Comprehensive Cattle Farm Report: Production, Health, and Management

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of a cattle farm, encompassing various aspects of its operations. It begins with an overview of milk production, comparing last season's and the current season's data, including total milk solids, per-cow production, and per-hectare yields. The report then delves into the farm's culling and replacement policies, examining the number of cull cows, the culling priorities, and the replacement rate. Herd, calving, and mating details are explored, including herd size, breed, and the comparison of breeding worth (BW) and production worth (PW) to national averages. The report analyzes calving spread impacts and mating management techniques. Animal health is assessed, focusing on mastitis, lameness, assisted calving, and death rates, with recommendations for improvement. Furthermore, the report examines pasture growth, soil types, and feed management strategies, including supplement usage and grazing practices. The report concludes with recommendations for improving cattle farming practices.

Farm Report

TABLE OF CONTENT
Milk production...............................................................................................................................4
Last season..................................................................................................................................4
Current season.............................................................................................................................4
Culls cows and Replacement policy................................................................................................5
Number of cull cows...................................................................................................................5
What is the culling policy?..........................................................................................................5
Comment upon the culling priorities for this herd as a way of acknowledging whether the
animals are culled on production or do they have to be culled due to wastage..........................5
From the number of heifers going into the herd, what is the % replacement rate?....................5
Are there any other heifers retained?..........................................................................................5
Herd/ Calving/ Mating Details.........................................................................................................6
Herd Details................................................................................................................................6
Comparison of herd's BW and PW to the national average with reasons for variance...............6
Calving/ mating...........................................................................................................................6
What effect will a prolonged calving spread have on mating and production for the current
season?........................................................................................................................................7
Commenting upon the actual rates in comparison to the industrial target and farm target rates:
.....................................................................................................................................................7
What management techniques can be used to improve the results of mating?...........................7
Animal Health..................................................................................................................................8
Mastitis........................................................................................................................................8
Lameness.....................................................................................................................................8
Assisted calving..........................................................................................................................8
Death rate....................................................................................................................................8
What changes could be made on-farm for the improvement of death rates?..............................8
Pasture..............................................................................................................................................9
Soil...................................................................................................................................................9
Feed management............................................................................................................................1
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING CATTLE FARMING ............................................4

REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Milk production
Last season
Total Per cow Per ha
Annual targeted milk
solids
340,000 kg MS 2.26 kg MS 56 kg DM/Ha/day
Actual milksolids 65075 kg milk solids 2.41 kg MS 34 kg DM/Ha/day
Date half total
production reached
1/2/16
Current season
Total Per cow Per ha
Annual targeted milk
solids
440,000 kg MS 1.26 kg MS 65 kg DM/Ha/day
Actual milksolids 50675 kg milk solids 1.42 kg MS 43 kg DM/Ha/day
Date half total
production reached
1/2/17

Culls cows and Replacement policy
Number of cull cows
150
What is the culling policy?
A strict control over the cost of production is a prime motive of almost cattle farmers as a
way of maximizing their income level. Cow culling is thus referred to maintain a pertinent size
of the cattle by removing any death, sold or unproductive cows from the herd for the same. This
requires them to follow the policy made by the governmental bodies of UK with a major concern
of removing an infectious disease named Bovine Tuberculosis (TB). Some effective measures
have been undertaken here as a way of controlling the occurrence of TB with timely arrangement
of vaccination for the cattle's.
Comment upon the culling priorities for this herd as a way of acknowledging whether the
animals are culled on production or do they have to be culled due to wastage
It is basically on referring to the above acquired data in which it has been found that a
large number of cows are often being culled for old age with few who are being culled due to
several health issues like lameness, etc., with some who are not producing milk. However,
culling due to wastage has not been envisioned over here.
From the number of heifers going into the herd, what is the % replacement rate?
5%
Are there any other heifers retained?
Yes, other heifers are being retained for the purpose of another sharemilking job.

