Opportunities - Long Term Goals
Reproduction - Choose a Different Program?
In the long term, the dairy should re-evaluate their Timed AI program. The program is costing the dairy on average $18 per cow that is bred (Reproduction Lecture), which is extremely expensive considering the poor results. They should consider moving to a different synchronization program since they are not getting any results.
Several different programs should be evaluated for cost, labor and projected pregnancy rates before changing/choosing a reproductive program.
Nutrition - Hire a Nutritionist
In the long term, a nutritionist should be hired to evaluate the current ration, the feedstuffs that comprise it and compare it with the production of the cows. A new nutritionist will bring new ideas and technology for the dairy to utilize that have come about in recent years. While this does cost the dairy money upfront, it will ultimately save the dairy money by eliminating transition cow problems and allowing cows to better utilize the feed for milk production.
Labor - Hire Strictly & Hold Accountability
For the future, management should develop a more strict hiring process, have a detailed training process and force workers to have more accountability. Only workers that have a genuine interest in working at the dairy should be hired, they should then have a lengthy training process and be evaluated that they understand and have mastered the skills associated with their job. Finally, there should be a specific set of guidelines that delineate reasons for termination. Workers who miss shifts, do not complete their shift to its fullness or otherwise compromise the health of the calves need to be evaluated and/or fired.
Transition Cow Management - Feed Management
In the long term, the dairy can help eliminate transition cow issues by simply feeding the cows properly. By feeding the cows correctly so that they are the proper body condition score, the instances of dystocia and metabolic issues after calving will decrease, therefore increasing reproductive health and making it easier for these cows to be bred back. All of these factors together will save the dairy money. By hiring a nutritionist, that should help with this problem.