HOW MANY COWS PER ROBOT? REVISITED

It’s an understatement to point out that beef cross calves are a significant revenue stream which has helped many dairies remain profitable through low milk prices. Low beef inventories, the ability to produce more replacements than needed, and modern genetic evaluations, have all contributed to that revenue stream. Currently, I am hearing of black bull calves less than a week-old selling for $1800 to $2000. Progressive dairies are looking for ways to maximize income from beef-cross calves. Recently, I was asked whether it makes sense to crowd the robots with more cows, to produce more calves, even if some milk production is lost. This article will compare some possible scenarios. Let’s begin by reviewing the fundamentals that limit calf production on any dairy.

First, maximize reproductive performance on your dairy. Reducing the calving interval from

14 months to 13 months would result in 6 more calves per 100 cows. If the replacement needs are already covered, all 6 of those could be salable beef-cross calves. Second, know how many replacements you need. Breeding for too many heifers results in fewer beef-cross calves to sell. Breeding for too many beef calves can limit culling opportunities, and result in underutilized milking facilities. Monitor your calf survival, and heifer non-completion rate, to make sure your projections are accurate, and maximize the total number of calves.

Certain production models will inherently involve milking more cows, with lower production, and fewer milkings per cow. It is possible to produce 6,000 pounds per robot with 60 Holstein cows at 100 pounds milking 3X, or 75 crossbred cows at 80 pounds milking 2.4X. Milk revenue will be similar – depending on components. If reproductive performance is similar, and half of the calves can be sold for beef in either scenario, the 60 Holsteins will produce about 27 saleable calves per year while the crossbreds will produce about 34 calves per year. 7 more calves at $1800 comes to about $12,600 per year. That has to offset the higher costs associated with 15 more animals.

In the scenarios above, we could assume that all of the cows are producing near their genetic potential, and making robots more available would not increase milk production. Hypothetically, compare those same 60 Holstein cows at 100 pounds milking 3X on one robot, to 65 similar Holstein cows milking 2.7X and producing 92 pounds on another robot. (Hypothetically!) The 65 cows can make 2 more saleable calves, for $3600, but they are producing 7 pounds less than their genetic potential. The same milk could be produced with 5 fewer cows. The $3600 from the 2 calves has to offset all of the maintenance feed, vet, breeding, bedding, interest, and more, for 5 cows ($720 per cow per year). Plug in your cost to see if it makes sense on your farm.

There is one more scenario to consider. An underutilized facility is not only producing less milk than it should, it is also producing fewer calves than it should. Stalls and bunk space may be limiting in some facilities. Robots may be limiting in others. Either way, an underutilized facility is costing you more than ever. Cow Corner can help you maximize the capacity of your facility, project your replacement needs, monitor reproductive performance, and find the balance to maximize milk and calf sales.