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The merits of Body Condition Scoring are often debated within sectors of the dairy industry, given its subjectivity and potential for variance. However, from the perspective of monitoring cow health and performance, it remains as a key factor to ongoing success.

Facial eczema is a common condition that affects cattle, sheep and deer during summer and early autumn. Once confined to East Gippsland, cases are now frequently detected throughout Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Autumn or split-calving patterns are now a reality for many dairy farmers. The following practical tips can help set your autumn-calving cows up for a productive season.

Over the past 20 years, most dairy producers have become quite familiar with the need to provide unique rations during the pre-calving period in order to reduce the incidence of clinical and sub-clinical milk fever.

Dairy cows are more susceptible to heat load and stress than most farm animals due to metabolic heat production, which is strongly correlated with rumen fermentation, in combination with their low surface area:mass ratio.

Key grains, such as barley, wheat, maize and canola, are often in short supply at this time of year as stocks of last year’s harvest are depleted and spring-calving herds come into full production. Maize is an ideal partner for cereal-based rations.

Improving reproductive performance is a complex challenge that requires a strategic approach to management and nutrition throughout the season. Throwing a bit of extra resource at your cows a week before joining will be ‘too little too late’.