In regions facing the worst of the rain, cold temperatures and early drought, the figures did not differ markedly from those of recent years.
For example, returns from 120 Northland herds with LIC Minda showed a six-week, in-calf rate of 63%, steady on the 2015 mating and a slight improvement on preceding years.
“The three-week submission rate for Northland did drop 2%, down from 75% to 73%.
“But then the average conception rate has gone up 2%, to 52%, which is also on the national average.
“However, these are averages across Northland where there is a wide range of start dates and mating statistics. Individual herds may differ widely from the average.”
Voogt was commenting on anecdotal reports from farmers that pregnancy testing had shown up some high empty rates which would flow on to higher cull cow numbers.
But the figures available to Voogt did not indicate anything out of the ordinary, being consistent with trends over the past five years.
“These are the herds for which we have detailed Fertility Focus Reports.
“In Northland we had 168 herds last year and so far this year 120 herds have reported – so the progress figures might be subject to change,” Voogt said.
DairyNZ Northland regional manager Chris Neill said the consensus among his consultants, who were talking to farmers, was that figures seemed to be on par with previous years, with the usual range of results.
“Some farmers have achieved outstanding results of 5% empty where their management of cow condition and heat detection has been on the mark.”
Voogt said most farmers who used the LIC AB technician service the reproduction data during the mating period was collected automatically through Datamate, leaving only a small number of farmers doing DIY AB to enter their own figures.
Most pregnancy scanners also uploaded the figures as part of the service to farmers.
The impact on reproduction performance from seasonal challenges came through feed quantity and quality at calving and mating times.
The wet spring, poor pasture quality and challenges to utilisation had not shown up in the reproduction statistics thus far, Voogt said.
“That shows to us that farmers are used to dealing with those seasonal challenges and successfully avoided the adverse effects,” she said.
The full set of statistics from the 2016 mating would be available towards the end of May and would be distributed through vets, Voogt concluded.
