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Dairy · Reproduction · Fertility

Not-in-calf (empty) rate

16% empty at 200 days

The share of the herd still not in calf 200 days after calving. In a year-round system every empty cow is one you must either cull or carry through a low-production stretch with no calf to show for it.

Worked example · Top herds stay under 15%
16% empty In-calf · 235 Empty · 45
Top herds stay under 15%
The benchmark

InCalf pairs the 100-day in-calf rate with the 200-day not-in-calf rate for year-round herds; lower is better, with top herds well under 15%.

Dairy Australia · InCalf ↗
What it signals

The 200-day not-in-calf rate is the bottom line of the whole reproductive program — it sets involuntary culling pressure, replacement cost and how full the vat stays through the year.

Data required to calculate
Cows calvedno.Cows still empty at 200 daysno.

Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses, and keeps the figure current automatically.

How to improve it
01

Pregnancy-test early so empties are identified and decisions made promptly.

02

Address the drivers upstream: heat detection, body condition and bull fertility.

03

Extend the AI program or use mop-up bulls to catch late-cycling cows.

Questions & answers

What is not-in-calf (empty) rate?

The share of the herd still not in calf 200 days after calving. In a year-round system every empty cow is one you must either cull or carry through a low-production stretch with no calf to show for it.

What data do you need to calculate not-in-calf (empty) rate?

You need: Cows calved (no.), Cows still empty at 200 days (no.). Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses and keeps the figure current automatically.

What is a good not-in-calf (empty) rate benchmark?

InCalf pairs the 100-day in-calf rate with the 200-day not-in-calf rate for year-round herds; lower is better, with top herds well under 15%.

How do you improve not-in-calf (empty) rate?

Pregnancy-test early so empties are identified and decisions made promptly. Address the drivers upstream: heat detection, body condition and bull fertility. Extend the AI program or use mop-up bulls to catch late-cycling cows.

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