Are you managing for the cow of today?
The dairy industry’s “perfect cow” has changed dramatically over the past 40 years, thanks to advancements in genetics, management practices and data collection. Today’s cow is more like a high-performing athlete, producing more milk using fewer resources.
Just as the cow of today has evolved, so too have herd management tools. Innovations in data collection and analysis over the last 40 years have made it easier to understand what’s happening on the farm and how a cow performs. When we know more about the cow and everything impacting her performance, we can effectively manage her to achieve more.
Healthier cows are profitable cows
In addition to increasing production and improving milk quality, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the impact a cow’s health events have on the dairy. The more health events a cow has, the more resources she uses, which impacts production and overall sustainability of the business.
DairyComp helps connect health events, production and sustainability. Leveraging features like HealthVAL in VAS PULSE Platform, you can gain an overview of herd health performance and highlight trends. Identify the health events impacting your dairy the most, and associated costs, and uncover solutions to tackle your challenges.
A healthy cow is a profitable cow, but she is also a sustainable cow. See how HealthVAL can help you and your team keep an eye on herd health.
Let reproduction guide decisions
How we approach reproduction has advanced by leaps and bounds, with developments in genomic research, in-vitro fertilization and the rise in beef x dairy breeding strategies.
Technological advancements have also improved how we monitor reproductive performance. VAS’ herd management tools are making it easier than ever to track and view reproductive performance with new features like Reproduction Insights.
Today, we can track the ideal voluntary waiting period and make educated decisions on when to breed a cow back. We can also objectively analyze a cow’s body condition and review health events to determine if she’s in suitable condition to get pregnant.
Leverage all your herd data
CowVAL in DairyComp makes it easy to compare cows within your herd and determine, based on various factors, your highest and lowest-performing cows. HealthVAL, another tool in DairyComp, provides context-based information on health events and allows you to compare performance benchmarks to similar-sized herds.
How we manage, feed and house a genetically well-built cow changes what she can and will do. Through the years, we have evolved how we manage our herds – changing what we feed, how and when we milk and who we breed and cull. Dairies that take advantage of all that data management tools offer can easily implement changes and push their herds further, faster.
When using data management tools, the key is to standardize your data to the value that makes the most sense for your farm. Make your management decisions based on the data you are collecting and the current market values.
Connect with your local farm performance consultant or the VAS support team to ensure you’re getting the most from your investment to manage your herd for today and prepare for the future.
Not using VAS tools currently? Let’s get in touch and discuss a customized solution for your dairy!
