Colostrum/Biestings Yield

C4d78

For whatever reason this year cows are only giving 2-4 litres at first milking.
Can't seem to build up any pool of colostrum.
These cows go on to milk 15litres a milking after few days but just wondering is this a common occurance with other dairy farmers or why do people think they're not letting it down at first milking?

trixi2011

C4d78 wrote: »

For whatever reason this year cows are only giving 2-4 litres at first milking.
Can't seem to build up any pool of colostrum.
These cows go on to milk 15litres a milking after few days but just wondering is this a common occurance with other dairy farmers or why do people think they're not letting it down at first milking?

is this with heifers by any chance ?

jaymla627

C4d78 wrote: »

For whatever reason this year cows are only giving 2-4 litres at first milking.
Can't seem to build up any pool of colostrum.
These cows go on to milk 15litres a milking after few days but just wondering is this a common occurance with other dairy farmers or why do people think they're not letting it down at first milking?

What kind of diet are your cows on pre-calving, week to ten days pre calving cows go on to 3-4 kg of nuts here and will regularly let down 10 to 15 litres first milking, heifers the same and give 4 to 8 litres

C4d78

trixi2011 wrote: »

is this with heifers by any chance ?

Heifers I wouldn't mind it happening with but cows of 3rd or 4th laction are same..

C4d78

jaymla627 wrote: »

What kind of diet are your cows on pre-calving, week to ten days pre calving cows go on to 3-4 kg of nuts here and will regularly let down 10 to 15 litres first milking, heifers the same and give 4 to 8 litres

Just on silage (dry matter 42 and dmd 72) Thought this would be adequate?
Slow to calve too so maybe it is an energy thing.
Had contemplated going with soya for energy.
Do many others feed meal pre calving to cows in excellent condition?

Greengrass1

jaymla627 wrote: »

What kind of diet are your cows on pre-calving, week to ten days pre calving cows go on to 3-4 kg of nuts here and will regularly let down 10 to 15 litres first milking, heifers the same and give 4 to 8 litres

4kg meal :0 :0 :0
Kg would be more than enough

jaymla627

Greengrass1 wrote: »

4kg meal :0 :0 :0
Kg would be more than enough

would be feeding 5-7 kg when cows are freshed calved, going and dumping this on them from a base of 1kg our no meal at all is looking for trouble, also gives the cows a good boast after calving had no milk fever last year and no downer cows...

C0N0R

Greengrass1 wrote: »

4kg meal :0 :0 :0
Kg would be more than enough

In fairness were on 2kg here, combination of ****e silage, a way of getting minerals in and condition.

RightTurnClyde

jaymla627 wrote: »

What kind of diet are your cows on pre-calving, week to ten days pre calving cows go on to 3-4 kg of nuts here and will regularly let down 10 to 15 litres first milking, heifers the same and give 4 to 8 litres

Jay, what type nut are you giving them

Greengrass1

jaymla627 wrote: »

would be feeding 5-7 kg when cows are freshed calved, going and dumping this on them from a base of 1kg our no meal at all is looking for trouble, also gives the cows a good boast after calving had no milk fever last year and no downer cows...

Dads dropping a kg to ours just cause he always used to do it and I'm not bothered telling him to not but they have a good bit of milk when they calve.
Cows only on 4kg here now will drop it to 3kg in a WK or two

jaymla627

RightTurnClyde wrote: »

Jay, what type nut are you giving them

2 kg of soya hulls mixed up with 2 kg of a high energy 14% ration with dry cow minerals mixed through, fed a lot of soya hulls here around 400 kg a cow year find it great at keeping condition on cows and stops them from pumping out to much milk of their backs...

frazzledhome

C4d78 wrote: »

Just on silage (dry matter 42 and dmd 72) Thought this would be adequate?
Slow to calve too so maybe it is an energy thing.
Had contemplated going with soya for energy.
Do many others feed meal pre calving to cows in excellent condition?

You need a few bloods done. I'd be concerned about slow calving. Something not right. I got 15 litres if colostrum from 2 heifers this pm both calved an hr or so.

