Re: Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006

From: Greg.O'Brien@dpi.vic.gov.au
Date: Tue Apr 04 2006 - 14:35:49 EST

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Hi Jeanette,

A study is underway that will collect data on reproduction (and more)
using over 5,000 cows in commercial herds across Victoria. Hopefully it
will provide the information you are looking for.

At Ellinbank, both the cows that were in extended lactation trials and the
cows that have been carried over 6 months due to failure to conceive when
mated at ~3 months into lactation have had similar reproductive
performance to cows in 12 month inter-calving interval. This is about 90%
in calf 9 weeks mating. The numbers are too small to be relied on, but
are encouraging.

Jock MacMillan talks about them being fertile but needing longer from
calving to mating in order to get in calf.

We are finding that a proportion of cows with 21 and 24 month
inter-calving intervals are drying off early similar to your heifer. The
average production for these longer lactation lengths is not too far
behind due to having one less dry period, but there is a production loss
on average. Some cows persist quite well, so it is variable. 15 to 18
month inter-calving intervals have very similar annual production levels
to traditional 12 month inter-calvings.

One of the economic analyses on Extended Lactation cows looked at the 60%
most persistent cows. The economics look good. This wasn't looking at
the cost of removing the bottom 40% of the herd (this is unlikely to be
profitable) but rather was designed to look at what things would be like
if cows were bred to fit into an extended lactation system (say 10 to 20
years of selection for this trait).

Might we have long lactations by design on a proportion farms in 20 years
time?? It is thought provoking stuff.

The project team does not promote traditional, extended lactation or
cross-breeding systems as being superior or inferior. Hopefully, the
project is providing farmers and their advisers with the information they
need to make decisions for their own unique circumstances.

regards
Greg O'Brien,
Dairy Extension Officer (and member of the Extended Lactation project
team)

DPI, Victoria
1301 Hazeldean Road,
Ellinbank, Victoria, Australia
3821

Phone 03 56242288
Fax 03 56242200

denisondowns2@bigpond.com
04/04/2006 03:54 AM
Please respond to vicdairy-l

        To: vicdairy-l@unimelb.edu.au
        cc:
        Subject: Re: Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006

Hi Natalie,
We are very interested in this work.Ok to extend but can you get them back
in calf. Have you got some figures for conception rates?
Just dried off a 05 hiefer after 585 days and she is back in calf to AI.
Downside is her dry period will be around 16 weeks.
I may not make it to the Field day but would appreciate any
handouts - preferably by post.
Cheers Jeannette
----- Original Message -----
From: Natalie.Nelson@dpi.vic.gov.au
To: vicdairy-l@unimelb.edu.au
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 12:38 PM
Subject: Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006

Extended Lactation Field Day

Milking cows for longer than 300 days has been the subject of research in
Victoria over the past three years.
Production has been surprisingly good under extended lactation management
systems at Ellinbank.
Early indications are that this might be a viable alternative production
system for some businesses.

Interim results of this work will be the topic of a seminar/field day

Date: Friday 21st April 2006

>From 10.00am until 12.30pm

Location:
Conference Room
DPI Ellinbank
Hazeldean Road
Ellinbank

What Will Be Covered:
The Latest Feeding and Production Trials - Martin Auldist
Reproduction Issues With Extended Lactation Systems - Chris Grainger
Implications for Whole Farm Economics - Bill Malcolm
Quality of Extended Lactation For Processing ie cheese making - Martin
Auldist
A Chance to View the Current Feeding Trial - Greg O'Brien

Further information is available from Greg O'Brien 5624 2288 or Natalie
Nelson 5662 9911
_________________________________
Natalie Nelson,
Dairy Industry Development Officer,
Department of Primary Industries,
12 Peart Street
Leongatha, Victoria 3953

Phone: 03 5662 9911
Fax: 03 5662 9999
Mobile: 0407 523 512
Email: Natalie.Nelson@dpi.vic.gov.au

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Hi Jeanette,
 
 A study is underway that will collect data on reproduction (and more) using over 5,000 cows in commercial herds across Victoria.  Hopefully it will provide the information you are looking for.
 
