Select Sires

Efficiency More
Important Than Ever

By Mel DeJarnette, reproductive specialist

To maintain farm profitability in today’s marketplace is a challenge, to say the least. Low milk prices in combination with increasing feed prices, inflation and high operating costs make it tougher than ever to stay in the black. It’s times like these that many businesses re-evaluate their management and production practices and modify operations in an attempt to "trim the fat" and increase efficiency. The key to making sound decisions in these times of crisis are maintaining accurate records and setting reasonable goals.

Records and Goals
Efficiency goals can be set for all areas and phases of the operation. In order to set realistic goals for the future, we need to know exactly where we are today. This requires a set of accurate up-to-date records. Just like planning the family vacation, we must know where we’re starting from plus how much time and money we have before we can pick a realistic destination. Once the destination is chosen, we can then use maps, planning guides or travel agents to determine the best method and means to get there.

Without accurate records, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to set realistic farm goals. Accurate records must be kept on each cow in such areas as health and veterinary care, production and reproduction.

Your Cow is an Employee, too!
Records are a vital tool for monitoring the efficiency of your operation and employees. As with any business, it is important for all farm employees to perform their duties promptly and efficiently. Those who don’t should be encouraged to seek employment elsewhere.

Have you ever thought of your cows as employees? Maybe you should. Each cow on your farm has a job to do and should be expected to pull her weight. A very basic job description for a cow might include:

Produce Calf
Produce Milk
Resume Cyclic Activity
Get Pregnant Again
Repeat 1-4 Above

This job description is a bit vague. Your reproductive goals can be used to establish more specific performance standards for all employees (human and bovine).

Some more common reproductive goals applicable to most farms are:

A calving interval of 12-1/2 to 13 months.
Average days open less than 100.
1.7 services per conception.
80 to 90% heat detection efficiency.
Heat dates on 80% of cows greater than 50 days post partum.

Keep accurate records of calving dates, heat dates, and breeding dates. These will help you determine which cows are performing and which cows are not.

Like all employees, cows need to be compensated for their efforts, however, unlike other employees, cows require payment in advance. Compensation for cows may include: room and board, adequate nutrition and health care, a safe clean working environment, 60 days maternity leave (drying-off period) prior to calving, as well as many other demands.

Meeting their demands and keeping all employees happy are keys to being a good manager. Accurate records will allow you to know w hat your efficiency status is at present, who’s performing and who’s not. You can then set reasonable goals for future production. These goals can then be used to evaluate employee performance (cull) at a future date. It would be wise to remember, however, the higher the employee demands for compensation. Treat your employees with concern, respect and adequate compensation. They, in turn, will give you a healthy and productive working relationship.

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