Reproductive Management Services
Whilst most of the farms services in the area have traditionally had seasonal calving herds, the trend now is moving towards a variety of different calving and reproductive management strategies. TVG provides management advice to farms on the tailoring of these strategies to suit the goals and lifestyles of the clients involved. The use of computer modelling and data recording and reporting enable a sophisticated approach to be developed that can still be kept simple for implementation by the client. On farm services such are used as need to achieve the aims of the programs:
- Pregnancy diagnosis - is crucial to reproductive management on modern dairy farms. This can be carried out in two forms:
- Manual rectal palpation - can be used at any stage of pregnancy. Is more accurate for determination of the stage of pregnancy when used in early pregnancy rather than late pregnancy. Accuracy of diagnosis of pregnant or non pregnant is 100% at any stage of pregnancy after 6 weeks.
- Ultrasound rectal probe - is used primarily in the period from 5 -16 weeks pregnancy. Is accurate for estimation of stage of pregnancy during this time. After this time accuracy in both stage of pregnancy and pregnant/non pregnant determination will be reduced. Currently we use a portable heads up display unit.
- Program Tailoring - After assessment of the goals and needs of the individual client, programs are tailored to suit the following areas:
- Calving
- Non Visible Oestrus management.
- Synchronisation programs.
- Fertility Investigations - Retrospective analysis of reproductive performance is carried out for clients who feel they have a problem.
- "In Calf" extension programs - members of the practice are heavily involved in the In Calf extension program. Most professional staff are trained In Calf advisors.