How a new transition shed helped lift pregnancy rates to 35% >More in
Pregnancy rates have climbed from 28% to 35% since the Cope family improved transition cow accommodation.
Before buying the neighbouring Adderley Lodge Farm in November 2019, transition space was a pinch point at the Copes’ home farm, Bawhill Farm, near Market Drayton, where they milk 1,150 cows.
Husband-and-wife team Steve and Carolyn Cope, along with Steve’s parents, Rob and Geryl, previously operated a “just-in-time” calving system, with close-up-calving cows kept in 49 cubicles for 14 days, and moved to a calving pen at the point of calving. But cows weren’t in transition for long enough.