It has been a great summer for growing grass.  Most farms are up in production and on track for a record season, according to Steve Harkness at Anexa Animal Health in Gordonton.  He says most indicators of cow condition are looking good.

“The pregnancy testing results we have attained so far are no exception. From herds tested  the average six-week in-calf rate is 70%, with the top performing herds at 80-90%. This is above the national target figure set by InCalf of a 78% six-week in-calf rate.”

DairyNZ’s InCalf programme is a national project to improve dairy herd fertility.  The six-week in-calf rate is the proportion of the herd which is pregnant after six weeks of mating.

Steve, who’s one of six Anexa InCalf advisors, says he’s  pleased to see a greater number of farmers choosing to pregnancy test early, which allows them to take advantage of the information a six-week in-calf rate provides.