Wastage in the Herd

Abstract

The length of productive life of the cow and the useful life of the bull are obviously of great economic importance. Milk Marketing Board records show that only about one cow in eight lives to reach her best performance in the 6th lactation or thereabouts. The longer a cow is in use, the greater production there is to carry costs of rearing or purchase, and more calves are produced for heifer replacements, giving a better chance of effective culling. Also, the fewer' replacements that are required each year, the higher the degree of selection of female stock that can be made.