What actions between calving and mating can improve in-calf rates? | Ep. 83

How can your actions during calving impact success at mating? In this episode of Talking Dairy, we talk about reproduction and look at what actions during calving can impact success at mating time. We’re joined by Katrina Roberts, Herd Health Vet at Anexa Veterinary Services, InCalf training provider and the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year, and Rex Butterworth, a Waikato dairy farm owner and rural real estate agent. Katrina discusses the herd fertility cake concept and what the key ingredients are to focus on between calving and mating. Rex shares how applying these principles has improved his farm's in-calf rates and productivity with great results.

For more information, visit:

• Reproduction and mating - DairyNZ | DairyNZ
• InCalf Training - DairyNZ | DairyNZ
• Find out more about the herd fertility cake concept in The InCalf book: the-incalf-book.pdf (dairynz.co.nz)

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:04 Meet Katrina Roberts and find out how she became an InCalf Trainer
• 2:20 Meet dairy farmer Rex Butterworth
• 4:21 What's the 'Herd Fertility Cake' concept?
• 5:13 What are the key ingredients?
• 5:57 What is the focus between calving and mating?
• 7:30 About pre-mating heats
• 8:15 How Rex improved his herd's in-calf rates
• 13:27 What challenges impacted repro on Rex's farm this season
• 15:00 How Rex manages his herd and looks after his farm team over spring
• 18:00 Where is the best place to start if you want to improve reproduction?
• 21:00 What else is Rex doing this year to improve in-calf rates
• 21:54 How to become an InCalf Advisor?
• 22:39 Where to find more information