Management Strategies
Culling
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro19946216Keywords:
Cull rates, heifer pressure, management problems, insemination, milk productionAbstract
Key Points
• Cull rates are higher on most commercial dairy farms than is optimal for maximum net revenue. This is probably due to high heifer pressure. High cull rates can also mask management problems that exist in a herd.
• Cows should be kept as long as possible. 33% of the cows should be kept past five lactations. The decision to cull an animal should be made when she is considered for insemination. A table of reference values is provided to help in deciding if a cow should be inseminated.
• Cows to be culled, but not replaced, should be removed at 40-50 pounds of milk/day. Cows that are to be replaced should be removed from the herd when they reach 80% of the average milk production.