Worms, minerals over condition all contribute to quality and quantity of beistings

Feed no meal here Pre calving, totally unessaryspend. Lots use meal to cover shortcomings elsewhere

RightTurnClyde

2kgs for 7 days mightn't be a bad idea to get them revved up for the parlour. Wouldn't be a big cost 15-20kgs, €3.50-€5. Might give it a try this year as an experiment. Was at a veterinary talk recently where they were showing the effects the first 3 days after calving can have on fertility.
One of the things that came up was the drop in energy after calving ( reduced appetite), and the effect that can have on endometrium repair and cows being sub ketotic.

OP, slow calving, dosey calves or retained afterbirths, should raise a flag. I'd be getting the bloods checked if I were you.

Greengrass1

A friend of mine is giving cows a mix of hulls and soya for the very reason you said there Clyde.
Must ask him how he's getting on

RightTurnClyde

Greengrass1 wrote: »

A friend of mine is giving cows a mix of hulls and soya for the very reason you said there Clyde.
Must ask him how he's getting on

Do...would be interesting to know

C4d78

RightTurnClyde wrote: »

2kgs for 7 days mightn't be a bad idea to get them revved up for the parlour. Wouldn't be a big cost 15-20kgs, €3.50-€5. Might give it a try this year as an experiment. Was at a veterinary talk recently where they were showing the effects the first 3 days after calving can have on fertility.
One of the things that came up was the drop in energy after calving ( reduced appetite), and the effect that can have on endometrium repair and cows being sub ketotic.

OP, slow calving, dosey calves or retained afterbirths, should raise a flag. I'd be getting the bloods checked if I were you.

Ya have vet booked for Monday to do bloods for minerals. See how that goes

Brown Podzol

C4d78 wrote: »

For whatever reason this year cows are only giving 2-4 litres at first milking.
Can't seem to build up any pool of colostrum.
These cows go on to milk 15litres a milking after few days but just wondering is this a common occurance with other dairy farmers or why do people think they're not letting it down at first milking?

Had something similar here in the Spring of 13. Turned out to be low protein in the silage after the wet summer of 12. Half kg soya fixed the problem.

Dawggone

Eleven heifers calved here last night all unaided. Calves fed from mothers unaided...

They have been on good hay with seven weeks and have been getting maize silage and maize crimp for ten days.
Into the herd and milked this morning...quiet as lambs...
If Carlsberg made sunday mornings...ðŸ‘

C4d78

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Had something similar here in the Spring of 13. Turned out to be low protein in the silage after the wet summer of 12. Half kg soya fixed the problem.

Might give that a go while waiting for bloods to come back.
Silage is only 11.5% P.
What is the p requirement of a dry cow does anyone know ?

Brown Podzol

C4d78 wrote: »

Might give that a go while waiting for bloods to come back.
Silage is only 11.5% P.
What is the p requirement of a dry cow does anyone know ?

Silage here was under 10%. The clue was in the dungs, dry and solid.

Cow Porter

C4d78 wrote: »

Might give that a go while waiting for bloods to come back.
Silage is only 11.5% P.
What is the p requirement of a dry cow does anyone know ?

12-14 crude protein as far as I know.

frazzledhome

C4d78 wrote: »

Ya have vet booked for Monday to do bloods for minerals. See how that goes

One call out fee so get bloods, dung and nasal swab done. It will give a good indication of health inc IBR. Do from a cross sample of herd

C4d78

Well mineral results back yesterday.
Selenium very low even thou sprinkling it on silage & have been putting tablets in water over last few weeks for close up group.
This might explain the slow calving. Vet was recommending a selenium injection approx 10 days pre calving

joejobrien

C4d78 wrote: »

Well mineral results back yesterday.
Selenium very low even thou sprinkling it on silage & have been putting tablets in water over last few weeks for close up group.
This might explain the slow calving. Vet was recommending a selenium injection approx 10 days pre calving

Whats vit E like in the mineral and at what feeding rate

C4d78

joejobrien wrote: »

Whats vit E like in the mineral and at what feeding rate

Will check that out. What's recommended level?

joejobrien

C4d78 wrote: »

Will check that out. What's recommended level?

feeding rate depends on the company

C4d78

joejobrien wrote: »

feeding rate depends on the company

Ya I was asking what was recommended vit e rate?
My feeding rate is 120g and vit e 10,000

joejobrien

we would be allowing 150grammes / hd here and is accurately mesaured also. VitE is also associated with increasing the rate and strenght of contractions thus quicker calving.
If 120Grammes is the recommended it should be ok , just check your feeding rate as often or not people can be abit shy. You have a fine level of VIT E inthe minerals. Who minerals are you using?
Also whats is the quality of the colostrum?

