Adherence to good practices during the peripartum period for cows, attentive care for calves and careful management of the return to reproduction are three crucial levers for ensuring the profitability of suckler farms. These recommendations have been confirmed by analysis of data from the Easy Map tool and studies carried out by Techna.
Breeder beef farms have room for improvement if they are to maximise their profitability. But they still need to identify the most effective levers for achieving this. To this end, Techna has examined the technical and economic data from 251 French farms, representing 24,200 cows monitored by the Easy Map management and analysis tool for cow-calf operations. In 2023, the 'average' farm in this database had 98 cows, 24% of which were first-calf cows, calving around 91 times a year. Calf mortality is 10.5% at 240 days and the calving-to-calving interval (CCI) is 384 days.
Grouping calvings, a key factor for success
The farms monitored in Easy Map lost an average of €119 in gross operating profit (EBITDA) per cow per year due to calf mortality and an excessively long IVV. The analysis also reveals a loss of more than €77 in EBITDA per cow per year for farmers who do not group calvings, compared with those who do. In these less economically efficient structures, calf mortality is higher (+46%), as is the interval between calvings (+25 days). These results confirm the importance of defining a strategy for grouping calvings, as well as the importance of using tools such as Easy Map to collect and analyse indicators for managing suckler farms.
Preparing for calving well in advance
Calving preparation, often underestimated on suckler farms, is one of the keys to the competitiveness of farrow-to-finish operations. In addition to analysing the technical and economic indicators from Easy Map, Techna carried out a field survey of 25 farms, divided into two groups according to their level of profitability. Unsurprisingly, most of the high-performing farms (12 out of 15) grouped calvings, with differentiated management of primiparous and multiparous cows. The calving period is 2-3 months, compared with over 6 months for the 'less efficient' group. This strategy is complemented by a number of good practices prior to calving, such as the introduction of a suitable ration, the addition of minerals, vitamins and trace elements, a calving detection and monitoring system, special attention to hygiene and parasitism, etc.
Providing a differentiated ration for pregnant mothers
The 10 farms with the lowest profitability, i.e. a loss of more than €173 in EBITDA per cow per year, provide a conventional ration to pregnant dams. Only four of them monitor the Body Condition Score (BCS) before calving. Yet a cow's needs at the end of gestation increase as the foetus develops. Rumen function needs to be supported, and energy and protein requirements met, to achieve a BSC of 3 to 3.5 at calving time. This differentiated rationing is vital for the health of the mother and her unborn calf. The quality of colostrum, and therefore its protective effect, depends heavily on the intake during the last month of gestation.
The survey also revealed that the 15 economically successful farms use mineral and vitamin supplements (CMV), in particular vitamin E and selenium, which are known to play a number of important roles in the peripartum period. The anion/cation balance (Baca) is another key factor to be taken into account in the calving preparation ration. A slight acidosis in the blood should be encouraged, with the aim of avoiding hypocalcaemia (milk fever). Checking the urine pH (slightly acidic) is a good indicator of this.
Ensuring a good start for calves
In the "high performance" group, calf mortality at 240 days is 4%, compared with 14% in the group with practices that need to be optimised. A number of levers have been clearly identified: isolation of the cow-calf pair for at least 24 hours or even 48 hours, availability of additional colostrum, disinfection of the cord (only 2 out of 10 farms in the less efficient group do this), a vaccination protocol, etc. We can also see the benefits of production management based on indicators. After the calf is born, immune transfer will be monitored by measuring immunoglobulins in the colostrum, which must be greater than 24 Brix, or by analysing the calf's blood (target > 15 g/L). Weaning will be decided on the basis of grazer weight rather than age.
Encouraging a return to early reproduction
While calves require close monitoring, cows are also very sensitive post-partum. "We mustn't let our guard down on mineral and vitamin nutrition, and we need to step up our antioxidant intake. This is a practice observed on the 15 'top-performing' farms, in conjunction with the provision of a suitable ration at the start of lactation. We also need to think about the return to reproduction. In multiparous cows, if the one-year LPI is to be respected, the cow has just 3 months to resume her cyclicity. Feed plays a key role in fertility, and the cow needs to maintain a good body condition, as this is one of the best ways to ensure good fertility later on. Beware, too, of deficiencies that can lead to metritis and functional disorders of the sexual system.
What's more, it's essential to take stock of each animal's LVI every year. Techna's study shows that the 15 'high-performing' breeders practise strict reforms in terms of reproduction criteria, including adherence to group calving.
Conclusion
- Often neglected, calving preparation is one of the keys to competitiveness in cow-calf operations.
- Grouping calvings plays an essential role in optimising profitability. For farms monitored in the Easy Map database that do not group calvings, the loss of profit is more than €77 in EBITDA per cow per year.
- It is important to provide pregnant cows with a differentiated ration with correction to achieve a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 3 to 3.5 at calving time. The quality of the colostrum, and therefore its protective effect on the calf, depends on this.
- Analysis of Easy Map data shows that "economically efficient" farms use mineral and vitamin supplements (CMV), in particular vitamin E and selenium, which are known to play a number of important roles in the peripartum period.
- Ensuring that calves get off to a good start is fundamental, and this includes isolating the cow-calf pair for at least 24 hours, providing extra colostrum, disinfecting the cord and following a vaccination protocol, etc.
- A rapid return to reproduction contributes to the profitability of the cow-calf unit. The supply of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants also helps.
- It is essential to assess the Calving Interval (CI) of each animal. High-performance breeders apply strict culls based on reproductive criteria.
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