Monitoring and innovation for breeding: The 2nd Contrôle Laitier of the Season at Moussours

Growth monitoring: Monthly weighing of females

As soon as they arrive at the Moussours station, our females begin a rigorous monitoring program. Every month, a meticulous weighing is carried out, enabling us to observe the constant evolution of their growth. This detailed process continues unabated until a key milestone in their development: the weaning of their first calf, at around 32 months.

Morphological Diversity: Beyond Weight

Understanding the complexity of body shapes.

The control procedure is meticulously orchestrated:

1. The calves are separated from their mothers the day before the test for a 12-hour fasting period.
2. Weighed on an empty stomach in the morning, they then join their mothers for a carefully supervised feed.
3. The duration of feeding varies according to the mother’s milk capacity, ensuring accurate measurement.
4. After feeding, calves are immediately weighed to avoid weight loss due to post-feeding activities.
5. The couples are separated again for another fasting period before the second check-up of the day.
6. The sum of the morning and evening milk quantities gives the total daily production, with an increased weight for production at 120 days to favour cows with long-lasting lactation.

Historical data show an average milk production of 6 kg at Moussours, with a spectrum ranging from 1 to 13 kg. It is noticeable that production levels below 4 kg are a significant brake on calf growth, while production levels above 7.5 kg guarantee optimal growth, without the need for supplementation.