C4d78

joejobrien wrote: »

we would be allowing 150grammes / hd here and is accurately mesaured also. VitE is also associated with increasing the rate and strenght of contractions thus quicker calving.
If 120Grammes is the recommended it should be ok , just check your feeding rate as often or not people can be abit shy. You have a fine level of VIT E inthe minerals. Who minerals are you using?
Also whats is the quality of the colostrum?

Immuboost x mag Elite I think it's called.
Qualiry of colostrum looks good but don't test.
Just can't figure out why mature cows are only giving a few litres at first milking when other years could get 12-15 litres?

LostCovey

C4d78 wrote: »

Can't seem to build up any pool of colostrum.

I can't add anything to the good advice you are getting, it does sound like pre-calving energy issue.

Just picking up on the colostrum pool....isn't that now considered a very bad idea (Johnes disease risk). I know you need to have some spare, but pooling is surely a source of trouble in the long run?

joejobrien

C4d78 wrote: »

Immuboost x mag Elite I think it's called.
Qualiry of colostrum looks good but don't test.
Just can't figure out why mature cows are only giving a few litres at first milking when other years could get 12-15 litres?

Yes that a fine mix. Would rate it better than alot of others. If it was a low feeding rate it can present problems for cows to achieve intake sufficently.
JJust aout of intrest, feeding how long? although it should nt suggest any reason for low colostrum yield.
Also we are finding all colostrum tested is good to high quality, except hefirs

C4d78

joejobrien wrote: »

Yes that a fine mix. Would rate it better than alot of others. If it was a low feeding rate it can present problems for cows to achieve intake sufficently.
JJust aout of intrest, feeding how long? although it should nt suggest any reason for low colostrum yield.
Also we are finding all colostrum tested is good to high quality, except hefirs

Heifers on pre calver since 1/12.

C4d78

LostCovey wrote: »

I can't add anything to the good advice you are getting, it does sound like pre-calving energy issue.

Just picking up on the colostrum pool....isn't that now considered a very bad idea (Johnes disease risk). I know you need to have some spare, but pooling is surely a source of trouble in the long run?

Ya I agree but with numbers moving up to 150-160 time/labour is a problem so fresh calvers aren't milked till next milking so calf gets the best colostrum that's available from previously milked cows.
I don't think it's practical to milk each cow after calving in order to give calf her dams milk.
I just concentrate on getting colostrum into calf within 2 hrs.

Buford T. Justice XIX

C4d78 wrote: »

Ya I agree but with numbers moving up to 150-160 time/labour is a problem so fresh calvers aren't milked till next milking so calf gets the best colostrum that's available from previously milked cows.
I don't think it's practical to milk each cow after calving in order to give calf her dams milk.
I just concentrate on getting colostrum into calf within 2 hrs.

That's the thing, you only have to feed the replacement heifers with their own mothers colostrum. Male calves and beef calves can be fed pooled colostrum as very few of those will be used for breeding.

White Clover

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

That's the thing, you only have to feed the replacement heifers with their own mothers colostrum. Male calves and beef calves can be fed pooled colostrum as very few of those will be used for breeding.

Lads and lassies, Us poor beef farmers would really appreciate if you could ensure that all bull and beef breed calves receive copious amounts of their dams colostrum.
It may help us to make a few bob outa these expensive calves !!
Thanks in advance !

Buford T. Justice XIX

White Clover wrote: »

Lads and lassies, Us poor beef farmers would really appreciate if you could ensure that all bull and beef breed calves receive copious amounts of their dams colostrum.
It may help us to make a few bob outa these expensive calves !!
Thanks in advance !

We don't make money till you buy then so we have to make sure they are as good and as healthy as we can till they are sold. And the better they are, the more we make;)