Publications

This dairy insight lifts the lid on the latest research from across the globe on colostrum feeding to help you reduce disease risk and get calves on track for good early-life growth.

This issue explores how factors such as nutrition, health, stress and housing can influence gene expression throughout a cow's life. It explains why early?life management has long?lasting effects on resilience, fertility and milk production, and how practical changes on farm can unlock more of each animal's genetic potential.

Pathogens causing disease in calves are ever-present in the environment, so while eradication is impossible, reducing exposure is essential. Ultimately, whether a calf thrives or succumbs to illness depends on the balance between immunity and challenge. The aim should be to boost a calf's immunity (ability to resist disease), whilst also lowering the disease challenge in the environment.

Lung Scanning is rapidly gaining recognition as an innovative and sustainable tool in calf health management, aiding early detection of respiratory issues, enhancing animal welfare and reducing long term veterinary costs for farmers rearing youngstock. This Dairy Insight explores the scientific principles behind lung scanning technology. Highlighting the benefits for livestock health and examining its evolving role in the future of farm management.

A shocking 50.2% of cows leaving the herd do so in their first 3 lactations! With most heifers only paying back their rearing costs in their second or third lactation, this represents a huge waste of money, potential and lost income. And that's without recognising the detrimental impact it has on the public's perception of the dairy industry. Poor longevity will also increase the need for more replacements to be kept in the pipeline, adding to the farm's carbon footprint by having a higher proportion of unproductive animals.

Data shows the proportion of cows being 'selected' to leave the herd is increasing, compared to 'forced' leavers, highlighting improvements in health and fertility. However, there is still huge scope to reduce the risk of cows exiting the herd early, particularly considering half of cows leaving do so within their first 3 lactations. Ultimately, cows with longer, productive lives spread herd depreciation over more lactations. This also lowers replacement rates and costs, whilst also reducing carbon footprint.

Over the last decade the UK dairy industry has seen a phase shift, with a growing contingent of commercial farmers recognising the role of genomics in driving rapid genetic progress as part of everyday breeding programmes. Over 100,000 new females will be genotyped this year alone, with around 70% of Holstein semen used also by genomic young sires. AHDB Dairy highlights a widening gulf between those who buy-in to genomics and those that don't – equating to over £19,000 in lost value for the average herd. Check out this technology to see if it fits your needs.

Opting to have heifers reared on contract by a third party could be an attractive option for those farmers with limited labour, time, interest or facilities. On units where hitting a target age at first calving of 24-months is a challenge, outsourcing to a specialist could also improve heifer rearing efficiencies. This Dairy Insight explores different contract rearing models and health considerations to include when deciding to explore this new enterprise.

Mortality statistics show that the first three months of a calf's life are pivotal when it comes to overall survival. This Dairy Insight looks at ensuring a healthy start for your calves and explores solutions for you, when things do go wrong.

Having a well-defined vision and focus can provide a roadmap for business success, enhance decision-making, and foster resilience in the face of challenges. Involving the entire farm team in the strategic planning process is a great approach to ensure alignment and commitment. This Dairy Insight provides a step-by-step guide to building a business strategy for your farm.

All farmers should take scours prevention seriously considering it accounts for more than half of calf deaths in the UK and is preventable through good hygiene and immunity management. Kingshay Costings show it now costs £1,761 to rear a heifer to calve in at a target 24 months – a 14% increase on December 2021. With this in mind, farmers can ill afford any drop in growth rates caused by a case of scours, which could increase rearing times and associated costs and negatively affect a farm's carbon footprint. Calves that experience scours are also more likely to succumb to other diseases such as pneumonia. This Dairy Insight explores the causes of calf scours and shares practical tips on prevention.

The costs of rearing dairy replacements is estimated to be between £1,546 and over £2,170 depending on the age at first calving (see Youngstock Rearing Costs Dairy Insight). This accounts for between 10 to 20% of dairy enterprise costs (according to Kingshay's Profit Manager figures). With these costs ever increasing, it is as important as ever to have a highly efficient rearing system. After all, heifer calves are the future of most dairy herds and you don't get a second chance to get it right. Whilst the impacts of early life nutrition on cow productivity are well understood, the impact of other life experiences is not so well recognised. This Dairy Insight explores the effects of social contact on calves and the lasting effects into adulthood.