The extravagantly named “Excalvaganza” field day focussed on the Weaner throughput module of the MLA More Beef from Pastures: The producer’s manual. The field day was such a success that similar field days are expected to be rolled out in south western WA before next year’s calving season.
Central to the field day were five key topics:
- Economics of breeding
- Heifer management and nutrition
- Calving management
- Dystocia
- Weaner throughput
In the Economics of breeding component it was explained that the profitability of a breeding herd is determined by the breeding efficiency of that herd. Maximising profit is about maximising the efficiency with which calves can be produced. Central to this is the “perfect heifer”.
So what constitutes the perfect heifer? According to Excalvaganza this is a heifer that has, after three years, delivered the following without assistance:
- Weaned one healthy calf
- Delivered her second healthy calf in the first month of calving
- Demonstrated good condition (CS3)
The management path to achieving the perfect replacement heifer was then described with emphasis placed on critical control points such as;
- minimum liveweights and condition scores,
- timing to achieve early joining,
- implementing a short joining; and
- pregnancy testing.
In a practical demonstration that really brought home what this meant to producers in the Esperance area, the regions feed base was then overlayed on the production cycle to see how these critical control points could be met with the different feed resources available.
Further presentations from local identity Enoch Bergman from Swans Veterinarian Services rounded the day off by dealing with the management of cows and heifers for a stress free calving and the management of dystocia.
Enoch gave a fantastic break down of how to recognise and deal with the malpresentation of calves as well as how much you can do yourself to rectify the situation and when to call the vet.
All of the issues and critical control points discussed during the day are covered in the Weaner throughput module of the MLA More Beef from Pastures: The producer’s manual.
For further information on the Excalvaganza and similar events planned for WA contact the MLA More Beef from Pastures State Coordinator Matt Ryan, phone: 08 9083 1107 or email: mryan@agric.wa.gov.au