The genetics of the U.S. dairy herd has improved significantly over the past few years. It is not uncommon for producers to use genomic test results to identify top heifers and use sexed semen on those heifers to get future herd replacements. Several years of implementing these techniques speeds genetic progress.
It takes a considerable investment in technology and resources to get those heifers to the milking string. They should have the necessary blueprint to produce at a level that reflects their genetic ability. But what if they don’t?
There’s nothing more frustrating than looking at production reports, realizing that your herd isn’t reaching its potential and wondering what can be done about it. Here’s a checklist to help identify areas that need attention or could be tweaked to help enhance performance.
How is your feed hygiene?
Let’s start with an easy one. Feed hygiene is often overlooked. It directly affects three focus areas important to cow health and resilience: pathogen control, optimal rumen function and hindgut integrity.
A large portion of the pathogens and toxins found in the gastrointestinal tract come from the ration. These detrimental organisms and compounds – including clostridia, salmonella, E. coli and mycotoxins – can contaminate feed in the field, during feed storage and feedout or throughout the course of feed mixing and delivery. Follow these guidelines to improve feed hygiene:
- Clear debris and spoiled silage off silage pads and feed areas.
- Increase silage feedout rate and immediately feed defaced silage.
- Feed high-moisture byproducts quickly, emptying bays before restocking.
- Keep feed alleys free of debris, scraping at least once daily.
- Clean feedbunks, especially directly under headlocks.
- Keep waterers clean and clear.
- Feed refusals as soon as possible. Mix batches containing refusals last.
- Thoroughly clean the TMR mixer once per month.
- Clean push-up blades monthly.
- Clean tires and buckets of all feed payloaders and skid loaders. Avoid handling feed with buckets that have moved manure or dirt.
Don’t forget about water quality. The water trough can be an ideal environment for pathogens. Troughs need to be cleaned regularly. Producers should test the water to determine pathogen loads and treat accordingly with an effective product such as chlorine dioxide.
Are feeding protocols being followed?
Next, let’s look at employees. Cows value consistency. They appreciate the chance to do the same thing every day with little variation. Nutrition consistency can be achieved when feeding protocols are followed by everyone, every day. This includes checking dry matter content daily and adjusting the ration accordingly. This also means that feeders need to strictly adhere to mixing guidelines, striving for accuracy with each load. Feed should be delivered at the same time each day, then pushed up at regular intervals so cows always have access to fresh feed. Feeding equipment maintenance schedules should be followed so feeding equipment is clean and well maintained to avoid breakdowns that could cause delays.
Feed hygiene and protocol compliance are two areas that should be easy to monitor and address any inconsistencies that show up. If you review these areas and cows are still underperforming, it is time to look a bit deeper.
Are cows stressed?
You may not be able to tell by looking at your cows, but stress may be causing your cows to underperform. Because cows crave consistency, any change to their schedule or challenge to their system can throw them off and start them down a stressful path. Heat stress is a common challenge, and there are interventions that can be applied when the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) rises.
Be sure that evaporative cooling processes are in place and that the hoses, nozzles, regulators, fans and other equipment are working as they should. Ration adjustments should be made to help alleviate the heat generated by the rumen and to replenish minerals and nutrients lost through panting or sweating. This is also where having ready access to ample supplies of cool, clean water is important.
Heat stress is something that is visible; it is the stress that isn’t seen that causes the most trouble. Fresh cow challenges, overcrowding, pen moves, poor bedding, lameness and feed changes or inconsistencies are all issues that can add additional stress to a cow’s daily activities.
Stress leads to the creation of hormones that can impact rumen motility and immune function. Immunity can be compromised by a reduction in the strength of tight junctions in the gut barrier, which can lead to leaky gut syndrome, which is the most common cause of inflammation.
Is rumen function at a high level?
Everything in the cow, from health to productivity, is driven by the rumen. Without an optimally functioning rumen, your cows will never reach their genetic potential. Your nutritionist should have the cow’s ration balanced to match optimal starch, fiber, energy, NDF, etc., to achieve higher planes of production. There are ingredients that can be included to assist with fermentation and create a healthier rumen microbiome.
Bacillus are spore-forming bacteria fed as microscopic spores that become active once they enter the cow. The first use of bacillus is to inhibit pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract. Pathogens such as E. coli, Clostridium perfringens, salmonella and others are present inside the cow’s digestive tract and can cause significant harm. Certain bacillus strains can produce antimicrobial peptides that inhibit pathogen growth.
While their work inside the rumen to enhance the role of beneficial bacteria is important, the good work of bacillus continues farther down the digestive tract. One of the primary barriers to the entrance of harmful bacteria into the cow lies within the small and large intestine. This mucosal barrier includes cells bound together to create a protective wall to keep harmful bacteria from passing through. The tighter the junction between cells, the more effective barrier they can create.
Other useful nutrition solutions are refined functional carbohydrates (RFCs). These ingredients support optimal rumen fermentation and digestion while preparing the immune system ahead of a stressful challenge so animals can respond quickly when faced with adversity. RFCs have also been shown to bind pathogens to reduce their impact on cow health and immune function.
If you feel like your herd is underperforming, involve a larger team of advisers to help assess the situation and develop a plan. Your herd nutritionist and veterinarian can be great resources, as can trusted industry nutrition and animal health representatives.
You’ve worked hard to build the genetics and potential of your herd. Put together a nutrition and management program that ensures this potential is realized. Take a close look at these management areas to determine where bottlenecks may be, then develop a plan to break through those barriers. Work with your nutritionist or feed representative to put together a plan on using bacillus or RFCs in your herd.
