry has to offer them.

One of these past pupils will be taken on as a full-time employee next season.

  Printable View