Ten tips for a successful autumn breeding period

Autumn calving has been progressing well around the country, with farmers reporting few problems arising. Although calving is still ongoing, thoughts should now be turning to getting cows back in-calf for next year. Outlined are 10 tips to help improve conception rates during the breeding season for autumn cows.

1 Housing in advance of the breeding period

The period when cows move from grazing to housing for winter raises stress levels. This affects fertility. You do not want to be housing cows halfway through the breeding season. Therefore, it may be beneficial to house cows around two weeks ahead of the start of the breeding period.

The cows that calved during the second half of the calving period are unlikely to come into heat until later in winter

If breeding is to start on 1 November, you should be planning to house cows around 15 October to 20 October.

One option is to house cows in two stages. Firstly, house all cows that calved during the first six weeks of the calving period, as these animals will most likely come back in heat first.

The cows that calved during the second half of the calving period are unlikely to come into heat until later in winter.

These animals can remain at grass until late October or early November, weather depending, reducing winter feed costs and labour demands.

2 Keep cows on a steady diet

The reason for housing cows ahead of the breeding period is so animals can be fed a consistent and controlled diet. Cows that calved during August and early September will be approaching peak lactation once breeding starts.

As the demand for energy will be increasing at this point, it will be difficult to meet the cow’s nutritional requirements on autumn grass.

Therefore, once housed, it is easier to offer cows a diet of high-quality silage and 1kg to 2kg/day of concentrate. As the indoor diet is consistent, cow fertility will improve.

3 Mineral supplementation

Ensure cows are properly supplemented for trace minerals and vitamins.

Options include feeding powdered minerals dusted on forage, lick buckets or using a bolus.

Some cows can benefit from having a small quantity of iodine sprayed on their flank every couple of weeks.

4 Fluke and worm drench

Another benefit of housing cows prior to the start of breeding is that animals can be treated for internal parasites such as fluke and worms.

Cows which are free of parasites will be healthier and conception rates will increase

Use a product that targets early immature and mature fluke.

Cows which are free of parasites will be healthier and conception rates will increase. You can dung sample animals at a later stage in winter to determine if a second treatment is required.

5 Stock bull at the ready

On farms that run spring- and autumn-calving herds, the stock bulls should have been removed from the spring cows and rested for the breeding period.

Bulls should be walking freely on all feet and eating concentrates to regain body condition as necessary.

6 Restrict suckling of autumn cows

Once cows are housed, it is good practice to restrict calves to suckling their dam during the morning and evening only.

There is no negative impact on calf performance with restricting suckling to twice daily

This is a well-proven method to bring animals back into heat much faster. It requires the farmer to lock calves into creep areas in the morning.

Calves are allowed back in with cows again for one to two hours during the evening, before locking out again until the following morning.

There is no negative impact on calf performance with restricting suckling to twice daily.

7 Mix early and late-calving cows

For herds with two or more stock bulls, it can be beneficial to mix breeding groups so they consist of early and late-calving cows.

This way, there will be a more gradual spread of cows coming back in heat, making it easier for stock bulls to serve animals.

If all cows in one group are early calving animals, there will be days when multiple cows are in heat at the same time. This puts the bull under pressure to serve animals.

8 Heat detection

Even if cows are bred to stock bulls, it is worthwhile watching for heat activity.

This way, you can see that cows are cycling OK and the bull is able to serve animals.

Aids such as tail paint and scratch cards will also help with heat detection

Monitoring for mounting activity also lets you watch out for repeat breeding activity.

If a high number of cows are repeating, the bull may be infertile and need to be replaced immediately.

Aids such as tail paint and scratch cards will also help with heat detection.

9 Floor options

Cows on slats can show weak heats with lower walking and mounting activity. This makes it harder to pick up animals for breeding when using AI.

Where possible, housing cow in sheds with slatted flooring and access to a straw lieback can improve breeding activity.

Alternatively, rubber flooring can improve cow traction and increase mounting activity.

10 Rotate stock bulls or use AI

To safeguard against an infertile stock bull, rotate herd sires around breeding groups around six to seven weeks after the start of the breeding period.

Alternatively, autumn breeding is highly compatible with AI as animals are housed.

Using AI will take the pressure off the stock bull and allow you to target maternal, terminal and easy-calving sires to suit individual cows.

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