Herd/ Calving/ Mating Details
Herd Details
Number of cows wintered, including in- calf
heifers
200
Number of cows in milk at 1st December 150
Number of yearling heifers at 1st June 20
Any other stock NA
Breed of cows in the herd 30
Herd BW 40%
Herd PW 20%
Average age of herd 2 to 6 years
Herd make up by age NA
% of animals recorded 100%
Comparison of herd's BW and PW to the national average with reasons for variance
BW is usually termed for breeding worth where it is composed of 7 vital traits that
directly impact upon the profitability context of a farmer. Whereas, PW stands for production
worth where it measures the lifetime ability of producing the feed into profits. It is however on
comparing the above measured rates of BW and PW, it has been found that the BW rate is
double than their PW where the major reason behind variance is found due to some unproductive
cattle's in terms of production.
Calving/ mating
Calving date 1/2/16
Date 50% cows are calved 1/6/16
Calving spread
Planed start of mating

Number of weeks Al 5 weeks
Number of weeks natural mating after Al 2-3 weeks
Current season results Industry target Actual results
Submission rate
 Week 1
 Week 2
 Week 3
15
12
10
10
8
5
Conception rate to Al 20%
Empty rate 5%
What effect will a prolonged calving spread have on mating and production for the current
season?
Season plays an important role in the process of mating and production of milk where a
extended procedure of calving or a prolonged calving spread is evident to cause some poor
results by effecting the fertility of the herds.
Commenting upon the actual rates in comparison to the industrial target and farm target rates: Submission rate- These are the eligible cows who are serving in a given time period that
should be normally marked by 75% or more. Conception rate- It is rate by which, the cattle are successfully conceiving on monthly
basis that should be measured in between 15-20%.
 Empty rate- A reduced empty rate is required to be measured ranging from 10-15% as a
way of improving the process of breeding.
What management techniques can be used to improve the results of mating?
Inbreeding programs by creating new breeds, line breeding and use of a herd bull are
certain managerial techniques that can be adopted as a way of improving the outcomes of
mating.

Animal Health
Mastitis
Number affected- 20
% of herds- 1-2%
Lameness
Number affected- 50
% of herds- 3%
Assisted calving
Number affected- 30
Death rate
Number of deaths Cause of deaths
1-2 % Mastitis
0.5 % Bovine Tuberculosis (TB)
What changes could be made on-farm for the improvement of death rates?
 Modern features of dairy systems must be inculcated.
 The tool of necropsy should be fully utilized.
 Proper recording systems should be adapted as a way of capturing relevant set of data for
direct improvements in health management.

Pasture
Month Pasture growth rate figures of
Ararua, Northland, New
Zealand
Rainfall figures
June 34 1994 to 2000
July 29 1994 to 2000
August 28 1994 to 2000
September 39 1994 to 2000
October 47 1994 to 2000
November 40 1994 to 2000
December 38 1994 to 2000
January 40 1994 to 2000
February 33 1994 to 2000
March 27 1994 to 2000
April 30 1994 to 2000
May 37 1994 to 2000 (Average
pasture growth data (kg
DM/ha/day) – Northland,
2017)
Soil
Soil types Area (ha)
Alluvial soils 307.56 Lakh Hectare
Black soil 310 Lakh Hectare
Red soils 315 Lakh Hectare
Laterite soils 320 Lakh Hectare
Mountain soils 325 Lakh Hectare

Limitations and strengths of Alluvial soils
Drainage Vulnerable to drainage
Suitability for effluent disposal to land It is suitable as it is formed by deposition of
sediments by rivers.
Cultivation Extensive cultivation is required for production
Plugging Will require more water
Limitations and strengths of Black soil
Drainage Not vulnerable to drainage
Suitability for effluent disposal to land It is suitable as it is formed by deposition of
sediments by rivers.
Cultivation Fertilizers are required.
Plugging Issue might face at the time of deforestation
Limitations and strengths of Red soils
Drainage Will need more quantity of water
Suitability for effluent disposal to land During natural calamities
Cultivation Need of highly equipped machinery and tool
during harvesting
Plugging Require chemical fertilizers
Limitations and strengths of Mountain soils
Drainage Can affect people living in rural areas
Suitability for effluent disposal to land Unsuitable for forestation
Cultivation Will require extensive efforts

Plugging Highly risky
Areas of effluent disposal
The areas of effluent disposal can be done in construction or industrial projects.
Methods of disposal
Direct harvesting and use of tools and equipments.

