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Pedometers - Important Repro Management Tool
at Valley Acres Dairy
Article by Paul Meyer, North American Marketing Manager
OVER 50% OF COWS HAVE RECORDED HEAT ACTIVITY BY 55 DAYS
It’s been eight years since Gene Speltz invested in pedometers for his Valley Acres Dairy. Located in Rolling Stone MN, this 280 cow dairy has benefited from their inclusion as a key tool to manage the herd’s reproduction. “The main advantage the pedometers offer is time savings from visual heat detection”, explains Speltz. “I figure the payback takes about 5 years”.
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The cows at Valley Acres wear the device just above the dew claw during their entire lactation, with activity information collected as they go through the parlor. Graphs are generated that provide Speltz and his staff valuable information on each individual cow. Not only does the system identify cows with high activity levels, indicating heat, but it also points out those cows with a lack of activity, providing an opportunity for early diagnosis of metabolic disorders. Over the years a few have come off, but with the rubber-tire scrapper system use to clean alleys, they are rarely lost – in fact, over 8 years, only one has been lost altogether. |
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Although the initial investment per unit (approximately $100) might be deemed too big a deterrent for many, Speltz makes a telling remark: “If I were to expand my herd, I would buy the extra pedometers needed as I believe the benefits are real.”
Other parts to the Valley Acres repro management program include a 60 day voluntary waiting period, pre-synching of cows at day 40 and OvSynching at day 54. Speltz estimates that 30 to 40% of cows are bred off activity while the remainder is timed. Over half the cows have had some heat activity information recorded by day 55. Consequently, heat rate is quite high, contributing to the pleasing Pregnancy Rate at the dairy hovers just over 20%. “The pedometers also help with identifying mid-cycle cows (day 14 to day 18) that might other-wise get missed”, Speltz points out.
Along with the activity monitoring system, at Valley Acres, they use the electro-conductivity system which is an effective tool to manage mastitis incidence. Electro-conductivity increases or decreases based on salt levels in the milk. A drop in milk production along with increased conductivity is a good predictor of an udder infection. Again, early diagnosis allows for prompt treatment – in many cases before any visual signs appear in the milk. Interestingly, a drop in production and increased conductivity in combination with a drop in activity has been an effective indicator of displaced abomasums.
While the pedometer system is not for everyone – the upfront investment is high – Valley Acres Dairy is happy with the decision they made 8 years ago, and continue to see it as a key to their successful reproductive management program.
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Posted Jun 19th
