Management
Top-management for longevity: How Rosy-Lane, Big & Summitholm reached record numbers of 100,000kg cows
Recently, Holstein International reported about the top management of three herds that reached record numbers of 100,000kg-220,000lb cows (HI 06/2017: Sandisfarne, Kellercrest & Iden). But: there are more striking herds...
TransitionRight: Breeding Healthier Cows
Selection emphasis on fitness traits over the last 15 years has arrested the declining genetic merit for health in the dairy cow that had developed as an unwanted side-effect of...
Calf Raising: Focus on Colostrum Management gives Calves a Good Start
One of these busy mornings when you are lamenting the fact that you have so many calves to feed, spare a thought for Ty Fullmer and his team at Fullmer...
Teat Length: A Problem for Breeders Worldwide?
It is amazing how breeding and trait selection can transform and alter a breed.In Holsteins, over the decades we have seen alterations in size, fertility, milk output – to name...
Udder Health: A Critical Element in Achieving High-Level Production
The combination of good genetics and good feed should lead to a high producing herd. However, seeing to all the smaller details that create an environment for healthy, contented cows...
Given its Low Heritability, is Breeding for Fertility Worth It?
Can fertility be improved through breeding? Or is it simply down to management? Here we investigate the impact you can make by selecting for fertility.
Long-Life Semen: A Revolution in Semen Technology
Did you know that 20% of semen sold in Norway is in the form of SpermVital? It’s a technology that prolongs the life of sperm after insemination into the uterus...
Heat Detection or: “Big Brother is Watching”
Heat detection is an important aspect of fertility management. In the past, it primarily involved visual observations, whether or not supported by tail chalking. In recent decades, more and more...