July is induction month. To get the most out of inductions (extra days in milk, and time from calving to start of mating) it is imperative that they are done early. The table below helps determine which cows should be induced when.

For example (following the top line), the cows that can be induced to calve in the first week of calving are those that would naturally be calving in weeks 7-11. To get them to calve in the first week they will require their second injection in the week before PSC and their first shot a fortnight before this (three weeks before PSC).

Looking at it the other way, if you don’t do anything until week 3, cows that receive their first shot then (third line from bottom) will not calve until about week 6 – the only cows that can be included in this group are those that would naturally be calving in weeks 12 – 16, so you will be faced with an 11 week calving spread.

Please remember the other conditions of the Induction Code:

·       Cows for induction should be between 3 and 8 years old

·       Cows with a history of chronic illness (lameness, mastitis, photosensitivity) should not be induced

·       Cows to be induced should have minimum BCS of 4.5 and maximum 6

·       Induction cows should be fully fed as Springers, on grass, and home from winter grazing from the start of the induction process.  This includes magnesium supplementation.

·       Trace element status (copper and selenium) should be assessed and extra supplementation given as necessary in the lead up to calving.

·       You should be committed to a continual reduction and eventual phasing out of inductions.

The Induction Code will expire in 2010. It is likely that inductions will be allowed to continue after that, under a newly developed “Industry Guidelines” that will be enforceable under the Animal Welfare Act (for you), and under the Veterinarians Act (for us).

Critical aspects of the new guidelines are likely to be a commitment by individual farmers to a continual reduction and eventual phasing out of inductions; a more robust method of policing farmers who continue to induce a high percentage of the herd; and a strong element of support to help farmers succeed without inductions.