Getting a clearer picture of cow culls

Mar 11 2008 by Richard Davies, Western Mail

AFTER feed and forage, the cost of maintaining the herd is the second highest variable cost of milk production.

Replacement expenditure is a major cost of production but few dairy farmers seek to systematically address the issue. Maybe it is because this cost is difficult to determine as it is made up of a range of elements, or perhaps it is “hidden” when compared to others, such as vet’s bills and dairy sundries.

However, there is a huge variation between farms, although it is an area where improvements can be made and margins improved, and farmers should consider reducing the cost of replacements to below 2.6ppl.

“Cull” is an ambiguous term as there is an implication the animal has been sold for an undesirable reason. The vast majority are culled because of this, and as a result, there are too many involuntary culls as opposed to those which leave because they are being sold as a milking animal for management or commercial reasons.

But to assess the impact culling or replacing is having on a business, questions need to be asked, such as, How many cows do you cull each year? What are they culled for? How many made the maximum possible price? How many walked off the farm for sale, and how many were carried off for no income? What is your average replacement rate?

To gain an understanding of replacement costs two principal components need to be considered: the true cost of rearing a heifer replacement; the effect of culling rate/replacement rate on replacement costs.

To reduce replacement costs to below 2.6ppl requires action in a number of areas including reducing the number of heifers kept and reared, reducing the age at calving, reducing culling rates and so the number of replacements, and maximising cull cow value and minimising those that leave with no value.

The Milk Development Council (MDC) has developed an assessment tool based on a traffic light system to give farmers a clear picture of the level of culling.

The MDC cull-cow assessment tool can be downloaded from the website – www.mdc.org.uk or obtained by calling 01285 646500.

Richard Davies is extension officer for Wales for the MDC. Contact on 01824 790214; 07966 237841 or email richard. davies@mdc.org. uk