The year of a Dairy Cow – KPIs

These are the target KPIs to achieve a calving interval of 365 days.

Not all cows in the herd will achieve this, aim for an average of 365-380 days

Most cows in a herd will need to have have a calving interval less than 400 days to achieve this

Calving Interval Target 365 days

Heat Detection: Cows cycle

and are served every 18-24
days until pregnant
Dry Period starts. Stop
Calving Service Period Pregnancy milking the cow, use Calving
Starts selective dry cow therapy

Day 0 Day 42 Day 85 Day 305 Day 365

VWP 42 days Service Period

Voluntary Waiting Period
ends with
pregnancy Pregna

Lactation 305 days

 The year
of a Dairy
Cow –
Extended
calving Calving Interval Target 365-380 days
period Heat Detection: Cows cycle and are
served
If a cow every 18-24
takes longer to get days until pregnant
pregnant after calving – in this Dry Period starts. Stop
example
Service125 days then her
Period milking the cow, use Calving
Calving calving interval is extended to Pregnancy
Starts
405 days. selective dry cow therapy
Although her lactation will
continue she will produce less
milk in the later part of
lactation and so becomes less
profitable.
Day 0 Day 42 Day 125 Day 345 Day 405

VWP 42 days Service period ends with

Voluntary Waiting Period
pregnancy
Pregna

Lactation 345 days

 The year of a Dairy Cow – Very extended calving period
If a cow takes longer to get pregnant after calving – in this example 150 days then her calving interval is extended to 430 days.

Although her lactation will continue she will produce less milk in the later part of lactation and so becomes less profitable, not all cows will continue milking for
an extended period and so may need to be dried off early, resulting in an extended dry period which is bad for metabolic health of the cow (as in this example)

It costs an estimated £2 per cow per day over 380 days (using the average herd calving interval)

Calving Interval 430 days

Heat Detection: Cows cycle and are served

every 18-24 days until pregnant
Dry Period starts. Stop milking
Service Period the cow when yield below 10 Calving
Calving Pregnancy
Starts litres, use selective dry cow

Day 0 Day 42 Day 150 Day 350 Day 430

VWP 42 days Service period ends with

Voluntary Waiting Period
pregnancy
Pregna

Lactation 350 days