Two things, I suggest once your straps start to get old and frayed on the end you buy yourself a 'Hot Knife' to tidy up the end of straps. It was the best thing I found that helped with our collars once they got a bit of age on them and trying to put them on new cows and thread through. With the cows you bring on heat and are problem breeders, I like to use a high conception rate bull, or ST have 3 bulls mixed in one AI straw which gives a 5 to 10 % higher conception rate. Also I like to use a shot of GRNH when inseminating. I understand what you are saying about naturally trying to cull the problem breeders, but now you have Genomically tested the animals you have a very accurate way of telling which cows are genetically poor for conception and use that information to cull them even as calves, don't both rearing them they are only going to cost you money. This way you can determine what breeding problems are caused through genetics of the animal and what has been caused by environment/system. Anyhow just some suggestions that might help.
Good tip thanks, I'm hoping they dont fray but I guess time will tell, I had never though about using a bull like that either but really good food for thought thanks! I would like to genetcally test the calves one day when I think they are good enough genetic wise but its just another cost
That data is fascinating. I would have thought with your girls that have been inoestrous for a long period would also be the earlier calvers (at this point), meaning they were good and fertile last year. Therefore, yeah, it might just have been a hard calving they're recovering from, and nothing wrong with their fertility genetics. So helping them out for a season seems like a good choice. And then if they take too long 2 years in a row could be moved on elsewhere. I'm just spitballing, but that's fabulous info to have!
Collars are doing you well, Tom Pemberton watched ur vid and has put collars on his cows to in the UK, hello to Dr Briar and look forward to seeing how ur mating goes this season 😎✌️
It’s been really wet here in the north of England as well Andrew. I would say it’s worth looking at those cows that aren’t cycling, but use a beef straw if you serve them.
Glad you're getting rain. We are already getting bushfire here in Australia in south-east Victoria. Been above rainfall over last 3 years and now it is well and truly the opposite. We've only had an inch of rain in the last 2 months. Silage season in looking terrible and hay will be scarce.
Can you send some of that rain my way mate up to north Queensland we havent had any in ages and need it bad although the cane farmers would disagree. Its great how your explaining all the new tech, keep it up please.
Andrew amazing video mate. In my opinion, you are definitely the best dairy UA-camists. And it's so good to see the Gabe Brown book next to your desk. His farming techniques on cover crop are amazing and worked wonders for me, along with Joel Salatin and Greg Judy's methods on Regenerative Ag. There way of farming worked for me and opened my eyes to an awesome way of life. There's an Australian called Colin S
Sorry there's an Australian called Colin Seis who's been applying and advocating cover cropping on his property in NSW since the 80s and like Gabe has proven results year after year. Good luck and keep up your amazing vids, you definitely have a gift...thanks
Thank you very much! I actually got sent it by one of my American viewers which was so nice of him! There's so many different ways to farm and once you've found a way that suits yourself its pretty awesome!
Could not help noticing that you are still on instant coffee. Being a young progressive fella I would thought you would be into the coffee machine. We are tea people but our Whanau are into coffee so they all put in and bought a machine for us so we had coffee for them when they visit. Had to teach me to use the machine 😂. Nice video Andrew and your explanation about the information you get from the collars. Do not have to muck around with paint for reproduction just look at your phone 😂 👍
interesting to hear ye talking about the collars , im considering the gps no fence collars at the moment . lots of info on that and good the company are keeping you updated when theres an issue.are they expensive to buy? thanks
and a comment on some of the longer calved cows ...i heard ye mentioning they maybe had a harder calving...is it possible to see from your rumination data if they perhaps had lower ruminations after calving? or higher milk production lower body score and do their calving/ expected heats coincide with very wet or cold spells?
Good point, Its hard to tell the wet cold spells looking at the data, all though the herd rumination ave would be down so maybe. And yeah they could just be milking really well and take a bit longer to cycle, all good points you have made!
You said you wanted a beef breed before for some of the lesser cows .Try stabiliser cattle I don't know are there lots of them in New Zealand. I have a UA-cam channel called Ballynashawn farm with Jack we Farm in Ireland. Thanks
Hey Jack, I think we have them down here, and you can buy straws I'm just a little bit hesitant using beef breeds unless they are short gestation on the first year, if it goes alright I may look to change things up a bit
Do we spend money on the cows anestrous or otherwise of questionable fertility? I think there is a good payback for it and dont keep any of those calves and your not hurting average herd fertility. The one thing is I dontt spend money cows that have other issues or just older.
Yeah that's a good question and I think I'm on the same page as you, I definitely think it will be money well spent, and good point around fertility, I actually never really thought about putting beef over them but something to consider now thanks
This is some incredible science that a collar can tell you all this information. I'm sure it takes a lot guesswork out of your business!
It certainly does!
Two things, I suggest once your straps start to get old and frayed on the end you buy yourself a 'Hot Knife' to tidy up the end of straps. It was the best thing I found that helped with our collars once they got a bit of age on them and trying to put them on new cows and thread through. With the cows you bring on heat and are problem breeders, I like to use a high conception rate bull, or ST have 3 bulls mixed in one AI straw which gives a 5 to 10 % higher conception rate. Also I like to use a shot of GRNH when inseminating. I understand what you are saying about naturally trying to cull the problem breeders, but now you have Genomically tested the animals you have a very accurate way of telling which cows are genetically poor for conception and use that information to cull them even as calves, don't both rearing them they are only going to cost you money. This way you can determine what breeding problems are caused through genetics of the animal and what has been caused by environment/system. Anyhow just some suggestions that might help.
I bet that "Hot Knife" tip comes from experience.
Good tip thanks, I'm hoping they dont fray but I guess time will tell,
I had never though about using a bull like that either but really good food for thought thanks!
