Sleeping on the Job?
By Mel DeJarnette,
Select Sires Reproduction Specialist
Have you ever thought of your cows as employees? Maybe you should.
How long would you tolerate the employee who is continually caught
sleeping in the hay mow when he should be feeding, milking, heat
detecting or tending to some other chore? You may as well throw money
to the wind (or send it to me) because the dollars invested in sleeping
employees will not show much return on your operating statement.
Cattle are basically employees on any dairy or beef cattle operation.
Each cow is assigned the task of generating income for the enterprise.
Employees who cannot or do not pull their weight should be advised to
seek employment elsewhere. Perhaps McDonald’s would have an opening
for either (humans or bovine).
A key requirement in a cow’s job description, which influences her
productivity and profitability to the operation, is to maintain an
appropriate calving interval. Historically this has been a 12-12½ month
interval. However, some will argue that this interval is no longer optimum
with respect to extremely high producing cows and/or herds. Regardless of
what you consider the optimum calving interval, an extended calving interval
has a negative effect on the animal’s lifetime productivity and profitability.
Calving through early lactation, however, is a very stressful period. Cows
are expending more energy than they have the body capacity to consume. As
a result of this negative energy balance, some bodily functions are going to
be shorted. Reproduction stands #3 in the energy distribution line with maintenance
and milk production holding down the first and second spots. As a result of a lack
of energy, the reproductive system shuts down and ceases to function. In essence,
the reproductive system goes to sleep on the job. This is a normal physiological
process that cannot be prevented. However, the duration of this postpartum anestrous
will directly affect the animal’s job performance and profitability.
Before you go out and start firing the nonproductive members of your herd, there is
one very important fact you must consider. Unlike human employees, bovine employees
require their pay in advance. They even have their own labor union which specifically
demands employment compensation to include the following items:
- A well balanced ration composed of quality feedstuffs, designed
to meet nutrient demands relative to lactation status and to maintain
adequate body condition.
- Health benefits including regular veterinary visits and vaccination
for all relevant diseases.
- Living and working quarters that are kept clean, dry and comfortable.
- Seasonal provisions for heating and cooling in all working locations.
- Other demands too numerous to mention.
The job performance of your cows today is a direct reflection of how well you met
union demands during the previous three to six months. This is especially true with
respect to nutritional demands and how long the reproductive system sleeps on the job.
If you meet union demands, the reproductive system will nap for only two to three
weeks after calving. If you don’t meet union demands, then not only the duration,
but also the depth of sleep the reproductive system experiences will be affected
by how far you fell short.
| % of Union Demand Met |
Reproductive Performance After Calving |
| 100% |
2-3 week nap and ready-to-go by 45-60 days |
| 90% |
still napping at 50 days |
| 75% |
sound asleep at 60 days |
| 50% |
comatose at 90 days |
The theoretical example in the table above may help to explain the variable
results when hormonal treatments are given in order to stimulate cyclic
activity in anestrous animals (i.e., GnRH, Progesterone, etc.). If the
reproductive system is not in a sound sleep, then it shouldn’t take much
to wake it up. However if the patient is in a coma, arousal only comes
through a miracle.
The success of any livestock enterprise, just like any Wall Street business,
depends on management. Management must assemble quality employees capable
of fulfilling their assigned tasks and then provide benefits and compensation
to instill loyalty and productivity. Unlike humans, bovine employees require
their pay well in advance and job performance today is a direct reflection of
how well they were compensated during the previous three to six months.
If cows are not meeting the expectations of management, then it may be because
management has not fulfilled the demands of the Bovine Labor Union.
To order product contact:
Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 North, Plain City, Ohio 43064 / Phone: (614) 873-4683 Fax: (614) 873-5751
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