InCalf is a learning package of tools and resources aimed at improving herd fertility and heat detection, helping farmers get their cows back in calf earlier and reducing empties.

Farmers will get the most out of InCalf through an integrated approach, combining their Fertility Focus reports with information from the InCalf book and support from InCalf trained advisers working with InCalf tools.

InCalf advisers

Herd fertility is complex, requiring a range of expertise to better diagnose areas to improve and to implement chosen management options. As part of the InCalf programme, dairy farmers can work with trained InCalf advisers to gain value in terms of measured performance improvement.

Find out about InCalf training

The InCalf Book

The InCalf book is a reference guide to help farmers achieve a measured improvement in their herd's reproductive performance. It is also useful for rural professionals providing advice and support to farmers. The book pulls together the accepted knowledge on dairy herd fertility, drawing on InCalf's extensive on-farm research and a huge number of experts.

InCalf Fertility Focus Report

The InCalf Fertility Focus Report is a single page report that assess current herd reproductive performance and shows which management areas to focus on for improvement.

Find out more here

InCalf Herd Assessment Pack Tools

The InCalf herd assessment tools are gap calculators to help dairy farmers (and their advisers) investigate key management areas which affect herd reproductive performance. Use these tools to see what you could financially gain by improving the management of the following areas.

• InCalf Gap Calculator
• Economics of Reproductive Performance Tool (xlsx)
• Economics of Reproductive Performance Tool (pdf)
• Body Condition at Calving Tool
• Body Condition Loss in Early Lactation Tool
• Bull Management Practices Tool
• Calving Pattern Tool
• Heat Detection Tool
• Heifer Rearing Tool
• Individual Cow Health Tool
• Length of Mating Period Tool
• Non-cycling Tool

The Australian InCalf project developed a vision: "To enable dairy farmers to achieve measured improvement in herd reproductive performance."

That vision is equally applicable in New Zealand for dairy farmers seeking to improve their herd reproductive performance towards industry targets.

• National Reproductive Strategy Group (NRSG)

  Increasing the average 6-week in-calf rate above 70 percent could be worth nearly $110 million dollars to the sector, nearly $10 thousand for the average herd.

  Reproductive performance metrics can be an indicator of animal health management and welfare on farm, and will need to be reported as part of farm assessments in the short to medium term future. 

  The National Reproductive Strategy Group (NRSG) is made up of representatives from sector stakeholders including DairyNZ, Federated Farmers of New Zealand, LIC, CRV AmBreed, Society of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians. New Zealand Veterinary Association, milk companies, Dairy Womens Network, Primary ITO and the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industries Management.

  The focus of the group is to

  • Promote the value proposition of improving reproductive performance
  • Encourage engagement between farmers and their support network, as well as across the sector itself
  • Agree and promote consistent messaging regarding reproductive performance