Time Is Money Especially In Reproductive Management

News and Updates

7/12/2024

There are several metrics producers use to manage and evaluate their operations, and many of them boil down to the simple construct that time is money. Every dairy dedicates a large portion of their day and resources to reproductive measures - getting heifers and cows pregnant. Time is spent on labor and there are costs associated with days open, the number of times cows are bred before they are confirmed pregnant, the time cows are lactating before first service and more. By improving these reproductive metrics and achieving labor efficiencies, the bottom line has improved at Foresight Farms, Decorah, Iowa.

Foresight Farms is a partnership between Dave and Jean Wise, their son, Jared, and son and daughter-in-law, Ethan and Allie. Farming over 2,800 acres of crop land, the dairy milks just over 1,000 cows. High genetic potential animals are identified using genomic testing and serviced exclusively with sexed semen, with the balance of the herd bred to beef sires.

Seven years ago, Dave and his team made two important management decisions that accelerated the genetic and reproductive advancement of their herd. First, they transitioned the herd from the aAa mating system to Select Mating Service^® (SMS^®). Second, they leaned on a team of Select Sires consultants to analyze the herd’s reproductive data and create plans for improvement.

Sire selection and genetic advancement

To drive genetic progress, the team relied on Select Sires Member Cooperative Genetic Consultant, Lars Sivesind, to

evaluate the herd and create the most profitable matings using Select Sires genetics. “We realized that compared to our peers, the genetic capability of the herd was not up to par. I’m not the type of guy that is comfortable picking bulls, so I was looking for a team that not only helped with selecting sires but would lead us in a solid direction for a commercial herd,” says Dave.

Foresight Farms’ genetic focus targets health and wellness. Sires are selected for Dairy Wellness Profit Index^® (DWP$^®) and Herd Health Profit Dollars^® (HHP$^®). “Healthy cows are happy cows, and happy cows make milk,” says Dave. “If you don’t have a healthy cow, she’s not going to be around very long. The cost of raising heifers is expensive, and if we can keep a productive cow in the herd a little longer, that’s nothing but a positive for us. Good feet and legs and the basics are important, but the health traits and fertility are going to be the next frontier for picking the next generation of our genetics.”

Because HHP$ is 45% Combined Fat and Protein (CFP) Foresight is protecting components too. In fact, since 2019 their Energy Corrected Milk (ECM) went from 93.8 pounds to 108.1 pounds.

Reproductive efficiencies

“When we were making the decision to rely on one genetic supplier, working closely with a consultant and having them

be a part of our team was very important to us,” says Dave. “Working with one company that has a one-stop shopping center made sense. We could get it all under one roof with Select Sires.”

In tandem with the mating philosophy changes, the team decided to install the CowManager^® monitoring system to assist with reproduction and animal health. Since the beginning, Ted Patterson, CowManager specialist, Select Sires Member Cooperative, has been instrumental in teaching the farm’s team how to use the system and answer any questions. “My herdsman, Ben Guevara, has been with me for 17 years. He would never let me get rid of CowManager now,” says Dave. “It’s like having another person watching the cows. It has helped us narrow down the times we breed, especially in our heifers, which are housed at a different facility. It’s helped us nail down the right time to get semen in a cow.”

The metrics don’t lie. In the seven years Foresight Farms has had CowManager they have seen their days open fall from 120 to 101 days. At the recommendation of Select Sires Member Cooperative Reproductive Consultant, Jake Kempel, the farm began utilizing a double ovsync program for first service breedings five years ago. This resulted in conception rates increasing from just below 40% to consistently over 50%. Pregnancy rates were just above 20% and they are now regularly above 30%.

Since January of this year, 25% of the farm’s total services have been the result of natural heats, with a 45% conception rate. Over the same time period, second lactation or greater animals have a 50% conception rate at first service.

With the average cost of one day open between $2 and $6, the farm is seeing a significant impact on their bottom line. Dave and his team have truly used CowManager to ensure they are getting cows and heifers bred at the right time to boost conception.

Growth and expansion are on the horizon for Foresight Farms. With the recent acquisition of a second all-robotic dairy, Dave intends to keep leaning on the teams at Select Sires and CowManager to help the farm continue to improve efficiencies and focus on the metrics important to his bottom line. “I started milking cows in a 40-cow barn by myself, and I’ve realized when you start to grow in numbers, you can’t do it all by yourself. It makes those you work with so important, and we’ve been able to surround ourselves with a really great team who is focused on improving our herd and making it better.”

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