 At Ellinbank, both the cows that were in extended lactation trials and the cows that have been carried over 6 months due to failure to conceive when mated at ~3 months into lactation have had similar reproductive performance to cows in 12 month inter-calving interval.  This is about 90% in calf 9 weeks mating.  The numbers are too small to be relied on, but are encouraging.
 
 Jock MacMillan talks about them being fertile but needing longer from calving to mating in order to get in calf.
 
 We are finding that a proportion of cows with 21 and 24 month inter-calving intervals are drying off early similar to your heifer.  The average production for these longer lactation lengths is not too far behind due to having one less dry period, but there is a production loss on average.  Some cows persist quite well, so it is variable.  15 to 18 month inter-calving intervals have very similar annual production levels to traditional 12 month inter-calvings.
 
 One of the economic analyses on Extended Lactation cows looked at the 60% most persistent cows.  The economics look good.  This wasn't looking at the cost of removing the bottom 40% of the herd (this is unlikely to be profitable) but rather was designed  to look at what things would be like if cows were bred to fit into an extended lactation system (say 10 to 20 years of selection for this trait). 
 
 Might we have long lactations by design on a proportion farms in 20 years time??    It is thought provoking stuff.  
 
 The project team does not promote traditional, extended lactation or cross-breeding systems as being superior or inferior. Hopefully, the project is providing farmers and their advisers with the information they need to make decisions for their own unique circumstances.  
 
 regards
 Greg O'Brien, 
Dairy Extension Officer (and member of the Extended Lactation project team) 
 
DPI, Victoria 
1301 Hazeldean Road, 
Ellinbank, Victoria,  Australia 
3821 
 
Phone 03 56242288 
Fax      03 56242200
 
 
 
<table width=100%>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<td>denisondowns2@bigpond.com
04/04/2006 03:54 AM
 Please respond to vicdairy-l
 
<td>        
         To:        vicdairy-l@unimelb.edu.au
         cc:        
         Subject:        Re: Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006</table>
 
 
 Hi Natalie,
 We are very interested in this work.Ok to extend but can you get them back in calf. Have you got some figures for conception rates?
 Just dried off a 05 hiefer after 585 days and she is back in calf to AI. Downside is her dry period will be around 16 weeks.
 I may not make it to the Field day but would appreciate any
 handouts - preferably by post.
 Cheers Jeannette 
 ----- Original Message ----- 
 From: <a href=mailto:Natalie.Nelson@dpi.vic.gov.au>Natalie.Nelson@dpi.vic.gov.au</a> 
 To: <a href="mailto:vicdairy-l@unimelb.edu.au">vicdairy-l@unimelb.edu.au</a> 
 Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 12:38 PM
 Subject: Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006
 
 
Extended Lactation Field Day 
 
Milking cows for longer than 300 days has been the subject of research in Victoria over the past three years. 
Production has been surprisingly good under extended lactation management systems at Ellinbank. 
Early indications are that this might be a viable alternative production system for some businesses. 
 
Interim results of this work will be the topic of a seminar/field day 
 
Date: Friday 21st April 2006 
 
>From 10.00am until 12.30pm 
 
Location: 
Conference Room 
DPI Ellinbank 
Hazeldean Road 
Ellinbank 
 
What Will Be Covered: 
<ul>
<li>The Latest Feeding and Production Trials - Martin Auldist 
<li>Reproduction Issues With Extended Lactation Systems - Chris Grainger 
<li>Implications for Whole Farm Economics - Bill Malcolm 
<li>Quality of Extended Lactation For Processing ie cheese making - Martin Auldist 
<li>A Chance to View the Current Feeding Trial - Greg O'Brien 
 
Further information is available from Greg O'Brien 5624 2288 or Natalie Nelson 5662 9911 
_________________________________ 
Natalie Nelson, 
Dairy Industry Development Officer, 
Department of Primary Industries, 
12 Peart Street 
Leongatha, Victoria 3953 
 
Phone:  03 5662 9911 
Fax:      03 5662 9999 
Mobile:  0407 523 512 
Email:   Natalie.Nelson@dpi.vic.gov.au
<li>
<li></ul>

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Next message: John Gallienne & Co Pty Ltd: "GippsDairy Poowong Focus Farm Field Day"
Previous message: Jeannette: "Re: Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006"
Maybe in reply to: Natalie.Nelson@dpi.vic.gov.au: "Extended lactation Field Day Friday 21st April 2006"
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