Summer Breeding Tips
We can’t control the summer heat, but we can change management practices to minimize its adverse effects on reproduction. Here are a few tips from Select Sires field staff about improving conception during the summer months.
Keep Feed Fresh
When it’s hot and humid, it’s important to keep feed fresh in front of the cows to help keep dry matter intake up. Several producers in my area have had good luck keeping feed fresh by applying TMR Stabilizer. In addition, they push up feed several times a day. This practice stimulates cows to get up and think about eating again. Even with these practices feed intake can decline, so it’s important to work with your nutritionist to ensure cows get the energy they need from the feed they do consume. ~ Ed Nichols, sales representative, Michigan, 85 herds ranging in size up to 3,000 head.
Watch for Heats in the Evening
When the weather is hot and sticky, all cows want to do is drink, eat and lay down. During the summer try watching for heats at night because that is when the cows are going to show the best heats. If you cannot watch for heats at night, work with an A.I. technician to tail chalk cows so you can catch all those that show heat in the middle of the night. Cows usually cool down at night so I recommend breeding cows early in the morning. ~ Jason Ossmann, large-herd A.I. technician, Wisconsin, 35 herds including 10 tail-chalking herds representing about 20,000 cows.
Keep Water Supplies Clean and Plentiful
Make sure there is plenty of clean water available. A good rule of thumb is if you won’t drink it, neither will the cows. During the summer it may be necessary to add more waterers. The return alleys are an ideal spot. When there isn’t enough water or the quality is poor it can limit milk production and cause health problems which can affect reproduction. (Note: Provide two or more linear inches of water space per cow. To calculate; measure the number of inches on all sides of the water tank cows can drink from; divide by two and the result is the maximum number of cows that tank can serve. Remember when the temperature goes above 70°F a cow needs twice as much water. Providing plenty of clean, quality water is a must.) ~ Scott Woepse, A.I. technician, Wisconsin, 70+ herds, 14,000 inseminations annually.
Monitor Semen Thawing Equipment
A lot of large herds use the CITO thaw bath units and we have found the straw thaw water temperature can get too hot. The green "ready" light comes on when the temperature gets above 94°F but it does not go off when it gets too hot. One way this problem can occur is if the thaw unit is in a room with a vacuum pump or compressor. On a hot summer day, the temperature in one of these rooms can get above 100°F, causing the thaw water temperature to get too hot. Besides monitoring temperature, it’s also important to change the bath water daily to keep it free of bacteria. ~Brent Beeker, sales representative, Michigan, 100 herds, 20,000+ cows.
Provide Fans, Sprinklers and Shade
Using extra fans, as well as sprinklers in the holding and feeding areas, helps keep cows comfortable. This ultimately helps with summer time conception. Get as much air flow through the barns as possible and make sure cows have access to shade. Research proves that cows that have access to shade produce more milk (10.7%) and have higher conception rates (19.1%), than control groups without shade. During the summer it’s also important to avoid over-crowding. Consider decreasing the number of cows per milking group to reduce the amount of time spent in hot, crowded allies and holding pens. ~ Terry Kraning, sales representative, Wisconsin.
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