Opportunities - Short Term Goals
Reproduction - Heat Checking
The dairy can improve their reproductive statistics by heat checking the cows twice a day. This is easily done and doesn't take up much more of the manager's time than their job already does. Since the cows get let out into the heat check lot every day in the morning while the alleys are scraped with a skid steer. The manager would only need to spend an extra 10 to 15 minutes heat checking. After the cows are let out, the manager would clean the barn while the cows are getting their energy out of their system, and then when the manager is done cleaning, he would go heat check. In the afternoon, the manager could simply observe the cows while the milkers are getting them up and bringing them into the milking parlor. By simply heat checking twice a day, the dairy can drastically improve their heat detection, conception and pregnancy rates. There is also evidence to show that breeding off of heats gives a more fertile pregnancy versus Timed AI.
Nutrition - Weigh Backs/Phase Feeding & Better Grouping
In the short term, the dairy should work on phase feeding more effectively and grouping cows better according to their needs. While the dairy is doing weigh-backs on the leftover feed that the cows don't eat, it is not done consistently and the ration is not updated according to these weigh-backs very often (from manager). By simply doing a weigh-back on feed every morning, the dairy can determine which groups need more or less feed and update the ration accordingly. This will save the dairy money by eliminating overfeeding a group of cows and will also increase the diary's profits by feeding other cows more, allowing them to produce more milk. The cows are currently only grouped by milk production and sometimes stage of lactation. However, there are often high and low producing cows in the same pen, getting the same ration, which harms the health/production of both cows. By evaluating each cow on an individual basis and placing them in groups accordingly, the dairy will save and make more money.
Labor - Standardize Feeding Times and Protocols
To eliminate inconsistencies in regards to feeding calves, the dairy can standardize feeding times by setting a specific time for workers to come in and feed every day. Rather than giving workers the option of starting in a 2 hour time frame, workers can be told to show up at 7 AM and 3:30 PM. In addition, treatment procedures for sick calves can be standardized for better treatment of the calves. Management should create specific treatment protocols for different illnesses for the workers to follow. This will decrease the amount of time that calves are sick and allow them to get back to growing quicker.
Transition Cow Management - Update Pasture and Mix DCAD
To address the issues with the transition cows and ultimately the reproduction issues, the close up cow pasture needs to be fitted to make the cows more comfortable. The shades on top of the shelter need to be updated to one that is more effective, or in the case of Page 3 where there is no shade structure, one needs to be added. Some type of bedding such as straw or shavings should also be added under the shade structure to increase cow comfort. Considering the amount of shavings that are already used, this would not be a huge additional expense to the dairy. The cows should also have their DCAD mixed in with their silage instead of just top-dressed to ensure that they are eating it and help eliminate metabolic issues.