Dairy cows breed and required feed

briangriffin

Just a question we have a small dairy herd in the midlands had to repopulate a while back and bought in 100% holstein which we crossed to dovea ai.

1.my question is this can a 50 50 holstein /british freisian cow get all her nutritional requirments from grass alone and 1-2kg of a dairy nut?

We do not have the land to grow maize all is in grass. we have had a terrible year this year with ai and repeats. cows recieved minerals pre calving and body condition is good on all. Each animal received 1 alltrace i bolus and one copper bullet a month before calving plus a small amount of pre calve mineral. Calves born had great coats and have since thrived. most cows came round to heat but wont stand to ai, Bull is in since 1st week july and still we are seeing repeats.

We still have some 100% holsteins on the farm however the ebi of these animals is in the minus based on fertility mainly yet most of them have gone in calf. We vaccinate for bvd and lepto and tested everything for bvd a few years back we test replacment heifers born each year for bvd also.
So my second question why are these cows not holding?

snowman707

briangriffin wrote: »

Just a question we have a small dairy herd in the midlands had to repopulate a while back and bought in 100% holstein which we crossed to dovea ai.

1.my question is this can a 50 50 holstein /british freisian cow get all her nutritional requirments from grass alone and 1-2kg of a dairy nut?

We do not have the land to grow maize all is in grass. we have had a terrible year this year with ai and repeats. cows recieved minerals pre calving and body condition is good on all. Each animal received 1 alltrace i bolus and one copper bullet a month before calving plus a small amount of pre calve mineral. Calves born had great coats and have since thrived. most cows came round to heat but wont stand to ai, Bull is in since 1st week july and still we are seeing repeats.

We still have some 100% holsteins on the farm however the ebi of these animals is in the minus based on fertility mainly yet most of them have gone in calf. We vaccinate for bvd and lepto and tested everything for bvd a few years back we test replacment heifers born each year for bvd also.
So my second question why are these cows not holding?

have you done a blood test, to determine the minerals levels

Phosphorous deficiency is causing problems on many farms this year,

reilig

My vet recons that copper deficiency is the main cause of infertility this year, but I see that you treated for that. As Snowman said, a blood test would be the best idea.

5live

Did they get enough copper? 2 bullets is reccomended for adult stock and can be repeated in deficient areas. I do the calves with 1 bullet at letting out and again when in for winter. Had 23 calves a few years ago and gave entire box of 24 to them. one got double dose. Didnt know which one till a month later when she powered ahead and ended up about 50 kg heavier than the rest at bulling. but my farm has high molybdenum levels and low copper. Ialso feed dairy ration to sheep without any problems. Get a blood level check on copper and molybdenum too and work from there