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How Organic Autumn Block Herd Hit 77 Six Week in Calf Rate
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Executive Summary
AI-generatedA farming operation in Warwickshire successfully improved its organic autumn-block calving process by implementing strategic changes without using hormones or culling animals. By adopting new protocols, improving nutrition, and optimizing workflow, the farm significantly reduced its calving spread from 16 weeks to 9.5 weeks while increasing milk production. These improvements were driven by a desire for greater efficiency after becoming owners of the farm.
Key Insights
- The farm transitioned from year-round calving to an autumn block system, which successfully tightened the calving window and increased overall efficiency.
- Improvements included adopting consistent artificial insemination (AI) protocols and optimizing the workflow immediately following milking.
- Nutritional changes involved supplementing the diet three weeks before calving with soya, wholecrop dry matter, and additional magnesium sources to prevent metabolic issues.
- The farm's management was motivated by a need for greater efficiency and cost reduction after taking ownership of the property.
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