I would like to genetcally test the calves one day when I think they are good enough genetic wise but its just another cost
That data is fascinating. I would have thought with your girls that have been inoestrous for a long period would also be the earlier calvers (at this point), meaning they were good and fertile last year. Therefore, yeah, it might just have been a hard calving they're recovering from, and nothing wrong with their fertility genetics. So helping them out for a season seems like a good choice. And then if they take too long 2 years in a row could be moved on elsewhere. I'm just spitballing, but that's fabulous info to have!
Yeah really interesting data and I agree, they deserve bit of a helping hand i think
Collars are doing you well, Tom Pemberton watched ur vid and has put collars on his cows to in the UK, hello to Dr Briar and look forward to seeing how ur mating goes this season 😎✌️
I caught that, too. It was fun to know who Tom was referring to when he mentioned it in one of his recent videos. :)
Haha yeah I did see that he needs to work on his kiwi accent big time!
It’s been really wet here in the north of England as well Andrew. I would say it’s worth looking at those cows that aren’t cycling, but use a beef straw if you serve them.
Very interesting the info the collars can give you
Glad you're getting rain. We are already getting bushfire here in Australia in south-east Victoria. Been above rainfall over last 3 years and now it is well and truly the opposite. We've only had an inch of rain in the last 2 months. Silage season in looking terrible and hay will be scarce.
I definitely feel for ya, that sucks this early on
We have alta cow watch collars heading in to our 3 rd season with no problems at all.
Thats awesome to hear! To be honest i had never heard of Alta cow, I had to look them up but someone else said they have them too
Didn't know about long test pots just done our herd test and the were full pots
give them a go next year, just makes it so much easier
Can you send some of that rain my way mate up to north Queensland we havent had any in ages and need it bad although the cane farmers would disagree. Its great how your explaining all the new tech, keep it up please.
Geez I wish I could, its so dry up your way, I feel for ya
Andrew amazing video mate. In my opinion, you are definitely the best dairy UA-camists. And it's so good to see the Gabe Brown book next to your desk. His farming techniques on cover crop are amazing and worked wonders for me, along with Joel Salatin and Greg Judy's methods on Regenerative Ag. There way of farming worked for me and opened my eyes to an awesome way of life. There's an Australian called Colin S
Sorry there's an Australian called Colin Seis who's been applying and advocating cover cropping on his property in NSW since the 80s and like Gabe has proven results year after year.
Good luck and keep up your amazing vids, you definitely have a gift...thanks
Thank you very much! I actually got sent it by one of my American viewers which was so nice of him! There's so many different ways to farm and once you've found a way that suits yourself its pretty awesome!
I have heardinsight collars (the older ones off those) brought them secondhand, put them pretty close to matting 🤞🏻 they all good
Awesome, I hope they go all good for you, let me know how you get on
I love your video they are so inspiring
Could not help noticing that you are still on instant coffee. Being a young progressive fella I would thought you would be into the coffee machine. We are tea people but our Whanau are into coffee so they all put in and bought a machine for us so we had coffee for them when they visit. Had to teach me to use the machine 😂. Nice video Andrew and your explanation about the information you get from the collars. Do not have to muck around with paint for reproduction just look at your phone 😂 👍
haha yeah I am, its just quick and easy
❤
Interesting video from you. The collars should help you with decisions.
interesting to hear ye talking about the collars , im considering the gps no fence collars at the moment . lots of info on that and good the company are keeping you updated when theres an issue.are they expensive to buy? thanks
Yes they are really expensive to lease, I could never justify it but it is very cool technology
and a comment on some of the longer calved cows ...i heard ye mentioning they maybe had a harder calving...is it possible to see from your rumination data if they perhaps had lower ruminations after calving? or higher milk production lower body score and do their calving/ expected heats coincide with very wet or cold spells?
Good point, Its hard to tell the wet cold spells looking at the data, all though the herd rumination ave would be down so maybe.
And yeah they could just be milking really well and take a bit longer to cycle, all good points you have made!
Have you ever considered milking twice a day? What are some benefits of milking once a day
No, we have a good OAD system so dont want to change,
Less walking/lower lameness
Higher Repro
Minimal drop in production
Better lifestyle
You said you wanted a beef breed before for some of the lesser cows .Try stabiliser cattle I don't know are there lots of them in New Zealand. I have a UA-cam channel called Ballynashawn farm with Jack we Farm in Ireland. Thanks
Hey Jack, I think we have them down here, and you can buy straws I'm just a little bit hesitant using beef breeds unless they are short gestation on the first year, if it goes alright I may look to change things up a bit
@TheOnceADayFarmer yes Stabilser cattle are apposed to be short gestation lent and easy calving
Thanks Andrew
hi sir... Is their finding a job as a dairy farmer in new zealand?
Olá bom dia uma dúvida essas coleiras pode ser usadas em vacas de corte?
Yes they can
@@TheOnceADayFarmer Bueno um abraço aqui do Brasil
I seen Tom Pemberton make a terrible attempt at a kiwi accent a week ago and give you a shout out
😂
Need a lot of work!
That was a bit off-putting looking at that cow about to gatecrash down the steps into the pit. Imagine the chaos if that happened
yeah its a bit wide and they could step through the rails if they wanted to, but havent had one yet
Do we spend money on the cows anestrous or otherwise of questionable fertility? I think there is a good payback for it and dont keep any of those calves and your not hurting average herd fertility. The one thing is I dontt spend money cows that have other issues or just older.
Yeah that's a good question and I think I'm on the same page as you, I definitely think it will be money well spent, and good point around fertility, I actually never really thought about putting beef over them but something to consider now thanks
Mfd