Expand watering facilities to encourage maximum water intake. Concentrate on cow health and records. Most farmers will agree that preventing metabolic disorders and other cow health problems is cheaper than treating them. Highly effective farmers excel in this area. They develop a routine herd health schedule, and don't hesitate to draw on the advice of a skilled veterinarian.
Paybacks can be dramatic.
Time spent on heat detection is the most valuable time spent on a dairy farm. A 21-day calendar, breeding wheel or software program that tells you which cows to monitor for heat will make your job easier. In our herd, after increasing the frequency of hoof trimming visits from annual to 3 times a year, we've noticed a dramatic reduction in feet and leg problems and related culls. Preventing hoof diseases saves big dollars. Monitoring herd health trends with computer software can help you identify areas needing improvement.