22 | nzdairy Value of dairy heifers cannot be overstated Russell Fredric The value of dairy heifers and the investment that should be made in them cannot be overstated, New Zealand Grazing Company operations manager Bridget Clark says. However she recognises from experience that rearing and growing heifers can be a drain on human and material resources if it is not well organised and managed. “I know as an ex-dairy farmer they can become a chore and sometimes people can’t wait to see the back end of them off the dairy platform,” she says. However she reinforces getting heifers off the platform to cheaper feed is the right plan and that the greatest value of feed on a dairy farm is producing milk, not growing young stock. “But farmers are missing where the investment really lies, in focusing on better grown heifers, not a cheaper way to feed heifers.” New Zealand Grazing Company (NZGC) was established nearly four decades ago as the middleman that oversees the grazing of dairy and beef heifers on behalf of its farmer clients. “One of the big things is that we save the heifer owners a lot of time,” Bridget says. “The better-grown the heifer is, the better it is for the dairy farmer in the long term.” “Cows don’t reach mature body weight until they’re about four to five years old. The closer to their mature body weight by their first calving, the more energy going into the vat and less going into body growth from the first day of lactation for that heifer.” Since it was established, NZGC has amassed considerable knowledge and expertise in growing heifers to meet and exceed target weights when they are returned to their home farm. The company aims to change how farmers view heifers from being second tier in their herd requiring specialist feeding in their first year, to the valued future of their herd that they are. Its grazing services are comprehensive; both the grazier and herd owner are kept informed throughout a heifer’s growing journey and every month its weigh technicians visit the grower farm to weigh and provide any health treatments. DAIRY PEOPLE » NZ Grazing Company Well grown in calf rising 2yo heifers returned home to the dairy farm and joined in with the milkers at the end of their season. PROUDLY SUPPORTING NZ GRAZING COMPANY Animal Health Advisory Trained Body Condition Scorers Healthy Hoof, Healthy Udder & Incalf Programmes Reproductive Services & Analysis General Medicine & Surgery Department 06 329 1885 | dispatch@flipptransport.co.nz While there is obviously a cost for engaging NZGC, the benefit goes well beyond the grazing contract period and feeds into the entire life span of the cows, Bridget says. “It’s going to cost the farmers less once [the heifers] hit the dairy farm again, to get them to that mature weight because more milk will be going into the vat instead of into growth, with the payback most prominent in the second season of lactation with a reduction in the loss of empty second lactation cows.” The average age of a dairy cow of four to five years old represents a huge wastage of heifers, she says. “The figures of loss are huge, it’s unbelievable that we waste half of our dairy heifers by the time they’ve reached four or five. If you take New Zealand average statistics, the wastage hasn’t changed, it’s always been high.” Cows’ have a strong genetic disposition to put their energy demands into milk, but if they do not have the body condition they will inherently divert their energy needs away from their reproductive system and shut down from cycling resulting in delayed conception or no conception within the breeding period. NZGC’s farmer clients receive a comprehensive report which includes animal health insurance, death compensation, vet needs, vaccinations, jersey bulls, pregnancy testing and regular reports comparing growth rates to agreed targets during the full term of the contract. For graziers, its payment system is based on calculating a target weight for each animal and applying a bonus or penalty based on performance and NZGC works with the graziers to maximise their return. It has been proven that growing less heifers at a higher growth rate achieves a greater return per kilogram of dry matter for less work and stress. “We pick them up as weaners, it’s an 18 month contract so it’s a long time for them to be away and they need to be carefully managed and to the owner’s specifications. We also manage the breeding programme according to the owner’s requirements.” NZGC’s system is a value added investment, better heifers producing more and lasting longer in their herds.
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