Feed management
Pasture yield on farm:
It is a process in which the farming company provides food to the animals at the particular place.
Further, it helps to the company in order to achieve its goals within farming industry. Here
different types of techniques are used in order to compare distant of various farming business
entities.
Variance in actual pasture cover:
In the present scenario, land is to be used for different purposes such as build bungalows,
apartments, companies etc. Most of the land covers in construction by which very less area of
land is remains which lead to create variance in actual area of pasture.
How and when supplements used in farming firms:
In the environment different types of supplements are there which are used by the farming firms
in order to produce crop. In this carbon die oxide (CO2) is a supplement which is used by the
company in order to produce higher production level. The CO2 is very important supplement of
the air which is very helpful for the farming.
Grazing off
It a process in which animals eat grass as a food and it converts into milk in body of animals.
Further, it is the process of converting grass and food of animals in order milk in the farming
industry.
Post-grazing residual level targets
In this when the company and owner not provide grass and food products in sufficient and
adequate manner to animals then it unable to complete process of post-grazing. Further, the
residual value of achieving targets is hamper. The reason is that it affected by different
supplements which are available in environment.

Pasture cover and yield
Date Average cover KgDM/ha
Target Actual
1 June
Planned start of calving
Planned start of mating
1 December
1 April
Drying off
Rotation length (days)
Season Target Actual
2

Early spring
Mid-season
Autumn
Winter (if appropriate) - -
Supplements used
Feed type Total (kgDM) Period fed
Forages 18.0 2.3
Cereals and other home-grown
crops
17-17.3 1.9
By products of the food and
brewing industries
16-16.6 1.5-1.6
Bought in
Feed type Total (kgDM) Period fed
Forages 16.0 1.8
Cereals and other home-grown
crops
15-15.5 1.1
By products of the food and
brewing industries
14-14.2 0.8-0.9
Grazing off
Class Number Days
Cows 15 8
3

Heifers 11 5
Calves 7 3.2
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING CATTLE FARMING
There are variety of methods in order to improve cattle farming. Some of these are as follows: Improvement in the distribution of water places and reduction in overgrazing - It is very
important to water the animals and graze them. The frequency of watering the animals
generally depends upon the distance of the water points. The more closer is the water
point the more frequent will be the watering of animals. Also, overgrazing is harmful for
the animals. If the grazing points are nearer to the homestead of animals than the chances
of overgrazing will increase. Improved grazing will result in formation of complete
vegetative shroud and reduction in soil erosion resulting in more rainfall. Development
of additional water points near the ranch would aid in improving cattle farming. Another
way except creating new water points is by alternate day watering by all the households. Rehabilitation of areas that have deteriorated - Rehabilitation of land is the process of
transforming some degraded areas of land into its original state after it has been
deteriorated by industries, natural disasters etc. Activities such as mining, farming,
forestry etc. results in damaging of land. The actions that rehabilitate the land includes
movement of bomas to another places aligning the water points and stock routes. Short
term preserving the land form grazing would result in building up the plant cover again
especially in north regions. In south regions long term preservation would be required as
rainfall percentage is low and also vegetation is quite delicate. Such kind of protection
system should be followed by the general management and should be carried out by the
ranch members. More methods such as reducing the size of rich producers etc. can also
be practised. Reducing the intensity of the land to be used and feed garden – The population has seen a
significant increase over the years. Increase in population has lead to an increase in the
usage of agriculture land. This has resulted in loss of biodiversity and cultivating land.
Many steps should be taken to bring more land under cultivation. Feed gardens are
another option to act as supplement feed for the young stock. It acts as a holding area for
them during day time.
 Usage of forage conservation techniques – The chief concern to increase the productivity
of livestocks is the shortage of feed in dry weather and availability of poor quality of
feed. The protection of forage plant materials in order to accommodate feed for livestock
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