AHV (Animal Health Vision) solutions to support milking routine transition from TAD to reduced or OAD milking routine

Moving from Twice a Day (TAD) to a reduced milking routine (10 in 7; 3 in 2 or Once a Day (OAD)) in the second half of lactation can be a challenging time for dairy cows. A cow’s comfort can be impacted, and she is at a bigger risk of udder health challenges. Summer heat and insufficient grass, i.e., reduced energy, can augment the impact of moving to a reduced milking routine. AHV has solutions to support this reduced milking routine transition by providing cows relief, energy and/or clearing up the udder beforehand (remove biofilm and unfavorable bacteria) which will help reduce udder health challenges and support milk production.

What solutions can AHV provide?

AHV Aspi Bolus can relieve discomfort during the transition and stimulate her appetite, so she keeps eating and has good energy (as bacteria in biofilm typically break out when a cow is in low energy and/or in a stressful environment).

AHV Booster Bolus supports the liver and rumen to ensure a cow gets more glucose out of the feed she eats. This energy supports milk production, fetal growth, and the immune system.

AHV Udder boluses can assist cows to clean up their udder (1-5^th lactation cows are recommended) by supporting the cow’s own immune system to flush out the unfavorable bacteria and biofilm.  After clearing the udder, discomfort and lack of energy will result in much fewer udder health challenges. All AHV solutions are plant-based with zero milk or meat withhold.

How we work

If you do Herd Testing, based on your herd test information, your AHV Territory Manager reviews each cow’s SCC history and estimates how much biofilm (containing unfavorable bacteria) is present in her udder. Remember, these bacteria will break out of the biofilm when a cow is in a stressful environment or in negative energy balance.  If you do not do herd testing, we can also support you after discussing your cow’s health and history with you.

We tailor our solutions one of two ways:

• Relief (AHV Aspi bolus) and energy (AHV Booster bolus) at the time of reduced milking routine transition to support the immune system and keep the unfavorable bacteria in the biofilm, which supports healthy SCC values. AHV Booster Bolus also supports the cow to adapt to her new diet more easily.
• We assist with cleaning up the udder well before a reduced milking routine transition (6 weeks beforehand, if you know in advance when you will transition the milking routine your herd). This will result in few bacteria left to break out of the biofilm at times of discomfort or lack of energy. This is done by giving AHV Quick, Extra and Aspi boluses. This approach, depending on how close to drying off it is done, may also support effective drying off without the need for traditional methods.

Your Territory Manager will always work with you to review results and optimize your herd health.

What are the benefits of the AHV solutions?

Using our solutions, the cow’s milk production, SCC values and udder health are supported. More energy remains available for milk production and calf growth instead of feeding the immune system. This enables you to keep one mob of cows, extend lactation if needed (if cow is not in calf) without SCC value challenges.

Would you like to know more? Please contact your AHV Territory Manager via 0800 4 24869 or www.ahvint.co.nz or email newzealand@ahvint.com.