Endurance and Lifetime Production

A farmer earns direct money from cows that stay productive longer. One day extra in the herd means an average of 60 lbs more milk with less costs. When the average age of the herd rises, you will need less heifers for replacement - so less costs for rearing young stock.

When the cows become older, average lifetime production per cow will also rise. In the Netherlands the average lifetime production is currently at a level of 27,000 kgs of milk (nearly 60,000 lbs) with 2,100 kgs (4,630 lbs) fat and protein. With a replacement rate of 33%, or in other words 3 lactations per cow, the average production per lactation is 9.000 kgs of milk or about 20,000 lbs. If we can realize a lower replacement rate of 25% and keep production at the same level the average lifetime production per cow would be 36,000 kgs or nearly 80,000 lbs. The same cow would produce 20,000 lbs milk more over the course of her productive life. If this goal could be achieved, average rearing costs would be spread over four lactations instead of three.

To lower your replacement rate you need a cow, which stays productive for a longer period: cows that fit in the housing and feeding system and produce in a trouble-free way. The direct culling figures on the Dynasty and Breakout daughters show precisely such endurance. After 24 months in production in Holland, on average 64% of the cows are still in the herd. For the bulls Dynasty and Breakout their survival numbers respectively are 87% and 81% or 23% and 19% better then average! You can use Dynasty and Breakout to:

• Raise the average age in your herd
• Lower the replacement rate and indirect the costs for rearing young stock
• Raise the average Lifetime Production

Posted Mar 8th

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