If silage was sampled from the face of the clamp in autumn continue to analyse silos . Silage can vary from the front to the back of a clamp, and further analyses will ensure that concentrate feeding will match the quality of the silage being fed. Try to ensure that access to silage is unrestricted and avoid forcing cows to ' clean up the passage'. Where silage quality is only moderate the introduction of alternative forages and feeds such as maize silage, fodder beet or potatoes can improve energy intake. At this stage conception rates can be judged to be satisfactory or not.
Poor fertility is a complex problem involving many contributing management factors.
Nutritional deficiency in terms of energy. This will require at least three observations per day for at least 30 minutes each time. Observations are best made when the cows are settled, before morning milking, early in the afternoon, and finally last thing at night. Heat detection aids such as tail painting will, combined with good observations, improve detection. There is a relationship between energy deficiency and poor fertility, however, fertility is more dependent on the previous feeding of the animal rather than the particular level given during mating.