Right now, a lot of farmers are about to start spring calving, and the stage for success or mediocracy is being set by the simple choices and actions we make right now.

This winter has seen unprecedented wet weather, and, in many areas, soils are saturated. If this type of weather continues into the spring, it could lead to increased lameness and increased levels of mastitis.

There is no instant fix for lameness, but making sure the mineral status is optimum, arming and improving the immune system, all comes from being proactive. Not only can the mineral status help strengthen the hooves and improve udder health, but starting early enough and keeping the mineral status at optimum can help avoid unnecessary loss of production and help reduce health costs and animal losses.

“The higher you climb the further you glide” is a saying many farmers understand well.

Getting cows up to peak as high and as quickly as possible while losing the least amount of body condition is all about lifting the ceiling on your potential production.

This starts with reducing that negative energy balance at calving and being proactive.

Getting your cows to perform more efficiently can help water down costs and improve profitability, and it’s all about the attention to detail every day and it starts now.

Probably one of the biggest challenges presented today with higher costs and the risk of a lower payout, is making poor decisions based on “reducing costs”. Reducing spending in the wrong areas can ultimately cost you more in the long run.

Having a plan with an expected outcome allows you to back calculate to see where and what you need to spend and in what areas you should invest to give you the best returns.

For further information, give GrainCorp a ring on 0800 300 313 and talk to one of our Technical Feed Partners

– Ken Winter, Technical Feed Partner