Scanning took place on the Irish Farmers Journal Tullamore Farm on Thursday 30th August. The results were extremely disappointing, with 26 of the 118 cows and heifers bred shown not to be in calf.
A further five cows and two heifers were removed from the herd on the basis of temperament and functionality. This equates to an empty rate at the end of a 12-week breeding season of 22.4%. It represents a serious setback in the development of the farm, significantly reducing output and cashflow in the coming years.
Last week’s scanning results confirm the fertility fears first began in late June, when a number of cows started to repeat after being bred to young stock bulls. Subsequent fertility tests on two of the three young bulls running with the herd showed them to have low sperm counts. A further test carried out eight days later showed semen quality of one bull to have returned to excellent, while the second bull was confirmed to be infertile. Both bulls had been fertility tested prior to purchase.
Young bulls
Given the fact that we were relying on three young bulls for the first breeding season, the decision was taken to AI cows and heifers for the first three weeks of the breeding season. AI commenced for the heifers on 27 April, and on 1 May for the cows. The aim of introducing AI was to reduce the risk of fertility problems, by reducing the workload for the young, inexperienced bulls. The two young Limousin stock bulls, fitted with chin balls, went out with the cows on 23 May, with a young Aberdeen Angus bull having been let out with the heifers on 10 May.
A total of 13 heifers and 68 cows were served to AI during the first three weeks, with a conception rate of 65% achieved across the group. This week’s scanning results indicate that a total of 64 cows and heifers will calve down during the first four weeks of the breeding season. This leaves just 26 cows calving during the remaining eight weeks. The figures clearly show the impact the infertile and sub-fertile bulls had on what started off as a very good breeding season.
Challenge
Now the challenge for the farm is calculating how best to react to the current problems. There are a number of options that will be considered in the weeks ahead. These include:
Buy in-calf heifers ahead of the calving season – a costly option, but one that will limit the long-term impact on fertility. If cull cows realise €1,100 each and in calf heifers cost €1,400, the replacement cost to the system would be in the region of €7,500.Retain this year’s weanling heifers and breed them next year – a slower response, but there would be the option of maintaining output by increasing the dairy beef enterprise to reflect the lower output from the suckler herd.Re-evaluate the plan – reduce the suckler herd size to 90 cows and permanently increase the dairy beef enterprise.A list of cull options and advantages/disadvantages are listed in Table 1. The likely open that will be chosen is option two.
What will we do differently next year?
If we look back at this year’s breeding season, AI was one of the things that went well. While there was increased labour required, good infrastructure meant that cows were relatively easily moved each day, once a day. AI conception rates were very good at 65%. If stock bulls are used, the farm will need an extra bull to bring in at certain times like when bulls get lame, etc. This bull would act as a back up bull with 3 bulls running with 120 cows during the main breeding season which would be 40 cows each over a 12 week breeding season. The likely route taken will be to AI for a longer period and clean up with mature stock bulls.
Scanning took place on the Irish Farmers Journal Tullamore Farm on Thursday 30th August. The results were extremely disappointing, with 26 of the 118 cows and heifers bred shown not to be in calf.
A further five cows and two heifers were removed from the herd on the basis of temperament and functionality. This equates to an empty rate at the end of a 12-week breeding season of 22.4%. It represents a serious setback in the development of the farm, significantly reducing output and cashflow in the coming years.
Last week’s scanning results confirm the fertility fears first began in late June, when a number of cows started to repeat after being bred to young stock bulls. Subsequent fertility tests on two of the three young bulls running with the herd showed them to have low sperm counts. A further test carried out eight days later showed semen quality of one bull to have returned to excellent, while the second bull was confirmed to be infertile. Both bulls had been fertility tested prior to purchase.
Young bulls
Given the fact that we were relying on three young bulls for the first breeding season, the decision was taken to AI cows and heifers for the first three weeks of the breeding season. AI commenced for the heifers on 27 April, and on 1 May for the cows. The aim of introducing AI was to reduce the risk of fertility problems, by reducing the workload for the young, inexperienced bulls. The two young Limousin stock bulls, fitted with chin balls, went out with the cows on 23 May, with a young Aberdeen Angus bull having been let out with the heifers on 10 May.
A total of 13 heifers and 68 cows were served to AI during the first three weeks, with a conception rate of 65% achieved across the group. This week’s scanning results indicate that a total of 64 cows and heifers will calve down during the first four weeks of the breeding season. This leaves just 26 cows calving during the remaining eight weeks. The figures clearly show the impact the infertile and sub-fertile bulls had on what started off as a very good breeding season.
Challenge
Now the challenge for the farm is calculating how best to react to the current problems. There are a number of options that will be considered in the weeks ahead. These include:
Buy in-calf heifers ahead of the calving season – a costly option, but one that will limit the long-term impact on fertility. If cull cows realise €1,100 each and in calf heifers cost €1,400, the replacement cost to the system would be in the region of €7,500.Retain this year’s weanling heifers and breed them next year – a slower response, but there would be the option of maintaining output by increasing the dairy beef enterprise to reflect the lower output from the suckler herd.Re-evaluate the plan – reduce the suckler herd size to 90 cows and permanently increase the dairy beef enterprise.A list of cull options and advantages/disadvantages are listed in Table 1. The likely open that will be chosen is option two.
What will we do differently next year?
If we look back at this year’s breeding season, AI was one of the things that went well. While there was increased labour required, good infrastructure meant that cows were relatively easily moved each day, once a day. AI conception rates were very good at 65%. If stock bulls are used, the farm will need an extra bull to bring in at certain times like when bulls get lame, etc. This bull would act as a back up bull with 3 bulls running with 120 cows during the main breeding season which would be 40 cows each over a 12 week breeding season. The likely route taken will be to AI for a longer period and clean up with mature stock bulls.
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