Select high reliability bulls:

In the past month, there has been a lot of talk about bull selection among farmers using AI. In the light of the BDGP scheme, farmers that are focusing on breeding progeny that will get four or five stars on the replacement index are selecting bulls that are ranking high. However, you need to know where you are starting from. ICBF will circulate data on the €uroStar index of the herd in the coming weeks, which is vital for farmers making breeding decisions. In the meantime, when selecting bulls that rank high on the replacement traits, eg milk yield, calving ease, etc, keep a strong focus on the reliability of the proof. Most young stock bulls will have a reliability of 20-40%, the target for AI should be to use a bull with a reliability figure of over 80%. Farmers can get around this by using a team of five bulls with high replacement indexes and lower reliabilities.

Dosing and health:

Animals that were dosed in late May will be due to receive another dose in the coming weeks. The current dry weather is resulting in low worm activity, although if the weather changes then worm populations can build quickly, especially lungworm. Where there is a history of fluke on farms, you should start to plan a dosing regime to control the parasite. If you are unsure, then take a faecal sample and have it analysed to identify if a problem exists. Likewise, where cattle are being slaughtered from the farm, check with your factory to see if there is evidence of active fluke or fluke damage to livers. Where late spring-born calves received a clostridial vaccination, a booster shot will be due now. Remember that without administering the booster shot, the animal will not be covered against the disease.

Reseeding and drainage:

With growth rates high and the ground dry, there is a lot of reseeding and drainage happening around the country. On heavy soils, sub-soiling can help to improve soakage by creating fissures in the top 6in, where compaction usually lies. Where the issue is further down, then stone drains may be required. Whether it’s a plough and till or stitching in, burning off with glyphosate is essential to ensuring a clean sward. After spraying, the sward should be grazed or cut about a week later to remove surface material. Remember to keep grass heading dates to within a week when selecting grass seed. Apply about 2.5t of lime/acre to neutralise the acidity of the rotting sward and improve pH. Reseeding is pointless if you are not going to feed the sward with N, P and K, so farmers with low stocking rates should keep reseeding to silage ground.

BETTER Farm Walk:

On 14 July a national BETTER Farm walk will take place on Donie Ahern’s farm, Herbertstown, Co Limerick. Last year the farm achieved a gross margin of €1,220/ha. The walk will encompass bull finishing under 16 months, replacement, breeding and grass management.